Azubuike Doubtful For Camp

I like Azubuike, but I can’t really see him contributing much during the first half of the season. He is coming back from a very serious injury, and still isn’t anywhere near 100%. Even when he is completely healthy, it will probably take a little while before he feels completely confident and is able to give it his all.

Same here. He’s a good player, but he should take his time rehabbing.

thats all good, more time for Rautins and Landry to do their thing. Im telling you guys Azi wont be ready officially until the 11′ season. He is T-MAC all over again.

So, at least for the near future, the Lee sign and trade gave the Knicks Randolph and Turiaf since Azubuike is “damaged goods” with essentially no value to the team in the short term, possibly limited to no value until late in the season, and no immediate trade value, if any, this season.

To go from not being able to run or jump now to having any sort of a productive pre-season camp in a month in quite a stretch. Then to chip off a year’s worth of rust and work his way into game shape and contribute . . . guess they knew what they were doing when they signed Mason.

do i hear jerry stackhouse??

I think this means that Walker is going to be given a real shot. I know he was bad in SL, but he played very well last season. If he can continue to shoot around 40% from behind the arc, and can still get to the hoop, he could really help the Knicks this year. I think they will be fine with a Chandler, Mason, Walker combo at SG.

we signed Roger Mason, why would they need stackhouse..he wants to earn a cheap ring by going to the heat

Absolutely true, but if Randolph can live up to his potential, nobody will care about anyone else in that trade.

Can’t say I’m shocked. We all had an inkling he probably was not going to be ready early on…

Rautins has a bad knee too… and no game.

Yea it didn’t come off as much as a surprise, that’s why they signed Mason. My question is what will the opening day lineup look like?

As they say . . . “From your lips to G-d’s ears.”

So now the Knicks have three “ifs.”

IF Randolph has a break-out year.
IF Turiaf can play evtended minutes at the five w/o foul trouble.
If Azubuike can re-hab this season.

Definition of an “iffy” deal.

I guess it is better than nothing for Lee. I hope Walker and Chandler have break-out years at the two. I don’t think it is wise to count on two second round rookies, Rautins and Fields, to fill the void.

Any word on Turiaf’s knee?

I tried to told ya:

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/68946/20100902/amare_works_out_in_phoenix/

You know what’s funny Has as soon as we stopped talking about other players and trades and focus on our team we come up with more questions than confidence.

I would guess

Turiaf
Amare
Gallo
Chandler
Felton

Dantoni Bench: Randolph, Mason, TD and Walker on the outskirts depending on matchups.

I’ve read a lot of people saying Mason is just there for insurance and won’t play much but I actually see him plaing quite a bit. He can shoot the three and doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. I could actually see him playing in a lot of games late.

Hmmm what did you try to tell us?

im confident with mason at the 2 walker is back up. I would start mason over walker any day.

i was just about to ask the same thing

Another “IF” I forgot.

Amar’e was after the security of a guaranteed contract as any smart family man should have been.

Nothing is guaranteed.

Imho the Knicks should be fighting for that 8th spot, but could definitely miss the playoffs especially if Amar’e plays the kind of defense he’s known for.

However, if a team ahead of them has a bad break (injury, chemistry issues etc.) the Knicks could get up to 6th maybe.

Wizards, Philly, NJ, even Toronto and Cleveland could be in a scrum for that 8th spot depending how things pan out for them.

Can we cut Rautins and bring in Tinsley (a NY’er and a Walsh guy seems like a perfect fit) for the bench?

Azubuike was suppose to be our best perimeter defender. I don’t see how Rautins and Felton will help in that department. So my friend this is a big loss for this team. I don’t think he will be ready until mid season. Looks like Wilson Chandler and Roger Mason will be competing for the job.

Yea, I was (still am) looking forward to AZ play. I think he’s the best 2 on the squad without a doubt.

No.

Sooo…guess we didn’t fleece golden state afterall.

azubuike will be ready to go by mid november,so i wouldnt worry about it

The real fleecing that took place was by _avi_ getting a max contract lol. Worse contract of the offseason by far.

I still have hope for Randolph.

A real pass first point guard would be helpful in practice and in foul trouble situations. Tinsley can pass, he’s had injury issues, but he wouldn’t be starting or playing a whole lot of minutes here at all.

We could use another Pure point with experience…only have one current.

Ama’re/Randolph > Ama’re/Lee

Sara Lee > _avi_ Lee.

Um… yea. That’s why I said… never mind.

I think Tony Douglas is going to give Felton competition at the PG position by mid season. So that being said, I think Tony Douglas is qualified to handle the back up PG position but a veteran like Tinsley would be a great idea to have if Felton or Douglas should get injured. IMO Walsh is making a huge mistake going into this season without at least 3 point guard and NO Rautins is not a PG.

LOL

@HaS
“The real fleecing that took place was by _avi_ getting a max contract lol. Worse contract of the offseason by far.”

Really?? While it wasn’t a cheap good contract by any means. I think the real actual worst contract this summer is between Rudy Gay and Joe Johnson…..
Is this really a surprise???

I am happy for David Lee but I am more happy that Walsh was not desperate enough to give him a max contract. 80m for David Lee is a joke.

Joe Johnson and Rudy Gay are not much better than David Lee but those two guys have winning records. Also they both play on both sides of the court.

Toney Douglas is not now,nor will he ever be,a threat to give any point guard competition.you guys gotta get it outta your heads that TD will ever be more than an emergency back-up point guard

Amare has more injuries then Lee and doesn’t play defense either..and we gave him 100 mill. Lee was 20/10 and needs to be a 4. Amare is 24/8 and needs to be a 4. Neither of them play defense. If you think Lee at 80 is a joke, then Amare at 100 is a joke. Personally judging by the market, those contracts don’t surprise me at all.

If we had Garnet or Duncan, we wouldnt even THINK about not making the playoffs and having a chance to win a round or 2. Amare doesn’t make me that confident, not because of the knees or eyes…its because of his lack of commitment to defense and playing both sides of the floor EVERY NIGHT.