Monthly Archives: August 2009
Via Dime Mag:
“On this rainy and dreary day in New York City this afternoon, Stephen Jacksonand Al Harrington were at South Street Seaport for a block party put on by their sneaker company Protege. One of the MCs at the event asked Stack Jack in front of the crowd whether he thought the Warriors were going to make the playoffs. Jackson paused then smiled before responding, “Um…I don’t think I’ll be a Warrior next year. I’m looking to leave.”
Harrington, who was standing beside Jackson, was gleaming with joy at this statement. As you all know, the two were teammates with each other for the Warriors and Harrington left on bad terms with the team – particularly Don Nelson. I asked Harrington if Jackson’s statement shocked him. He laughed then responded, “No I wasn’t surprised. We talk all the time so I knew already. Honestly sometimes you need a change and I hope this change is to come out to New York – that would be nice.”
After they posed for pictures with fans, I was able to ask Jackson more about his bold statement. (more…)
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.
Plenty to talk about including the Sessions situation, as well as the latest on David Lee and Nate Robinson.
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Kevin McElroy of knickerblogger gives a year-round summary of Donnie 
Walsh. It’s worth checking out as grades are given for each move.
“…All told, Walsh’s tenure got off to a promising start but has suffered from several moments of seeming hesitance to take the final plunge and commit to any one comprehensive strategy. Walsh has clearly leaned toward building for the future at the expense of the present, which is a welcome change from the Isiah era, but his unwillingness to part with anyone of value as a pot-sweetener in the unloading of bad contracts has stunted the Knicks progress toward an ideal 2010 cap situation. As it stands, the team has a top-flight coach and more young talent and long-term financial flexibility than anyone could have realistically expected 16 months ago. But one worries that Walsh has hedged his bets a bit too much and will fall short of a free agent jackpot next summer.
Overall Grade: B
I vehemently disagree with the Gallinari grade, and we have to be fair about the trade up to the Wizards. There was no reason to believe that Rubio, the target, was going to slip to 5, and Chandler and the 8th pick, which I believe was the reported offer, if true, was too much to give up to move up a few spots in my opinion. Although it’s close. Had they made that deal, I wouldn’t have been all that upset.But the Wizards did get two NBA ready players in Mike Miller and Randy Foye, a deal they may have liked better.
To me Donnie’s biggest error thus far is not trading Jeffries and Nate to Sacramento, if that was in fact on the table on deadline day. I understand the holdup could have been Nate and losing him would have cost the team a playoff chance, which fell by the waste side anyway, but it’s tough to have it both ways. Plus, losing Nate may have resulted in a better draft pick. Again, assuming Walsh did turn the deal down.
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It’s tough to really feel bad for Dwyane Wade, based on the fact that he’s 
been playing games with the Heat in terms of next summer. But, in his defense, the selection of Michael Beasley was a terrible one for the organization. Granted, he was clearly the second best talent in last year’s draft, but the problems that Beasley’s going through now are nothing new.
I was at the rookie symposium, which took place at Doral Arrowood in Rye Brook, NY, last year on different business, when two players were punished for marijuana. Rumors were that Beasley was hiding in the bathroom when the other two players Darrell Arthur and Mario Chalmers were caught in the room.
And I was told from staffers that Beasley was offering to pay employees to take him off campus to search for nocturnal entertainment.
Anyway, Fanhouse wonders how the recent events will impact Wade’s tenure in Miami. (more…)
The Knicks suddenly don’t own the top 5 brutal contracts in the NBA, but as BDL’s Kelly Dwyer points out, they still have two of the worst free agent signings of the decade on the roster. (Finger point to Magik_Trick for the link)
“…1. Eddy Curry
Eddy’s had some personal problems of late, so we’ll lay off the lame jokes, but he shoots to the top of this list for a number of reasons.
Paramount of which is the fact — fact, mind you — that Curry does have a heart condition that could be termed as “life threatening,” enough so that the Chicago Bulls were willing to pay Curry a stipend for a couple of decades just to retire and take care of himself. Thomas didn’t care about that, nor did he care about the fact that any deal he signed Curry to would be uninsured. Six years, $60 million for a guy who doesn’t really enjoy the game. Much less defending, rebounding, blocking shots or passing.
Update 1:00pm
…described perfectly by Hahn, who also reminds us that Lee’s qualifying 
offer would expire October 1st making a holdout relatively senseless.
“…What I found more interesting is that Bartelstein, whom I have talked to regularly thoughout this process, reveals (assumingly on the record) that the sides actually have an agreement of sorts in place:
“All we’ve agreed is if we can’t do a sign-and-trade, we will work out a reasonable one-year deal.”
That doesn’t sound like grounds for a hold-out. In fact, that’s quite encouraging to think a “reasonable” one-year deal will be worked out if a S&T can’t be accomplished.
Ben Gordon went through this with the Chicago Bulls, but in that case the team was holding firm on the QO after Gordon turned down a multi-year offer.Gordon accepted his QO right before it expired.
What would a hold-out accomplish for Lee? Very little. Would the Knicks really feel pressured to trade him if they start the season without him? Uh, have you seen the roster? It’s not like they’re battling for the division title here. And, quite frankly, Lee was there last season for 32 wins. I know that’s harsh. But it is reality. So you thrust rookie Jordan Hill into more reps, ready-or-not. This season is going to be all about developing (and showcasing) the young talent that is here…”
Also, Chris Reina, RealGM’s capologist, talks about the Lee and Nate 2010 scenario should both be retained on qualifying or one-year offers. (more…)
The following piece was sent by Gym Rat Billy O. As always, submissions are 
always welcome. Please send to theknicksblog@gmail.com
“…Around 11 pm last night, Robinson tweeted, “I wonder if I could get a twitter group in the garden this year, like in college a student section?” Perhaps this was just something to get his tweeps pumped up about following him, but he followed this up with, “I need all my real tweep…when ever u come to the knick game wear a iam follow n nate robinson on twitter tshirts,” and “Iama, name my son Knick Carter Robinson if I have a boy.” It appears that Robinson may be towing the line of telling Knick fans that a deal is imminent without angering Walsh by making private business public.
The other possibility, however, is that Robinson recognizes the Knicks’ one-year qualifying offer as his only true option and he is trying to psych himself up for the ego blow. Despite his prolific scoring capabilities, Robinson’s height is a liability on defense, and his questionable leadership skills have not been helped by the immaturity that he has displayed off the court this summer… read more.“
NY Post is reporting that RFA DAvid Lee is ready, willing and able to sit out of training camp next month if he is not yet inked to a new deal:
“The agent for David Lee would not rule out the possibility of his client being an unsigned contract holdout when Knicks training camp opens Sept. 28.
“Bartelstein said Lee will not accept the $2.5 million qualifying offer and dismissed rumblings Lee has been offered a one-year deal between $5 million and $6 million.
“Bartelstein said there has yet been a firm offer but added Walsh is not pushing for Lee to sign the one-year qualifier.”
I am used to this type of stuff when it comes to NFL players, but I can’t remember the last time a NBA player tried to pull something like a camp holdout.
Look: I understand Lee’s position, and I don’t fault him for asking to have some sort of security in place before he hits the gym floor, but at the same time, come on…I mean, I’m sorry you didn’t get your contract, I am a big fan of Lee, but at this point, as reality now has (or at least should have) set in, shouldn’t Lee’s focuss be on “proving all those nay-sayers wrong” or one of those “im extra motivated because my agent told me I would make more money than I did” tactics?
I guess Lee holds the cards here, so Donnie needs to — and I am confident he will — step up and make the necessary moves to bring Lee in on Day One. Otherwise, this drawn out process is going to get entirely more drawn out…
I can understand the fan’s frustrations about the fact that the team has failed
to make a huge splash this summer. I like action as much as the next guy. But it’s clear that Ramon Sessions isn’t a get at all costs type of player.
With no apparent sit downs planned, the Knicks may move on as Donnie Walsh isn’t prepared to dig too far deep into the 2010 budget for Sessions. We should have seen this coming, I mean if he’s not doing it for David Lee or Nate Robinson, why would he do it for another player who isn’t a proven winner and who also has limitations?
But my question is why wouldn’t Sessions agree to a significant payraise for this year and less for next? Why wouldn’t he want a guaranteed starting spot with the Knicks, without blocking a path for a major free agent next year? I mean the guy was in the D League two years ago. To be fair, I guess I could say the same for Lee. (more…)
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