The Idea of the Sign and Trade

by Tommy Dee on June 27th, 2010 at 3:42 pm

Several tweets and talks from the national media are focused on the idea that the big name free agents will agree to sign and trades because they won’t leave money on the table. Yet most completely believe that Lebron is headed to Chicago and they are clearing room for Bosh. How exactly does that work?

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RicBucher

Ric Bucher

@RicBucher: In hindsight, our Fastbreak FA panel forgot a vital element: no FA - LeBron, Joe, Bosh - wants to forfeit $30m. S&T still No. 1 objective.

Jun 27, 2010 @ 05:50 PM from web

I’m not sold on the idea that Bosh and Lebron are a combo. Never was. What puzzles me here is that with the Bulls shedding contract the Knicks have Eddy Curry‘s deal that can really help the situation. It’s possible that Curry can’t be moved for anything at this point, but is it really impossible to believe that Curry is a big part of this thing moving forward at least for next year? In other words, is Curry a piece for Lebron to consider? I mean, he’s never mentioned because he’s easily forgotten.

Please don’t read this as the Knicks’ pitch to Lebron being Eddy Curry. Curry hasn’t played in two years. I’m not one who’s a huge believer that he’ll ever play a full season again. But imagine he came back the player he was several years ago offensively. That’s a piece. He’s in a contract year. This is it for him. Desperation time. And in fairness to Curry, as much as we’ve given a pass to the Knicks over the last 2 years, pairing Curry in his contract year with a star could be very productive. He has received that same pass for 3 years.

I reported he quit on the team last year, but if he were hurt and the team thinks he actually fit in the plans, it made no sense for him to play. But maybe, just maybe, Curry can get himself in shape enough this summer. Maybe, just maybe, Curry went out to talk to Lebron to tell him he was ready to grab his career back it what may be his last contract year.

Hard to believe? Yes.

Possible? I believe conceivably.

Especially when you consider that he hasn’t been traded yet. Now maybe he CAN’T be at this point, but there’s little doubt that, if healthy, he can be a piece to this thing on the low block offensively. Especially if you can pair him with a real, solid free agent 4.

But as far as the sign and trade concept, I believe you’ll see Bosh involved in one. Lebron, I’m not so sure. The Knicks have chips in terms of talent (Lee), cap space (Curry) and some youth to compete with all the other teams.

Obviously, teams aren’t looking to acquire cap space after this season, and Hinrich can actually play, so that seems to be the reason why Curry hasn’t been moved. And possible trades will be looked at after the free agents settle. It’s easy to understand why Curry has been forgotten, almost as easy to forget that he’s 27.

The other thing, besides a future team, that James and Curry have in common?

This guy.
  • barnaby8787

    LOL, if curry could return to old shape and be remotely dominating like he was the first year or two in a knicks uniform, the knicks would win a ring with LBJ and CB4 coming here. Too bad it’s not happening though.

  • bbrody1

    curry, chandler for collison posey songalia
    curry chandler walker td for arenas+1st roundpick
    curry for a bag of chips

  • barnaby8787

    Curry for a lifetime supply of big macs for gallo, so the dude could put on weight and not be so much of a vag.

  • @ngerman

    I’m sorry, I have ZERO confidence or faith in Curry, however, what bothers me is that the experts on ESPN will say–and I believe that it was on draft night that one them said it–that NO contract is unmovable. But you just know that they’ll say that Curry’s contract is what? That’s right, unmovable. Because I’m a native NYer, and an unabashed Knicks fan, I can’t help feeling like the national media, especially ESPN, seems to enjoy bashing the city and the Knicks. I’m at a point where everytime I read something from these guys I can’t help but yell out “F*CK YOU!”

  • bbrody1

    imo i think d’antoni plans on having curry starting next year as crazy as that sounds… i just can’t believe he wasn’t even mentioned in possible trades on draft night, there must be a reason for that – we didn’t even try to trade him it seems

  • harris

    Shows you how ridiculous the ESPN analysts are. “In hindsight”, they
    “forgot about the S&T”. What a bunch of clowns.

    I doubt Curry would be much of a lure for someone like James. He has missed so much time over the past few years he’s clearly too unreliable to count on. His contract is probably an asset though, given he’s entering his final year. I would imagine DW is trying to parlay that into something. Why wouldn’t teams be lookling at opening cap space for next year? I’m sure good players will be available on the free agent market in 2011.

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

    i see danni boy’s/DONNIE’S plan curry will get burn an show skills u never seen b4,he’s going to shot fade-aways 3′s show a killer crossover i can’t wait to see curry he will be traded for a lottery pick or ellis…….

  • Chris Alvino

    The Knicks and other teams do not have to send back a contract like Curry’s in a S&T. The Raptors (for example) can sign Bosh and trade him for say, Wilson Chandler. The Raptors would then have a huge trade exception that they could use to acquire a high priced player and not have to match salaries.

  • Jack D

    Yeah, F U ESPN

  • craigamus83

    Off Topic: Here’s an 8 min clip of Tulsa v. Memphis, and a better look at Jerome Jordan. I think it’s his junior season.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jq841AbOJE

  • PipeDreamin

    THANK YOU RIC BUCHER!

    I’ve been saying this since the draft day trade. BOSH WANTS HIS $$$!

  • ben5151

    How about Kahn helps out his mentor (especially in light of the rage of Ernie Grudgefeld).

    This trade works within the salary cap:

    Al Jefferson for Eddy Curry, Wilson Chandler and a 1st Round Pick

    We would stay the same in terms of salary but we would be more attractive to free agents. There would be less of a logjam at the 3, Bosh wouldn’t have to worry about playing the 5 and so on and so forth. It also makes it less dramatic if we end up with Joe Johnson. How about this lineup:

    BEST CASE:

    C- Al Jefferson
    PF- Chris Bosh
    SF- Danilo Gallinari
    SG- LeBron James
    PG- Toney Douglas

    WORST CASE:
    C- Al Jefferson
    PF- David Lee
    SF- Danilo Gallinari
    SG- Joe Johnson
    PG- Toney Douglas

    It gives us a more balanced team regardless of what happens in free agency.

  • SilentJay

    Lol
    Whatever hopes I had for Curry are long gone. This guy doesn’t have the chops. The only value he’ll have as a trading chip is his big expiring contract, period. Last year’s “comeback” was the last chance I gave him. It’s not that I’m not patient, it’s just that EC hasn’t really proved sportsman likie conduct for a while now. I see no reason for that to change, even if a top player comes here.
    I don’t know what coach would ever play him considering the fact that he doesn’t know how to play D.
    Fact is, we haven’t heard much about this team’s roster, aside from Walker losing wait, Will having fun and how Douglas’ been practicing all summer on his game.
    Nothing on Curry.

  • HaS

    I agree, any scenario that includes _avi_ is the absolute worst case.

    Especially in my case since it would mean I would no longer be a Knick fan for the next 5-6 years or until he is traded, whichever comes first.

  • PipeDreamin

    I like that Jerome was featured in the post. He fought for position and shows a nice post up game w/ that right handed hook shot. He also does a decent job with help defense. I like this kid. I hope D’Antoni can fit him into the system.

  • HaS

    “Last year’s “comeback” was the last chance I gave him. It’s not that I’m not patient, it’s just that EC hasn’t really proved sportsman likie conduct for a while now.”

    Wasn’t he injured most of the year though, it’s not like that was really his fault. He lost the weight so that wasn’t the issue. I’m not sure what “un-sportsman’s like conduct” you might be referring to either btw.

    Not that I expect him to contribute next year either, partly because _’antoni has no use for a player who’s main strength is scoring in the post. Even if he returned to form or better.

  • grahambo86
  • grahambo86

    If the current CBA is set to expire after the 2010-2011 season (The League has the option of extending it one more season), wouldn’t an expiring contract like EC’s be worth it to owners who have players with bad contracts?

  • SilentJay

    My bad, sorry man. Talk about bad writing.
    I just find myself questioning the guy’s maturity at this point of his career.
    We know he’s had really bad breaks that can tear a man down (death in the family, cardiac problems, etc), and when he’s tried to push back he’s been held back by injuries.
    He has however, shown up to camp (the last 2) in bad physical condition and was ordered to get into shape, which, imho, isn’t the best example a pro basketball player should show.
    I know last year was bad for him, and I thought he really tried and was held back, both by injuries and the coach’s reticence to play him. The coach’s decision is his own (god knows I’ve never agreed with him), but after all that’s gone down with him, I really don’t see Curry being someone that can give a lot to this team. It does suck, because he’s got skills that we need.

  • harris

    Apparently Houston is tight with “World Wide Wes”.

  • bluemax

    Ric Bucher: “In hindsight, our Fastbreak FA panel forgot a vital element: no FA – LeBron, Joe, Bosh – wants to forfeit $30m. S&T still No. 1 objective.”

    Duh! I only have been saying that for weeks.

    Noway bosh goes to Chi. they can’t do S&T without busting their team. Same can be said for Amare and boozer. the best Chi can do is getting a second tier FA like hamilton or ray allen for example.

    BTW, why would LBJ go to Chi to play with rose when he can go to Miami and play with wade who is rose on steroid.

  • bluemax

    If you ask me, you are not much of a knick fan in the first place

  • italian stallion

    Tommy,

    You are at the point where you are grasping at straws because you are in denial about had bad the situation looks. It’s looking more and more like we are the odd team out that’s going to have to overpay for the handful of overrated FAs left.

  • Big Poppa Smurf

    This is beyond even grasping for straws. I wish I had a way with words so that I could coin a new phrase for how desperate having any hope in Eddy Curry is. The only part of the pitch to Lebron/Wade/Bosh regarding Eddy Curry should be ” We know he’s a fat waste of life, but his contract comes off the books next year, and that will give us even more money under the cap to help fill in the pieces around you.”