Monthly Archives: December 2008
2009 is here, and the highlight of the 2008-2009 season for Knicks fans so far is November 21st , the day in which Donnie Walsh put the Knicks in the position to sign not one, but two major free agents in 2010. Seemingly out of nowhere, Jamal Crawford was first traded to the Warriors for Al Harrington. Then, Zach Randolph was traded for Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley to the Clippers. Now, with Tim Thomas and Al Harrington both having played 17 games in a Knicks uniform and with Zach Randolph and Jamal Crawford settled in with their respective teams, we can accurately assess who got the upper hand in each trade.
Al Harrington for Jamal Crawford – The Knicks won, plain and simple. The Warriors added another tweener guard, and the Knicks got a prototypical D’antoni big man. Crawford’s departure has allowed Nate Robinson to step up, but it’s also left a gaping hole at the shooting guard position. Yet, Harrington’s a flat out better player than Crawford, and Harrington does more for the Knicks than Crawford ever has. In practically the exact same amount of minutes, Crawfords averaging a point less with the Warriors and shooting a less than spectacular 40% from the field. He’s dishing out five dimes a game playing point guard for Golden State, and he still can’t even spell defense. Al Harrington, on the other hand, is on pace for a career year. He’s already won the Eastern Conference Player of the Week award, and is putting up 22 and 7 a night, shooting free throws better than he ever has, and he’s playing with a renewed sense of passion, letting us Knick fans know that he wants to be here past 2010. He’s showed stints of persistent defense, and really gave Steve Nash fits. A slump was inevitable, after he played out of his mind for a while, but if he takes his own advice, and starts off inside, he’ll be fine.
Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley for Zach Randolph- I was always a fan of Zach Randolph, but not of his contract, and although the Knicks gave up their top scorer and really only got Tim “You can’t see me” Thomas in return, I still think New York won the trade. Sure, Deandre Jordan, Marcus Camby, or maybe a pick would have been nice, but the Knicks found their takers, and Z-bo is no star. Dunleavy is the new Isiah Thomas and not only did he sign Baron Davis, a player that only strives in a fast break system, for $65 million and put him in a half-court offense, but he traded for Zach Randolph, as if he was the missing piece to the puzzle, and he would catapult them into contention in the Western Conference. Trading Zach Randolph allowed the Knicks to shave about $27 million in salary cap in the summer of 2010. Count me in. Plus, the Clippers are 6-12 with Randolph. So in essence, it’s Zach Randolph for Tim Thomas, Cuttino Mobley, and two major FA in 2010, and I’ll take the latter. The Clippers absolutely got the better player, but the Knicks took a huge stride towards a very plausible goal, and will now have the money to not only actively pursue Lebron James, but to pair him with another star.
From day one, Donnie Walsh was clear that signing a major FA in 2010 was the ultimate goal, and he’s carried that out meticulously. Simply put, Donnie Walsh is a miracle worker.
According to Marc Berman at the NY Post, Larry Brown said that he tried to trade for Tim Thomas before the Knicks made a deal for him. Needing depth up front, the Bobcats have been rumored to be looking for a center to play with Emeka Okafor for a while now.
Try to trade for Tim Thomas? The Clippers woud have given him away. Not for anything, but Larry, how hard did you try? An
yway, Larry if you still want him, then I know Bell would be a nice fit on the Knicks. In fact, Bell epitomizes essentailly everything that the Knicks need right now. How about Bell for Tim Thomas? How about right now? Am I wrong in thinking that would be a good deal for both teams? Forget about the 60 day waiting period. Each player can be traded by himself right now. Make it happen.
“…In an interview with NBC sports correspondent Graham Bensinger, Nash talked about his prospects when his contract with the Suns expires after the 2009-10 season.
“There’s a few situations out there that would be attractive, so I feel fortunate that there could be some possibilities for me,” Nash said. “One would be for me to stay here in Phoenix. I’ve had a great 4 1/2 years here. New York, obviously, is our off-season home, so we love the city. It’s a basketball mecca. Mike D’Antoni is there so there’s a lot of attractive variables. And then Toronto, to go back to Canada to play for the home team, so to speak.
“I feel good that one of those three could really be a really strong possibility. Like I said, Phoenix would be the natural choice, just because I’ve been here and enjoyed success here and really feel at home here..”
Chalk Nash to NY as a done deal in 2010 as far as I’m concerned it makes too much sense. Nash will combine with Duhon or if they can acquire a point guard via the draft, but without question I see a Nash and D’Antoni reunion- at a discount. Yes, he’ll be older but he’s in great shape and would be a great complimentary guard. I would not be the second big contract by any means…
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Finger point to brooklynmutt for the video
So I just went into the forum of Bobcats Planet where the topic of Curry
and lee for Diaw and Bell came up. Here are some classic posts.
- “Damn, thanks for the heart attack. When I saw the title I thought we’d actually traded for that big fat POS, then after a post or so later I thought we’d traded Boris for that fat POS! It’s the NY Daily News. No one other than a schill for the Knicks would even think this is a fair trade.” -Spectre
- “I saw this on on inside hoops too. I would HATE for this to happen. Okafor is opening up big time, becoming a huge scoring threat. as well as diaw putting up good numbers of his own. And bell is starting to do alot better, i feel like he is just playing rather than pressuring. I would hate this trade, cuz lee is like a poor version of emeka, and eddy curry is like a more talent but bigger version of sean may and i do not need someone taking up another 2 seats on the bench (sean may and currry are to fat to sit next to each other). I like the team we got, i think we got a chance. Were only what 3.5-4.5 out of the playoffs? Lets try to get into some kind of groove!”- ALuhrs704
- “Curry’s been in the league for 8 years…yet we should still trade for him hoping that he’ll suddenly be motivated? I think Lee wants to play on the big stage, so IMO LB won’t make that big of a difference. Regardless, are we willing to sign him to a 10 per contract to basically play the exact same way Mek does except for less defense? They couldn’t work together as they both play within 5 ft of the rim…so we want another extremely overpaid bench player?
- I can’t see the benefit is trading for players, then once the players start getting used to the team and the team actually looks better and plays better… then you trade those players for sorry under acheivers (sp)Makes no sense “- CarolinaKat
I can’t say I blame the lack of optimism from Cats fans. Curry would allow Emeka to move to his natural position and Lee is Lee. Diaw and Bell together can’t be traded until February, but are essentially role players and I can’t see the Cats wanting to keep Diaw’s contract.
He really impressed me last night by the way, so i’ve changed my tune, I make that deal in a second. But if that is the proposed deal it’s going to have to wait.
One of the worst defensive teams versus the worst offensive team in the league. The Bobcats offense is brutal, but it’s good to see the Knicks show some effort on defense. After a 6 game losing streak in which the opposition scored an average of 115.5 points a night, yes, 115.5 points a night, including 120 to the lowly Timberwolves, the Knicks were active on the defensive end, racking up 12 steals and 6 blocks. Clutch free throw shooting from Duhon and Nate Robinson in the final minute and clutch all around play from Wilson Chandler closed this one out.
Say what you want about Jared Jeffrie’s offensive ineptitude, but I’ll take 8 points, 5 boards, 3 steals, and 3 blocks on 4/8 shooting any day from him. It wouldn’t hurt for him to stop posting up and shooting contested jumpers, but this is what D’Antoni had in mind before the season started. After shooting 71% in the 1st quarter the Knicks cooled down, and the Bobcats slowly chipped away. Gerald Wallace would be an absolute star if he had a jumpshot. Wallace led a furious Bobcats comeback in the 4th quarter, but the Knicks held on to the lead and escaped Time Warner Cable Arena with a victory, with the help of a 7 point, 4 rebound fourth quarter from Wilson Chandler. Before tonight, Wilson had only made 15 of his previous 49 shots, but he got off to a hot start, including a highlight dunk over Emeka Okafor, and made his first 3 shots from the field. The inability to put a hand in Diaw’s face in any one of those three huge 3s in the fourth quarter was sickening, but the Knicks needed a victory, and they got it.
Augustin is going to be the starting point guard for Charlotte in the near future, and he was a steal at 9. He had 15 and 4 boards. David Lee recorded his 7th double double in 8 games, with 13 points and 16 rebounds. Mike Breen pointed out during the TV broadcast that he’s 3rd in the league in that category. Al Harrington finally took his own advice, and took the ball inside, only taking 4 three pointers.
The Knicks are learning how to close out games, and they did that on the road against Charlotte, even with a 2/11 shooting performance from arguably their best scorer, Nate Robinson. The Knicks take on the 10-21 Pacers at home on Friday.
(AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
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Sorry, just saw BDL and this had me laughing. I trust Kelly Dwyer’s spoof of The Young and the Restless, I’ve never seen it…
I got past the fact that the guy should have been better a long time ago. I
remember him at Patterson Catholic (and Five Star) as one of the best players this area has ever seen, he had the tools to be Lebron before Lebron.
And that’s no stretch.
He was strong, could handle, had a jump shot and the athleticism to take over games every night.
To be fair he’s been a good NBA player. The guy is smooth and has a pretty decent stroke. But his great games, like the 26- point performance against the Nets a few weeks ago always have you thirsting for more.
He his what he is, and when he’s good you expect more, but there are often serious disappearing acts.
In fairness, I think this vote may be skewed by the fact that he was underwhelming in his first go around here, but I think he was decent then. There was just too high of an expectation level. He didn’t outplay Keith Van Horn and that says something, but Thomas was on a team that made the playoffs, as meaningless as that is.
So you have to deflate your expectations, as I have, and understand that the guy is a decent role player.
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