Is Donnie Confident He Can Clear Cap Space?

by Chris Alvino on August 28th, 2009 at 10:40 am

I still believe that Sessions has a strong chance of landing in New York.  Donnie knew when he contacted Sessions’ agent that he would have to sign the guard to a multi-year deal.  That is not just a measure of practicality.  That is a technicality.

However, as Gery Woelfel and Alan Hahn have noted, it appears that Donnie Walsh might be looking to move a contract off the 2010 ledger before extending his hand to Sessions.  With only two non-rookie contracts on the ledger for the summer of LeBron, logic would prove that Jared Jeffries and Eddy Curry are the only two players that fit the description.  Eddy Curry likely (very, very likely) cannot be traded until he gets back onto the court.  That cannot be the contract that Walsh wants to move before bringing in Sessions.  Much like how David Lee will not hold out for a contract, Ramon Sessions will not either.  That would make no sense for either player.  Thus, Sessions will have his name on a contract before the season starts.

That leaves Jared Jeffries.  Tommy aluded to this point yesterday in his post.  There might be interest from the Wizards.  If Jeffries for James is on the table, then what is Walsh waiting for?  If Walsh is truly concerned about moving salary beyond next season, then it would appear that Walsh would have to trade Jeffries now in an effort to at the very least bring in Sessions.  Right?  However, Jeffries is still a Knick, and Sessions is still a free agent.  What gives?

I happen to like what Jeffries is capable of bringing to the table.  He does things on the court that his teammates do not.  That is what makes him valuable.  Over $6.5 million valuable?  Absolutely not.  A good asset on the books?  No.  A good asset on the court?  Yes.

I think Tommy wrote it best a couple of days ago.  Of all of the descriptions that I have heard of Sessions, this description hit home the most when talking about the Knicks.  TD wrote that Sessions “isn’t a get at all costs type of player.”  I could not have said it any better myself.  If Sessions was thought to be a key component, he would be a Knick by now.  However, that is not the case.  Given his track record and the risks associated with that record, Walsh is not prepared to cost this organization the chance to reel in the bigger fish next summer.  Remember, a player can be an asset at one price and a liability at another.

So I go back to Jeffries.  Walsh and the coaching staff like what he brings to the team, both on and off the court.  However, would Walsh and the coaching staff be prepared to trade off Jeffries and his contract for an expiring contract and the chance to sign Sessions to a multi-year deal?  Would Sessions be more valuable in 2010 than Jeffries?  If so, then why would Walsh not trade Jeffries yet?  Is there really an offer for him? 

So I have to ask, is Donnie Walsh confident that he can clear more cap space for next summer?  Is he confident that he can trade Jared Jeffries?  At this point, I would have to say no.   If there was a deal in place for him, then I would have to imagine that Walsh would bring in Sessions and not worry that Jeffries’ contract was still on the books.  Of course, there is the possibility that Walsh would simply like to move Jeffries and Curry, and not bring in a contract that runs beyond this coming season, ala Ramon Sessions.  But if that is the case, then Walsh is not waiting to move a contract before signing Sessions, but rather he is simply not interested in signing him at all.

About Chris Alvino

Chris Alvino grew up in Crestwood, NY. He graduated from Regis High School in 2005. There he played both basketball and baseball. Chris is currently a student at Boston College, where he practices with the varsity Women's Basketball Team (... seriously). Chris has been a Knicks' fan for years and can literally talk about them all day long, every day of the week. Chris enjoys writing on this blog and seeing what everyone out there has to say about it. View all posts by Chris Alvino →
  • Shea1012

    You know it’s a dead sumer when every day all that is posted on here is updates on a mediocre PG

  • Magik_Trick

    They say he hasnt signed Sessions yet because he wants to traded JJ or EC first..

    So to me, if thats the cases, hes NOT confident in his ability to get rid of either one of them…

  • BiggieSmalls

    The Bucks wont take Jeffries for Sessions. Why in the world would they do that and pay the lux tax for Jeffries.

    JJ does a lot of little things no one else on this team does. He doesnt do them particularly well and is completely replaceable.

    DW failed by not shipping him to Sacto with Nate for a bag of expiring basketballs.

    Get him off the team ASAP. He is awful.

  • jbug187

    No offense to the writers, but these aren’t even updates. It’s just the same conversation over and over again. Walsh is killing me with this lack of action. I would like to think that he’s working the phones, but part of me things he’s just been out to lunch all summer.

    There is still hope, though. Remember this time last season when no one thought it would be possible to move Zach’s contract? Donnie found a way to do it then so lets hope he can find a way to do the same with Curry now.

    As for Jeffries, there’s no way Donnie has an offer for him. He doesn’t want to give Lee or Nate the 2010 money, so you know he doesn’t like the fact that Jeffries will be getting it.

  • Chris Alvino

    Right. So my point is that I am not so sure there is a deal for Jeffries out there. I’m not so sure there will be one out there before Sessions signs a contract.

    If Walsh believed that he would be able to trade JJ, then signing Sessions would make more sense right now.

  • joetheknick

    DW cannot be confident of getting rid of JJ or Curry because he has not been able to get it done. He probably undecided on signing Sessions or he would have done it. The question is how confident is DW of moving JJ and/or Curry by the trade deadline in February? Between now and then other teams needs will change and either or both could be moved. I guess we go to war with the guys we have and will wait for opportunity to present itself. What is the alternative??

  • Chris Alvino

    I did not mean that they would trade JJ to the Bucks. Let me re-read what I wrote. My mistake if that is how that came across.

    I meant swap him on the books for the 2010 season.

    I’ll check what I wrote.

    Sorry if that was confusing.

  • Chris Alvino

    I tried to update it a bit. I hope that makes more sense.

    Again, I never tried to imply that the Bucks would take Jeffries.

    Rather, for example, trading JJ for Mike James (again, just as an example) would clear JJ off the 2010 books. Signing Sess to a multi-year deal would add him to the 2010 books. There would be a swap on the 2010 books between Sess and JJ, with the only difference being that Sess would not make as much money.

  • Chris Alvino

    No offense taken.

    You’re right, this is not an update. I did not intend it to be one. It is more just a thought. We have heard that Walsh is looking to move a contract, and while I thought that there can be a move with Jeffries involved, now I am not so sure.

  • Chris Alvino

    Well, I have to think there is another alternative. If it comes down to it, calling Jamaal Tinsley again might not be a bad idea. The fact remains that this team needs another PG on its roster.

  • Ben Kopelman

    the knicks like what JJ brings on and off the court? what the hell does he bring off the court? i mean, he can kinda guard other team’s point guards, which is legit, but other than that – ummmm – what does he do? he doesnt have any offensive ability, he isnt a leader or a particularly high IQ player, i mean…donnie isnt trading JJ bc he cant, not bc they like him.

    hes an isiah thomas era bum, and DW will do everything he can to trade him as soon as he can.

  • SilentJay

    I both agree and disagree wth you, Joe. In Sessions’s case, he’s not in NY simply because he doesn’t convince DW on a 100% level. I think it’s as simple as that. And since the primary objective is the cap now, the only things hurting it are Curry and Jeffries, so then Sessions will have to wait.
    I don’t think he has any offers, nor that he has received any during this offseason for JJ, either because a move would’ve been made or discussions of the different possibilities would’ve also come up in different blogs, including this one.
    I do disagree on the fact that he “cannot” trade Jeffries. I think that if DW has proved anything during his time here is the fact that he can pull strings quickly if needed and can get movs done out of thin air. So to to actually say that he “cannot” do i, I simply disagree. There’s a long way to go till the dedline.

  • Myles A. Mills

    jared jeffries can’t do anything efficiently. If he was just a defensive guy who finished (which he still has not come close to mastering)I wouldn’t have such an issue with him. But the fact that he thinks he can shoot, or somebody told him he can shoot aggravates me. Jared Jeffries should never, ever, under any circumstances take a jump shot.

    ever.

  • Chris Alvino

    Yeah he has possibly the worst jumper on the team. Haha. I remember when he was hurt to start the season, the word was that he was working on his jumper. So much for that.

    But that aside, he is a versatile player. Ben, of course Walsh will try and trade him. But that is more because of his contract than his on-court play. It is no secret that he is not a good shooter, but he does other things well. He can defend all five positions. He has a good handle for a player his size. He runs the floor well. He keeps balls alive on offense.

    He does things that other players do not.

    To be fair, his contributions do not always show up in the box score.

    That said, if Walsh can move him, then he has to do so.

  • Chris Alvino

    I meant worst jumper in the league.

  • joetheknick

    sorry for the confusion. What I meant to say is DW is confident only of trading JJ & Curry prior to the February deadline. If he believed he could not trade these guys I think he would retire.

  • joetheknick

    Pair him with Mobley’s insurance and JJ may be attractive to another team??

  • bmathews77

    I completely agree. There were so many times when I would see Jared Jeffries hoisting up 3 pointers that always missed. I think Isiah Thomas told him he was like Scottie Pippen or something… Jeffries is an asset on the bench for a team like the Spurs or Cavs not the Knicks.

  • Rene

    If DAnt brother can’t convince DW on Sessions my thinking is they don’t like him that much.I think DW is playing it smart he has Lebron locked now ,any signings will hinder that if we can’t get rid of JJ and Curry,I think he can and will but their no need to rush.

  • dino2008

    IMO if Donnie really could have traded JJ and Nate to the Kings last season, then there is no reason to think he won’t be able to trade JJ, if he packages him with a player of value a la Robinson this season. I am a HUGE Dlee fan, but if he comes back on a one year deal it should not be hard at all for donnie to trade dlee to a contender and trade JJ along with him. If he signs Nate and Dlee to one year deals Donnie will have plenty of assests to use to get JJ off the books. I want Sessions here badly. I want Sessions starting with Nate off the bench. Come the deadline teams will be desperate to get a guy like Nate or a Dlee and Donnie will have no problem trading JJ. Not to mention Donnie has Mobley’s contract to use as his advantage too.

  • SilentJay

    You’re right, Rene. DW is locked in LBJ. But you know, since this offseason has been so slow and we’re at point that we’re discussing hipotheticals, options, and possibilities, I got to thinking yesterday: economy projections for next year seem quite high and possitive -contrary to the projections that came earlier this offseason that came on to the cap drop- which could eventually make the drop not that dramatic, and in fact, not dramatic at all.
    Saying the projections are correct, and the cap doesn’t suffer, and DW offloads JJ for instance, to Washington for Mike James; and Curry plays decent and manages a trade to Houston. According to the numbers I’m juggling (of course I warn everybody that I suck with numbers. I’m a journalist, it’s my job to suck at numbers), there should be enough cap space to sign two star players, and, according to what I’ve read, DW’s top priorities, if the chance is possible, is to get LBJ and Bosh.
    Any thoughts? (Chris I’d love to hear what you think on this, because I know it sounds insane).

  • Chris Alvino

    I think that you are right on one point there. I am not sure if the cap is going to drop as dramatically as some people tend to think. The economy can rebound by next summer (we hope… not even just on a basketball level, but on a personal level). Most of the projections for the NBA cap are pessimistic.

    As far as two star players, I am not so sure that signing Lee and Sessions to deals that are combined worth less than what it will cost to pay Chris Bosh is an awful deal. Chris Bosh will command a max deal, but is he part of the NBA’s elite? He is not on the same level as Wade or LBJ or Kobe. Bosh is a tough call.

    For instance, Sessions at 4 mill, Lee at 8 mill, and another player at 4 mill will equal what Bosh will get from a team next summer (that is a rough estimate).

    Just a thought…

  • bmathews77

    Reaon why Jared Jeffries should not even try to shoot the ball:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STK_ce-WhKo

  • J-Knick

    You’re right Dino though Mobley’s contract will have less and less value once the season starts. Its value is max now with a full year insured salary. I think it will be used before season opens.

  • dino2008

    Signing Chris Bosh to a max deal would be a horrible move. First of all the guy has bad knees, so no thanks. Second of all, Jordan Hill imo has the potential to be a Chris Bosh type player. No thank you to Chris Bosh… id much rather have Lee and Sessions. Also, what has Bosh done…. not make the playoffs when his supporting cast hasn’t been terrible? Good 1a type player but I do not want him…. those knees are very scary.

  • SilentJay

    Yeah, you may be right, just spitballing. Since at the 2 there’s currently two options (Gallo and Will, players that are supposed to make a splash this year), that of course are nowhere near Wade, I get a feeling that Walsh is out there looking for a big man that can cover the 4 with speed, boards, and scoring.
    If the chance we’re discussing was possible, you’d take Amare over Bosh? Or you’d go straight away with LBJ and Wade? Who do you think should come to NY besides LBJ to give LBJ a team worthy of his skills?
    And another topic of discussion: if LBJ does come to NY and DW has a good supporting cast, you think Wade or any other star would be willing to take a big paycut to be part of a championship winning team?

  • Jeff Cykiert

    Jeffries’ contract should be movable this season, without a doubt. So, that ‘mistake’ of not trading him to the kings at the deadline, isn’t really a ‘mistake’ unless this entire year goes by and we still are unable to trade him. I personally believe Donnie knows for a fact that he can trade Jeffries if he needs to.

    I have no idea what will happen with curry, but if we somehow move both of those contracts this season that everyone’s grade has to go up to A++++.

  • DinnerDog

    How about Jeffries and Lee (Signed at 9 or 10 per) for Ty Thomas and Brad Miller? Who doesn’t do that deal?

    Maybe the bulls trying to save for 2010, but I’ve got to say that’s a dangerous Bulls team with Rose, Hinrich, Salmons, Deng, Lee, Noah as your top 6.

  • JeffFinance123

    When Walsh took the job in June 2008 or whenever, he said, “I have 4 contracts to move before February 2010. That gives me 20 months to do”.

    You trade players when their stock is high and keep them when they are low. November 2008, Randolph and Crawford’s stock was high, Curry and Jeffries low. So he traded Zach and Jamal. Big time progress.

    Fans aren’t satisfied. They still want them traded right away. But Curry’s stock is still low until he gets on the court. Jeffries stock is midrange right now. I believe ideally Walsh wouldn’t mind keeping Jeffries and moving Curry. So he’s being cautious how he handles Jared.

    As far as Lee and Sessions, he simply doesn’t feel he has to rush. Ramon has few, if any, other options. Why not wait? Lee also is not going to get his huge payday so why not wait?

    Walsh is playing it smart. Patience. He probably knows he can move Jeffries whenever he wants and he knows Curry’s stock will rise once he gets back on the court. I personally believe, like Zach and Jamal, that Eddy will be very tradeable once he’s playing in November. There’s 29 other teams. 28 teams could laugh at Knicks offering Eddy, but they only need 1 to say yes and take his contract. I think someone will.

    Meanwhile, patience everyone. Patience.

  • bob go knicks

    waiting to sign sessions accomplishes nothing,sign him now so at least the team is ready to move on

  • jaknicksfan

    You are soo right, and to add to that Bosh is soft. Hes not a winner so NO THANKS

  • BiggieSmalls

    Very much so Chris. NO pressure. I didnt think that was your intent. It sounded off..

    much obliged.

    good article for the discussion of the viability of moving JJ who I still contend is terrible .. especially at his contract value.

    Im not sure what DW and MD think about JJ. They seem to give him a lot of burn and leeway. Perhaps because he IS a hard worker. Just a horrible ball player.

    I would not say he is much if any of a locker room presence.

    At this point if we include 3 mil in cash in a trade JJ’s number probably doesnt look so bad to a team that needs what he provides and can cover up his weaknesses.

  • jaknicksfan

    I have complete faith that D.W. knows what he is doing. He will sign Sessions at his price or not at all and as far as jeffries he will be traded by the Deadline. I would much rather be in this position of waiting than whatever disaster we would be in with Isiah thomas! at least we have a shot at LBJ/WADE/AMARE. WE just need patience and we will be a winner again. LETS GO KNICKS!

  • JeffFinance123

    Move on where? Why? So it gives you closure in your mind? There’s no rush. Go get some coffee and come back in a month or two.

  • parkerstrong

    I feel Sessions at 4 million is a steal….as long as the 2nd year isnt guaranteed he won’t hurt 2010. Walsh should do this….Sessions could even be used to help get rid of Curry/Jefferies if need be….

  • paulempson

    this is just exhausting

    tell us something we ALL dont know.

    Jeffries to Wiz aint gonna happen.

    Session , Lee , Nate … all those offers over the QO affect are cap hold.

    I think people realized last summer when we traded Crawford and Z-Bo that DW has a great chance to complete his goal. No wonder no one wants to help him. I mean…David Kahn , his old buddy , is bout to lose Rubio for good on a new 6 yr deal with FC Barcelona. Ok, it has a good buyout in 2011 but if the T Wolves suck …he aint coming. They know that is a risk. Stupid they dont move him now while value is high

    We will have to bank on players getting injured and better pray that every single NY players comes back in shape

    ESPECIALLY CURRY

  • Rene

    Paule I think they are going to be in shape because they saw what this system is about last year you have to be in shape,Curry has undergone alot to motivate him,Duhon is on the last leg of his deal.The whole team will be free agents next year practically so they want a deal.I allways hated to keep Jeffries his passing skills really suck and in this system you want to move the ball,I think DW has the Mobley deal which he can dump Jeffries anytime that’s why Jeff made a good call I don’t think they want Sessions.DW might get a pick out of fatso if he can play this year,it’s going to be interesting.

  • Jeff Cykiert

    amen to that.

  • BigTyme

    @ Chris; doesn’t seem as if D’Antoni has much say in the team personnel that he inherits, huh?

  • bob go knicks

    he only took like 12 3′s all of last year so i dont think you saw as many as you thought

  • bob go knicks

    so what happens when donnie walsh ends up with cap space? ………….he goes out and signs 2 players and then …guess what? no more cap space……then chris bosh hurts his leg “OUT FOR 1/2 A SEASON now we have no cap space and a shitty team and now we are beggin for zeke to comwe back(at least he wasnt tryn to fool anyone.its all a crap shoot boy n girls

  • ScottD

    I’m fine with Donnie staying put.

    The Knicks have already improved this summer by subtraction and addition.

    - Wilcox
    - Richardson
    + Hill (more upside than Wilcox)
    + Douglas (absolutely has what it takes to be the back up pg)
    + Milicic (blocks shots, can stretch out the opponents defense, low risk )
    + Gallinari (healthier)
    + Curry (healthier)

    If Sessions is such an asset, Donnie or another gm would have snatched him up already.

    Patience is a virtue.
    Come February, Jeffries could easily be traded to a contender who needs a versitile defender.

    Curry perhaps not as easily, but if he shows up and brings it, combined with all of the expiring contracts that we have, he could quite possibly be traded as well.

    Keep your chins up, it’s not the 1990′s yet, but we have departed the Abyss!

  • DinnerDog

    If you think that, then you will never be happy. Oh poor us, signing Lebron James and Chris Bosh. What if Bosh gets injured? What a waste of money!

  • Arputter

    I applaud Chris for bringing this up again bc this is really the biggest question for the franchise and most important thing Donnie Walsh could do this offseason would be to move Jeffries. With that said, I disagree with your evaluation of his game. Jeffries is no asset. He stinks at every facet of the game. People often praise his defense, but who can he guard? He is too slow to guard the quickest players in the league and too frail to guard the bigger ones. He is no stopper. He does not block shots, nor get steals. His lack of offensive game, far outweighs any plusses he might bring on the offensive side of the ball. I honestly think he might be the worst player in the league. I can’t think of anyone else who does not have one NBA-level skill, maybe Bobby Simmons now that he has no knees.