Via ESPN:

“Frustrated the Atlanta Hawks have not offered him a contract extension, Jamal Crawford will ask the club to trade him, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

“Crawford, who is in the final year of a contract that will pay him $10 million this season, approached the Hawks the first week of July about an extension. Hawks general manager Rick Sund has not made Crawford an offer, a source with the organization told ESPN.”

I don’t know how much money Jamal is after, but as the reigning Sixth-Man of the Year, and the Knicks obvious hole at the 2 spot, this situation is definitely worth monitoring.

Jamal had a good run when he was on the Knicks, but as he demonstrated last year, he is better suited for a supplementary role rather than a leading one.  Moreover, with the number of last second shots Gallo the team missed last year, a guy like Crawford is very appetizing.

Assuming, of course, that the price is right…

Via the NY Post:

“If Carmelo Anthony becomes a free agent next July, the Knicks might have to contend with Houston — and Texas’ lack of a state income tax.

“LeBron James, when he signed with the Heat, chose to play in a state — Florida — without a state income tax.”

The notion that James was avoiding state income tax was mentioned by some media outlets after the entire Miami saga, but I’ll be the first to admit that I didn’t really give it much thought thereafter.

But why not?

Athletes, like any other working man or woman out there, are reasonably focussed on bringing home the largest paycheck they possibly can.  While big numbers are sexy and can make a player feel validated, the only thing that should matter to a person focused on making money is what he or she brings home at the end of the day.

So why shouldn’t playing in a city that boasts no state income tax be more attractive than playing in the bright lights of MSG, or the great streets of NYC, or any of the mantras we have dished out (me included) and digested (also, me) to convince ourselves that New York is a more attractive destination to free agent talent?

Of course there are elements like endorsement money and overall fame that comes from playing in a giant market like New York versus a paltry one in Houston.  And sure, lifestyle plays a part — you ever spent a year in Houston?  But if the stated goal is making money, how can you overlook the government’s rather large piece of your pie?

Will this become the new trend?  I doubt it.  Ultimately, I think athletes, for the most part, flock to the bright ligths and the big stage because they crave the glory and attention that comes with being a high profile member of our star-studded society.

But might some, say, more fiscally sophisticated athletes put a lower income tax into the mix when it comes time to decide where to sign?  I don’t see why not.

At the end of the day, it would make the most cents…

Via NY Post:

Nothing would bother him. The media wouldn’t bother him because he really likes people. The pressure wouldn’t bother him because he loves to have the game in his hands. Nothing bothers him.  He’s a better fit for New York than LeBron.  Melo is one of those guys who could handle New York very, very well.

I didn’t know we still had a choice…

Some quotes from the Knicks’ head coach in regards to the entire Isiah debacle situation.

Via ESPN:

“I’m sure that Isiah has a lot to offer. Donnie will call on if he needs it and be in consult”

“Donnie is very smart to be able to tap into it when he needs it, and if it’s an advantage to the Knicks then we’ll use it.”

“The only thing is, it does get a life of its own and it’s not going to change what Donnie does, what he has done and how good he has done it,” D’Antoni said. “And again, if it can help us, which I think in certain areas it can, then we will use that and so there’s no negatives to it other than it created a story with [the media].”

…because I’m so confused, I had to add to Tommy’s sentiments…

There’s really no other way to look at it: today’s Isiah Thomas news is absoulte nonsense.

Why would a team that’s not only rebuilding its roster but also its image backtrack into the misery that was?

Isiah represents everything we just spent the last few years trying to erase.  We had a productive summer.  We added a fun, big-name high-octane player.  We got some buzz back into the garden.  We got something that had escaped us for far too long – some momentum.  And after another prudent move in Roger Mason, we end the summer news-cycle with word that ZEKE THOMAS!!!!! will resume being paid by the New York Knicks.

Lordez gomez…

I have lamented in the past and I will lament here again – why do we have such an affinity for a man that has done everything but burn the Garden to the ground?  I don’t care what kind of connection to the league’s talent you can pin on him.  He couldn’t get LeBron, right?  So why is he getting us Melo?  Paul?  When you find out that he babysat for one of those two guys, let me know – until then, mind my disbelief.

It must be Dolan’s insatiable desire for media attention.  It must be that he wanted something to get the Knicks back into the warm folds of Sports Center and WFAN – and…um…theknicksblog.com. It must be that all press is good press.  I mean, have you ever heard of another person being appointed as a team consultant?  Has such a hiring ever been “news” before?  Never.  If I offered you $20 for every NBA team consultant you could name, I’d have plenty of cash left for my night at the bar.

The entire thing reeks.

If it was a basketball move, it’s stupid.  If it was a PR move, it’s cheesy.  James Dolan — tonight I am forced to ask: what is wrong with you?

Via Yahoo:

The Heat have reached an agreement with 32-year-old guard Eddie House on a two-year contract for $2.8 million, his agent, Mark Bartelstein, told Yahoo! Sports on Thursday. The second year of the deal is a player option for $1.4 million.

House was part of the package that came over from Boston in the Nate trade at last year’s deadline.

The Bulls were also said to be interested in the veteran’s services.

Via the NY Post:

Former Knicks guard Stephon Marbury has agreed to three more years with a Chinese basketball team….

Marbury played 15 games last season with Shanxi Zhongyu of the Chinese Basketball Association. The point guard was a fan favorite in the rustbelt city of Taiyuan, showing none of the defiant personality that had alienated management, teammates and fans in the U.S.

Marbury, 33, will play two more years and may be asked to become an assistant coach in the third, Shanxi said in an announcement on its website.

Coach Marbury.  Yowzers…

Via ESPN:

“The Cleveland Cavaliers completed their first post-LeBron James personnel move on Monday night, trading troubled guard Delonte West and point guard Sebastian Telfair to the Minnesota Timberwolves for point guard Ramon Sessions, 7-footer Ryan Hollins and a future second-round pick.”

I wrote a long winded post last summer about why Ramon Sessions would have been the right fit for the Knicks system and future. After last season’s paltry 8/3, I can’t say I’m too sad I didn’t get my wish.

That said, he also only played around 20 minutes a game; so in all fairness, the jury is still somewhat out on the kid who almost became a Knick a year ago.

We’ll see if Byron Scott can get him to the next level…

In case you didn’t get to the end of the article, it’s summed up in the final answer:

“I’m ready. I told Dan this morning after workouts I wished the season started tomorrow. I’m ready to play. I’m ready to get out there.”

Via ESPN:

“Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni told the New York Daily News Isiah Thomas’ involvement in the team’s recruitment of LeBron James was a last-gasp effort.

“We were sitting around and thinking what can we do to try and get it back and Isiah had an in with someone in [LeBron's] entourage,” D’Antoni said in the report. “It was a Hail Mary pass and everybody knew it. Everybody was on board, and how it was reported wasn’t accurate. It was trying to be a good thing for the Knicks.”

“We were coming up with 40 different things to try and get it back on track and that was one of them. Everybody was in agreement. But when we read the reports it was unbelievable. It was like aliens are reporting it.”

The fact that Walsh goes on to say that Isiah was instrumental in the team landing Amare makes me wonder if aliens are running the team…

I’m sorry, but I don’t care what he might be able to do for the Knicks at this stage.  Maybe that is shortsighted and ignorant, but sometimes, you need a divorce not because your spouse is 100% worthless but because things just don’t work like they should when that person is around.

How is this man still involved with this team?!?????

Rod Thorn did a solid job for New Jersey over the last decade, trading for Jason Kidd who guided them to the Finals in 2002 and 2003.  Thorn was also named GM of the Year in 2002.

During his time in Philly, King led the 76ers to five consecutive playoff appearances (1999-2003), including the 2001 NBA finals.

…my first and last post about LeBron before he comes to MSG next year…

…a great video by a young NYC film maker (with a cameo from Mr. TD)…

RicBucher

Ric Bucher

@RicBucher: Unofficial Bucher poll results of those I've spoken to today: 4 for Cle, 3 for NY. Not sure why Chi got no love but it didn't.

Jul 8, 2010 @ 09:46 PM from web

.

and a goose-egg for Miami…

9pm, here we go

…finger point to ADizzle for sending this on…

The Warriors and Knicks have agreed in principle to a sign-and-trade deal that would send power forward David Lee to Golden State for Anthony Randolph, Ronny Turiaf and Kelenna Azubuike, multiple sources confirmed on Thursday.

The key to all of this is LeBron passing on the Knicks.  Should that happen, it seems as though this would be the next move in place to take off.

From a basketball standpoint – yes, please.  The Warriors killed the Knicks in last year’s draft, sniping Steph Curry with the pick before NY was on the clock, but this trade is at least a start toward making it back to us.

A lot of fans like Monte Ellis and might wonder how we make this move without getting the scoring combo-guard back in return.

But for me?  I’ll take a raw Anthony Randolph over the shoot-first Ellis any day.  This is a great move toward building a team: it lets us slot Amare at his natural 4 and lets Randolph play some interior defense, something this team has been in dire need of for some time…

…finger point to JMan for the info…

Via — that’s right — US Magazine:

LeBron James has rented six cabanas at the W Hotel South Beach this weekend to celebrate his team decision, two sources confirm to UsMagazine.com.

That adds more fuel to the fire that James, 25, will announce he’s joining the Miami Heat Thursday night, as several insiders told ESPN this morning.

…finger point to Kenneth Nolasco for sending this on…