Sunday Morning Thoughts

by Tommy Dee on August 31st, 2008 at 10:33 am

Donnie Walsh still has about a month before training camp to go, but when you consider what he’s accomplished so far, he’s done a nice job of tweaking the roster in a short period of time.

Let’s take a look at the group assembled when Mike D’Antoni walks in the gym in Saratoga on Sept 29th as it stands today. Yes, traditional positions mean very little in D’Antoni’s system, but roster balance is still very important.

Centers: Eddy Curry, Jerome James
Power Forwards: Zach Randolph, David Lee, Malik Rose
Small Forwards: Wilson Chandler. Danilo Gallinari. Jared Jeffries, Pat Ewing Jr.
Shooting Guards:Jamal Crawford, Quentin Richardson, Nate Robinson
Point Guards: Chris Duhon, Mardy Collins, Anthony Roberson, Stephon Marbury

With 16 players Walsh has some decisions to make, meaning that should this rumored Darko and Walker (or Jaric) for Randolph deal go down, they’ll have to either cut two players, or include another to make it a two- for-two swap then cut a player.

Should Memphis not want to add any more salary, meaning they aren’t interested in bringing in Malik Rose’s $7 million even for one year, then Walsh would have to cut two players from the roster.

Stephon Marbury seems to be the logical choice, and you’d have to think that Jerome James would be the other. Maybe they can give him a one-year TV gig in exchange for a buyout like they did for Jerome “JYD” Williams.

Either way, those hoping the other shoe to drop need to understand what Walsh is looking at. A two-for -one would add another player to the roster bringing it to 17. That won’t work at this point.

So should this Memphis thing happen, expect a two-for-two trade, if/when Memphis agrees, or a two-for-one with Walsh asking Dolan to pay for the rest of Big Snacks’ meal ticket.
  • Knicksfan42793

    If the Memphis deal does not happen and Marbury gets cut, which 12 players are going to be on the active roster?

  • http://theKnicksBlog.com Tommy Dee

    Eddy Curry, Zach Randolph, David Lee,
    Wilson Chandler. Danilo Gallinari. Jared Jeffries
    Chris Duhon, , Anthony Roberson, Jamal Crawford, Quentin Richardson, Nate Robinson, Pat Ewing Jr.