Bird: Walsh has Set the Stage

by Tommy Dee on April 8th, 2010 at 8:07 am

Via Daily News

“…He has set himself up to have a great summer,” Bird told the Daily News Wednesday, before his Pacers hosted the Knicks at Conseco Fieldhouse. “He’s created a great opportunity to get some great players. Now, he might not get them all this year. But he’s set that franchise up to get them, and you know that’s a team that will spend the money.”

As Knicks president, Walsh has carved out enough cap space over the last two seasons via trades to accommodate two marquee talents. His plan has not come pain-free, with the Knicks losing in Indiana last night, 113-105, for their 50th loss of the season and fourth 50-loss season in the last five years.

But Bird, who coached for Walsh and then succeeded him as the Pacers’ top basketball executive when Walsh went to New York, thinks that Walsh has gone about rebuilding the right way…”

  • Knicks94

    Darn, if Bird was only 30 years younger could Walsh offer him a max contract to sign with the Knicks this summer.

  • DatNewYorker

    Although I think Walsh has done an amazing job getting us under the cap I have doubt. I am thinking that he has done all of this for a disappointing summer. I think the Knicks will have to wait another year or two before we will be ready to make a run for a ring. What most D’Antoni supporters don’t understand that this is still a BIG MANS league. If you don’t have the size to stop penetration inside the paint you won’t stand a chance at winning. We got to build teams to stop Lebron James. Just like a few years ago when every team on the east looked for a BIG to stop or slow down Shaq. To win the east you have to stop LBJ and God did not create a man on earth bad enough to stop him from driving to the basket at will. So you must defend the paint. It doesn’t look good for us. If we don’t get Lebron then plan B and plan C may just fall apart also. Wade and Bosh are not showing any interest in the Knicks. Joe Johnson would rather stay in ATL if he has to be the number on option here in NY. Ginobli is close to re-signing with the spurs. The same goes for Carlos Boozer. To be honest the only two players that can take on the pressure of playing in NY is Lebron and Wade. The rest of the Free agents don’t want any part of the challenge. I guess we will have to wait Chris Paul so we might as well get him the players that he can play with in 2011.

  • Knicks4life

    Nice person to listen to in regards to how to rebuild a team. What is the Pacers record again?

  • thebossandbenji76

    I think what I read in one of the papers yesterday is true that lebron and wade will stay where they are, bosh will go to the bulls and Amare to Miami. I could see Joe Johnson coming, I could see Camby coming and I could see the Knicks getting Rudy Gay, i know he is a RFA, but if the Knicks throw a big offer at him, i think griz will have a tough time matching the offer, when they are one of the worst teams in terms of attendance in the Nba, there also could be sign and trade possibility there also, whether it’s chandler going the other way or whatever. So what could be Douglas-1, Johnson- 2, gallo or gay at the 3 and 4 spots, camby at the 5, will also be interesting to see if curry gets a buyout, maybe the knicks get 2 mil of it or gets traded for a bigger contract.

  • http://www.reeltalkblog.com Shakespeare

    i hope we bring in mullin before the draft….he’s an excellent basketball mind, and knows what guys fits d’antoni’s system after getting them for nellieball’s system which is pretty similar….randolph, ellis, biedrins, etc….

  • http://www.reeltalkblog.com Shakespeare

    AND CAN SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME WHY IN GOD’S NAME IS DUHON STILL STARTING?????? douglas outplays him every single fkn game…they say for defensive matchups???are u f’n serious???since when is duhon a better defender than douglas???lol, f’outta here….they say duhon is bigger to matchup against gordon???umm douglas has like 15-20 pounds of muscle on duhon…..gottta b kidding me….douglas w/o a doubt is a better defender….and jus off the fact that duhon WON’T be here next yr, we shld give douglas the starting experience if we think he’s the pg of the future….ish jus completely baffles me….idk what d’antoni is thinking sometimes….reelly don’t…

    and sorry to say, but thank god al’s out for the rest of the yr, now we can actually see guys run up and down, and the ball move….def can’t stand al, gallo can be 10-10, and al will still chuck up the rock…def neeeever feeds the hot hand…mf thinks he’s lebron or suttin….f’outta here….PEACE OUT AL, FEEL FREE TO TAKE YOUR BEHIND BACK TO THE SLUMS OF NJ, TO PLAY FOR THOSE NYETS NEXT SEASON…..HAHAHA

  • DatNewYorker

    The anouncers were saying the same thing about why is Duhon starting over Douglas. Poor judgement by DAntoni again and again. Tommy Dee won’t write about that though. With so little time left for Douglas to get experience the so called coach decides to play Duhon over him. Hello?

  • DatNewYorker

    As long as D’Antoni is coaching here we will be settling for mediocrity. The only way we can win a ring with the D’Antoni system is if you have the USA Olympic basketball team. D’Antoni system is just entertainment but is not to be taken seriously. I am sure he will be fired before his contract is up if we don’t get Lebron or Wade.

  • Knicks4life

    D’Antoni’s refusal to use any of the bigs on the roster earlier this season (Hill, Darko) and his love for Duhon are beyond baffling.

  • DVJ

    Larry Legend is 100% correct.

  • fauci933

    Can you type coherently? It hurts trying to read your comments, and I’m actually interested as to what they say.

  • http://www.reeltalkblog.com Shakespeare

    lol, sorry that’s my angry typing, lol…trying not to curse or type in caps….i do apologize for the rant, but i’m sure you can figure out exactly what i’m trying to say…

  • DVJ

    Damn Knicks4life…..

    LBJ2010 ripped you a new one in the last thread lol.

    He made some great points also.

    When you say
    “This season has been a disappointment. Based on our current roster and previous moves I see no hope or room for optimism.”

    Then turn right around and say
    “. Therefore, it is mandatory that we sign a player who can carry a franchise on his back (LBJ, Wade, maybe Bosh) otherwise we are in serious trouble for the next five years.”

    The fact that we are in a position to sign one of those players or even 2 of those players….that’s not positive?
    When was the last time we had any kind of cap space?
    That’s not positive?
    How many wins did you think the Knicks would win this year….40? LOL

    Great job LBJ2010

    No shots Knicks4life…I’m sure other people were wondering the same thing when they was reading your post.

    Get it together baby…….

  • Jack D

    It would be sweet if the Hornets win the lottery and draft Wall. Then they’ll have 3 great pg’s and it would make even more sense to trade CP3.

  • Dylan

    I agree that its ridiculous, but here is why I think Duhon is starting. I think the Knicks are really trying to evaluate David Lee over the last couple games. David Lee hasn’t played PF for the past couple years. I think the Knicks want to see how he can play with a true center, and a distributer at PG. Douglas still doesn’t really know how to run the offense yet.

  • Jack D

    yeah, duhon has no business playing in these last few games.

  • fauci933

    I thought the Pacers were doing it the way everyone here want the Knicks to do it…through draft picks. Granger, Hibby, McRoberts, Rush, all while signing some role players and such. Wait a second, you don’t always draft stars? I thought draft picks were supposed to result in big stars? No way, draft picks could turn out to be totally average players?

    Okay yeah, Granger puts up great stats (but on a bad team), but he hasn’t proven he can lead a team to a winning season or even an 8 seed. Sounds like another late first-rounder to me.

  • DVJ

    I’d rather trade Chandler to Minny for Rubio if they win the Wall contest.

  • Jack D

    But its Kahn a.k.a Vince McMahon we’re talking about.

  • NoVaCaInE

    If NO gets the No. 1 pick there is no way they’d take John Wall. Wall is not better than CP3. Hell he’s not even better than Collison. Wall is so overrated! He’s not even NBA ready and would be smart to stay in school for another year. The smart choice would be Evan Turner who IMO will have the better career. If you can trot out a line up of CP3, Turner, Peja, West, and Okafor. NO would be in great shape. Let’s think logical guys…

  • Mal

    I rally dont think that was D’Antoni’s system JMHO in the Olympics. They played a structure offense I didnt notice 7SOL and we know Boeheim and McMillan were the defensive gurus

    I hope when Mike is exposed next year that we get an offensive guru who knows how to adjusts to your players and preaches defense

  • Boots

    T Doug is still getting his minutes, and I agree that, despite his shortcomings, Duhon still runs certain plays better than TD. Not starting saves TD from early foul trouble, and allows him to be in at the end of the game. (Remember the old coach’s adage: It is not who starts, but who finishes in a close game) He does spend time on the court with Duhon where he can play a combo role which he seem more suited for. He can also play tougher defense when he is in the combo role. You can’t have your point guard in foul trouble and on the bench, just as you can’t have your most prolific scorer at this point (Lee) in foul trouble and off the floor.

    Tough defense and play-making don’t necessarily go together unless there is another good playmaker on the bench or on the floor. It was interesting to watch the Duhon, TD, S-Rod three guard rotation while T-Mac was out. I thought it was pretty effective at times.

  • Anandp1001

    Great points by Boots and Dylan. Never even thought about it in terms of TD’s foul troubles and an evaluation of DLee w/ a center and a distributer. Thanks for shedding some light.. because i was 100% baffled by that change at the 1 starter by MDA as well lol

  • Anandp1001

    Rudy is unhappy in Portland; think he’d be happier in NYC where there is a larger Spanish community, and a better opportunity to play starters minutes?

    We’re overloaded at the 3 (will keep B Walker and will have #6 hopefully next year)

    I know portland is loaded at the 3 also with Martell and Batum, but a 3 team deal is always possible.. darren collison is not the most likely guy to be moved, but something like:

    Chandler to NO
    Collison to Portland
    Fernandez to NY

    would work I believe

  • bob go knicks

    Its okay though,i heard that Glenn Rice wanted to come here

  • bob go knicks

    no you got that wrong.He isnt a great basketball mind,its “He has the mind of a basketball”

  • Mucha

    I’d much rather trade Chandler for Collison.

  • Jack D

    I don’t follow college ball, but everyone is saying that Wall is the number 1 pick. So logic is telling me if you have the number 1 pick, you take the best player available.

  • ds2488

    Walsh has set the stage…now we just sit back and watch the show. It could be great, it could be very underwhelming.

    I think overall we are in a solid position. We got 2 good young players in Wilson and Gallo, room for 2 great players or 1 great player and some good role players, 2 decent bench players in Walker and Douglas. We just need Mike Dantoni to begin coaching again, something he hasn’t done all year. And the continued development of Gallo and Chandler.

    Then we might be a solid team, assuming that Bosh or Johnson will definitely come and maybe Wade/Lebron.

  • Jack D

    Chandler is much more complete than Rudy. I’d pass. And I agree with Mucha. I’d rather have Collison.

  • Mucha

    Good post.

    You can’t rebuild exclusively through the draft unless 1. You are bad enough to get a top 5 pick a couple years in a row/in the same draft (OKC, Portland) 2. You surprisingly win the lottery (Portland, Chicago) 3. You hit the jackpot (Cavs, Spurs).

    The Knicks haven’t been in a position to rebuild through the draft since Patrick Ewing because they were not bad/lucky enough! The Lakers and the Celtics built through the draft (Kobe Bryant, Paul Pierce), FA signings (Shaquille O’Neal, Boston’s bench) and trades (Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen). The Knicks didn’t have enough assets to build a championship team with a couple of trades – I think clearing capspace was mandatory.

  • CircleLimit4

    I think it would be nuts for Walsh not to take a crack at Lebron/Wade. Those players with their combination of talent, athleticism and leadership, especially Lebron are once in a generation. Whether is was worth the Hill/Jeffries trade is a completely separate matter.

    I just hope that if Walsh can land Lebron or Wade, he has enough sense to stay away from Joe Johnson and Amar’e.

  • http://dagawdknowledge.blogspot.com/ DaGawD_KnowLedge

    if LBJ signs an extension
    DONNIE 2010 plan is over.

    an i’ll be rite once again…

    goodluck DONNIE n DANNI BOY on success…

  • http://dagawdknowledge.blogspot.com/ DaGawD_KnowLedge

    here are the players i think will be back
    AL
    DUHON
    WALKER

    i think donnie resigns them all…

  • http://dagawdknowledge.blogspot.com/ DaGawD_KnowLedge

    the knicks got nothing but inconsistent young players
    with a coach that can’t help them at all..

    gallo an chandler are almost the same only gallo is a better shooter but they both have good games every 10-15 games..

    GOODLUCK to all the players an DONNIE BOY on his great plan of 2010..

    lmao…

  • LBJ2010

    Are you even a Knick fan? All your posts make it seem like you want the plan to fail just so you can pat yourself on the back for being right.

  • YO SON

    This clown of a gm/president would think walsh has gone about rebuilding the right way ……like dude said look at his success in the front office he’s had…….are u serious…….how does he still have a job………trading your 8th overall lottery pick in the 2009 draft and swapping 2011 and 2012 picks and trading a valuable asset in 2011 is great gm’n……wtf…..that’s rebuilding…..I thought rebuilding was building threw the draft….like DRAFTING collison instead of trading your best 2 way “baller” on your team for him…..why would you trade Chandler or Galonari when NO is in a crossroad decision making period….I thought getting robbed in the JJ deal was so in the future you can be the aggressor and do the robbing….Jerry West or Rob Thorn would never do this deal…they probably wouldn’t do that 4 CP3 and still get CP3…matter fact they would have traded nate and jj last year 2 Sac which was a legit trade(walsh apologist) ..but 2 slow walsh backed out thinking he can get a first round pick back also as if he really has that kind of juice ie. West and Thorn……..and btw..rubio is not worth Mr Wilson or the Rooster even walsh saw that last draft……….

  • LB2NYplz

    Im interested in the Knicks acquiring Darren Collison From the Hornets.
    I would do a deal of chandler + currys expiring contract + a pick FOR collison + peja/or okafor

    if everything goes somehwhat as planned I only expect
    gallinari
    walker
    douglas and posssibly barron
    to be back.

  • fauci933

    Agreed. And I’m sorry, but I do not believe in tanking games for a better lottery percentage. It compromises what’s left left of this league’s integrity, and it’s pretty much cheating. I’m glad we haven’t tanked the past couple of seasons, we may not be playing well but at least we’re playing honestly.

  • bmathews77

    Totally with you on that one. When Cleveland did that to get Lebron that year I despised the league to allow it. It was so obvious they were tanking to get Lebron. Even the coach at the time, John Lucas admitted to it because they were trading away they’re good players. That’s one reason I can’t stand the Cavs and just for that I hope they never ever win an NBA title because they really don’t deserve it.

  • fauci933

    That’s what most young players are…inconsistent. Chandler has gotten a bit more consistent over the years, and I can see Gallo developing a bit more quickly. They really aren’t the same, and they have good games way more often than every 10-15 games that’s just ridiculous. Hey at least Donnie has the balls to go all out for this FA class, instead of waiting and drafting most likely average to above average players in the draft.

    At least he has a plan, rather than everyone’s solution to just “wait” because our picks that would probably have been in the 6th to 12th range are apparently going to be game changing superstars. Wait, there are two game changers in this FA class?…and a whole bunch of all-star sidekicks?…and we know they can play and win in the NBA? Why would we go after them, when there are so many unproven college players we could take a chance on? Hmmm…

  • fauci933

    Yea apparently being right about being a super pessimist is more important than putting a good team on the floor.

    I can’t wait to see what all these people do if 2010 works out really well. They should be banished as fans for being such haters. I understand being a realist, but some of these people are just spewing hate.

  • Mucha

    15.3 points per game/5.4 rebounds per game + our biggest trade asset + another draft pick for a rookie point guard and a terrible contract??

    No way!! And I like Collison!

  • DVJ

    Why would the Hornets trade Collison?

  • DVJ

    Your out of your mind LB2NYplz

    That trade makes no sense.
    Aren’t you tired of getting the shaft in trades?

    Time to turn a new page in this organization.

  • k-hodge

    Whoaaaaa…Wilson/Eddys expiring AND A pick for Collison and a bad contract? That’s a tadddddd much. We’re in the drivers seat on this one. I’d try to give them Eddys expiring and see if they bite. We’d probably have to take back Okafor (Im not a fan, but he’s not horrible), If I give up Wilson, I want Peja’s back instead because thats a little shorter.

  • DVJ

    Harrington is going to get the mid level from someone and it won’t be us.

    Remove him off this list.

    I agree with Walker though.

  • DVJ

    The sooner you guys learn to ignore certain posters, the better off you’ll be.

  • Anandp1001

    Looks like we’re SOL if we want Daniel Orton; if Presti and OKC wants him, then Im sure hes about to be on a lot of ppl’s radar.

    Getting a guy like Okafor or Biedrins in exchange for Curry is not a great get… if we were to do something like that, we would have to get an additional asset as well. I dont have a problem with trading Eddy for one of those centers + an asset because both those guys are mobile bigs who can protect the paint. Any way you slice it, with DW running the ship, if we can get Wade or LeBron, then im sure the rest will be done correctly to build a contender for next year by the time the trade deadline hits (PEACE OUT you fat POS eddy curry!!)

  • starksoakmase

    Why would you rather trade Chandler for an unproven PG in Rubio with some serious flaws (speed and shooting) instead of a guy who has proven he can play in the NBA in Collison?

    Doesn’t make sense.

  • RandomKnicksFan

    seriously dagawd, i think you would be disappointed if we landed lebron. I think whatever the knicks do, even win a championship, you will always be an ignorant hater

  • Mucha

    LMAO at Chandler and Gallo having good games “every 10-15 games”

  • bob go knicks

    Rubio=S-Rod

  • Knicks4life

    Been working all day, didn’t even read LBJ 2010′s response/post. Will get to it now. Based on what you wrote here, should be entertaining.

  • bob go knicks

    yeah!we should throw in a couple of draft picks

  • Knicks4life

    That is what you call “ripping someone a new one”. Are you serious?

    Just because I am not optimistic about us signing LBJ or Wade (the only two players that can carry a franchise completely on their backs) this summer, you think that I somehow contradicted myself. LBJ 2010 had a “great post”?

    Ah well, you know what they say about arguing with fools . . .How was DR?

  • Knicks4life

    DVJ, the king of the contradiction.

    I would like to have Collison on this team though. He’s a very good young PG that we would be a good piece going forward. Depending on his this summer goes Chandler will be expendable anyway. But no more trading of draft picks.

  • Knicks4life

    If Lee goes this summer Okafur wouldn’t be a terrible replacement. His contract is awful but not too many legitimate starting centers will be available come summer time.

  • Knicks4life

    Okafur is an average player (used to be slightly above average) but I’m not so sure who else you guys think we can get in here to play center on a legitimate playoff team (unless everyone was happy with debacable of this season).

    Biedrins on the other hand would be a great move for Curry’s contract (assuming we already have two max FAs locked up). I really like that kids game. We should also think about a S & T for Felton (after locking up the two max FAs).

  • Mucha

    “I just hope that if Walsh can land Lebron or Wade, he has enough sense to stay away from Joe Johnson and Amar’e”

    Why should he stay away from JJ and Amare?

    If Wade/LeBron sign with the Knicks they’ll probably ask for an All-Star second option – they won’t leave CLE and MIA just to play with two promising young players and the 2011 FA class isn’t deep.

  • Hydr0

    Exactly why people shouldn’t “feel bad” for Cleveland when LeBron leaves

  • BiggieSmalls

    they’ll move either CP3 or collison this summer

  • blackwood

    My blog friend Ds2488…….Wade is not an option Wade is not an option Wade is not an option!! I hope I was clear with that lol. That name should be crossed out of the FA market as far as Knick fans go. He has ZERO interest in the Knicks and, he is the king of south beach why would he come here when miami can offer and will offer the most money? The only other place with any shot at him is the bulls!

    If the hornets are silly enough to want to keep CP3 I would gladly offer a lesser package for Collison! To bad we did not trade down during the draft we could of had him already and a big!! OH WELL THANKS DONNIE!

    Joe Johnson? really?? really?? you guys are getting yourselves ready to say donnie hit a home run on a signing like that? Geeez Allen Houston 2.0 over paid under talented, good not great!!

  • HaS

    “And I’m sorry, but I do not believe in tanking games for a better lottery percentage. It compromises what’s left left of this league’s integrity, and it’s pretty much cheating. I’m glad we haven’t tanked the past couple of seasons, we may not be playing well but at least we’re playing honestly.”

    Uh… I thought the Knicks essentially did the same thing these last two years to get under the cap. The organization went nearly 2 full seasons without a backup point guard or a legitimate big man. Losing 50 games consecutive seasons while not trying to make a trade or free agent signing to improve the team could be viewed by some as “tanking”.

  • HaS

    “The sooner you guys learn to ignore certain posters, the better off you’ll be.”

    Even a broken watch is right twice a day.

  • HaS

    They’ll move Collison in an effort to improve the team and go forward with Paul or move Paul in a salary dump to save the owner some money.

  • blackwood

    I dont think it is hating to say donnie has not done a good job I just think it is clear to see, and denial to refute! You blow a LOTTERY pick then try to justify it by saying you see him being Amare like! Only to trade him in the same year to clear cap room thet you may spend on “Amare” or may not even need as far as two max FA’s this off season (free agency is starting to look ugly) Wade was never an option, LBJ is starting to look like a no go, Manu just resigned, Boozer blah, Joe Johnson umm its Joe Johnson!!, Bosh is IMO going to end up on the heat or something big and out of the blue may happen with the Rockets! Gay eeeh he is good but over pay???

    After that theres the “he is a genius for clearing the cap space nobody else could have done it” crowd. Those same exact players where turned around and traded “those same players” (who by the way would also be expiring in 2011) so it was not walking on water or turning water to wine.

    So if you put it all together he crapped away two seasons one LOTTERY pick shuffled two other picks all while having his fingers crossed hoping on Lebron rather then maximizing LOTTERY picks. Bottom line all this throwing away 2 seasons blowing then trading a LOTTERY pick was all in hopes of landing LBJ!! That flexibility crap is excuse making made by those who see the LBJ play fading away like Ewing in the playoffs!! lol

    In the end I am a Knicks fan not a donnie fan not a MD fan a KNICKS fan and I demand as much from management and the coach as I do of the players!! If I can get on here and call out Lee for sucking azz on defense I can get on here and blow up donnie for blowing the draft and not attempting to get some size from the D league a LOOOONG time ago! Same way I can rip MD for being a damn looser while running this team by not playing rookies and sticking with doo doo way to long!

    2011 is not the year of donnie because every big contract he traded would have been gone in 2011 so how does he get credit for that?

  • Chris Alvino

    Interesting names declaring for draft.

    Most interesting to me is Willie Warren, considering it is being reported that he is set to sign with an agent, meaning that he is definitely going pro. After a starry freshman campaign, Warren had a down year this past season, in large part due to the spotlight being centered on him. In most mock drafts, he is slated to fall (mock drafts don’t mean much though).

    If Walsh can nab a pick in the 20′s this summer, Warren would look good in a Knicks’ uniform playing off the ball. He has incredible talent and could really thrive with professional level talent surrounding him.

    Just a thought….

  • fauci933

    That’s one way to look at it I guess. Except Nate played backup PG a bunch, and while I know everyone hates on him, Lee was viewed as our big man by a lot of people, and while his stats may be inflated, they are enough to make it seem like he is one hell of a big man. Also we had Curry as our center, however, he was injured most of the time. We also had Z-Bo as a big and Craw in the backcourt; however, they were traded because yea they were bad contracts, but they were also black holes in NY because each thought they were the best player. I mean yea we cleared cap space, but we got other players in return in those trades, we got Tim Thomas, Larry Hughes, S-Rod, Walker, T-Mac, etc. It’s not like we traded those players for absolutely nothing. It’s actually nothing like tanking games.

  • fauci933

    Well I don’t think Wade is coming either, but as far as reasons to leave? I don’t think anyone but him can really speak to his interest in the Knicks. Granted it might be lower on the totem pole than Miami or Chicago, but no one really knows until the summer. The King of South Beach sure doesn’t attract too many fans to his games by the way. The Knicks are much worse than the Heat and fans still pack the garden. Miami seats are always empty, it’s gotta get annoying at some point.

    Oh and I’m sure as GM you would’ve had the foresight to trade down from the 8th pick to get Darren Collison, because I’m sure you knew he’d turn out the way he has. Hindsight is 20/20, stop acting like Donnie was dumb because he didn’t trade down to get Collison. He already admitted he made a mistake with Hill, we need to get over it. No one said it would be a home run, but it certainly would be a standup triple to get Johnson and Bosh at the right prices.

  • fauci933

    Much agreed.

  • fauci933

    Because everyone signed on for 2010. You can have your opinions on the FA class of 2010, but fact of the matter is that it is the deepest and best FA class in a while, and a great opportunity to try to better our team. Yea anyone could have waited till 2011, but the plan most everyone agreed on was 2010 and getting a shot at LeBron (which is not out of the picture until he resigns with Cleveland). Donnie knew what, despite your rants, most NYers wanted out of him when he came on, and that was to be players in 2010 FA, and that’s what he did. If it doesn’t work out, then so be it, at least he had the balls to go all out and sacrifice his entire reputation to potentially make the Knicks the heart of NY again.

  • HaS

    “That’s one way to look at it I guess. Except Nate played backup PG a bunch”

    Not true.

    ” and while I know everyone hates on him, Lee was viewed as our big man by a lot of people”

    Lee is not and never will be a center.

    “Also we had Curry as our center, however, he was injured most of the time.”

    LOL if he’s injured how is he “our center”? He never played!

    “I mean yea we cleared cap space, but we got other players in return in those trades, we got Tim Thomas, Larry Hughes, S-Rod, Walker, T-Mac, etc.”

    Tim Thomas isn’t a point guard or a center, Hughes came part of last year and was in the doghouse/not playing most of the year before being traded this one. also not a center or a point guard.

    S-Rod, Walker, T-Mac all came after the season was already over/”tanked”.

  • HaS

    Most people who endorse the 2010 plan call these last 2 years “throwaways”.

    You can’t have it both ways.

  • Sharp Elbow

    I love listening to all the gripes about Walsh. I’m not in love with the Jefferies trade, but I’m going to reserve judgment until the end of July. He’s said it’s all about this summer, so I’ll wait. I seem to remember many of you last summer whining how you couldn’t live without Ramon Sessions. Haven’t heard much about him in some time.

  • HaS

    “at least he had the balls to go all out and sacrifice his entire reputation to potentially make the Knicks the heart of NY again.”

    That and $2.25 will get you on the subway,

  • HaS

    ” I seem to remember many of you last summer whining how you couldn’t live without Ramon Sessions. Haven’t heard much about him in some time.”

    If you haven’t noticed we lost 50 games this year, so I wouldn’t be proclaiming victory by passing on a pure point guard when we still don’t have one.

  • x-man

    I;’m kinda with you on this in terms of Walsh gets an incomplete form me until I see who he brings in prior to next season.

    Yet, Walsh he’s a “D” at best for bringing in D’Antoni and having him do such an awful job. We should be further along evaluating our youth and developing players like Chander, Gallo and TD.

    This coach is gonna get run out of town next year when real expectation finally catches up to him. How many audition do Duhon needs to see what he is and isn’t? Does D’antoni want Duhon to put a word in for him to coach after Mike K leaves?

  • x-man

    Didn’t Isiah do that? Isiah thought he was staring in trading places! It’s about getting the job done not IFS? That’s what the Mets do! lol

  • ds2488

    Whats up Blackwood, how you doing man? I think Wade is definitely more of an option than anyone thinks he is. I will state my reasons in list form.

    1. He plays in front of a half full arena every night. The only top 5 player in the nba who can’t even sell out his arena. Those fans are pathetic, the arena sucks, the atmosphere is lame and cheesy (as someone who’s been to heat games, they have this ridiculously annoying “DJ” that makes me want to cover my ears. I like Bernie the mascot though.)

    2. As far as having something to gain by going to NY, Wade would arguably have the best reason. He could possibly surpass Lebron if he was able to take the Knicks to the finals. He can’t currently do that in Miami, considering that unlike Lebron he has won a finals and still tends to be something of an afterthought when it comes to Lebron and Kobe.

    3. The Knicks probably have a better young core than the Heat, along with the same ability to sign another max contract after Wade. Beasley has been a major disappointment so far, and does not play well off the ball..he needs the ball in his hands basically. Gallo on the other hand is a perfect fit to play with someone like Wade. He doesn’t need the ball much, can be an effective spot-up shooter, and relishes challenges on the defensive end.

    Anyway, I think those 3 are good reasons for Wade to consider coming here.

  • fauci933

    Yea they were throwaways, but what would you like for us to have done besides sign a D-league big man, which I agree, took way too long. We didn’t tank the seasons, we had bad players who we traded for other bad players. There weren’t any big moves we could have made to make our team that much better. I don’t know what you thought we were working with for the last two years, but it wasn’t anything impressive. Just because you’re bad, doesn’t mean you tanked the season. It means you were bad.

    I never said Lee was a legit center, but rather the numbers he put up as a center on offense, made him “viewed” by others as our legit big man. And Curry was on the roster and hurt, he was still listed as a C, so he was a C. I never said any of those players were a PG or center, but we had Lee dominating other teams with his scoring, and by many people’s opinions, he was a Center. I’m not saying they’re right, but that was the general consensus.

    Tell me what you would have done and who you would have gone after. I’m curious as to how we could have made our team better. And don’t mention Hill/Jennings, we all know what happened, it’s over.

  • fauci933

    Well said.

    Surprising Beasley was a bust, lottery picks always pan out the way everyone expects. I’m sure everyone on this board would have taken Westbrook, Love, Lopez, or anyone else who they scouted and knew was better at the time.

  • fauci933

    What would you do as GM Has? You seem to have such insight into the Knicks situation. What would you have done the last two years that doesn’t involve the draft because obviously anyone could say they would’ve picked Jennings.

  • fauci933

    Can you explain to me the difference between Chris Duhon and Ramon Sessions?

  • blackwood

    fauci933…..First off I dont get paid to be the GM he does but i damn sure know that we needed a PG!! If he did not know it he was the only person in NY who was out of that loop!! For the record feel free to go back pre draft and read my post I said more then a few times we needed to trade out of that spot and move down, and also said we should have taken Collison & Sam Young so it is not hind sight. Add to that he was trying to paint Hill as the next Amare type player lmaoo. He blow the draft so there is no need for you to get emotional and take it out on me because he blew it!! How can you with a straight face say “it’s good he blew the draft because we got to trade JJ” lol that is one of the most insane things I have ever hear or read!!

    Good thing we did not draft a really good young PG like Jennings or Collison or Holiday great job not getting us what we needed more then anything in the draft donnie Alzheimer’s!!

  • blackwood

    Hey ds2488 I been good man how are things with you?

    Those are very good reasons I could not agree more with them but please understand the reason I am saying what I am say is not because I dont want Wade I would love it, but every time it come up in interviews with him he guns it down indirectly but never the less shoots it down. Add to that the general consensus is that he is dead set on staying where he is where is children are (ugly divorce and custody battle going on) I mean it is kind of a known thing which is why his name really never comes up.

    The Heat also have money to spend, Bosh can very easily end up down there or Amare and thats all an A+ player like Wade needs and it will be on and popping out there full house and stars a plenty lol.

    I know you unlike some others understand that my post are not hate based there reality based, remember when I first started saying lets go after CP3 (people laughed me off at that point lol) I was making the point that there where superstars to be had but people want to put all there eggs in the fantasy basket of LBJ or Wade. If we land those players great but I am saying the miserable way donnie managed to LOTTERY picks has made us less attractive to those very players.

  • HaS

    “I don’t know what you thought we were working with for the last two years, but it wasn’t anything impressive. Just because you’re bad, doesn’t mean you tanked the season. It means you were bad.”

    I know the team was bad and you know the team was bad, so that means either Donnie is a terrible talent evaluator or they knew the team was bad also and chose to do nothing.

    I think it was obviously the latter.

    The point is that the team was more concerned with not affecting the 2010 cap rather than focusing on improving the team. That, by all accounts, could be considered “tanking”.

    As far as what moves I would have made, my first priority would have been to get a point guard and a serviceable big man.

  • blackwood

    Westbrook was the target but was taken before we had a shot at him! To be honest I wanted Gordon not Gallo but yes there where plenty who wanted a center as well! this league is driven by guards & legit big men…the exception to those rules are the exceptional players i;e LBJ

  • HaS

    “What would you have done the last two years that doesn’t involve the draft because obviously anyone could say they would’ve picked Jennings.”

    The draft is part of a GM’s job, so why are you starting by excluding a major element required to improve a team?

  • ds2488

    I’ve been good man. I pretty much agree with everything you just said, except I don’t think Gallo is a blown pick, although I certainly understand that a good argument can be made for Brook Lopez(I have soured on Gordon, he’s been less than impressive this season in general).

    The CP3 idea is great, I would never laugh at that except I do think its less than realistic from NO’s point of view…CP3 is their entire franchise, and while Gallo, Wilson, and Curry are an attractive option, if NO trades Paul they might as well kiss their franchise goodbye.

    You make good points about Wade, but I at least think he will consider NY as an option. I think the reason he shoots that idea down right away is to avoid all the extra publicity..he’s a basketball player first and a businessman second, unlike Lebron “Everybody needs to be paying attention to me” James.

    The problem with the Heat is their arena is kind of crappy, and thats not even counting that its literally in the worst possible location. Nobody wants to go to that area, and Florida is notorious for its fair-weather fans that don’t start caring until the playoffs.

  • blackwood

    LMAOO fauci933 you so damn funny

    “What would you have done the last two years that doesn’t involve the draft because obviously anyone could say they would’ve picked Jennings.”

    So name anything except donnie Alzheimer’s biggest screw up lol!! We had enough freed up money to offer Lebron the max so not drafting Jennings or the PG of your choice stops us from saying “Hey Lebron here is max money and look at the talent we can offer you Jennings,Chandler & gallo.

    Or look at the talent we sset up for you to play with Collison,Chandler,Blair & gallo really good young talent with you as there leader you guys can do big things add to that that we will have JJ & EC coming off the books so we will have max money for an even greater upgrade the very next year!

    How does that sound!?! I mean c’mon man put the cheerleader gear away and use some common sense!! While I am a Knicks fan you seem to be a donnie alzhimer’s fan so we will always see things differently.

  • CircleLimit4

    My bad. That was supposed to be “if Walsh can’t land Lebron or Wade”

    If we got Lebron or Wade then of course Walsh should get the best 2nd option available. I’d go after Bosh (given he fully recovers from his injury) before Johnson and Amare. If we got Wade I would consider going after Gay first if he could be had for under 12mil or so and Joe and Amar’e are looking for max (or near max) deals. Getting Wade seems unlikely, though.

    Otherwise, If we don’t get Lebron or Wade (or CP3) then Walsh should stay out of the JJ and Amar’e (and Boozer) bidding war. Go after Rudy and cut our losses by trading some cap space for young talent/picks. Then see what you can get in 2011. I’d hate to think Walsh would mortgage the Knicks future in order to overpay JJ or Amar’e.

    What Lebron or Wade decide is largely out of Donnie’s hands. IF the Knicks can’t get the big fish, the damage control will be what really tells us if Donnie is worth his salt. I hope he has a sound plan B.

  • blackwood

    He is on a team with 15 PG’s lol and that plays the triangle offense so you want Sessions to do what on that crap ass team? lol

    Just the facts!!

  • HaS

    Ramon Sessions is young (24) and still has upside, his strengths are his ability to penetrate, his quickness, defense and passing ability. His weaknesses are his long range shooting, but he doesn’t force shots and plays within himself.

    Obviously his numbers weren’t any good this year. imo it is mostly because he played in a system that is not point guard friendly, the triangle offense is not based on strong point guard play. Particularly hard to adjust t for a young player, even veterans can take half a season to become comfortable in that offense.

    Duhon’s strengths are his shot (which failed him most of the year), his pick and roll play and that he doesn’t turn the ball over. His weaknesses are he is slow, can’t penetrate, can’t guard the quicker points, can’t make layups and he has reached his ceiling as a player. I think we saw enough of Duhon to know he needed help and had no business playing the lion’s share of minutes at point guard.

  • rocky

    Bird was never a man known for his savvy just his talent and ties to indi.

    What is he going to say..”The guy who hired me and mentored me has his head up his butt”?

    Bird said all the right things, I guess he’s learning

  • blackwood

    Oh and FYI if donnie blows it this summer I dont want to hear anything in 2011 if we land a stud because that could of happened without him doing a damn thing especially blowing Lottery picks!!

  • Chris Alvino

    Agreeed there, Blackwood.

    That said, his plan was to have a chance in this FA class. Mission accomplished on that end.

    His goal is to score in this FA class. That remains to be seen.

  • CircleLimit4

    The draft pick is largely inconsequential to the 2010 plan though. The same decision would have to be made even if the plan wasn’t to cut cap space.

  • Qaspec

    I think the Hornets would trade Paul before that trade Collison. A year before Blackwood claimed he came up with the Paul idea I suggested a trade that would net Paul and save the Hornets over 60mil in contracts over the next 3 years. Alvino laughed it off because he said there was not enough talent going to New Orleans and they would never trade Paul. A week later Paul was complaining about ownership cutting costs making a possible trade a little more realistic.

    The biggest myth is that each team in a trade is trying to get better. Almost every trade now has to do with money. New Orleans, among some other teams, needs money as they have been and still are having problems covering operating costs. David Stern helped these teams take out loans just to do so. If you save a team like the Hornets enough money the talent does not have to be anywhere near equal.

    For the Hornets the best scenario is keeping really good young cheap talent (Collison) and trading for expirings or other good young cheap pieces.

    Paul sees how teams are bending over backwards to give Lebron a max level running mate, how Wade is going to receive the same. He sees the team he plays for trying to cut costs and knows that this Hornets team has already peaked as long as the owner is not willing to do what it takes to go for it all. CP3 will not sit by while the other top guys keep getting better supporting casts. He’s already expressed this.

    With Collison playing so well they may feel this is an opportunity to give them more financial stability. In the end what’s the point of having expensive talented players if you might have to fold the team? I’ve felt since Donnie traded Z-Bo and Crawford that CP3 was a more realistic option than Lebron. IMO Collison makes him more available next year.

  • Knicks4life

    I agree that certain teams are desperate to save money. But a one year salary dump with no talent the other way and you will have empty arenas costing the owner even more in the long term.

    If NO wants to trade Paul, Miami, Dallas, Charlotte, Memphis, and a host of other teams could come up with much better packages of draft picks, young players and cap space then the Knicks. You are essentially saying take Eddy Curry (useless) and Chandler (decent to good wing player which is not that hard to find) and be happy with that. I just don’t think that is a realistic package.

  • bob go knicks

    i think he meant a LEGIT backup

  • fauci933

    We’ll just agree to disagree. It’s a pretty thin line.

  • DVJ

    LOL

    The hate on here is so funny.

    2 years ago, people were bitching about our payroll…now that we have the most money to spend…people are bitching.

    Seems ignant (not a typo) if you ask me.

  • bob go knicks

    the KNICKS have a better core? what core? they have 4 guys

  • fauci933

    Don’t believe I ever said it was good he blew the draft to trade JJ. I think he wanted to pick who he thought was the best player available. Maybe Hill will turn out to be Amare, who knows. Point is, he made his mistake, he used his mistake to maximize future opportunity, and for that I’ll forgive him at least until the end of the summer when we can truly evaluate him. And I’m sorry if you interpreted my writing as emotional, I didn’t mean to come off sounding that passionate. I’m sure you did say that, and congrats for your knowledge, but there’s nothing we can do about it now.

    Until he gives me a reason (other than his draft blunder) to believe he truly screwed us, I can’t hate on him. Maybe he has something up his sleeve to get a PG using Curry’s EC. No one can make any evaluations until the summer’s done. Let’s not call him “Donnie Alzheimers” until the end of July.

  • fauci933

    Sorry I was talking from the Heat perspective, hence the picking Westbrook thing.

  • fauci933

    A core isn’t an entire team, it’s a couple young players to build around, like Gallo Chandler and T Doug

  • bob go knicks

    i still want ramon sessions

  • bob go knicks

    ignant mcNugget

  • DVJ

    “Oh and FYI if donnie blows it this summer I dont want to hear anything in 2011 if we land a stud because that could of happened without him doing a damn thing especially blowing Lottery picks!!”

    What’s your definition of “blowing it”?

  • DVJ

    True but I think it’s obvious this team will be 10X better next season.

  • fauci933

    Firstly, I’d like to say that I don’t know why everyone is so convinced that Jennings is going to be the shit. He drops 55 early on in the season, and his numbers go down gradually as the season goes on. Yes his team is in the playoffs, and he was a part of that. But so was Bogut, MbahaMoute, Ridnour, Salmons who’s been awesome after the trade, another rookie Ilyasova. I know he’s good, and I’m not defending not picking him, but I’m not sold on him just yet as having been able to be our PG of the future.

    I’m not that convinced that name dropping Jennings in the pitch to LeBron would have been that much more impressive than using Douglas. I think telling LeBron, “Hey we can bring you in to play with our young guns Gallo, Chandler, Douglas, and this kid Bill Walker (a good move by Donnie) and you can either decide between another highly touted FA or a bunch of role players (a la Felton, Camby, etc.). Also, we have Eddy Curry’s expiring contract as a huge asset to potentially land you a really good PG.

    I could care less who our GM is, I’m a Knicks fan and if I think the GM is putting us in a good position to redeem ourselves from the embarrassment of the last two GM’s, then I’ll be a fan of him. I get your whole realist bit, but I don’t think that pitch to LeBron above is that far out of the realm of possibilities.

  • fauci933

    Yeah I agree he had no business starting for so long, but would Ramon Sessions really have made that big of a difference. S-Rod is young, quick, can penetrate, and can pass and has done nothing but get out of hand in this offense. He’s a poor shooter, like Sessions, who in this offense takes way too many shots (like Ramon would probably have done under this coach). I just don’t think Sessions would have made a big difference. But to each his own I guess.

  • fauci933

    Yeah you kind of need to define blowing it. I know that you think Bosh and JJ is blowing it, which is fine. But there are many scenarios that can happen. For instance, we can sign Bosh and say Felton for like 21 mill this summer and Melo next summer, and that wouldn’t be possible without the cap relief from 2010.

  • blackwood

    Sorry about that it is true you have not said that I was at work and trying to address a few wild things I have heard at the same time but the foundation of my beef I think we can agree is accurate.

    I have never heard or read donnie admit he blew that lottery pick.

    Saying he may end up getting a PG is not fair ether because those options where not availble to him. If CP3 falls in his lap this off season it in no way shape or form was was part of donnie’s grand plan. I just dont see what amazing feet he has performed that should allow me to say he is anything other then a failure as a GM. I have said many times it is LBJ or bust for him and if he lands him I will be the first to log in and eat my words! Other then that Blowing a LOTTERY pick is not a slight error it was a HUGE screw up that set the team back.

    But in the end I respect your right to view things as you do and in the end let us hope we are both happy with the outcome, because if not you will have to climb over me to get to him while we are all chasing his azz out of town!! lol

  • blackwood

    Okay gotcha.

  • blackwood

    Glad things are cool with you….I hear you it is easy to sleep on Gordon due to him playing on the west (and worse for the clippers lol) but that guys is really good! He is working with a franchise with no direction or identity, a shoot first PG and no real coach offense or idea whats going on one game from the next. Check is season stats or even the killer game he had tonight.

    Also when I say blown pick when it comes to the gallo pick its not a dig at the player I think gallo is a very good player I am just saying he was not the right player for us at that moment. Talent is great but what was the plan?

    I was thinking build a young back court Gordon then next draft in which everyone new would be PG heavy get your PG. Maaan you know how hot a back court of Gordon & Jennings would of been? You still buy the pick we used to draft TD and take Blair or Budinger and still have Chandler!! See how quick you could have a young core? But hey whats done is done lol.

    CP3 well this is the part you may not be seeing, they are making no money!!! they cant afford there big contract and they already have a young talented cheap replacement who by the way is they guy who kept them in the news while CP3 was out by putting up crazy numbers. So it would be in there best interest to make the best deal they can and move on from CP3 and sell that young talent. A big city deep pocket team like us would be in prime position to scoop him up and put him on the big stage a star like that needs to be in.

    In the end lets see how it pans out but I have a feeling the donnie fans are gona start saying the plan was Melo in 2011 all along!! lol

  • blackwood

    Maybe they can get some Obama bucks & stimulus money and get a new arena!! lmaooooo who knows.

  • blackwood

    Listen Qaspec if you said it before me fine, I never saw it anywhere since I been on here but I guess great minds think alike. My only issue is your time line, 3 years ago the hornets where making a realistic run at the west so I dont know if it would have been as much of a prime opportunity then as it is now.

    As for everything else you are singing my song brother!! all the same things I have been saying and agree with.

  • ScottD

    Freeing up the cap at the last trade deadline allows us an opportunity to make moves both this coming summer as well as next.
    Did you ever consider what opportunities we could miss out on this coming summer by not lowering our cap?

    And if we can’t make all of the moves that we would like to this summer, we can also look forward to next seasons trade deadline.

    Bottom line……..

    If your not up at bat, you can’t even get on base, let alone, hit a possible home run!

  • blackwood

    The pitch was not Jennings the pitch is the collective talent and balance at several position. Pulling Bill Walker does not look bad at the moment, I wont say lucky because I will sound like a hater lol but I cant see the

    “if I think the GM is putting us in a good position to redeem ourselves from the embarrassment of the last two GM’s, then I’ll be a fan of him”

    Thats your right but I respectfully disagree.

  • ScottD

    + 1

  • blackwood

    2011 all major contracts would off our books so he sped it up 1 year meaning 2010 is LBJ or bust because anything after that he gets no credit for!

  • blackwood

    Part of that post is the real key to it all…

    ” like Sessions, who in this offense takes way too many shots (like Ramon would probably have done under this coach)”

    The coach being a HUGE problem!!

  • blackwood

    Fair question, simple answer….When I said blowing it I was referring to the 2 LOTTERY picks. What I wast trying to convey is that he did not make the most of those picks IMO. Gallo while very talented and a solid guy says all the right things does what he can out there but I just dont think he was a better pick at the time over Gordon or Lopez not to mention my suspicions as do others that the relationship between Gallo’s father & MD had a lot to do with that pick. As for Hill I mean lets be real here who was jumping for joy when the comish said “and with the 8th pick the Knicks select Jordan Hill from Arizona” lol I am sure it was more like WTF!!! after looking at all the PG’s on the board seeing that the 2 we targeted where gone. Whats worse is that it was suck a F$@k up that he used the 8th pick in the LOTTERY aka the next amare lol as a throw in to trade JJ!! When in the history of the draft have you ever heard of some craziness like that?

    Okay tell me this if Joe Johnson was on the Raptors this year would you pick them to win the east? I say hell no because while those guys are good there not great. I say its a fail because moves like that would just make us one of those yea we are in the playoffs a few years in a row but blaah teams.

    As for 2011 as I have said before he can not take credit for anything pass 2010 because all our big contracts would be off the books.

  • RR

    So people want to rip DW for executing the 1st 1/2 of his plan with the 2nd 1/2 to be completed in July. OK that makes sense!

    All he has done has turned this team into major players this summer in the best FA class of all time. He is 2 for 3 on his draft picks with his 1st pick as GM playing better than Dirk, Parker, Hedo, Bargnani & Bogut through his 1st 100 games. I picked those players because they were all similar in age and played proffesionally before the NBA(Gallo haters please take notice).

    He got 2 young athletic players for Nate. The team options can be picked up for 1.1mil(Giddens) and 850K (Walker) next year. Good trade IMO considering they were going to let him walk this summer. We do not know what the previous trades discussed were real or just a rumor.

    No Hill/Jefferies trade then the Knicks have to convince LBJ or Wade to sign on with only 7mil or so to add a guy like Ridnour, Blake or maybe a 37 year old Camby. If you guys think the chances of LBJ or Wade coming are slim now just think what it would have been.

    So the Knicks gave up Hill, pick swap in 2011 and a 2012 1st rounder for the 9.5mil needed to bring in 2 premier players. So pick 2 ( LBJ, Wade, Bosh, Amare, Boozer, Joe J or Gay) and add that to gallo, Chandler & TD equals bright future! Especially when they add another premier player by trading Curry or letting his contract expire next summer. Not to metion the Knicks do have a 1st round pick in 2011 even though it probably won’t be a lottery pick. Collinson a good PG drafted 21st overall just wanted to point that out.

    So all the haters what kind of cheese do like with that wine you drink every day? I like Grape kool aid to wash down my meals.

  • RR

    All of us so called Knicks fans need to have a little patience. It really surprises me that so many fans that post on this site have very little or zero patience. You cannot honestly come to the conclusion that DW is making bad decisions because until the summer of truth has concluded we all are just speculating on what will or will not happen.

    I know that everybody is entitled to their opinion but do you need to say negative things about DW, MD and Lee on every thread? You have made your point already!

  • blackwood

    Good morning fellow Knick fans! RR I wont go line for line with you because it is obvious you take what you like from others post and avoid the rest at least if any of your last post was directed to me.

    ” his 1st pick as GM playing better than Dirk, Parker, Hedo, Bargnani & Bogut through his 1st 100 games.”

    WOW! (except Hedo who is over rated) is what I said when I read that!

    I for one am not a Gallo hater I have explained in detail my issue on this thread and others my views on that! As for Hill I am sure if I go back you where one of the “Big’s need time to develop Hill was a great pick” guys
    I ask again when in the history of the draft has a team ever traded a LOTTERY pick in the same year they pick the player as sweetener to trade another player for cap space? Hill was a horrible pick and it does matter when you dont make the most of a rare LOTTERY pick! You think the Bucks would trade Jennings for Joe Johnson? Hell no!! but do you think the Hawks would have traded Joe Johnson for Hill? Not a chance!! See how the value is no where near the same for two guys who where available at that 8th pick!?! So we did not get full value for our LOTTERY pick.

    TD ummm your hype about a very undersized SG who we are forced to play at PG? Hard working guy who try’s to make the most out of every sec he gets on the court, a quality career bench guy like him solved what? Oh let me guess you think he is the next coming of Gary Payton? Was that you who said that? lmaoooo.
    So your ecstatic about a guy who will be a career back up but you really dont care that donnie Alzheimer’s did not take a PG in the LOTTERY who is light years better then TD as far as being a PG who has lead a dead end going nowhere team to the playoffs by helping the Center have a career year and helping the rest of the players maximize there talents?

    Ummmm yea that makes ton of sense!!

    There are only 2 players in this FA market LBJ & another player who is not an option!! The rest are roll players who it would be asinine to over pay for!!

    Yea man J.Johnson, Bosh & Gallo move over Cav’s & Magic we are coming for the ring!! lmaoooo

  • blackwood

    RR my fellow Knick fan what does patience have to do with donnie Alzheimer’s picking Hill in a PG rich draft with the 8th pick?? Let alone trying to sell him as the next amare like player to the fan base asking us for patience only to turn around and trade him as a throw in for the JJ trade for cap space. Not making the most of a LOTTERY pick was & is unforgivable!! Sure plenty of LOTTERY picks dont pan out but come on you go Hill rather then Jennings or Holiday or trading out of the spot once the guys you wanted where gone??? It is poor GM’ing!!

    As soon as people stop trying to play public relation people and come up with ways to spin things and deflect that donnie Alzheimer’s has screwed up im sure it will die down. Add to that if he lands LBJ he can shut us all up with one move. But as long as I keep reading how he is a genius and how wonderful he has been when in reality he has really not done much let alone the impossible I will keep posting the facts.

  • x-man

    That’s my Mets theme song! I’m still waiting to be banished from these Mets too! lol

  • RR

    Damn Blackwood you really are taking things personal buddy. I was simply posting my opinion on fans that unfairly jump to conclusions on DW when he has not even had a opportunity to spend the $33mil that he has worked so hard to create for this team.

    If I was talking about you specifically I would have included your name in my post. You are obviously a glass 1/2 empty guy while I am a glass 1/2 full type of dude. You have no patience and feel like you need to spread your negativity across this blog on a daily basis, but like I said everybody is entitled to their opinion.

    I included those specific players because all were lottery picks except for Parker. They all came to the NBA around the same age as Gallo after playing profesionally in Europe. So your response is Wow. Good one! Lets see Gallo averages about 14.5ppg and 5 rebounds this year which is basically his rookie year because of his injury and only playing 20 games last year. Dirks rookie year 8.6ppg 3 boards. Parker 9.2ppg and 4assist. Bogut 9 & 7, Turk 5.3 & 3 and Bargnani 11.6 & 4 so yes Gallo is playing better than all of those guys after a similar amount of games. They all played about 30 mins a game so how is he not playing better? Gallo is also progressing averaging 16ppg in march and 21 in april. Yes he is a total bust! LMAO!

    I never said TD was the next Payton or even said he was going to be a star. Over the last month when given the opportunity (30 plus min) he is averaging 12.7ppg 3.6 assist & 3 board while shooting 46 & 45% from the field. Not bad for a rookie but I guess you think he not progressing.

    I said he missed on Hill. I guess you agree the Nate trade was a good 1 since you had no response. Either way man everything else is just speculation because we do not know what will happen this summer.

    I need to go to work so I will check back this evening so we can conclude our discussion.

  • blackwood
  • Big Blue St3

    I don’t think DW is a genius, I’m annoyed with the wasted lottery pick (granted I did not think Jennings or Holliday would be as good as they have been) but keeping Hill around at least we have one young big in the stable. Now we have to try and convince superstars to come here with (maybe) Earl Barron as our lone big man and 3 young inconsistent players. But you know what….we have the ability to try. No matter who we bring in it will be the best player this franchise has had since Patrick left.

    I’m not big on Lebron, it would be more fun to finally have a team good enough to shut him down and then get to beat him in the playoffs every year. I’d much rather find a way to get CP3 in here and pieces around him, but the best part is…I can dream. No pondering what over the hill washed up former star is gonna take our mid level or vet min., no more over paying scrubs with the mid level just because its the only move to upgrade a crappy team. Did we throw away ANOTHER pick this year, absolutely but its just one in a long line. While we may not have done it in a conventional way and I may think DW’s a little too old for this, were 3 months away from a fresh start. No more Starburys, Jared jeffries, Chucketts, Duhon and the rest of the crap thats been passed off as a basketball team the last few years. Its a clean slate and we have a shot at some of the best in the league….if thats not cause for optimism idk what is.

  • thebossandbenji76

    Let give u guys something realistic for this coming summer….first of all the NO Nornets are not trading Chris Paul, they could be trading Darren Collison. A realistic swap would be Wilson Chandler and Eddy Curry’s expiring contract to the Hornets for Pg Darren Collison and C/F Emeka Okafor. Hornets want out of Okafor’s contract badly. Okafor plays the 5, Collison plays the 1, then if Lebron does not come, u could have Joe Johnson and Chris Bosh come. Gallo or T-Mac plays the 3. So u got Darren Collison at the 1, Joe Johnson at the 2, Gallo or T-Mac at the 3, Bosh at the 4, Okafor at the 5. Barron is your backup 5/4, Walker is still here playing 2 or 3 as a backup, T-Mac or Gallo-one is starting, the other is backing up.Tony Douglas is your backup 1 and plays some 2 also. They could get Raja Bell and Theo Ratliff types with the mid-level exception.

  • HaS

    That team is probably a 6th seed.

    There is no mid-level exception next year.

  • HaS

    “S-Rod is young, quick, can penetrate, and can pass and has done nothing but get out of hand in this offense.”

    I clearly stated that Ramon has shown a penchant for playing within himself. He isn’t a good three point shooter, so he plays to his strengths and doesn’t shoot from outside a lot. He also isn’t a living breathing turnover the way Sergio seems to be.

  • HaS

    So you think that Donnie and _’antoni are just bad talent evaluators? I was tryng to give them more credit than that, but hey have it your way.

  • illsun

    you handled that well, fauci933

  • ds2488

    a team with Joe Johnson and Chris Bosh on it is going to be better than a 6th seed.

    Add in a developing Gallo and in this case Collison and worse-case scenario they are the 4 seed like the current Hawks team. That team can compete for a title in my opinion.

  • Mucha

    Thank God DW didn’t sign Sessions.

  • DVJ

    “There is no mid-level exception next year.”

    Yes there is.

    How many times do we have to go over this?

  • ds2488

    I don’t know much about the cba, but I thought only teams that are over the cap at the start of the summer get the MLE. Either way, I don’t think it really matters. We have roughly 32 million to spend based on the 53.5 salary cap, but that number is probably going to be higher because I think revenues dropped less than expected.

  • fauci933

    Never said bad talent evaluators. They blew one draft, okay then, it’s over, he admitted to it. In terms of trades and such, what could we have gotten with the players we had. The players we traded away, while they helped clear cap space, were all either ball hogs or just not talented. Getting rid of bad players with bad contracts is not tanking just because you don’t get a backup pg in return. It’s getting rid of players who were overpaid and bad.

  • fauci933

    He hasn’t done anything amazing yet. His maneuvering us way under the cap sets it up for something potentially amazing, but I have never given him credit for anything “amazing”…and if our team is not significantly better after this summer, I’ll happily take backseat to you while we chase him out of NY. I simply stated that he has not earned my disgust yet, because his hiring was more or less just to deal with this summer. It hasn’t come yet, thus I won’t evaluate him yet. Oh, and I’m sorry but CP3 isn’t falling in anybody’s lap, if he comes here, it’s because Donnie made (hopefully) a good trade. Players like that don’t just fall into your lap, and when they do, you don’t discount the GM because he didn’t announce from the beginning that’s what he wanted to do. Imagine the circus this team would be if we proclaimed getting CP3 as a goal alongside getting BronBron as a goal.

    I respect your super realistic point of view, hell this is a blog not the Times. However, I can’t consider that lottery pick blown until the summer is over. I know it was a mistake picking Hill, but in the end, if it is determined to be fate for us landing LeBron, it’ll be the best lottery pick ever in my opinion.

  • bob go knicks

    Why?He would have had a nice piece in place

  • fauci933

    You can say lucky…it was totally lucky. Sorry, I meant that if this pans out after the summer, then I will be a fan of him, but until the one moment that his, more or less, entire career will be based on passes, then I will remain neutral.

  • fauci933

    Agreed.

  • fauci933

    Maybe so, but what I clearly implied, is that this coach has a tendency to alters players’ expectations of themselves.

  • fauci933

    I know you hated his drafts, but that has nothing to do with blowing it this summer really since we have two second rounders, where you just try to pluck diamonds from the rough. I know that technically is a definition of “blowing it” but perhaps I should have asked for a definition of “blowing it this summer”. Oh and what about my scenario of signing Bosh and Felton, or Bosh and Haywood (I know it’s unlikely but I love him) for low 20s, then sign Melo in 2011. That scenario would only be available given his maneuvering to get us so much cap space this year. Just some play scenarios, always fun to speculate when it comes to the Knicks, because there’s nothing else to do at the moment.

  • illsun

    ditto. id love to have collison.

  • fauci933

    Damn dude, I know it was a mistake picking Hill, but do you have to copy and paste more or less the same rant for every poster that is trying to be optimistic about everything besides the 2009 draft. I can’t read that paragraph with the words “Hill” “Jennings” and “LOTTERY” plastered all around anymore, it’s hurting my eyes lol.

    No one has ever on this blog as far I’ve read called Donnie a “genius”. Why can’t people be excited because he put us in an excellent position to land a once-in-a-decade game changer? The draft is over, so call him a terrible drafter or what have you, fine, I don’t even care anymore. That can all be forgiven with a successful and truly epic offseason. I’m just gonna wait till the summer, and continue to use this blog to get all the arguing out of my system so I’m nice and cheery in the real world.

  • thebossandbenji76

    That is correct DS very good, the knicks will not have a mid-level exception, teams that are over the cap at the start of the summer get the MLE. So that is why i believe this is more a realistic aspect of what could take place. Bosh and either Lebron or Joe Johnson if Lebron does not come, lets remember something about Joe Johnson and the Hawks, Johnson turned down a 5 year max contract offer from the Hawks early this year. Also, the Hawks still have to give new extensions to Josh Smith and AL Horford and they will have Jamal Crawford to play the 2 under contract, this is a team that wants to stay away from paying a luxury tax as well, i can’t see the Hawks giving Joe Johnson a max deal and being able to sign Horford and Josh Smith as well. That is why in the end, u try to implement the plan with Lebron, but in the end, if Lebron does not come, it will be Joe Johnson coming to the Knicks, I think Bosh wants to be on a team that is built around him and he wants to play the 4 and play next to a defensive minded C cleaning up the rebounds. I think Bosh comes to NY, I think Collison and Okafor for Wilson Chandler and Eddy Curry’s contract is a distinct possibility. So Collison, Johnson,Gallo/T-Mac at the 3, Bosh at the 4, Okafor at the 5. Bench-T-mac/gallo, Barron, Douglas, Walker…maybe a raja Bell…for 1 spot…maybe they buy a late 1st round pick, that’s another roster spot….they have 2 2′s as well.., team would be pretty good. Right now i think Lebron and Wade stay where they are, Amare goes to Miami, Bosh to Knicks, Boozer to Bulls, Johnson to Knicks.

  • thebossandbenji76

    Also, one more thing, if they Nets get the #1 and take John Wall, I believe Devin Harris will traded to Memphis for RFA Rudy Gay.

  • Mucha

    Makes sense.

  • blackwood

    To be honest I like Haywood but Dallas will not let him leave they need him & will over pay. In short my friend when we are doing what we must and saving for a Bentley and you bring back a Chrysler 300 while it may look like a Bentley we know it is not the real thing & the family will know it is a 300 and be very disappointed!!

  • blackwood

    Sorry if I made it feel that way for you but in a way it is personal, not with you but with the idea that if you don’t endorse donnie your a hater or if your not in lock step with what donnie does or his picks or his management your a hater. I see it as being an honest & realistic Knick fan who holds management feet to the fire just as much as other do the players. So I dont see it as he has done much, clear Crawford & Z-bo? That illusion has been busted the second both those players where turned around and traded in to water so it was not water in to win guys.

    Bill walker ended up being a solid dude I have said that before, if I say it was luck I would sound like a hater so I will say that panned out.

    In the end guy a different view does not a hater make a villain out of an opposing view is not fair to conversation.

  • blackwood

    WHAT!!! Oh man I will need to back track and copy and paste the genius stuff!! Nobody well at least I am not saying dont be excited about what options are available, what I am saying is dont white wash huge screw ups and brush them off as if they did not set the team back!

    All that oh whatever yea he screwed up so what! how does he get such a pass on to huge errors?

    We all have ideas as what is the best for the knicks future and share them so saying people are not excited about this summer or trying to keep you from being excited about this summer is misleading and a distortion of the debate.

  • HaS

    “Getting rid of bad players with bad contracts is not tanking just because you don’t get a backup pg in return. It’s getting rid of players who were overpaid and bad.”

    “Getting rid of bad contracts” is not the same as trying to improve the team. That is my point.

    “you handled that well, fauci933″

    LOL

    Thanks for being a fan. 8)

  • HaS

    “Maybe so, but what I clearly implied, is that this coach has a tendency to alters players’ expectations of themselves.”

    Oooooh, so you think the coach tends to give players the green light to shoot from behind the arc irrespective to their 3 point shooting percentage, which essentially equates to a “bad shot” or a turnover as Tommy has mentioned before?

    Hmmmm… be careful on that fence.

  • HaS

    Don’t start him and his scientology act, please. There is n mid-level, they can use it but it all adds up to the same amount of cap space no matter how/when or in what sequence they use it.

  • RR

    Its all good Blackwood in the end we are all Knicks fans that want to see this team do well! I understand why you feel the way you about decisions made by DW but I for one have never endorsed what DW has done. I will save my final opinion on him till the end of summer or maybe even through next year.

    I said that DW has came here with a plan and lets see how everything pans out . To say that he has screwed up is a little premature because most fans have not even given the guy time to fill out the roster.

    Look at this situation like this. DW basically was brought in as a relief pitcher in the top of the ninth. He came in with the bases loaded and no outs. He did his best to limit the damage caused by the previous pitcher but by the the time he recorded the 3rd out his team was behind 8-5. Now instead of letting his team hit in the bottom of the ninth to try to win the game the umpires decide the game is over. Right now that is exactly what some fans are doing to DW. They are ending the game without letting him take a swing in the bottom of the 9th.