Monthly Archives: July 2009
Frank Isola is reporting that the Knicks will make a decision on whether to 
offer to Ramon Sessions or Jamal Tinsley by week’s end.
Gery Woelfel, who covers the Bucks for The Journal Times, tweeted that John Hammond and Donnie Walsh spoke on Wednesday.
Woelfel believes that the subject of their conversation was the possibility of the two clubs completing a sign-and-trade deal.
I reported yesterday that Sessions was most certainly still in the team’s plans, despite reports to the contrary, and that the idea, I was told, was to wait to see what the Bucks’ move would be come August 1st and whether they had their sites on signing a free agent in the wake of letting Bruce Bowen walk.
Clearly, a sign and trade is a possibility here, especially if Walsh is convinced that the Bucks would match an offer sheet.
I’ve thought that the Tinsley situation was a smokescreen, who knows, maybe the bond with Walsh is that tight and like Frank says, he is a cheap option. But again, where on earth does that leave Nate? You’d have to think that he’s part of the sign and trade discussions, because adding another guard to the roster would leave too big of a glut.I’ve thought that during each and every rumor of the team adding a guard.
Via Frank Isola:
“Donnie Walsh is expected to decide within one day or two whether to make an offer to Jamaal Tinsley or Ramon Sessions.
The Knicks believe that either point guard represents an upgrade over incumbent Chris Duhon, whose play and fitness fell off dramatically over the final 30 games last season. Tinsley is a short-term solution with a more impressive resume than Sessions. Plus, he is cheaper to sign.
Sessions, though, is only 23 and is only going to get better. Steve Nash enjoyed his best years in Mike D’Antoni’s offense so perhaps taking a chance on Sessions, a restricted free agent, is worth the risk.
The other long-shot candidate is Allen Iverson. The Knicks have debated whether to take a one-year flier on Iverson, who flamed out last season in Detroit. Walsh and Iverson’s agent, Leon Rose, have held preliminary talks but the Knicks have not and probably won’t make an offer.
But if you’re looking to be a playoff team next season – remember, the Knicks don’t have a first-round pick for the 2010 NBA Draft – which player gives you the best chance to succeed; Tinsley, Sessions or Iverson?
For better or worse, Iverson will create more buzz. Plus, he has the most to lose since this coming season may be his last to prove whether he can still be a productive player.”
Obviously I would choose Sessions hands down if I had the choice, but I just want to know: If you go with Duhon or Tinsley, what do you do in 2010 with Steve Nash off the market and no draft pick? Just no to Allen Iverson. Isola is better than that.
According to a report in today’s NY Post:
“Knicks team president Donnie Walsh and coach Mike D’Antoni met with former Pacers point guard Jamaal Tinsley yesterday in what was described as a feeling-out meeting to gauge mutual interest.
“No offer was made and money was not discussed, said one person close to the situation.”
More to come as more comes out…
I’ll be on with Moose tonight on WFAN to yap about the Sessions situation and the State of the Knicks.
via the Fanhouse:
“Point guard Jason Williams, who is trying to return to the NBA after a self-imposed, one-year retirement, will be in Memphis this weekend for a 
meeting and a workout with the Grizzlies.
Williams, 33, is expected to formally clear waivers Thursday, making him an unrestricted free agent and available to any team in the league. The Clippers, who had signed him to a contract a year ago before he retired, waived their exclusive right to him last week.
The Knicks also have shown interest in Williams, according to NBA sources. Williams, who last played for the Miami Heat (2005-2008), has been working out in Orlando, where he makes his off-season home.”
Hopefully, things do not get this far. I would not mind Williams, but if the Knicks bring him in here, that would mean that they lost out on Jamaal Tinsley and Ramon Sessions. Back in his day, Williams was a pretty good PG. He was the starting PG on a Miami Heat title team. But the Heat wanted him out of Miami in a bad way during the final months of his tenure there. I remember his knees appeared shot.
At the very least, the Knicks need a third PG to pair with Toney Douglas and Chris Duhon. I am all for trying to develop Douglas, but if he does not pan out right away (how many rookies actually do?), then I do not want to see D’Antoni sticking with Duhon for 40 mpg. D’Antoni wants to win games, regardless of who is on the floor. I do not think he is the type of guy to get wrapped up in which guy has a big contract or which guy is a young player here for the future. While many of us want to see Douglas develop, D’Antoni has not proven to be a coach that will allow a developing player to play big minutes while being overmatched. That is where the third PG comes into the picture.
As of right now, I think it would be a miracle to get Sessions for less than the MLE and for less than five years. His restricted status hurts that idea. But he is still #1 on my list. Next, depending on the meeting yesterday, I would prefer Tinsley. He is a NY guy and has apparently stated that he wants to be here next year to revive his career. At 31 years old, he is not ancient and he probably has plenty left in the tank. He is a very good passer that can form a good tandem with Chris Duhon. Douglas can still find time with those two. Don’t worry about that.
Depth at the point is a an important thing to have. Last year proved that.
Just to follow up on something Tommy wrote, it appears that the Marvin Williams extension is going to be for 5 years and $40 million. Mark 
Bradley of the Atlanta Journal Constitution thinks that the contract will include incentives.
The Williams situation is a bit different from Lee’s. First, I have not heard that Williams has been looking around the league for an insane deal. I guess that Bartelstein is not Williams’ agent. Second, Williams’ qualifying offer would have been for $7.5 million according to Bradley. Lee’s is nowhere near that.
Also, while some people feel as though Lee cannot get much better, Williams looks like he can be an absolute star. He is a developing talent whose outside game is improving.
I have always believed that Lee will ultimately come back to the Knicks at a reasonable rate. I am not sure how much this Williams deal will influence the Lee deal, but at the very least I think it proves, along with the Millsap deal, that Lee probably will not get more than $9 million per year on average.
“…The Toronto Raptors’ intrigue with running a European-modeled franchise advanced again with a trade for Golden State guard Marco Belinelli(notes), NBA sources told Yahoo! Sports on Wednesday night.
The Raptors will send Devean George(notes) to the Warriors.
Belinelli, an Italian guard, was a favorite of Toronto GM Bryan Colangelo prior to the 2007 draft when the Warriors selected him with the 18th pick. Belinelli averaged nearly nine points a game for Golden State last season. He joins fellow Italian Andrea Bargnani(notes) on the Raptors roster.
George, 31, arrived in Toronto this summer as part of the Shawn Marion(notes) sign-and-trade with Dallas. He averaged 3.4 points a game for the Mavericks…”
Maurizio Gherardini, who you guys know I’ve always wanted in this organization, does it again. I like the kid as a cheap option and it took nothing to get him the kid only played 23 games this year. In reality, i was going to be a 1-1 deal any way you sliced it and there was really nothing the Knicks could have offered. Seems the Warriors wanted an actual player, which I guess George is these days.
By the way, how good is Yahoo’s sports coverage, particularly the NBA? They had the Marvin Williams signing today too, which by the way, I’m very interested in hearing how much that’s for.
With another week of speculation, what better place to chat than on TKB 
Radio with Rice Balls and Dee?
Call in and be part of the Show:
(646) 478-5554
Click Here to Listen Live:
Also, for more information on the charity event that was talked about on the last show, contact our friends at www.ActionforAwareness.org.
So I’ll be on on MoSports with my boys Mo and Rick at 6:30 to ta
lk about the happenings surrounding the Knicks and their pursuit of Ramon Sessions. Seems like there’s a ton going on.
We’ll get into some other stuff as well, including Nate Robinson and David Lee.
I was on with them right before the draft. It’s a cool show that is a live video cast with serious interaction.
Click here to watch the web-cast.
As restricted free agents’ situations appear closer to resolutions, sources 
say that Donnie Walsh is ready to offer Milwaukee point guard Ramon Sessions the first Knicks restricted contract of the summer. The deal would be a modest one, but it would cut into the precious 2010 fund, something Walsh been reluctant to do. But the delay appears to be over the status of Bruce Bowen with the Bucks.
Despite reports that the team is moving on from pursuing the Bucks point guard, word out of Milwaukee on Tuesday night is that the Knicks are still very much in play. That would be the reason why the reported signing of Nate Robinson is now in limbo.
“Sessions is more of a priority than Nate because he fits the system so perfectly,” one source said. “But it would seem the Bowen situation seems to be holding everything up.” more.
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