Is Melo Knicks Plan B or Looking for an Extension?

by Tommy Dee on June 13th, 2010 at 9:39 am

Via Hoopsworld:

“…Is it just a little far-fetched to be thinking this far ahead and when so many possibilities exist for this summer already? Of course, but it’s no more far-fetched than talking about LeBron James‘s looming free agency way back in 2008. If Donnie Walsh can resist burning a hole in his pocket—and if anybody can, it’s Walsh—it’s possible that the Knicks could rebound from striking out this summer on the biggest available names.

Anthony could be the sweetest consolation prize in the history of free agency, but he’d require a little patience and self-control to get done. The last thing the Knicks need after years of undoing Isiah Thomas’s wrongs is more bad contracts. Let Joe Dumars and the Pistons serve as a lesson. Spend wisely, Donnie. Spend wisely…”
Via NY Post-

“…Though Knicks team president Donnie Walsh has made indications Anthony is on their radar if they fail to strike it rich this summer, the Nuggets superstar said it’s no guarantee he will be a free man come July 1, 2011. Anthony said he would consider signing a contract extension with the Nuggets in the next 12 months, saying a lot depends on the health of cancer-stricken George Karl and Denver’s ability to win.

“It’s an option,” Anthony said of an extension. “All my options are open right now…”

More than a few people have told me that Anthony is waiting to see how the NY thing shakes out this summer before considering the extension. The Nuggets are a team who are really in flux right now. Anthony and Karl are close, so there is loyalty, but if players pass on the NY opportunity this summer, one has to wonder what Walsh will do. Build a roster to compete this year, make trades that don’t use up all the cap space, or a combination of both to keep the door open for Anthony and/or the 2011 free agency period  which also includes: Tony Parker, Durant, Caron Butler, and Al Horford to name a few.


  • http://www.knicksfan.net/?p=3886 Carmello Won’t Join The Knicks As A Free Agent | The Knicks FanBlog

    [...] agree with something Tommy Dee said on the Knicks Blog: The Nuggets are a team who are really in flux right [...]

  • DatNewYorker

    If Durant was an unrestricted free agent, I don’t think the Knicks would put Melo over Durant. Durant is the future of the NBA. I have Durant as number 3 as far as the best player in the NBA.
    1. King James
    2. Kobe Bryant
    3. Durant
    4. Wade
    5. Melo
    6. Paul Gasol
    7. Dirk Nowinski
    8. Howard
    9. Chris Paul
    10. Daron Williams
    11. Nash
    Melo I hope is Walsh’s Plan B. I don’t think it is Lebron or bust. If Lebron does not sign than I would love to have Melo. We can pick up some role players and 1 Max free agent in the mean time. We must not blow the cap space on average players. We waited 10 years so I don’t mind waiting one more year to get it right.

  • BrooklynsFinest1

    Sounds like aot of handwringing with all the talk of Izzo to the Cavs or Lebron, Calipari and Rose on the Bulls and there is not alot of talk in regards to he Knicks. July 1st is a long long time away and we still have to wait for all these frree agents to go through the courting process. Seems like Mike _antoni isnt as beloved as we thought.

  • VOR

    Walsh’s trading away 3 lottery pick for a crack dream chance of signing Mello in 2011 is just as indefensible as Walsh’s mgnt. leading the Knicks to miss the playoffs for a third straight year! He better get the dam job done come July 1st or hall A$$!

  • itzyung1

    Ughh It Kills Me looking at all of these Talented Big Men In This Draft We Won’t Get A Crack At. Ed Davis, Whiteside, Aldrich, Monroe, Cousins, and Udoh..

  • Sharp Elbow

    Keep the space and go for Melo and Durant. Donnie won’t do that though, he’ll look like an ass for the Jeffries trade.

  • BiggieSmalls

    can we talk a lttle more about what is going to happen in 17 days rather than spinning a Donnie failure scenario into a pipe dream of success after another lost season?

  • JaymanJD

    First I am sorry but Nash is no long in the top 11 most talented players in the game Danny Granger should be up their or even a guy like Roy. In my opinion of course.

    Second, I dont think Durant makes it to free agency although you are right Durant should be Numero uno on the list of players.

    Third, Anthony is not the only FA who will be watching the whole Free agents to NY thing. We need at least one big free agent to come to Ny and win for a year because players want to know what direction the Knicks are going and they dont want to do it themselves. If the NY gets totally shut out it may be difficult attract friend agents the next year. Having a tone of money is not the end all be all because even if you have tones of cap flexability it means you lack the necessary assets to attract free agents or make trades. If Gallo is off limits that means you prettty much have chandler and Curry’s contract to dangle as well as some add on pieces in Walker and Douglass. So people keep talking about cap flexability and the ability to make trades where the salaries dont match up. Well thats all well in good if you already have the assets to make the trades. Having cap space is great but there is a thing called too much space because it means you team is totally gutted of assets in which to attract free agents or trade for them. Lets not also forget that the Knicks have also traded away first round draft picks. Draft picks are also trade assets. So the knicks lack that as well. This is why I don’t see them trading for Anthony, or Paul, or Parker because they have little to offer but money. I have said this before but i still believe none of those big free agents are coming this year unless there is an agreement that two are coming. I just dont see any of them coming here solo. If they were going that route why not stay in their own city and make more money. The X factor I think is Bosh. If Bosh wants to go to Miami and team with Wade Lebron signs a 3 year extension with the cavs or goes to the Bulls to team will Rose and say good night to the Knicks Free agency. If Bosh wants to come to NY I think Lebron changes his mind and comes to NY. I dont see Wade going anywhere, I also dont see Amare going anywhere either. That leaves Joe Johnson and I think we are going to scramble aand over pay this guy to come solo and its not going to be good. I like joe Johnson a lot but he has his limitations kinda like Bosh he is a second option type player who you would be paying big number 1 money. However, If the knicks signed joe johnson to the max and then started building a team and then teamed him up with Anthony in 2011 it might work with Anthony take over as the number 1 option.

  • DatNewYorker

    If you think about what our roster would look like if Walsh never came here it would just be average. We would not be even mentioned in the talks of being able to sign one of the best players the NBA has ever seen. Our roster would have looked like this if Walsh never came.

    PG Brandon Jennings (maybe you never know)
    SG jamar Crawford (still here)
    SF Wilson Chandler
    PF Zach Randolph (still here)
    C Brook Lopez (I believe any other GM would have went with the team needs, a Center not a Gallo who you can find any time during a draft 1-20)

    The best thing about this starting roster is that there would not be a Duhon.

    The best thing about the team is that D’Antoni would not be our head coach.

    But this team is a 5 seed at best. I would have to support Walsh even though we have _Antoni as our head coach and had to watch Duhon as our starting PG for the entire season.

    Bench
    PG Nate Robinson and who know?

  • grahambo86

    Thank you. Give the man a shot! lol

  • k-hodge

    I agree. Lets keep the faith fellas. July 1st hasn’t even gotten here yet. We’ve got some decent opportunity in the draft to get guys that can contribute and maybe even buy another pick. Durant isn’t going anywhere. He’s a small town guy and he likes it in OKC. He doesn’t seem like he’s built for the big stage yet. and he’s said as much. Maybe when he’s older. I can see Melo waiting to see how things play out here this summer. That makes sense. I still believe Lebron and Bosh wind up here. We’re the only team that gives them the opportunity to team up together outright. And we’re gonna be able to put together a competitive team. Lets assume status quo, and Eddy regains his form from 2 years ago. He’s lighter and in better shape than he’s ever been, and he IS capable of running in Mike D’s system (ok, never mind Eddy)… Lets assume we just resign Barron. A lineup of:
    Douglas
    Lebron
    Gallo
    Bosh
    Barron

    With a Bench of Wilson/Walker/Draft picks (Randle? Torrance? Brackins?)…Is anyone prepared to sit here and say that team isn’t good enough for a top 3-4 seed in the east? I would say in no specific order top 4 teams would be Boston/Orlando/NY/Miami (Assuming Amare signs).. And then knowing that Eddys contract is coming off the book and you can add 2 more solid vets or one higher end player depending on what you need. C’mon guys, If we’re not satisfied with that I think we’re being a little unreasonable. And I think Lebron/Bosh would have to see that as a great opportunity. Do they contend next year? No, probably not, but that would be very shortsighted. That team will grow and be better than any of the other options (Bulls/Cleveland/Nets). Wilson and Gallo are ballers, anybody who thinks otherwise is sleeping. Tony and Bill Walker are too, but I wanna see how they come back this year. Bill Walker’s a steal, as long as his head is right and he’s hungry. Tony is smart and tough. He may not be the PG that we need in terms of running the PNR, but he can play, and I have no problems with him on my team. Just give it a chance. Some of you guys are ready to shoot the DJ before the party even starts..LOL

  • bb_dot

    so true. let’s keep the eye on the price for July. The NBA landscape will be re-shuffled after that , one way or the other. No sense in speculating about 2011 before that anyway..

  • dino of syracuse

    One thing that you can’t say about the Knicks is that they don’t take risks (even though most of the trades backfired). I think I’d be more disappointed if they didn’t.

    I’m pretty excited about what’s to come this summer and beyond. Do I drink the Kool-Aid? Yeah maybe a little… Even so, If I’m Donnie, I definitely keep Melo and Durant on the radar. Meanwhile, the summer shopping spree has begun! And hopefully the scouts have scoured the earth for some good drafting.

  • JeffM729

    If signing Joe Johnson is the best we can do, it’s still possible to put a nice team together. Given that we have a need at SG, he may have already signaled his intent to come here and leave Atlanta’s doomed isolation scene for D’Antoni’s 7SOL..

    So say we get Johnson and no other max free agents, we still have David Lee and his Bird rights. It maybe possible to do a S&T to teams other than Toronto. Perhaps Orlando might be interested in Lee for some combination of Gorat, Bass, Pietrus, and/or Ryan Anderson. These guys don’t start and Orlando could plug defensively challenged Lee next to offensively challenged Howard and move Lewis to the 3. They wouldn’t lose a starter and still have Matt Barnes and JJ Reddick on he bench. Then we could sign a PG like Felton.

    The lineup could then look like

    PG- Felton
    SG- Johnson
    C- Gorat
    SF- Chandler
    PF- Gallo

    Bench

    Douglas
    Pietrus/Bass/Anderson (maybe 2 of these)
    Walker
    Barron
    #38
    #39
    Curry

  • harris

    Mercifully, we’ll soon learn how this plays out.

  • traps9

    You can definitely hang that trade on him. But that trade had nothing to do with Melo in ’11, and everyone knows that. He took the gamble on LeBron. It may not work, but I think it was the choice he had to make. And Donnie doesn’t strike me as a gambling man, either, so that’s a resounding statement as to what had to be done.

    I’ll judge after July 7th.

  • traps9

    Hopefully, we’ll buy a first rounder and total three, four, or more second rounders. A two bought late to draft Da’Sean Butler and let him recover would be nice. JMO

  • itzyung1

    That lineup is better than what we have but I Agree 5th seed best in the east, doesn’t win any championships and we are crippled salary cap wise.

  • Knicks4life

    That team would have enough cap space to sign a max free agent next summer. Maybe even two.

  • bbrody1

    2011 could have some quality ‘non-max’ FA’s like aaron brooks, marc gasol, marcus thornton, david west, glen davis, perkins, joakim noah, jj barea, azubuike, jeff green….

    could make a pretty good lineup with just those names haha

  • ds2488

    Actually, that team is an impossibillity. Our record would be better for this past offseason, and we probably couldn’t expect to have a top 10 pick and a chance to even go after Jennings(not that it mattered anyway).

    Plus, that doesn’t even grasp the point that we would be stuck with Crawford and Zbo without even a chance to go after a free agent in one of the best free agent classes ever, and we would be stuck entirely hoping to sign Melo in 2011, or undergo yet another 3-4 year rebuilding processs through early lottery picks.

    IMO, Walsh really didn’t have much of a choice thanks to Isiah. We were screwed by his terrible moves, and the only recourse was this plan to take a huge gamble in the 2010 free agency.

  • Mal

    That starting lineup scares me Jeff, I know YO SON will bug but I think Ill Will is a goner if we want to have a competitive roster next season

  • knicksallday

    this is the stupid lineup!!!!!! And the moves are silly!!!

  • knicksallday

    Bad lineup and terrible moves!!! What are you thinking?

  • ds2488

    Definitely Melo needs to be an option that’s left open. If we don’t get Lebron or Wade, I definitely think we should save to have a chance to go after Melo in 2011.

    But at the same time, Im kind of intrigued how a potential lineup with Douglas/Randle-Joe Johnson- Gallo-Bosh-Barron/2nd round pick/late 1st round pick could look. I feel like this would be a lot of fun to watch, in terms of actually being a TEAM, and not just Lebron + minions or Carmelo + minions.

    I think if anything, this years finals has proved that actual teams who run team-oriented offenses are the way to go. Its too easy for a team like the Celtics to take Lebron out of his game if the offense is solely focused on him. But again, Im not sure that such a lineup would be good enough to really win that much in the playoffs, but I am also very intrigued by this.

  • knicksallday

    Yeah Biggie!!! Why do people hate Donnie so much, he did what he had to do!!! For me I’m a die hard knick fan and no matter what happens I know we will be in a better spot we was in!!

  • clyde fan

    If DW didn’t take this chance we are not a title contender anyway and have no shot at being real good.(5th seed is not good enough).

    At least we have a chance.with what DW has done. It’s no guarantee but it’s better than not trying.

    Granted I don’t like not having draft picks in the first round but #9 is for the most part not a difference maker.

    Let’s see how this plays out before we scream for DW’s job.

    We may whiff but we may be surprised too(on the good side).

  • Rene

    The man can be a Knick legend for putting us in the position we will be in 17 days like Biggies says and everyone wants to think worst case how best case Lebron in the Apple in 17 fing days.

  • thebossandbenji76

    Let ask u guys a question, anyway in the world the Knicks would start Earl Barron….I mean say they get Joe johnson and no other max free agents……and they either sign Tyson chandler to a deal for say 10-12 mil or they trade Wilson chandler and Eddy Curry’s contract for Collison and Okafor.

    Would they ever consider either of these starting lineup’s till the summer of Melo arrives….:

    Douglas, Johnson, Gallo, Barron and Chandler or
    Collison, Johnson, Gallo, Okafor and Barron…..

    Also, Carmelo Anthony is a 3…right………so……..are we going to trade gallo if he get Anthony?

  • bartnyk

    If we dont get LBJ or Wade you SAVE the money for Melo period and possibly another guy. But without seeing the 2011 FA I say pick up a Big this year Bosh or Amare, Boozer doesn’t fit IMO and get Melo in 2011 its a easy decision.

  • bartnyk

    Knicks fans are bitter they hate everyone.

  • YO SON

    First off ILL WILL GOES NO WHERE ………DEAL WITH IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I cant stand the thought of felton being our starting point guard….but I thought the sign in trade using lee is realistic in his scenario……..I dont know what expectations guys have in trying to require talent using lee in a sign in trade…..I dont think his value is that high…….if you could get a pick with that trade also that will be whats up…….but I doubt it………don’t love it but don’t hate it either……..

  • HaS

    Will you still be a Knick fan if they trade Wilson Chandler?

  • YO SON

    if we really want to compete and make the most of this summer gallo will be the one to go……I’m not hearing anybody mentioning his name around the league or media at all….. but if gm’z are half as high on gallo as he fantasized on here then we can probably get the most for him because he has the most “HYPE”……..

  • YO SON

    agree with mostly everything you said jd……….

  • YO SON

    If that line up would have failed to make the playoffs we would still have our lottery picks to build around even more……that line up will be better than walsh can ever put together if Lebron dont come…….

  • YO SON

    and to be fare Isiah would have probably drafted gordon over lopez……

  • YO SON

    “We would not be even mentioned in the talks of being able to sign one of the best players the NBA has ever seen. ”

    matter fact we still arent mentioned……..wtf………AAHHAAHHAHAHAAHahHAHAHAHAAHhahaaahaa……….

  • DatNewYorker

    I think it is a good plan B that is not complete until Melo signs.

  • DatNewYorker

    This is a business and there is not one player on the roster that i would not trade for a Center. That includes Gallo, Douglas and Chandler.

  • JeffM729

    I’m just tired, very tired, of seeing the LeBron-Bosh fantasy teams and trading Eddy Curry for some fine player. Yes, sure my team isn’t going to win a championship. But there are only three possibilities here;

    1) We get two max free agents.
    2) We get one max free agent.
    3) We get no max free agents.

    Everyone discounts sign and trades, but I think Toronto would be more than glad to take Gortat, Bass, and Pietrus for Bosh and Orlando may very well make that offer. So figure how to get a team with only being able to sign a Joe Johnson. That may very be all we get.

  • DatNewYorker

    Good point

  • YO SON

    I will be a Knicks fan regardless ……..I’m a Knicks fan 4 Life……I’m not a Knicks fan by choice…….. I’m a Knicks fan by law……but I will say this….. I will devote A LOT less time into the Knicks(which will probably come as great news to a lot of tkb’ers, unfortunately)……..I will rededicate myself once this regime is GONE…….I can only be happy with the departure of ILL WILL if he was included in a deal for CP3…..who is maybe as good of a talent as The Pearl(The Knicks Version), and Bernard King………

    But if CP3 is not apart of the deal then I KNOW ILL WILL IS GOING NO WHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    LONG LIVE ILL WILL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • YO SON

    what center you referring too…….

  • JeffM729

    I’m thinking what Donnie does when the bartender says last call and we don’t have a date. We do need to field a team next year.

  • bbrody1

    Anthony said he and other top free agents won’t be swayed by the Knicks’ franchise-record streak of nine straight losing seasons. “When it comes to people making decisions, I don’t really think it’s based on what happened in the past,” Anthony said. “It’s what they have right now, the pieces on the team right now. I like Lee. I love [Danilo] Gallinari. And David is a 20-and-10 guy every game. So they have some pieces there.”

  • HaS

    “But if CP3 is not apart of the deal then I KNOW ILL WILL IS GOING NO WHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

    You were doing ok until that statement lol.

    So there is no better SF in the entire NBA?

    No other player in the NBA you would include “ILL WILL” in a trade for?

    C/mon man you can’t honestly feel that way, can you?

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    u people do know CARMELA is a 1 trick pony player rite.
    he’s a much better scorer than AL chuckter but same skill set an same style…

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    2010 most likely will be a failure but thats nothing new the knicks have been a failure since sprewell got traded…

  • BiggieSmalls

    ill go a step further..

    there is not one player I this roster that I would not trade.

  • YO SON

    Lebron will probably be here ……..he’s not a legend for dumping salary ….so stop it…..that might be the story book, fairy tail, hollywood image, yourself and others will like to tell but it’s OD’d……if Lebron comes and another max free agent we will probably Win 2 titles at best……..if it was done “THE RIGHT WAY” we could have been a Dynasty and talking maybe 4 or 5 maybe even more……..this is why we only have 2 Banners ….While the Celtics have 17 working on there 18th and the Lakers have 15…….I think dudes have there heads to far in the clouds(no offence) with this whole under the cap thing and not looking at the BIGGER picture……….

    and how can we not focus on the what if factor if were getting post mentioning trading for CP3 or collison or melo……..

  • YO SON

    “He doesn’t seem like he’s built for the big stage yet.”

    your bugging…..

    and gallo is not starting at the 3 over ILL WILL ….but if that is the case it has nothing at ALL to do with ball…AHAHAHAHAAAaa

  • YO SON

    give me a name and please dont say I forgot dude name real talk…..ummm…….gay……get real……and were talking realistic trades though…..

    I’m not saying he’s the best SF in the league but for his value and where he was selected yes …He very well may be……….

    you put 2 Max Free(1 being a TRUE LEADER) agents around ILL WILL IT’S A WRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    that I truly believe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • YO SON

    agreed depending on the deal……..

  • dino of syracuse

    Ill Will, err…I mean Yo Son…would you be in favor of a package for Melo?

  • DatNewYorker

    I agree with u Jeff, so don’t worry you are not alone. Logic is logic. I always liked Gortat, Felton and Bass. If that is what we get, I would not be disappointed.

  • DatNewYorker

    Gortat, Brandon Heywood, or JaVale McGee (Wizards).

  • CircleLimit4

    If the Knicks don’t get at least one of the big 3 FA’s then trade our cap space today for cap space tomorrow and a some picks. Melo would be a nice backup plan, but he needs to stay in shape.

  • CircleLimit4

    Lol, so you wanna talk more Lebron?

  • YO SON

    is that realistic though…..it would take gallo 2…….

    if you guys are willing to give up both , plus curry for melo if that’s even possible then yes I’m with it….but melo is not coming here unless we get CP3….the west is depleting and the East is getting ruthless……the only factor in the west which may be a very tall 1 really soon is OKC in trying to get to the Finals in 2 maybe 3 years………

  • YO SON

    did you see gortat in the EFC or in the playoffs period ….nah I’m good…..did you see heywood soft behind IN THE FIRST ROUND…..even more good on him(was so disappointed in his play thought that trade would have made them a real factor in the West)….mcgee please we can get him in this draft…….or go find sean williams or something…..plus is heywood a free agent so we wouldn’t have to trade for him not saying I want him just saying…..

  • bartnyk

    He was the second or third leading scorer in the NBA who would you rather have Joe Johnson?

  • ngrant13602

    I would rather have Isiah run the draft. Forget being a GM Isiah knows talent.

  • LB2NYplz

    THANK GOD NONE OF YOU ARE THE GM OF THE NEW YORK KNICKS

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    i’m just keeping it real an calling it the way it is
    i’m not a joeJ fan but he’s a better overall player than carmela.

    the knicks gotta do what they think is best DONNIE set himself in this position time is almost here.

    GOODLUCK donnie an goodluck DOLAN=the worse owner in the nba.

  • YO SON

    that’s what I’ve been trying to say….he could still be the gm and have Walsh over see him as President that would have been a nice duo……

  • YO SON

    how is he the worse owner n the league win all he does is cut the check and pay the luxury tax like it’s nothing……

    please explain I dont get that…….

  • ngrant13602

    Melo was if not the best player on the USA team next to wade in dantoni offence. I would’nt think Melo have a problem coming knicks….

  • LB2NYplz

    What makes you guys think that free agents will make there decision at 12:01 am on July 1st

  • ngrant13602

    +1

  • ds2488

    Haywood’s a UFA, but he will probably be overpaid by Marc Cuban since we’re talking about the same guy that gave over 10 mill a year to Erica Dampier and 8 mill a year to Desaggana Diop.

    I like Gortat actually. At least he was in the playoffs. Mcgee is solid, and so is Haywood but the price for Haywood would be too high. I would rather try and work out a S&T with Lee than giving up Wilson for any of those guys, but if worse comes to worse I would do Wilson straight up for anyone of those guys, as much as I like him and his relative value to his cheap contract, we really need a center.

  • ngrant13602

    Not saying that they will make there decision at 12:01 am on July 1st. You would be crazy not to think these guys dont have some idea where they want to be.

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    july 1 is nothing but talking no signing can happen until a week later

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    he’s the dude that sets the tone he hired donnie then donnie went an signed danni an danni told him to sign duhon u see how the owner affects it all…

    an it goes on an on
    u need a smart owner that knows basketball

  • ds2488

    lol, Isiah has had like 2 good drafts and you guys all think he is an amazing talent evaluator.

    2007- Wilson Chandler was a good pick, but both Aaron Brooks and Carl Landry, both better players, went after him.

    2006- One of the worst drafts I have ever seen by a gm. Reaches on Balkman, only to take Mardy Collins as a backup pg later on. Misses out on Rondo, Lowry, and Farmar just to reach on Balkman, when he could have selected one of those guys 1st and taken Balkman with their 2nd pick at 29 when they took Collins. Also missed out on Shannon Brown, Sergio Rodriquez, and of course Paul Millsap, probably a better overrall player than David Lee.

    2005- Takes Channing Frye instead of Andrew Bynum. Could also have had Danny Granger, one of the better 2-way players in the league right now. Takes Nate Robinson in a trade at 21, missing out on Monta Ellis most notably instead. Also could have had Jarret Jack or Lou Williams, both arguably better players than Nate.

    Takes David Lee at 30. Overrall a good pick, but also missed out on Andray Blatche.

    2004- Makes a great pick with Trevor Ariza, only to be gm a year later when they ridiculously trade Trevor for the corpse of Steve Francis.

    Anyway, I hope all this shows, but I doubt it, that Isiah was in fact a very overrated talent evaluator who even when he did make good picks ended up turning them into disasters anyway. Nobody should hope that Isiah has anything to do with their team or franchise, because if he does, then quite plainly, your franchise is screwed.

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    an almost all owners have to pay the tax an cut the checks SON.

  • HaS

    So, “ILL WILL” is in your mind an ideal number 2 option or number 3 option?

    Gay and Will are close, I would say Gay’s handle is better than his right now though, but that’s something he can work on. He’s also a better jump shooter and scorer than Will right now, but Will is the better defender right now. I think with Gay’s wingspan, which is freakish at 7’3″ he could be an excellent defender under the right coach.

    Right now I would say it is a wash between the two, but like I said before I really like Chandler and I hope they keep him. With that said, untradable he’s not.

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    make that all owners have to cut the check an those that are over the cap gotta pay…

  • ngrant13602

    I guess its ok to dream. Walsh plan A should be get Labron and Bosh this year and try to scoop Melo next year. Now you have you big three.

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    good post

    but i don’t think lou willy or jack is a better player than nate mayb smarter but not better..

    but zele overall drafting record is good.

    but balkman an collins was terrrribbblllee..

  • BrooklynsFinest1

    I wonder if donnie strikes out on Lebron could he swing something with Denver so they can trade for Melo and then extend his contract. If we have to wait then we have to wait. Understand this after this past off season when Lee barely got offers he wasn’t happy how things played out so I don’t think Lee is gonna sit around to help the knicks in a sign and trade while offers dry up. So with the long anticipation and hope of Lebron coming here we have not thought about the sidekick and if that other max fa is gonna wait until Lebron makes his decision. A lot of things can go very wrong. But if it wasn’t for the gamble that Donnie did via trades we would not have a chance much less hope.

  • YO SON

    be honest HaS did you actually look around the league and see if any other SF compares to ILL WILL in regards to his value(game*improving every year* and income)……IM really intrigued to find the answer to that if anyone disagrees………you cant find him but good luck though…..

    is anybody in there right mind willing to pay 11+mil more for gay…..I’m not with it even if he is better offensively…..but he probably takes a lot more shots too(much better handle though yes I agree)….In the clutch he will fade……if you ever listen to Calhoun speak about him he will say the same….and that is the head coach of his college team…..not professional he will be more sensitive in that regard…..he stated he often doesn’t show up in big situations he will fade when you need him most and doesn’t maximize his potential……

  • YO SON

    you mean to tell me we cant find a mcgee in this draft…. what have you guys been talkin about with this vernando guy and other shot blockers…and were is sean williams…….

    that move would be a 1 step forward 2 steps back move….

  • YO SON

    dudes already been over the whole rondo williams brother thing…if you guys choose to make blindfold comments and not see the bigger picture then that’s on you….isiah did waaaaaaaaaaaay 2 much wrong while here 2 be criticizing that draft…….

    oh and by the way lets not loose track all walsh did was dump salary…….the MOST important job he needed to do was DRAFT(since he was unable to accumulate picks while dumping salary)…..everybody wants to focus on the cap space but forget how important our draft picks WERE suppose to be to lure the best of the best….nobody mentioneds them ANYWHERE outside of tkb and were back to the money talk…..plz….YOUR NOT FOOLING ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • YO SON

    nobody spending like dolan thats a lie only a hand full maybe…..are you including the fact of the bought out salaries of both players and coaches….yo……..and owners are not so free willing to pay the luxury tax why you think there ALWAYS dumping there bad salaries on us..and who pays them at the end of the day WE DO….not diggin what your sayin……and if you had owners like jerry jones and mark cuban you or a majority of others I should say will complain that he is too involved and should leave basketball decisions to basketball minds…….

  • ds2488

    I like Varnado a lot, but Mcgee is an actual Center. Varnado’s a 4.

  • ds2488

    Obviously not. But what you say is “all Walsh did was dump salary” is in itself a minor miracle. No one thought he would be able to get rid Zbo, Crawford, and Jeffries and he did. No one thought he would have the Knicks under the cap by 2010, let alone having the most cap space in the league.

    And you keep knocking his draft picks, but I don’t know how many times I have to tell you Gallo gets praised around the league. Just the other day while promoting his sneaker Melo again said he loves Gallo, after praising him after the game when they went head to head saying everyone sleeps on Gallo and he’s much better than everyone gives him credit for.

    Lebron was said to be constantly checking in on him, Wade praised his defense after their game, Kobe said he loved him and thought he was way ahead of the curve, Dirk said Gallo was ahead of the curve and doing much better than he(Dirk) did at that age at that point in his career. It goes on and on man.

    I like Wilson, but he doesn’ t get nearly that type of praise around the league for a reason.

    And what was your first point about Isiah? That we shouldn’t even criticize his horrific draft because he did so many other things wrong that it didn’t matter? Im sorry if Im misunderstanding you but please clarify.

  • YO SON

    what makes mcgee a actual center…..

  • ds2488

    He’s listed at 7’0 with a freakish 7’6 wingspan. That has center written all over it. Mcgee weighs close to 240-250.

    Varnado is 6’9 with a 7’3.5 wingspan and is a toothpick barely weighing over 200 pounds.

    That’s the primary difference.

  • k-hodge

    When I say “he’s not built for the big stage”, I mean mentally. He’s a small town kid, doesn’t seem to want the bright lights and all the attention. Again, he’s said it himself, he loves it in OKC. Maybe in a few years when he’s older and taken over as the top dog in the league, and his handlers feel he’s outgrown that market.

  • YO SON

    “I like Wilson, but he doesn’ t get nearly that type of praise around the league for a reason.”

    yea because Isiah drafted him …then the media will tell YOU that nate and jj are the last of the isiah guys..umm what about lee… see the bias….

    bynum would have been a bust here…..if you still want him after whats been goin on here fine…..rondo would have been a bust here not going over all this again….it’s obvious if you open your eyes…the huskie brothers would have been bad here too at that time……

    I havent hurd any top free agent mention gallo haven’t heard the media either…and thats the national media Im reffering to EVEN the local media matter fact ahahaha and they like and respect walsh….if melo mentioned gallo it was probably asked to him by the NY MEDIA, while he was promoting his shoe in NEW YORK like the rest of the players this summer…..NOBODY is mentioning them NOW when it counts the MOST……NOBODY is coming here for gallo….hahaha……like get real……

    oh and p.s. gallo is a ISIAH GUY(which may hurt us just the same in regards to the media blog..ahaaha) DEAL WITH IT!!!!!!!!

  • HaS

    No way to say if any player on the team is clutch at this point with nearly back to back to back 50 loss seasons, especially Gallinari who couldn’t even play his game on the road it seemed.

    Better SF’s around the NBA:

    Tayshaun Prince (when healthy)
    Carmelo Anthony
    Durant
    Gerald Wallace
    Trevor Ariza (clutch in the playoffs last yr)
    Lamar Odom
    Ron Artest
    Paul Pierce
    Caron Butler
    Corey Maggette

    Like I said imho it’s an easy position to fill, which is why I feel the Knicks should have shored up the center and point guard positions the last couple of seasons.

  • YO SON

    crawford and z bo have been traded twice and how long did it take for him to trade them……get real……..HE GOT NOTHING BACK FOR THEM….if he would have got picks back then you talking………..

    gallo being praised around the league is so full of ish…I dont care what they say to the NY MEDIA ahahha ….it’s what there saying to there boys is what counts at this point…….

  • HaS

    He’s 7’0″

    Varnado is Lee’s height.

  • ds2488

    Didn’t you say before Isiah would have drafted Eric Gordon? Whatever man.

    I just told you all those guys, 2 of whom are the biggest free agents, who praised Gallo during the year. Of course they are not talking about him now. That would be tampering. Is Lebron or Wade talking about Brook Lopez now? Derrick Rose? No because that’s tampering man, and would be too revealing and impolite.

    Ok, so you’re point is that everyone would be a bust here? Thats not even a point. That actually makes it useless to argue with you about anything.

    So, Walsh shouldn’t have picked Jennings, because he would have been a bust here. Couldn’t have picked Brook Lopez either, he would have been a bust. Ok DW is a great drafter. He’s done an amazing job so far according to your logic. Why do you hate him so much?

  • ds2488

    Oh lol man. So you got the inside scoop on Lebron and Wade. They’re talking to their boys about Brook Lopez and Derrick Rose? They’re not talking about Gallo? You don’t care what the media says then why are you bringing them up? Give me a break.

  • YO SON

    “mentally”

    dog no way ……he’s mentally tough …way ahead of his time…no second year player leads a 20win team to 50 wins the next year his SECOND year in the league and becomes the NBA leading scorer if he’s mentally no tough…didn’t he break the scoring record for most consecetive 20+ games or something…….he’s probably mentally tougher then most in the whole league…. you can be fooled by his “country small town kid appeal approach” if you want too….when it comes to Wade and Durant in my opinion maybe even rose a bit…..they have the most killer instinct in the league….them dudes are cut throat KILLERS….for all that small town kid talk do you ever see him huggin the opposition showing them love giving them pounds smiling and laughing with them…..nah ….dude is about business……..

    Iook deeper then what’s in front of you or what’s being told to you….

  • YO SON

    nah there not talkng about gallo….deal with it……..I mentioned the value of the media presepctive regarding players and gm and there bias of the two gm’z…..why would they be bias against/towards gallo………name me RECENTLY anybody mentioning gallo as a must or a compliment player to play with….nobody has even thrown him a bone who out of there caps have leaked out ANY info about gallo as of late or ever…umm none…..all you and others revert to is cap space that’s yall safe haven…ahahahhaha..bottom line

    you really think there boys are not talking about rose or maybe even a lopez……give me a break……

  • YO SON

    you didn’t equate the salary and youth too…most important SALARY….that was my point dude….that’s the MAIN POINT…..duuuh…come on you can do better then that……….hahahaah……

  • ds2488

    Im sorry man, I just have no idea what you’re talking about.

    Who is talking about Rose and Brook Lopez? The same media that you just said was biased and you didn’t even care what they said?

    Why are you commenting on this blog if you’re in with Lebron and Wade? I mean, you seem to know what they’re talking about really well, what the heck are you doing commenting on here when you could be chilling with them?

    And I just gave you Wade, Lebron, Kobe, Dirk complimenting Gallo after playing against him. I don’t know what more you could want than that…

    Whatever. I guess Ill just get over it.

  • YO SON

    he’s a C based on height…..not a true C but with them being a rare species he can play as a starting C in todays league….

  • YO SON

    “So, Walsh shouldn’t have picked Jennings, because he would have been a bust here. Couldn’t have picked Brook Lopez either, he would have been a bust. ”

    you see silliness like that is why I cant……look at the next post and they mention bad character guys that isiah brought here..total bs…..but if he brought those guys rookies in at that time with the mess that was going on would have been a bad move..was more so in the front office and coaching then in the locker room…..you cant read between the lines……I mean seriously……

    and the NY media is going to ask about gallo because they just played them not against the bulls are the nets duuuuuh ahaha like are you serious……I think it would be a wise pr move to say something nice about gallo while being interviewed by him……..what are they sayng to the national media while he is not playing the Knicks is my point….have you heard any LEAKED ANYTHING ABOUT GALLO……let ME help you out because you need it.ummm….NOOOOOOO….the bulls creped in to the equation all of a sudden because of the possibility of rose the fact that you would even try to put gallo in the same sentence as rose is buffoonery in itself…..I cant participate in this right now….ahahaha no disrespect……we will agree to disagree……..yikes………….ahahahah

  • TobyKnight

    Yeah – Good point.

  • YO SON

    the NY media’ instead of him…….

  • HaS

    He’s 22, one would assume he’ll put on weight man, c’mon lol.

  • YO SON

    1 question for you please answer how long did it take for crawford and z-bo to be traded if it was so impossible of a task to do…..please answer please answer……..

  • YO SON

    ok your right…..but why does he play so limited minutes then..who is he really competing with……

  • ds2488

    Man, I don’t even know where to begin with some of this nonsense you say.

    Nothing is being leaked about Rose or Lopez. The reason the Bulls are such a priority for the National Media/ESPN is because it’s about hype. A 4 or 5 team race is much more interesting than a 2 team race, which is what it has essentially been up until this summer. A guy like Chris Broussard starts spewing random rumors to capitalize on his 15 minutes of fame and guys like you take his word as the be all-end all. That’s how the national media works. Hype sells, hype makes money.

    Im sorry man, but I still don’t understand what your point is about Rondo and Bynum being busts. You can say that about any player being drafted by any team. So every pick is a great pick because any player would be a bust going to another pick. You see how absurd that argument is I hope? If not then I guess we will agree to disagree lol.

  • ds2488

    It took close to a year for both to be traded again. Glad to help you with that lol. What else can I help you with?

  • HaS

    It was his 2nd year in the league man. Some big men take time to develop, especially big men who don’t come into the league with and NBA ready body (pause) or a polished offensive game (which is damn near every big man).

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    2bad he hasn’t hired any1 good so far to run the franchise…

  • dino of syracuse

    Probably best to wait a year on ‘Melo. Stick with Wil and Gallinari this year. They’re only going to get better and better. Trading them both for CP3. Wow! That wouId be tough. You’re going to hate this, but if I had to part with just one of them…hahaha Still though, I think NY has a good core. Add a few top shelfers and we can run.

    I think Durant will stay with OKC. They’re definitely on the way up.

  • YO SON

    so let me ask you straight up are you trading WILL for dude…..because I’m not……

    how do you think antoni likes bigs who cant shoot and are limited on the O….we seen this movies before…….if he couldn’t get burn in D.C. how’s he going to get burn here…….

  • YO SON

    umm no…..I asked you how long did it take walsh to trade those guys because he has done the impossible in yours and other apologist eyes…..HOW LONG DID IT TAKE WALSH TO TRADE Z-BO AND CRAWFORD INTO THE SEASON?????????????

    and you can try to flip shit all you want and act like you dont understand where IM coming from in regards to the drafting maybe you trully dont..wouodnt be suprised…let me see if I can give you an example……THE RAIDERS WERE A HORRIBLE PLACE FOR RUSSEL TO GET DRAFTED TOO…….IF HE WOULD HAVE WENT TO A MORE STABLE ENVIORMENT WITH A VETERAN LEADER TO FOLLOW BEHIND HE MAY HAVE HAD A BETTER CHANCE..I know its a different league and sport but try to keep up…….real quik long story short because I am a nice guy….bynum is injury pron and doesnt love bball if he would have came here he wouldnt have faught for his position and would have been chewed up by the media he was a bust until kobe called him out and that was by accident whos calling him out here get real dude….he is only good for a ready to win situation….rondo is a head case and they tried to trade him because they couldnt tolerate him the players coaches and gm and this is AFTER winning a Ring……if you think it would have been good to draft him here at that time then your fooling yourself….he drafted high qualitiy kids…you can say oh I dont understand what you mean but not understand when others say it wouldnt be a good place for stephson to come here because of his charecter issues besides him just being from here……I mean damn getta grip….

  • YO SON

    nah it’s going to take both if only 1 then gallo(hype)…..and if your not willing to part both for CP3 then your not getting Melo…why would he come here based on the fact that most of the free agents are projected to go to the East…….and the west is depleting……..

  • YO SON

    that is the only real nock to me……..

  • ds2488

    You just don’t seem to get what I am saying in response. Which is fine, I didn’t expect you to anyway.

    My whole point is that those excuses you make for Isiah are complete BS. They take into account way too many variables and hypotheticals and could potentially be used in any situation.

    For example, I could say Jordan Hill was a great pick because if Jennings came here he would be stuck on the bench behind Duhon and would have went crazy and flipped out on the media and never be given a chance to prove himself like he was in Milwaukee.

    You see that what you’re saying doesn’t qualify as anything but a false and empty excuse? There’s too many variables to take into place. So that excuse doesn’t hold any water. I don’t know how many times I have to tell you that, but you just refuse to understand it because you’re too busy trying to spin crap to protect Isiah, when the fact of the matter is he was a failure. Getta grip and get over it. It does not reflect personally on you at all.

  • YO SON

    ds dude………the time they drafted jennings marbury and crawford was gone so you cant compare the 2 when talking about rondo because marbury was still here crawford and nate…..and I think francis too….rondo wasn’t climbing over those dudes as the time…..ahahaha what are you talking about ….collins played 4 years under Chaney at Temple….he was much more mature and equip to deal this environment and not get caught up…..the only player jennings had to beat was really duhon…ahahaha….and isiah just traded for curry and just signed jj …..bynum wasnt climbing over those two and wasnt going to wait for one of those players to get injured to sees his opportunity…..ahahahhaha ……what the heck are you talkin about STOP reaching man……lopez didn’t have to worry about beating out curry he was injured for most of the past two seasons and jj was already gone. Lopez has a better head on his shoulders then bynum and would have fared better in both situations…….like your reaching bad trying to compare the two situations…there un parallel …..AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…dang homie….

  • YO SON

    but this the worse part…AHAHAAHAHAHHA
    “I just told you all those guys, 2 of whom are the biggest free agents, who praised Gallo during the year. Of course they are not talking about him now. That would be tampering. Is Lebron or Wade talking about Brook Lopez now? Derrick Rose? No because that’s tampering man, and would be too revealing and impolite.”

    AAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAAAA WTF….YO there free agents they hold no elegance to anybody they can talk about players if they want……only the gm, president, coach, and owner cant talk about other free agents on other teams to the public before 7/1/10……so now Lebron is worried about being polite I thought he was fueling this media hype and loved the attention so he wouldn’t want to add the controversy and hype……..AHAAHAHAHHAAHAH there you go again REACHIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • YO SON

    jennings already delt with that in europe being on the bench not getting playing time etc etc….and showed no negative responce to it…..he has a great head on his shoulders….and this is him over seas where he was some what of a forgotten man and couldnt show his skills on a daily basis in the states..so why all of a sudden if after that he is still a lottery pick with guarunted money he’s going to flip out…when he could have dropped even further…..and this is why walsh says stuff like oh my scouts….aahhahahahahahaha….YO just STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    AHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHA

  • ds2488

    lol. So again I ask, without receiving an answer like usual, who else is Lebron talking about? I haven’t heard him mention Derrick Rose or Brook Lopez. The reason would be because its rude. Why is he not saying a word? Because he likes the hype. Damn, the way you reach to make points is hilarious.

    And of course you will respond with some remark about being in lebron’s inner circle or something right? Because you know what he talks about right?

    Your points about the draft are just plain wrong. I really can’t do more than that. But keep trying to say that Balkman was the right pick at that spot. That really helps your argument a lot lol.

  • HaS

    The point it there are a great deal of SF’s better than Chandler and the position isn’t very hard to fill.

    If he actually had any “value” around the league it wouldn’t be a bad idea to trade him, unfortunately no one on the Knicks has any real “value”.

  • HaS

    “so let me ask you straight up are you trading WILL for dude…..because I’m not……”

    I would most definitely.

    It’s 1000x harder to fill the center position than it is to find a wing player, you know that.

    “how do you think antoni likes bigs who cant shoot and are limited on the O….we seen this movies before…….if he couldn’t get burn in D.C. how’s he going to get burn here…….”

    F*** _’antoni, I don’t care what he wants or who he’ll play. He didn’t invent coaching and I’m not passing on talented players simply because he might not play them. A real coach can find a way to maximize players’ talents and put them in a position to succeed. If he doesn’t like it he can hit the bricks.

    And again, it was his 2nd season man. He’s a big man still growing into his frame. He averaged nearly 2 blocks in 16 mins a night in the NBA. Worth the risk imho.

  • YO SON

    your wrong …..we trying to sign 2 max free agents and fill out the rest of a empty depleted roster….we have limited funds to spend……His value is especially TREMENDOUS to this team and this unique situation..and theres players on your list that I don’t THINK will be as good as Chandler playing a supporting role but we cant afford them so the fact of the matter is your point is obsolete. We have very limited assets and once again we have so many other holes to fill…..So once again there may not be a better SF or SG that is as young and as solid all around and improves every year with nothing around him to help his game but yet gets better and is as cheap….the MAIN point of the matter…..

    why are guys so incapable of admitting when there wrong on here……like seriously…..

  • YO SON

    “F*** _’antoni, I don’t care what he wants or who he’ll play. He didn’t invent coaching and I’m not passing on talented players simply because he might not play them”

    whoa whoa whoa take it easy big homie….ahahahahhaa….I agree with you……. he shouldn’t have as much clout as he does….but he’s still here and thats what it is………….you still have to be realistic to our situation and what we are dealing with…….AHAHAHAHAHAahahaa……
    frustrating I know……..

  • YO SON

    I thought he said he wanted to play with Bosh and JJ I thought he flat out said that as his first choice….but you was dead wrong by saying it would be tampering….aahhahahaahhahaa your so silly………and wasnt you disparaging him for being a attention grabber(not exact words but you get my drift) now he’s being considerate of others…….haha

    he played the bulls in the playoffs and noah flat out dissed there home state……and actually got into words during the regular season of course he’s not going to turn around and say yea I want to play with the bulls to the media……but the fact that you would try to make gallo comparable with rose and lopez is a complete joke…….especially rose….but what you do is reach..to bad your arms are way tooooo short…..haha…..

    I’m sure his boys may have said rose is a beast and would be a good look….I’m sure at least one of his boys and or he told them that……and I’m shore another 1 of his boys would have said playing with lopez would be ideal but that same dude stated he wouldn’t put any pressure on him in his decision making …but I’m sure that dude has others in Lebrons ear doing his dirty work..typical…. just have a funny feeling gallo would be the last guy they mention if at all as well as Lebron mentioning it to his boys……..

    and I could care less if you don’t understand what I mean by right time right situation right draft anymore…you probably do but cant admit defeat….are maybe your just not that knowledgeable that you cant comprehend …everyone else were able to comprehend it….but it’s always one…..sad part about it your probably holding on to defend yourself but just making yourself look even worse and soooo many different ways….hahahahaha

    and once again can you please answer my question HOW LONG INTO THE SEASON DID IT TAKE WALSH TO TRADE Z-BO AND CRAWFORD..thanks….

    why can’t guys admit when they are wrong on here…..I mean seriously………….guys will go to any pathetic lengths to defend themseleves….and they be DEAD WRONG…..it’s not becoming at all……ahahahahaha……..

    once again HOW LONG INTO THE SEASON DID IT TAKE WALSH TO RADE Z-BO AND CRAWFORD…….I’m waaaaaaaitiiiiiiiiiiiing……………..

  • YO SON

    TRADE’