Off Season Could Bring Euros to NY (Updated)

by Tommy Dee on April 16th, 2010 at 10:01 am

12:01: Having contacted the very generous and wise @larrycoon, the Knicks can buy a Euro free agent out for $500k, as per league rules, and then sign a FA for the league minimum.

We know what the Knicks have to do, and in the same breath, I have little idea of how they will get it done. We know the plan has been to open up the chance to sign two max players or, as Walsh said, “sign as many good players as we can.” But the question I always get is how will they add to the roster if they spend all the money on two big free agents.

I think I have the answer.

We love what we saw from Earl Barron, for the most part, and his minimum contract is a valuable one. So is Bill Walker‘s. According to Larry Coon, the Knicks can get to the Salary Cap number in whatever way, two max; one max, Lee and a 4ish million veteran, but are allowed to fill the roster with minimum contracts.

“… They would then have six more roster spots to fill, and only minimum salary contracts to offer. But they would also enter the 2010-11 season with Curry as an ending contract, and therefore as a more valuable trade commodity…”

Obviously second round picks are minimum contracts as well. And minimum contracts are based on years of service. This may hamper their pursuit of a late 1st depending on the 2 max. Or they can make a trade with a current roster member.It’s why Walsh really pushed for 2nd round picks come 2010.

While there is talent in the D-League, there is another forgotten talent pool when you consider the wealth of talent in Europe, you’d have to think that the Knicks will tap into plenty of it in order to fit the system, and fill the roster. There’s plenty of free agent talent over there and we’ll have Jonathan Givony on TKB.tv hopefully over the next month and a half to break them down. For now you can click here for the list of available European free agents and players who have their NBA rights held.

Again, when looking at different plans, figure the different combinations that Walsh has to mull, but also don’t ignore overseas. They are players who are comfortable with the style and pace of D’Antoni ball, and are physically ready to perform seeing that they are mostly in their mid-to-upper 20s. It’s not like it used to be, certain players over there are ready to make an impact here if given the opportunity, which the Knicks can on the cheap.

We’ll dig deeper into the list in terms of salary demands, and scouting seeing that several close friends of TKB are currently playing over there in different elite leagues. One of whom was pretty spot on about Gallinari. But I can assure you that plenty would be interested in coming for the chance to play for D’Antoni in New York for minimum salaries. Who knows, maybe one will break through and really contribute.
  • ds2488

    Yes, I agree Europeans should be good for this system. Part of the reason why I was disappointed in Sergio.

    However, they seem to demand more than the minimum salary usually because they make more playing in Europe anyway. So it could be really risky to count on them.

    Anyway, interesting to read that Lee now wants to work on a 3pt shot for next year. If he only spent half as much time working on defensive awareness as he did working on his jump shot he would be a much better overall player.

  • gbaked

    Some of us overplay the draw of NYC on the max guys, myself included…

    However, being the cultural melting pot NYC is DOES have a large impact on the European players.

  • italian stallion

    Since I think the chances of landing either Wade or James are close to zero, I think the goal should be:

    Camby / Lee / a very good PG

    Camby / Bosh / target a top PG eventually (perhaps at trade deadline or 2011) using remaining space and Curry

    Camby / Amare / target a top PG eventually (perhaps at trade deadline or 2011) using remaining space and Curry

    C – Camby
    PF – Lee, Bosh, or Amare
    SF – Gallo
    SG – Chandler
    PG ?

  • ScottD
  • Mal

    One guy that we once had, I hated to see him leave I thought he should have been kept around Qyntell Woods. He has matured over the years and its time to take the “Samsonite” tag off of him and give him a real look. If we are considering giving Marcus Camby a second tour of duty why not Qyntell?

    @DS2488: Im still not disappointed in Sergio, I think he showed flashes of what he can do, he attacks the rim better than our current PGs, he may try the fancy pass a little too often but you see what he sees and you think we need some excitement from that position, he just needs to work on some things…defense and turnovers oh yeah and shoot jumpers over the summer, he was left open a lot for a reason

    LOL @ D Lee wants to move back to the 3-point line, first he must learn how to take a charge, learn how to contest and block shots and give a hard foul once in awhile

  • gianthinker

    If we could somehow sign Yiannis Bouroussis it would be HUGE for our team. That dude can really ball. I’d be thrilled if that happened.

  • BiggieSmalls

    I would point out that there IS a cap hold for minimum salaries to get the roster to 12 players..

    That results in approx. 4 mil less to spend this Summer and puts the Salary cap commitments at 21.5 mil for 4 players and 8 minimum holds. For each player signed we knock off a 500 K hold.

    Wonder what Euro players would come here for the NBA minimum?

    I think the D LEague HAS TO BE a resource for roster players. Give me 3 or 4 6-8 athletes who are hungry to play defense in practice and wave a towel on the sidelines.

    Im not sure why you say the chances of Lebron?wade is close to Zero IT/

    I think it’s a 50/50 propostion to get a Batman (game changing super hero) type player in here..

    Dont discount the CP3 rumors.

  • Mal

    I saw all our games this year except one and a glaring thing that stood out for me is that we dont have any athletic guys. Walker and Giddens have the look and have shown they possibly could be but both of their handles are very suspect. The types of players Im talking about I saw during our last game versus the Raptors, Weems and DeRozan.

    Others we should think about long guys that should be good on defense also:
    Thaddeus Young/Jodie Meeks/Ronnie Brewer/Corey Brewer
    Anthony Morrow/Rudy Gay/Danny Granger/Gerrald Wallace
    Brandon Rush/Terrence Williams/Dorell Wright.
    WE MUST GET MORE ATHLETIC!!

  • BiggieSmalls

    Hahn reports that Lee said he wont sign in NY for a discount.. believes he is on par with Bosh and Co..

    At least he is honest now.

  • Mal

    Oh yea he believes his own hype. I like to see him play 82 games in the power forward position and see how he fares.

  • young hova

    I have said this before and I will say it again, I think we should buy as many 2nd round picks as we can. They are non-guaranteed contracts and there are usually a few diamonds in the rough that could be had; this year alone has Thornton, Budinger, Blair among others. That would be the strategy I would use in trying to get minimum salaries players, and if they don’t have what we like then we don’t have to guarantee them for the year.

  • HaS

    *reads*

    *waits for Lee’s supporters to show themselves*

  • BiggieSmalls

    YES Network shows all the nets games.

  • ds2488

    you guys are just haters. I mean, Lee just put up 20 and 11 on the season. Look at those stats, so impressive! Who cares about all the points in the paint he gave up, the fact that he has taken 2 charges this season, blocks less shots per game than a 21 year old italian forward coming off back surgery, puts up triple-doubles in losing efforts, doesn’t foul any guards coming into the paint, fights his own teammates for rebounds, has never been part of a winning nba team, doesn’t box his own man out, is a 4/5 hybrid who can’t guard other 4′s or 5′s.

    The fact is: 20 and 11. You guys are crazy. I would pay him the max just like I would pay Al Harrington the max and Eddy Curry 10 million and Jared Jeffries 6 million. And I would have a sick team if I did that.

  • young hova

    I’m officially a convert

  • Big Blue St3

    Just because I’m really bored at work and can not look at another NFL mock draft here’s my new no huge signing summer, but maybe if were lucky and no one matches roster:

    (Reluctantly) Trade Gallo and Chandler for CP3 and Okafor
    Let DLee and sergio walk
    Sign Gay to a 10mil offer sheet and Morrow to a 5 mill offer (may be too much for there respective teams to want to match)
    Try and sign Channing Frye for 4 mil and Etan Thomas for 3 (ufa’s)
    Fill with minimums, Bring Barron back

    CP3 / Douglas
    Morrow / Walker
    Gay / Giddens
    Frye / Barron
    Okafor / Thomas

    I know it sucks but like I said, bored and it fits ( pretty sure)

  • HaS

    I would imagine that’s only available in the 1st year of said contract, right?

  • Jack D

    If so, it would still be very valuable, because contracts typically increase from year to year anyway…

  • Jack D

    I’ve never heard of him. Im assuming he plays overseas.

  • Jack D

    If we don’t land a Plan A guy (and I highly doubt Wade comes here), then I’d be more than happy with CP3.

  • Jack D

    5 mil for Morrow is too much imo. I label everyone on GS (besides Curry, Monta, Magette) a big question mark. If we didn’t sign Sessions 4 mil, I just don’t see us signing Morrow for 5 per.

  • Jack D

    wow. I hate him.

  • bmathews77

    Frank Isola: Walsh is still strong advocate for E Curry but club is losing patience. Eddy forgetting passport for Toronto trip doesn’t help. True story.

    Read more: http://hoopshype.com/rumors.htm#ixzz0lHi3XcU2

    Curry sucks….If Walsh needs to realize he’s wasting his time thinking Curry is of any use to the Knicks.

  • Big Blue St3

    Honestly I really want CP3, I’d rather have a CP3 led team that beats the Magic and Cavs over the next few years. If Nash can be a 2 time MVP, I would love to see what Paul could do.

  • Jack D

    I started reading that and I’m like “oh come on, man.” But then I realized you were being sarcastic lol

    @Mucha: Donnie did Lee a favor last summer. He didn’t have to give him such a large QO. Therefore, I personally believed that there was kind of an under-the-table deal between the two, where Lee would sign next summer on a discount because Walsh gave him an extra 6 mil in 2009. Lee is all about the money. Damn him.

  • Jack D

    His only use is as an expiring contract.

  • Big Blue St3

    I went 5 cuz I think that would be high enough that GS wouldn’t match, and if Mike Miller is making 7 this year then Morrow and his 40% 3 pt shooting could be worth 5 in this system

  • fauci933

    I don’t think LeBron and Wade are close to 0% chances. But that’s another story.

    I love Camby as a player, but at this age and with his injury issues, I don’t think he is worth bringing in unless it’s at a really low price. I’d rather sign Lee and Haywood for 8 and 8 respectively. Maybe 7 and 9 if Lee wants a bit more, but I don’t think Lee will settle for less than 10 cuz there are plenty of teams willing to pay. I want to deal with New Orleans though, and I would love a Curry and anyone else for Paul/Okafor.

  • fauci933

    I refuse to discount any rumors this coming offseason. I really don’t think the chances of Wade or LeBron are zero, and I don’t know much about NO situation, but I would give up anything in a deal bringing back Paul/Okafor with remaining cap space. With Paul on the team you wouldn’t even need another superstar, Paul makes everyone on the floor better. Hell I think Gay wouldn’t be a bad addition if we somehow got CP3.

    And yea I want to try out every sizeable athlete in the D-League. There’s nothing to lose and everything to gain by trying out guys who are trying to play their way into the league which means they play their asses off.

  • HaS

    Meh… couldn’t hurt to have a look at him in camp at least, if he’s willing why not?

    I say the Knicks (or their fans) shouldn’t think themselves above having a look at any players this offseason/training camp/summer league.

  • HaS

    “Hell I think Gay wouldn’t be a bad addition if we somehow got CP3.”

    We finally agree on something. :-)

  • HaS

    But then I’m sure the “increase”/raises wouldn’t take into account the bonuses. I would imagine the raises would be reflective of the amount of the acutal contract sans the bonus due to the fact that the bonus doesn’t count against the cap.

    BIIIIIG!!! Help us out here!

    LOL

  • fauci933

    Haha there’s been more than one I think. I think we agreed that we’d both give up anyone to get CP3 in Orange and Blue.

  • HaS

    F*** THIS SYSTEM!!!

    I say we run Gentry’s system.

    Larger rotations (true second unit) and a legitimate Center and Power Forward instead of the SF’ at the PF spot and PF at the C position.

    I would still like to see less threes and a little tougher defense.