“…If you’re Knicks president Donnie Walsh, what’s specifically intoxicating about everything Manu has going for him is that, unlike LeBron and Wade, he figures to be infinitely more receptive to being amply romanced.
Think about it: Unlike LeBron and Wade, whose parent teams would’ve given them anything within the legal limit over the past year to get their signatures on extensions, the Spurs halted, or never began (I’m unsure), contract negotiations when Manu declined not to play for Argentina, and wound up needing surgery.
Naturally, the Spurs again are ardent suitors for Manu’s services. Had they changed their stance earlier, in all likelihood, he merely would take a token phone call or 10 from the posse that is bound to pursue him.
As it stands, there’s too much upbeat history with San Antonio to imagine it doesn’t remain Manu’s top choice…”
My only issue with signing Manu is deciding upon how much. I wouldn’t be interested in 13-14 million per year. That has Rangers signing Theo Fleury written all over it. But since Manu is making close to 11 this year, he’s going to ask for a raise. Unless it comes down to years. Maybe a 4 for $44?
Manu is a great player, but would be a great secondary piece to a superstar. If I’m Lebron or Wade, I know Manu can take a lot of pressure off me in the back court.
With Duncan, Parker and Jefferson under contract next season, I believe Mano signs with the Spurs. I prefer to get a veteran by way of a salary dump. Curry’s expiring contract might produce a Richard Hamilton or a Tayshaun Price or a Andre Iguodola or a Baron Davis or a Andris Biedrins, etc. Need to use the cap space to find established stars or inexpensive potential stars. Just an opinion.
Curry’s contract will be a huge asset next year (as would have been JJ’s contract, sigh).
Hamilton will make 12.65 per over the next 3 years. I rather pay Manu that amount.
Prince and Iguodala are too similar to Chandler. Not worth the money for not much of an upgrade.
I have always been a huge BD fan, but I don’t think he would be happy leaving his hometown. and he is on the books for about 14 mil per over the next 3 years. his contract doesn’t match Curry’s.
Is Biedris worth 9 mil per over the next 4 years. i dont know. I haven’t seen him much. Is he a very good defender?
i have had my eyes set on Okafor. His salary matches Curry’s next year. He is a true center that rebounds, plays D and can finish down low. I would love to see him play next to Gallo next year.
Prince. Dolla, Davis. Hamilton or Biedrins?? Team can do better than that. Curry’s deal is almost 12mil. With the economy and teams losing money, knicks should be able to do a pretty good deal involving younger players than the ones you mentioned. Those players Tou write about would be good additions if team were contending for a championship next season but reality is that team is going under a complete reconstruction that is going to take up to 3yrs.
Who would you rather get with Curry’s contract? name names.
Whether or not we contend next year will depend on who we sign.
Paul or more reluctantly Monta Ellis.
Monta may be gotten straight up with Curry.
paul is another story. The only possibility would be:
Lee sign and trade, Curry and Chandler or Gallo
for
Okafor and Paul
That would be a tough one and probably wouldn’t be done in the offseason, but during the season if NO gets off to a slow start.
Agreed. Can we get Paul with Curry if we take Okafor and add Chandler and someone else? Would it take Gallo? Curry’s contract will be a good piece next year, that’s for sure.
As far as Manu, I’m also one who’s hesitant because of injuries. Four years is a long time…
You gotta love Manu. The guy is a winner and a real intangible guy. really a derek Jeter type. Never the best player on the team, but is clutch as hell and puts up very good numbers that result in rings. Knicks can also offer him a steady starting role, something he has never had in San Antonio.
My only concern is his history of injury. The guy never plays a whole season. I just don’t know if I would give him more than 11 mil per. 4 for 44 is doable.
Man I dont want to waste money on a 33 year old injury prone player, he will want to to much money, we do need some solid vets to go along with the young guys but not him. But i agree curry’s contract is a big deal moving forward it can bring us a starting player or a few role players, It may not take 3 years to rebuild this team, we can at least be a 2 – 5 seed in one year in the east. I got a good feeling things will work out, even with out lebron, hes only one man! If the recent pistons and spurs teams can win rings with well blanced deep teams so can we!
Tim Duncan was a superstar when they won titles. MVP, or all NBA team type guy.
Pistons were the exception to the rule.
Name one other team in NBA history who won a title without a top 5 superstar?
too old with too much injury risk for a $44 million contract over 4 years…is this why we traded Jordan Hill, a pick swap option and a first round 2010 pick…to sign a 34 year old injury prone shooting guard for 4 years?
Totally agree-thank goodness Peter Vecsey is not involved with Knicks management.
A ridiculous idea by a ridiculous columnist.
“A ridiculous idea by a ridiculous columnist.”
that was ruthless
Yeah Manu is borderline great and I love his game but you can pretty much count on him missing ~15 games a year and can only play him about 25-28 minutes a game. Sure, he’d be a great asset to the team, but the Knicks can’t be going out and giving that kind of money commitment to a guy whose best role may be 6th man.
The Knicks can’t make him a top priority in the offseason. He should be more of a luxury or icing on the cake if/after they make their big splash moves.
Manu Ginobili is a GREAT player and probably a future Hall-of-Famer (it’s the BASKETBALL Hall-of-Fame) but he’s 33 years old.
He should be the “icing on the cake” but not a top priority as vinrummy said. Amare Stoudemire + David Lee + Manu Ginobili would be a very good summer.
“Amare Stoudemire + David Lee + Manu Ginobili” would be a wack summer imho.
Really?
I think the Knicks would be at least the 3rd best team in the East.
I mean think about it :
X
Ginobili
Gallinari
Lee
Stoudemire
+ Eddy Curry, Toney Douglas and Wilson Chandler as trade assets for a quality point guard (Devin Harris? Baron Davis? Monta Ellis? Ricky Rubio?) or another starter (Iguodala?).
I really like it.
Lee is not a four. he is an undersized 5. he is too freakin slow to guard a fours. lee is gone, or atleast i hope so and I love lee.
I agree – but Stoudemire could guard 4′s and switch if Lee’s struggling.
Lee a 5 ??
Need to be a shot blocker to be a good 5
Lee is not
To me, that is a massive failure. I really don’t like Amare.
he is NTGWN, Not That Good Without Nash
WOW! For a moment Mucha, I was looking for my canvas converse all-stars thinking you were penciling me in for the starting lineup for our thinks again! lol. But If I gotta guard the paint with Lee, I’m gonna foul out in 5 minutes.
I wouldn’t mind mind choking this coach though so all is not lost!
Obviously I’d rather have James, Wade and Bosh but if they don’t want to sign with the Knicks I’d settle for Amare, Lee and Ginobili. I don’t want to see DW sit on the money.
I read the article this morning and it is intriguing. I have always respected Vescey’s opinion, but I never really Ginobli as a Knick before. I think that Ginobli, Joe Johnson, Lee and McGrady would be 4 good signings this offseason while we wait for Carmello.
Signing an elder statesman like Manu makes absolutley no sense after giving up Jordan Hill and potential youth in a 2012 draft pick and a swap in 2011.
Ginobli is a good piece, but he is unreliable health-wise. I would love to have him, as he is the type of player that can be great for this offense, but he would have to come at less than 11 million per season.
By the way, I have said this for a while, and I will say it again… keep an eye on Jon Scheyer around draft time. With the Knicks holding two 2nd rounders, Scheyer might be worth the gamble. There is a chance he goes undrafted as well. He might not be a star, but aside from his lack of athleticism relative to his positional peers, I like his game a lot. He is a smart player that can handle it, shoot it, and defend it. He plays within himself and looks for the open man on offense. If you give him daylight, he will can a jumper in your face.
He will go under the radar because of his lack of athleticism, but his high basketball IQ would be a nice fit on this team, which kindly put, lacks overall basketball IQ.
After the JJ Reddick thing I am afraid of Dukies.
If Amare opts out, I do wonder if Bosh goes to Miami with Wade and Lebron stays, could the Knicks sign Joe Johnson and Amare? Also, could they sign Camby for the mid-level exception(around 6 million), also, could they also trade Douglas, Chandler, Walker and Curry’s contract for Arenas? Yes the Wiz won’t void his contract, but that does not mean they won’t try to trade him and Douglas and Chandler would fit the Wiz team. Douglas, Josh Howard(if they sign him), Chandler, Blatche and McGee would be a young and very good defensive team. Knicks starting 5 would be Arenas, Johnson, Gallo or T-Mac at the 3(probably Gallo), Amare and Camby.
Maybe instead of Arenas, they could trade curry’s contract along with maybe Chandler for Baron Davis, along with doing the rest of what i said.