In the comments section of the Dallas related post, there was discussion of a hypothetical deal that would have sent Jared Jeffries to Dallas for three expiring contracts, two of which were young players with unproven track records.

During the conversation, I broached the notion that Donnie Walsh would not take three players with little or no use to this Knicks team just for the sake of dealing Jeffries.  Rather I presumed that Walsh will explore deals such as the oft-talked about deal involving Jeffries and Washington’s Mike James because not only would James serve a purpose on this team, but such as deal would preserve roster flexibility.

Training camp has not started yet, so this topic is a bit premature.  However, let’s take a look at what Walsh was faced with last fall.  Curry was out of shape and his season was essentially over before it even started.  The Marbury situation was a fiasco.  Jeffries got hurt early.  Danilo Gallianri was hurting.  Jerome James was hurt and he was a wasted roster spot anyway.  Mardy Collins was a third stringer.  Excuse me if I missed anyone else.

Last season, Walsh was right filling his roster to the max.  There were simply too many holes and question marks.  This season, however, we have to hope that Curry and Gallo will be ready to go for the beginning of the season (After all, Walsh likely passed on Iverson in order to let a player like Gallo grow).  We have to hope that all of the players currently on the roster will be ready to start the season.  Again it is still early.  Wishful thinking I guess.

So I get back to my point.  With Walsh almost definitely looking to deal Curry and Jeffries, would it behoove him to take away any roster flexibility that he has and bring in players with guaranteed contracts that will serve no purpose on this team, ala Anthony Roberson?  In order to make a 2-1 deal, Walsh’s actions last season proved that he is not likely to simply buy out players to facilitate a trade. (** I am not taking into account the Marbury buyout.  That buyout was not the norm for Walsh.)

With rumors that many teams will open up with 12-14 man rosters as opposed to the maximum 15 players due to financial constraints, Walsh might be smart to follow suit, but for a different purpose.  Roster flexibility is a good thing to have, especially when you are looking to be active in the trade market.  The ability to take on more players than you are sending out can be a big factor is some deals.

Perhaps this is part of the reason for the non-guaranteed contracts that Walsh has given to players like Sun Yue, Gabe Pruitt, and Warren Carter.  If they work out, then they can have a spot on the roster.  If not, Walsh has not handicapped himself with dead weight on his roster, much like he did with Roberson last summer.

Just a thought…

So let me get this straight.

You trade two starters to move up to the 5th pick in the draft.

You draft Rubio with the 5th pick, a player who you know is temperamental about where he sees himself playing, along with the notion that he has to earn enough money to buy himself out of his Euro deal.

You get him excited about the prospects of being a lead and starting NBA guard for about, oh, 4 minutes, then pick the next best point guard, immediately infuriating Rubio’s camp instead of filling a need with another position player (Stephen Curry) who can get your fanbase excited for years to come.

Then you tell the media the two point guards can play in the same backcourt together and you expect them to.

Like a new car that is about to be driven home Rubio’s trade value, which was a major reason to draft the kid, isn’t any higher than it is now, yet you don’t pull the trigger on a deal and Rubio stays home to live in his parent’s basement.

Then you sign ANOTHER point guard to compete with Flynn for the next four years?

Wolves fans, you better hope that Mr. Kahn gets proper value when he ultimately trades Rubio.

At the end of the day, if the Wolves were hoping that Kahn would come in and bring solace to a rocky organization, then you can’t be overly comfortable after his first off season.

We know Ramon Sessions is playing the waiting game, as the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel wrote about today, but there is a key point worth noting.

“…The Knicks clearly expressed a strong interest in Sessions, but they were unwilling to do anything to compromise their chances of signing LeBron James or another elite free agent (Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh) in the summer of 2010. In a two-year contract offer to Sessions, they could only make an 8% decrease in the second year of the deal, leaving them with less flexibility next summer.

The only way the Knicks could have signed Sessions to a one-year deal would be if the Bucks rescinded their qualifying offer. And why would the Bucks want to help an Eastern Conference foe by essentially handing New York the promising point guard?..”

This whole thing is unprecedented as far as I can tell. Last year, as a form of reference, Ben Gordon AGREED to play for the qualifying offer, but my first question is what if he didn’t? Granted, Gordon was a first round pick and that has CBA implications as well, but could he have then become unrestricted and signed with a team at that point? Can the Knicks, then, offer Sessions a one-year raise that won’t cut into the 2010 budget should he reject the qualifying offer October 1st? There’s zero reason to believe that he would want to return to Milwaukee with the current roster then have to go and do this all over again next year. As the JS post states, as a second round pick and lack of service, he won’t be unrestricted next season should he return on the qualifying offer. Wouldn’t this situation bring more suitors, like Miami, into the mix as well?

Obviously, then, the same would hold true for David Lee and Nate Robinson.

It seems like a simple and overlooked point, so as we sift through the CBA for the answer, I just thought I’d throw it out there.

Discuss.

Dan Fegan was hired for this very reason- to get his client to a big market. So with Ricky Rubio’s endorsement funds in the Twin Cities lacking, it would appear that the attention has turned into trying to force a deal to the Knicks.

But there are several key factors in play here.

First, David Kahn worked for Donnie Walsh, so you figure some of the patience that fans in NY have become accustomed to has rubbed off on the Wolves GM. He can field plenty of offers while his property is playing overseas. But, can he allow for the bad PR?

Secondly, don’t expect the Knicks to overpay. Walsh likes Toney Douglas and any deal, to me, would have to include Wilson Chandler, who the team is extremely high on. He can be had in the right deal, but the team is in no rush to deal him. Nate Robinson would also be a huge draw in Minnesota, who can leverage his Krypto-Nate image. He’s popular here, but I’d think that the fans in Minnesota would have an exteme soft-spot for the 5’8 underdog.

But it depends on how much Walsh sees the need for Rubio. I’ve recently heard that the team was higher on Stephen Curry than Rubio during the draft, which contradicts a source who told me that Rubio was the target. I believe they would have been happy with both, but judging on how they have chased point guards this summer, you’d have to think they would lean towards Rubio over Curry, as he has more experience at quarterback. Plus, D’Antoni himself admitted that Deron Williams, Chris Paul and Jason Kidd all noted that Rubio was “the real deal” at the Olympic games.

Without question, Rubio would be a fit under the right circumstances, and the two sides have reportedly talked plenty, but it would seem tonight’s rumors are coming more from Rubio’s camp than anything in a last ditch effort to have his client where he should be.

Stay tuned.

Now let me preface this as not to upset anyone who is allergic to speculation. But I have a feeling there is something in the works regarding the Knicks roster. I’ve poked around and heard from several places that there is zero trade market for Nate Robinson, and along with the sign and trades that Donnie Walsh is mulling, I still firmly believe that this isn’t the roster the team will head into camp with.

Sure, Walsh has to be careful, and we know he’s patient, I just have a feeling that something is brewing.

Why? Well, call it a hunch. Let’s forget about the having to deal a player in order to bring in Ramon Sessions, the fact that the Knicks haven’t pulled the trigger on a one-year back up point guard option like Carlos Arroyo, Jamal Tinsley, Jason Williams or even Allen Iverson (even though we’ve been through that), I just feel a move coming.

Big or small, I don’t know, but it just seems like this team is prepping to light a fire under it’s fanbase as training camp nears and it has options that are being withheld. Remember, most trades happen when the media least expects them. (more…)

An earlier report noted that the Blazers were sure that the Knicks would match any offer to Lee, hence why GM Kevin Pritchard decided not to attempt to sign Lee to an offer sheet, yet from what I’m hearing out in P-Town, that wasn’t the case. That said, a source confirms relative interest between both the Knicks and Blazers regarding a David Lee sign and trade.

In the beginning of the summer, the Blazers target was Andre Miller, an upgrade and veteran leader the team desperately lacked at the point guard position. That was  until it appeared that Hedo Turkoglu could be had. My source tells me that the team felt Turkoglu, coming off an impressive playoff, became attractive because of his “perimeter length,” which has become a trend in the NBA these days.

Regarding Lee, the team was and is interested in a sign and trade, but was never interested in an offer sheet because, after Turkoglu headed north to Toronto, the team knew it could get Miller at a reasonable price. In fact, as much as Donnie Walsh is lauded for his patience, the Blazers feel that waiting out Miller was equally savvy business, feel they played their cards right and significantly upgraded at the point.

Which is to say the Blazers were never in a position to offer Lee and if they did, one would really have to wonder if the Knicks would have matched knowing what we know about 2010.  (more…)

I can understand the fan’s frustrations about the fact that the team has failedto make a huge splash this summer. I like action as much as the next guy. But it’s clear that Ramon Sessions isn’t a get at all costs type of player.

With no apparent sit downs planned, the Knicks may move on as Donnie Walsh isn’t prepared to dig too far deep into the 2010 budget for Sessions. We should have seen this coming, I mean if he’s not doing it for David Lee or Nate Robinson, why would he do it for another player who isn’t a proven winner and who also has limitations?

But my question is why wouldn’t Sessions agree to a significant payraise for this year and less for next? Why wouldn’t he want a guaranteed starting spot with the Knicks, without blocking a path for a major free agent next year? I mean the guy was in the D League two years ago. To be fair, I guess I could say the same for Lee. (more…)

update via hoopsworld:

“…However, this is where it gets interesting. Here is a link to Robinson’s verified Twitter account where you can see the post.

But, to follow that up, the Twitter feed of Goodwin Sports, the agency that represents Robinson, had this post a couple hours ago:

“Contrary to the NY Post, Nate Robinson/reps will NOT be meeting with the Knicks. Responsible reporters RESEARCH.”

(UPDATE: You will no longer find this on their Twitter feed. It must have been manually deleted after being up for about three hours.)

In a word, harsh. Obviously there is some kind of disconnect here between Robinson and Goodwin Sports. Nate thinks he has a meeting and the Post confirmed a meeting with someone inside the team. However, Goodwin Sports is adamant such a thing is not going to occur and called out the journalistic integrity of Berman and the Post…”

Perhaps Robinson is meeting by himself without his reps, and it was assumed by the Post the reps would be there since Donnie Walsh is the Knicks general manager, Robinson is a restricted free agent, the Knicks have a $2.9 million qualifying offer out to Robinson, and all sides would really rather see Robinson a Knick in 2009-10, even if it is only for one season. It’s a logical assumption given the situation.

Twitter: No new on the kinks my tweeps but I meet wit mr donnie walsh wed keep ur fingers X !! Hope it goes well..18 hrs ago.

NY Post:

“…Free agent Nate Robinson and Knicks president Donnie Walsh will meet tomorrow to discuss Robinson’s status with the team in the wake of his arrest by the NYPD last week for driving without a valid license.

It is expected one of his agents, either Aaron or Eric Goodwin, will be present and perhaps a resolution can be reached on his status. The Knicks have a one-year qualifying offer on the table for $2.9 million and they can not pull it back. It is believed that Robinson does not have other options…” (more…)

Aside from a draft night trade for Darko Milicic, the Knicks have been patient this off season. However, since 2002, the Knicks have made many (few good) moves. Here’s a look back at a few moves the team has made over the past decade.

August 29, 2008- Acquired forward Patrick Ewing Jr. from the Houston Rockets for the draft rights to center Frederic Weis.

July 24, 2008- Signed guard Anthony Roberson.

July 10, 2008- Signed guard Chris Duhon.

June 29, 2007- Acquired forward Zach Randolph and guards Dan Dickau and Freddy Jones from the Portland Trail Blazers for guard Steve Francis and center Channing Frye; acquired the rights to forward Demetris Nichols from Portland for a 2008 second-round pick.

September 11, 2006- Waived guard Ime Udoka. (more…)

At first the thought intrigued me. Imagine Allen Iverson in a Knicks uniform.

And when I thought more about it, I realized that we really aren’t part of the Isiah Thomas Era anymore. Imagine if Zeke were still calling the shots this summer?

Fortunately for Knicks fans, he isn’t, and they all should pinch themselves every time they think of the team that resides at 2 Penn Plaza.

Even though they came into the league together, I always felt that Iverson was grouped in with Stephon Marbury far too often. Iverson could be a pain, just ask Larry Brown, but if you’ve ever talked with one of his teammates, no one has played harder for 48 minutes than AI. As for practice, well, we ain’t talkin’ about practice. More.

I believe Iverson has received a bad rap, but bringing him in just isn’t the right move for the organization at this time.

Via the Journal Sentinel:

“…Sessions still could return for the Bucks’ $1 million qualifying offer, but he has little incentive to do that since he would remain a restricted free agent next summer. And he sure doesn’t want to go through the endless waiting and uncertainty again, does he?

It has become abundantly clear that Sessions will not receive a mid-level exception offer (starting at $5.8 million). But if the New York Knicks are offering a deal in the $4 million per year range, it seems downright foolish for Sessions not to accept it.

Sessions would have a chance to start with the Knicks and play in coach Mike D’Antoni’s up-tempo system. And hey, maybe he would have a chance to play with LeBron James in future years, if the Cleveland star decides to pack his bags for Broadway when he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Current Bucks player Charlie Bell went through the unpleasantness of unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2007, an incident that scarred him and led to a difficult 2007-’08 season.

“It gets frustrating as the summer goes on,” Bell said. “He (Sessions) is doing a good job. I was frustrated; I had some issues going on.

“You want to get to whatever city you’re going to get to, and get relaxed. It’s a lot of pressure, it really is…

…The Bucks now have 17 players on their roster, including Sessions…”

In other news, Berman is reporting that Iverson to the Knicks is not happening.

I’m still shocked that the Bucks would just let Sessions walk…and the Iverson news doesn’t surprise me. At this stage of rebuilding the franchise, Iverson just doesn’t fit.

Some believe that Nate Robinson‘s arrest yesterday should spell the end of the guard’s career in New York as it may be the final nail, while others aren’t so quick to believe Nate will be gone as a result of yesterday.

Clearly, if you were hoping that this summer would be a time for growth for a player who needs to grow up, this is a disappointment.

 Loading ...

Clippers’ coach and general manager Mike Dunleavy sounds as if the team is ready to hit training camp with the current roster following a trade for Rasual Butler, according to the LA Times.

“…Butler, a seven-year veteran, stressed he won’t demand that role right away. His arrival adds another option at shooting guard and small forward to go along with Eric Gordon, Al Thornton, Ricky Davis and Mardy Collins. Dunleavy remains noncommittal about whether Butler would start, other than he’d play at both shooting guard and small forward.

Although Dunleavy remained open to trades and absorbing the rest of a $7.3-million trade exception they had after shipping Zach Randolph last month to the Memphis Grizzlies, he admitted, “I’m totally comfortable with where we are…”

As we’ve told you, the Clippers aren’t pushing to acquire Ramon Sessions, and with the Bucks trade yesterday it appears that the Knicks could be the sweepstakes winners by default.

It makes sense that the Knicks keep an eye on David Kahn’s trip to meet with Camp Rubio, which he is in fact doing this week.  It would appear that if the Timberwolves can’t work out a buyout with Rubio or a trade with the Knicks this week, all sides will move on. Rubio will stay in Spain, the Wolves will stand behind Jonny Flynn, who continues to impress, and the Knicks will sit back down with Sessions and his agent Monday at the earliest.

Rubio was the Knicks’ target on draft night and it would seem that the Knicks feel his acquisition would be attractive to a 2010 free agent if Walsh can’t move center Eddy Curry‘s contract by next summer.

The team was reportedly in heavy talks with the Washington Wizards around draft night regarding the 5th overall pick (eventually traded to Minnesota) and it is unknown what the pieces were , but one has to figure that the price was too steep to move up not knowing if Rubio would fall that far, which he did.

Reports out of Minnesota say that Rubio has some $600,000 in endorsements, plus $500,000 from the Wolves, which can be used towards his $6.6 million dollar buyout from DKV Joventut, the Spanish team that currently holds his rights. In New York, Rubio would be sure to see millions in endorsement deals, but is there a sensible trade for both sides?

With thejournalnews’ Mike Dougherty.

“…It’s been a little frustrating, but my agent came up a couple of weeks ago and we had a meeting with Donnie Walsh and Mike D’Antoni and found out where we were, and the purpose behind what’s going on, and it kind of all makes sense to me now,” Lee said. “We agreed on what I thought I was worth, so it’s not a money issue. What it comes down to is they need their flexibility for the 2010 summer. Whether they can get LeBron or not, they need to have the flexibility to make a run at a guy like that. And that’s completely understandable from my standpoint. We’re going to continue to work on a few sign-and-trade possibilities; otherwise, we’ll continue to work on a one-year-deal…”

Via Real GM.

“…With Minnesota Timberwolves’ President David Kahn bound for Spain this week, some feel the trip isn’t necessarily to bring Ricky Rubio back to Minnesota.

One insider tells RealGM’s Alex Kennedy that Kahn could be working out a scenario where Rubio would be dealt to the New York Knicks.

“The Knicks have closed off negotiations with all free agent point guards until next week. I think they’re making a push for Rubio and if that fails, then they’ll reopen talks with their other options,” says the source.

“Kahn and [Knicks' President] Donnie Walsh are close and New York is looking for a cheap point guard who could help attract free agents next summer. Rubio fits that mold. I think that’s what this latest trip to Spain is about, working something out with New York.”

The Knicks have been in talks with multiple free agent point guards, most notably Ramon Sessions….”

Speaking of Sessions, Hahn says Walsh has drawn a line in the sand.

We know Rubio has been the target all along so we’ll have to see if this report has any merritt. It seems like his buyout situation shouldn’t be as difficult as it’s being made out to be.

To me, any discussions still come down to who the Wolves would want from our roster and that has to start with Wilson Chandler.