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Finally, Someone Agrees with TKB

by Tommy Dee on July 3rd, 2010 at 11:02 am

Via ESPN

Question: What kind of salary cap/trade deadline flexibility will the Bulls/Heat have going into the 2010-11 season? Answer: Virtually none. Chicago has to lock up Joakim Noah next summer and Rose the year after that, and Miami, if it gets two max players, can only gain flexibility for the summer of 2011 by declining the fourth-year option on Beasley’s contract prior to the start of the ’10-11 season. The Knicks, on the other hand, have Eddy Curry‘s expiring $11.3 contract to use in one of two ways: Trade it at the deadline for a player or players that would make the Knicks stronger championship contenders next spring; or let it come off the cap at the end of next season, putting the Knicks some $10-12 million under the cap for the Summer of Carmelo.

I have it on good authority that the Knicks pounded those points with James, arguing that their complementary players are better than they’ve been given credit for, and that adding a third max player in 2011 is an achievable possibility.

Those are persuasive arguments, and the Cavaliers (capped out next summer because of Antawn Jamison trade) and Bulls can’t make similar cases when they meet with James today in Cleveland.

Again, all topics that have been covered. Great job by Sheridan using solid logic. This seems like a NY-NJ thing now. How about Sheridan and Woj scrap it out. I wonder where that battle would be. Actually, no I don’t. Epic battles live at MSG.

  • trebek29

    whatever happens this is the only source of logical and coherent arguments from a knicks standpoint.

  • clyde fan

    It’s pretty easy. If Lebron wants to enhance HIS OWN Legecy he signs with the Knicks or resigns with Cleveland.

    Same can’t be said for going to Chicago or Miami(with Wade).

    Let’s face it DW is doing everything he can do to get LBJ here.

    If he comes here he comes here.

    I don’t know about everyone else but I’m already sick of all of this.

    Time to move on and BUILD a team.

  • altan311

    Reason and logic will rule the day. No one else can offer the ability for so many complimentary stars to align for championship purposes. Donnie Walsh might pull off a better roster than his best Indy team. This stuff is getting crazy, all I know is that Lebron is going to have to contemplate his future with a strong Knicks team standing in his way in the East. How can he expect to roll through a good Celtics squad, resurgent Knicks, and Orlando, and even possibly a further improved Bulls squad. Thats a least 4 teams who could knock him out of the playoffs every year. Maybe the King is realizing him staying in cleveland would be the ultimate embodiment of the championship-less aura of the city of Cleveland. If he doesn’t come to NYC, I want to watch Lebron cry after losing in the 2nd round every year. NO RINGS FOR THE KING EXCEPT FOR IN NEW YORK NEW YORK!

  • gianthinker

    This is the single best and logical argument to state to anyone who doubts the Knicks, if its fans or media or players. The Knicks are in a perfect storm right now IF they can just get a couple talented guys in here this season. Amare is a GREAT start IMHO and hopefully Lebron will see that if he wants to play with another max and have even a remote chance to have another one join the Knicks are his only shot at that.

  • Tommy Dees Bodyguard

    the part about cap flexibility after this year is a crucial point and one that lbj has to take seriously. it’s one thing to sign him now along with another buddy but what about the supporting cast and the ability to resign/obtain key components during the season or the following season?

    if a team like the bulls go all in next year, don’t win and face having to let noah go because they need the funds to sign rose or can’t afford another piece then lbj is facing “his cleveland years” part deux.

    for all the posturing and feces-flinging by espn, yahoo and the back-stabber isola, it seems people forget that there will be basketball in 2011-2012 and the knicks just might be the team best primed to make a sustained run with lebron and co.

    also a huge key to mention: donnie walsh hopefully has an heir apparent ready to step in without pause because he’s not getting younger and the clock is ticking. is glen grunwald ready? chris mullin? kevin pritchard?

  • islandknick

    Eddie Curry’s contract is the key for the Knicks. The long and short is that Lebron the great offensive player will have to play defense by blocking some of the other players moves. If he doesn’t make the right move, players will come together and crush him. He could wind up exiting in the second round of the playoffs for many years to come.

  • altan311

    I think Allan Houston is being groomed to take over as GM, which I am totally fine with. Every time I hear him speak he seems extremely intelligent and well composed. Shame he couldn’t make a comeback with that tough knee…

  • brookdon

    It’s between us with Amare (who is meeting with us today) and the Cavs and Loyalty (that’s all they have)

  • gianthinker

    Rotoworld—->

    Carmelo may decline Nuggets’ extension?

    Carmelo Anthony is “strongly considering declining” the Nuggets’ three-year, $65 million contract offer, according to Newsday. If he does decline, the Knicks may try to pry him from Denver with a trade offer.

    The Nuggets could be forced to trade him to ensure he won’t walk for nothing as a free agent, though at this point it’s all speculation. Stoking the fires is the fact that Melo and his wife were both born in Brooklyn, and they recently listed their Denver-area mansion for sale. Jul. 3 – 10:31 am et
    Source: Newsday

    Johnson eyes Bulls, Knicks, while Hawks wait

    Joe Johnson is “intrigued” by the idea of playing for the Bulls or Knicks, but he would have to accept over $25 million less or engineer a sign-and-trade with the Hawks.

    Atlanta has offered him a lucrative six-year max deal, but JJ doesn’t seem to be in any rush. He could team up with Amare Stoudemire in New York, or any combination of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh in Chicago. The Hawks have been patient thus far, “but at some piont the team will need an answer so it can pursue a viable replacement,” according to CBSSports.com. Jul. 3 – 9:54 am et
    Source: CBSSports.com

    Amare expected to finalize deal w/ Knicks

    Amare Stoudemire is exected to arrive in New York on Saturday to finalize a five-year, $99 million contract with the Knicks.

    Amare is no slouch, but he has a history of injuries and his acquisition is widely seen as a fallback plan after the Knicks reportedly failed to impress LeBron James. Stoudemire is expected to finalize the deal on Sunday, though he’ll need to pass a physical and no deal would become official until Thursday. His arrival would almost guarantee that David Lee won’t be retained by New York. Jul. 3 – 9:46 am et
    Source: NY Daily News

  • gianthinker

    He’s only the President. DW has stated many times that once his off-season wheeling and dealing is done he will bring in a full time GM. Likely will be Chris Mullin or Allen Houston. Kevin Pritchard would be a great choice though.

  • JeffM729

    The real issue for the Knicks and LeBron is who plays center and point guard. That is the crux of the having Eddy Curry and flexibility. Yes, we can make moves in 2011, but who will play these positions.

    We can’t contend until we have a quality C and PG. I’m sure that is what LeBron and others want to see a plan in place. That’s what Donnie needs to sell.

  • CzarStar

    Anyone else worried about Joe Johnson not signing the max with Atlanta yet? I don’t think he’ll leave all that money on the table and come to NY for a discount and I definitely don’t want him here next to Amare being paid the max and using all our cap room.

  • Ol Dirty 187

    Haha, it’s such bullshit that the Amare signing is being seen as desperation. What is wrong with these “journalists”… The Amare signing is pretty clearly the first dominoe to fall, now let’s all sit back and enjoy the show…

  • feramorz

    A few thoughts.

    First, kudos to the Knicks for finally getting their side of the story out. I think the Wojo story was the breaking point. It was so blatantly biased and off-base, that I think the Knicks message is finally getting through. I used to respect Wojo as reliable, but that story was really a schocker.

    Second, the single most important thing we have to watch is whether the Bulls can move Deng. It’s my completely unsubstantiated belief that the Bulls got help in the Hinrich trade, someone pushed that on Grunfeld. That was a game changer, but it was not enough. Can the Bulls find a sucker to take Deng? If they do, it’s game over. If they don’t, I like the Knicks position.

    Finally, if the Cavs had won the Championship this year, LeBron would have stayed. But they lost ingloriously and handcuffed themselves in the process in terms of future flexibility. Then the team imploded, firing its GM and its coach. Loyalty is one thing, money is one thing, but from a basketball point of view, I believe the Knicks are a better option than the Cavs. The Cavs took a gamble on Jamison, and lost.

  • brookdon

    I agree it is stupid to call it desperation. They are forgetting that we have room for two stars not one. Amare Gallo Chandler and curry’s contract is a better deal than Rose Noah and at best Boozer. It’s also better than signing for less in Chicago to play with Wade or bosh or going to Miami at max to sign 9 min players.

  • gianthinker

    Johnson, Stoudemire Reunion in New York?

    Posted: 7/3/2010 5:32:00 AM
    Source: Alex Kennedy of HOOPSWORLD

    Amar’e Stoudemire has been recruiting a second star player to join him in New York City. No names have been confirmed but sources believe that the target is Joe Johnson. He has been friends with Stoudemire since their days together with the Phoenix Suns and the reports that Johnson is now “on the fence” about accepting Atlanta’s six year, $120 million offer line up with this theory.

    Amar’e has remained close with Joe since his departure from Phoenix in 2005 and the two often hang out and host parties together in Atlanta.

    Stoudemire’s camp is crossing their fingers that this means a second star will soon be in New York. “We’re hoping, we’ll see,” said one source close to Stoudemire.

    “He’s coming,” said another source, referring to Stoudemire. “The question is how many guys did he convince to join him?”

    Full article:
    http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=16689#ixzz0sc8xhWFt

  • kcos32

    ill be honest id rather have guys that want to come and play for new york… guys like amare parker and melo all want to come here and a team of those three can compete with anyone in the league… if we can find a way to send out curry lee chandler and toney douglas to bring back parker and melo then we have an amazing team… lock up joe johnson with our second max and we are good to go
    parker (ridnour or felton)
    johnson walker rautins
    melo walker fields
    gallo (charles garcia)(baron)
    amare jordan

    thant team is filled with talent and guys that want to play and win and maybe guys that have a chip on their shoulder for being labeled as backup plans… let wade and bosh team up i would love to see amare go after bosh and melo or johnson battle wade there will be things proven in those epic battles
    also our bench while lacking star studded names is filled with guys who will hustle to earn a place in the nba
    rautins provides a shooter, fields solid defense and athleticism, jordan a big body, garcia who i think will get a contract is an underrated talent, walker we all saw what he can do and finally i think we use some extra money we freed up with toney douglas and chandler leaving to sign a backup point in ridnour someone who can control the pace of the game while parker is out
    this team is not one that we expected going into free agency but one that wants to win and wants to do it here in nyc forget the prima donnas in lebron and bosh id rather guys that want to be here
    (IM NOT SAYING LEBRON BOSH AND WADE ARENT THE BEST TALENT JUST THAT ID RATHER PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BE HERE)

  • gianthinker

    Agreed although I still find WoJo more real than most writers that story was ridiculous, Agreed and Agreed.

  • ds2488

    This has been one of the many things ESPN has ignored in their ridiculous hype of Lebron definitely going to CHI.

    While the Bulls are the best chance for Lebron to win a championship next year imo, their future is in serious doubt. They have no flexibility, no real way to sign to max fa’s without one taking a discount, Deng’s ridiculous contract, and the uncertainty of a new coach and a cheap ownership that will have to pay to keep Noah and Rose.

    The Knicks have more to offer from a future pov, but of course they have no chance at Lebron, so it doesn’t matter.

  • gianthinker

    I hear that. I think we’d be stupid to not try to get Lebron but I have to be honest its been a dream to have Melo here ever since his Cuse days.

  • kcos32

    my guess the trades could look like lee and either considerations or a pick to the spurs
    and toney curry chandler and a pick to the nuggets
    nuggets now would have the ability to trade either douglas or lawson to get back talent and chandler can step in for melo while curry and the pick give them flexibility for the future

    the spurs by getting lee have a deadly front court of duncan and lee to face off against the likes of pau and bynum and can use the pick or considerations to pick up a guard off the market…

  • kcos32

    yea i agree as a gm that wants to keep his job you have to try for lebron but in the end i hope he goes to cleveland where hell lose still and we make this team itll put a wrench in lebrons championship dreams which i almost think would be bittersweet

  • barnaby8787

    Honestly, I think we’ll end up with with parker and some quality role players. Reports are that melo is seriously considering declining the nuggets offer but I don’t see it happening personally. I saw Tony Parker, Amare, Mike Miller/Raja Bell/Roger Mason (one of the three) and a few more, less quality role players…overall a disappointment in my opinion unless some how we get melo with/without parker to join amare…

  • Mal

    Lebron has to change his style if the Bulls are the best chance to win next year. Remember he is a ball dominator I dont know how that will affect D Rose’s game.

    Thibodoeu Im sure wil be using a lot of things he has seen Doc Rivers do the last couple of years (the whole trust your teammates and dont be heroes thing)and other coaches he has been around.

    IMHO the Nets with Bosh or Amare and LBJ have a better chance coming out of the East

    What do you guys think about trying to bring TMac back, is he done? Remember he say he take peanuts to play with 2 max guys, he still has great BBall IQ but our his knees and legs done?

    I mean
    PG TD, Rautins (spot up guys for LBJ)
    SG TMAC (if ok can create his own shot and still has ref props)
    SF Lebron
    PF Amare or Gallo
    C J Jordan or Amare (rather Amare play his natural position)

  • feramorz

    Here are two questions I have, that worry me.

    Re: Bulls: if all you need is to free up a bit of cap space (and you can’t move Deng), and you can get LeBron and Wade, why not trade Noah? Perhaps more appropriately, why not trade Rose? He’d be redundant.

    Re: Melo, would the Nets be equally attractive as the Knicks? Nets could probably put together a better package to get him.

    Not saying any of this happens, it just worries me as I assess the situation.

  • dino2008

    MY QUESTION:

    would atlanta take eddy currys contract if the knicks gave them chandler and a future pick or douglas IF joe johnson said i am signing with the knicks….

    if this is the case and atlanta does… would LBJ turn down playing with Gallo, Joe Johnson, and Amare?

    no chance. I dont get why this has not been atleast discussed.

  • brookdon

    I think Dantoni will let TD start and see what he could do eith LBJ as a starter and if it doesn’t work out attempt a trade for CP3 or sign Tony Parker.

  • tasan

    good points…but that’s exactly what donnie shouldn’t sell…he needs to buy a good pg and center.

    the center amare can cover since the east is mostly packed full of smalls and d’antoni’s system only requires runners, rebounders, and finishers which a pf can cover. david lee’s not a true center.

    the minute we got curry was when we were doomed. i wish i were paid over 10 mil to sit on the bench

  • brookdon

    I’m not worried. I am pretty sure that our next option is a trade for Brooklyn Native Carmelo.

  • barnaby8787

    Simply, JJ’s stupidly large contract…we have discussed it plenty of times on here, but JJ has so much money on the table that it’s disgusting.

  • brookdon

    Why would he recruit JJ when he could bring in LBJ? And JJ would leave lots of money on the table to leave a contending hawks team for the Knicks.

  • barnaby8787

    Why would you trade noah or rose? It’s not happening. They’ll trade deng somewhere.

    Melo doesn’t want to go to the nets. Also, what package exactly? All they have on their books is devin, brook, t. williams, and courtney lee right now. So who there is going to yield melo? Maybe devin and t.williams, but they won’t get rid of t. williams so fast and courtney lee can’t be paired w/ devin to make it work.

  • kcos32

    Nets might put up a little fight but i think they would not be as bad as you think. Melo was quoted on saying how special he thought gallo was, its known how he would love to play in ny , his syracuse fan base is with the knicks not the nets, we will have amare, and i know this sounds stupid but i htink having rautins helps… he is another syracuse captain that could reach out to melo … plus the ability to sign other players or player with our second max and use some young pieces and lee or curry to pick up another piece like parker puts us over the top… the nets are in jersey for three years and would have to give up young players like favors to get a deal done. That gives them a big man in lopez who amare is better than and a guard in harris who parker is better than if he follows suit… add in shooters like gallo rautins and walker we win
    plus on top of it all melo could easily kill any deal with the nets by saying i will not re-sign with them…. and melo is ballsy enough to do that
    in my opinion if he gets traded its ny or bust
    come next year hell either be locked up here or locked up in denver

  • gianthinker

    I’d never give up that much to a team who would have no choice but to take it or not.

  • feramorz

    Let’s hope!

  • brookdon

    Nets have such an overrated team.

    Other than Lopez and Harri who so the Nets have that the nuggets would want. T Will? Kris Hunphries?

  • kcos32

    it hasnt been discussed becasue atlanta said they will not discuss sign and trades for johnson…
    also i would rather not wasste my pieces… use those pieces to get other players and either lbj or johnson will make a decision
    if we use those pieces to get a parker then the question is who does jj want to play with amare and parker or josh smith and horford

    but yea atlanta has said they have no interest in a sign and trade

  • feramorz

    The one thing is, JJ has to know the Hawks can’t seriously contend in the future, particularly not after blowing all that money on him. Still think he takes the money, but maybe he’s thinking about that. Long-term, the move does not make sense for the Hawks.

  • brookdon

    That would leave us with no point guard and another horrible contract.

  • gianthinker

    Not to mention they seem overly willing to give Harris up in each and every trade scenario you hear out of NJ. Lopez is nice and is disrespected way too much on this website but the Nets are not better than the Knicks IMO, especially if/when Amare is here.

  • barnaby8787

    Take it or not? How do you figure? If they lose JJ for nothing, they get cap space. It’s on them to figure out if that cap space is worth it or if they would rather have chandler/td assuming that they don’t re-sign JJ. And don’t say that nobody wants to go there either.

  • gianthinker

    I look at the JJ situation as working out one of two ways. I think either JJ stays in ATL for the max deal or he declines it and signs with us for less. I dont see Walsh trading all of our pieces to ATL for JJ when there are guys like Melo and Parker who can be had with those same pieces. Thats why I can see JJ coming here for less once he sees Amare and Lebron come here or just staying in ATL. The only team I can see doing a sign and trade at that pay scale for him is Chicago.

  • gianthinker

    Thats why its a take it or not. Why is that so hard to understand? You dont offer them all of your pieces because if they dont want to make the trade fine they are either stuck with a huge max contract or they take the offer back and JJ can be signed by us or someone else. We’re in the drivers seat in any JJ trade scenario because if we got him this way he’d have a ridiculous contract but the only reason none of us would care would be because he’d the the third weapon in an Amare/Lebron sandwich. If they decided they didn’t want to take whatever package was offered and they rescind the offer to him he can just be signed for less to come to the trio. It makes no sense to give them our best defender, our huge expiring contract, future 1RD picks we dont have and our only PG just to get a grossly overblown max contract. Thats why its a take it or leave it.

  • barnaby8787

    First off, we have to offer the pieces to try and pry JJ away. If not, he probably will stay there. The owners don’t care b/c they won’t own the team by the time his contract is up anyways and they know this. What’s the point of offering a crappy package if another team could offer more? You’re speaking in absolutes by saying that either he gets the large contract or leaves and the knicks will get him. You’re acting like he doesn’t have other options. What happens if bosh went to chicago? What couldn’t JJ easily go to chicago? So to lose JJ just for the not offering the likes of curry, TD, and chandler; all of which are nice additions to, but not necessary for a championship team? Give me a break.

  • ricksthepick

    I think if any Eastern Conference team takes Deng back to allow Chicago to get 3 max, they ought to be investigated for collusion. You’d be potentially enabling a team to be insanely dominant in your own conference for the next decade.

  • JeffM729

    Deng is a good player. He can get you 15-20 points and has an all around game. If Amir Johnson is getting 34 million and Gooden is getting 32, Deng for 50 isn’t unreasonable.

    If a team has cap space and needs a SF, like the Nets and Clippers, they might take him, cash, and 1st draft picks for a 2nd round pick.

  • Armand27

    Wojo had two false Knicks stories in a row.

    1st was Knicks were gunna get shut out

    Then the presentation…

    Either Wojo is incredibly bad at his job, or he is a knick hater..

  • Ftingue

    Just when I was starting to butter up to the Net. SMH I HATE the nets

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