Good morning, Fixers. Have we reached the saturation point with coaching candidates? Scott Skiles is off the table. Herb Williams had his chance to gauge his chances. Patrick Ewing hasn't been contacted and Jeff Van Gundy isn't interested.
Mark Jackson is the front runner of a one-man race. And he has yet to have a formal sit-down with Donnie Walsh, though, you would expect, that is a mere formality.
So in the meantime let's get to some unfinished business, the roster. Instead of doing the usual report card -- let's assume a 23-win team is loaded with F's -- we should decide the keepers and the dumpees going into 2008-09. We'll deal with this in real-world logic, so contract status counts as much as usefulness.
JAMAL CRAWFORD (career-high 20.6 ppg) -- Likable team guy has endured several coaching changes and played in a backcourt with the unpredictable Stephon Marbury. I'd like to see him in a stable situation, with a playmaking PG and a coach who turns that green light to yellow. Still plenty of upside for him and an opt-out coming next summer. He's a one-dimensional player, but it's a hell of a dimension to have. He's athletic and smart enough to be a better defender, which is that one element missing. KEEP
ZACH RANDOLPH (averaged a double-double) -- I've said from the start that he initially appeared to be all-in, but then started getting-his when stuff hit the fan in November. His defense and passing are troubling, but he did prove he can stay out of off-the-court trouble, which is a step in the right direction. Despite his contract the Knicks did have some interested teams at the deadline and they should revisit. I like Zach and would love to believe him when he said he plans on coming back next year in the best shape of his life. I want to believe it, but I don't know if I can afford to if I'm the GM. DUMP
STEPHON MARBURY (appeared in just 24 games) -- His time with the Knicks has been a train-wreck, but don't one of you say you've known all along he'd be a bust as a Knick. When Isiah first brought him in, it was the prodigal son's return. Now he's New York's basketball orphan. Like Zach, you'd love to believe he'll come back in shape both mentally and physically, but that ship's sailed. One year with $22 mil, you're not moving him until the deadline, at best, and you'll probably have to take on bad contracts. So the best bet here is a buyout and an adieu (or is it, Ciao?). Air out the room and let another PG give it a go. DUMP
EDDY CURRY (played just 25 mins per game) -- His weaknesses are correctable and it has nothing to do with the fact that the NBA isn't a big-man's game. Curry has uncanny athleticism for a man his size and he is damn coachable. As one coach said to me, "Some guys are lazy and some are just not good self-starters. Eddy is not lazy." I agree. But someone needs to get on his big butt and keep him accountable. Zach's presence made Eddy shrink a little and that's telling of Eddy's personality. He's not a lead dog, which is what Isiah tried to make him, but Eddy is definitely someone you can develop. He needs to work on his explosion, period. Confidence comes with knowing you are in great shape. Eddy lost confidence this season because he knew he wasn't. KEEP
NATE ROBINSON (scoring average improved third straight season) -- We pushed for him to get an opportunity to prove himself as the PG of the future and we'll admit at this point that perhaps he is built to be what he is right now: energy and offense off the bench. Confidence is critical with N8 and you can't mistake cockiness for confidence. You have to take into account that he has not been properly developed, but whomever gets to coach him next season needs to figure out how to get him to play like he did last July in the summer league. He was mostly under control, very confident and very unselfish. Oh, and he played defense. N8 should follow the likes of Barbosa, et al and soon will become a Sixth Man candidate. KEEP
DAVID LEE (14.7 rebs per 48 mins) -- D-Lee admitted to me that he didn't feel 100 percent until about January, which was a result of that leg injury at the end of last season and a very busy offseason that included workouts with the USA Basketball Development team. He started to get his bounce back in the second half of the season and his numbers improved dramatically. He also developed a go-to move on offense (inside pivot, jab-step) and started hitting a mid-range jumper with more consistency. We know he can rebound and with his pogo-stick legs, he'll go back to being a double-figure board man. Next year is about knocking down shots and proving he can slide into the four spot as a starter. Defense on the post is his next challenge. With those legs and maybe 10-to-15 lbs of bulk, he should be able to challenge more. KEEP
QUENTIN RICHARDSON (shot 32.2 % 3PT) -- Back surgery had an impact on his offseason conditioning and he never really got it going. The team's internal turmoil had something to do with it as well. Q-Rich is old for a 28 year old and his days as a starter might be over, but he could still be an effective player off the bench as a shooter and defender. Of course he's got to accept that role willingly. He's a difficult player to move, so you have to get him to buy-in. He has an influence in the locker room and in the right setting can be a leader. KEEP
FRED JONES (2:1 assists:turnovers) -- Will be a free agent and is not expected to be resigned. Made the most of the heavy minutes Isiah gave him late in the season, perhaps as a way to get scouts to see him so he'll have some opportunities next season. Overall good guy who was a surprisingly reliable three-point shooter. DUMP
WILSON CHANDLER (18 ppg, 7.7 rebs in last four games) -- How do you judge a rookie when he gets major minutes in what is otherwise considered garbage time in a lost season? Before his knee injury in the second-to-last game of the season, Will started playing with a great deal of confidence. He proved he has a shooting touch and isn't afraid to get to the rim. He also took on defensive challenges. Explosiveness makes him a good help defender, but he noticably lost his legs as he started getting major minutes. Off-season conditioning is critical because if he shows up in great shape and plays with confidence, he'll push for the starting small forward spot. KEEP
JARED JEFFRIES (39.9 FG%) -- Isiah brought him in but then didn't know how to use him. Jeffries is a smart player who reads plays well but doesn't always execute properly. Isiah had him on the perimeter as a ball-mover, but that made it easy to double off him, because of his poor shooting. Jeffries has to be a slasher and cutter and, occasionally, you can post him up. With his size, length and athleticism, he has to be a better defender than he's shown, but that might be a result of how he was used. Jared should be a dynamic help defender in the paint. With so many forwards, I'm not sure he has a role here. I like the guy personally and enjoyed chatting with him about basketball and life. With three years left on his contract, he might be tough to move, but you have to investigate it. DUMP
MALIK ROSE (16.6 pts, 10.0 reb per 48 mins) -- The locker room godfather, who is good to have around to counsel young players and veterans and set an example. But for selfish reasons, he's an expiring contract that you keep around to the very end and let him melt off the cap. Then, if he calls it a career, you bring him into the organization either on the broadcast side or in basketball operations. Smart dude with rings. You can't have enough people like that in an organization. KEEP
RENALDO BALKMAN (43.2 FT%) -- A year ago you could see potential and, perhaps what Isiah was thinking when he drafted him with a first-round pick. After the summer league you got an idea of what type of role (defensive stopper) he could serve off the bench as another energy, up-tempo player. Then you saw him this season and he looked like one of those guys you'd only remember five years from now as "the guy with the dreds". Balkman is yet another Knicks youngster who has not been properly developed or mentored. Let's say this gently: Rey is not a guy you can just leave to figure it out on his own and trust he'll get it right. He's a guy who needs constant discipline and direction. The question for Donnie Walsh to ask himself would be is Balkman worth the effort? With Chandler emerging, Lee showing he can be versatile and Jeffries and Richardson on the roster, where does Balkman fit? Perhaps you need to see him in a stable, controlled environment with rules and regulations (not to mention defined roles). KEEP
MARDY COLLINS (36.2 FG %) -- Had an impressive end to last season but knee surgery in May had a negative impact on his offseason. The knee was not 100 percent in training camp and then Isiah was yo-yoing him in and out of the lineup during the Marbury drama. Some guys told me Mardy started to slip to the "dark side" for a while this season and that's a trend Collins can ill-afford. The obvious issues with his game involve his shooting, but the defense he showed a year ago was missing this season. He doesn't run an offense with the conviction of a floor general. If the Knicks pick a PG in the draft, it might mean the end for Collins. DUMP
RANDOLPH MORRIS (37 rebs, 37 fouls in 18 GP) -- Isiah kept him hidden for most of the season and when he finally let him play, we saw why. Randy shows decent footwork and good post-up moves, but he's slow both in movement and explosion. Lack of playing dulled his reaction time, which had a lot to do with it, but clearly this young guy should have spent the year in the D-League. It was a waste of a year for him and might cost him money because he'll likely wind up in the D-League next season hoping to attract an NBA team's attention. DUMP
JEROME JAMES (2 GP) -- If there were ever a candidate for the Disabled Player Exemption, Jerome's case is it. He clearly can't keep himself healthy and that knee is the issue. Otherwise, I'd try to sue him for breach of contract because he showed up out of shape for two straight training camps. Just keeping him on the roster is symbolic of the past regime's lack of discipline and accountability. DUMP
* *
OK, so that's eight keeps (Crawford, Cury, Robinson, Lee, Richardson, Chandler, Rose and Balkman) and seven dumps (Randolph, Marbury, Jones, Jeffries, Collins, Morris and James). Obviously some of these DUMPs will result in cap hits from buyouts or will bring in equal dollars via trades, so you can't view it as saving money or opening up roster spaces. With some of the dumps, it might not be feasible to move the player (Randolph or Jeffries, for instance) so the DUMP may have to wind up being a KEEP, depending on the market.
Comments (30)
I like where you're going here, Alan. However, I'd really like to dump Curry too if there's any chance. The guy has never been in shape in his whole career, even last season when he was scoring. I don't know what reason there is to think that he will ever care about his weight and stamina. Apparently making close to $10 million isn't enough motivation.
Hey Alan,
Met you in Philly during a disaster at the end of the season. I have a trade idea that I want your thoughts on.
Eddy Curry and Stephon Marbury
for
Marquis Daniels and Jermaine O'neal.
Why for the Knicks
Daniels expires in '09 with a team option in 2010 making 6.8million
O'neal expires in 2010 making 21million dollars each year.
Curry and Randolph can't coexist but Randolph with a shot blocking big can. JO can also play high post because he has a jump shot. I don't think he is done as a player either, but even if he is...he isn't more done than Marbury the extra 20 million only hurts dolan, but not the team b/c 2010 is when we need to be under the cap.
Starting lineup
PG from draft
Daniels/crawford
chandler
oneal
randolph
Why for Indiana
they get cap relief this year and save 20 million dollars off o'neal
young big in curry who is reasonably priced at $8 million a year.
You should write about this.
Alan, I agree with U everything but Curry. "He's not a lead dog, which is what Isiah tried to make him," this is true, and if he's prone to lapses in confidence offensively from a teammate?! , imagine the kind of choke jobs he'll do in the pressure of the playoffs...
and having said that, if he's not scoring, he's pretty much useless... he doesn't rebound, he can't move without the ball, no defense, can't pass, very TO prone...
I think he needs to go
Taking out the trash at the Garden.
Isiah Thomas is not fired, just banned
BY FRANK ISOLA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Monday, April 21st 2008, 8:15 PM
When, not if, Mark Jackson arrives in New York, he won't have to worry about Isiah Thomas meddling with the players or making any surprise visits to the Knicks' training headquarters in Westchester.
According to a team source, Thomas has been barred from having any contact with the team as part of his reassignment agreement with Knicks president Donnie Walsh. Such an agreement is critical for a new coach as he tries to reestablish a winning culture at Madison Square Garden and distance himself from the Thomas regime.
Others on the banned list: Marc Berman, Jerome James, and Peaceman.
STEPHON MARBURY (appeared in just 24 games) -- His time with the Knicks has been a train-wreck, but don't one of you say you've known all along he'd be a bust as a Knick.
Chump,
I've been saying the Coney Island Cupcake was a loser since 1996. Won the Federation title with Lincoln. Then NOTHING by Automatic Choke and The Perpetual Whiner.
And if you didn't have your Home Depot nose buried so far up the Coney Island Cupcake's backside, you'd have known that.
Of course, being a second-rate hockey writer, it's often hard to tell how much you really just don't know. You know so little. Like Peaceman.
You're always wrong. That's what's so right about the both of you.
It must hurt to be so pitiful. And incorrect. All of the time.
@Dimitri-
Good deal if the Pacers will go for it. I know they want to move JO, so the only question is if they're willing to take on Curry's uninsured contract.
And for everyone else who's thinking about using Marbury's expiring to land a big name, remember - 2010, people! Circle the date on your calendars! It sounds like Walsh already has.
NATE ROBINSON (scoring average improved third straight season) -- "....You have to take into account that he has not been properly developed, but whomever gets to coach him next season needs to figure out how to get him to play like he did last July in the summer league."
That's pathetic. That's the single most pathetic thing I've ever read not written by either Peaceman or Stephon Marbury's personal public relations agent, Marc Berman.
Have to figure out how to get Little Man Nate how to play like he did in the Summer League? Are you serious? The only reason Little Man Nate played like he did in the summer league is because it's the Summer League. A bunch of wannabe rappers, one-skill talents, Rucker League extras, Russian League bench players, and young 'uns in for a quick run.
The summer league doesn't even have a limit on personal fouls. Guy's commit eight, nine, 10 personals a game (and turn the rock over nine, 10, 11 times) with that frequency of you taking your cul de sac suburban backside to Home Depot for fresh paint to appease the Missus.
It's the summer league. Girls' Junior-Varsity Basketball. Nothing more. So Little Man Nate ate up the summer league. That's like a second-rate hockey writer being the editor of his high school yearbook. Means nothing. Worthless. And then some.
Unbelievable Alan. You'd keep 50% of a 23 win team? And the 50% you want to keep is the core of the team. That's a joke.
Jamal Crawford will be entering his NINTH season next year. The guy will never be a reliable player. He will always go for the style over the substance and never play defense. That has been his MO since he started playing basketball on the playgrounds.
Eddy Curry is a fat disgrace of an "athlete." Having that fat slob around would be a detriment and give the rest of the players the thought that poor work ethic is tolerated. He needs to be traded for an expiring ASAP.
Nate Robinson is a 5'9 SG with no defense and a lack of maturity. I never really liked this guy and now I don't at all. Unless he stops acting like a clown after making every basket and stops chucking, he needs to go.
Malik Rose's presence as a "locker room leader" is overrated. I used to think he meant something too but he has done nothing to change the teams' no-care attitude and has been here for 2 23-win seasons already. I would keep him only to let his contract expire, not because he offers anything else.
Quentin Richardson can't be traded, sure, but that doesn't mean he deserves to stay. I hate this guy with a passion. Forget the injuries, this guy stinks. He is overweight for his position and talks a big game for someone who does so little on the court. He isn't the 3-point shooter he used to be and hasn't been a good one since he came here. This is one guy that needs to get out the door quick.
Renaldo Balkman is the same player he always was. Nothing changed. He hustles but he has no offense outside of putbacks. He is a good defender but a liability on the court. Balkman should be dealt if a team wants him as an extra piece so we can get rid of a bad deal because you can find guys like Balkman off the scrap heap. Hustle guys with limited basketball skills aren't hard to come by.
David Lee is one guy that I know everyone wants to keep but if he asks for some outrageous contract like $10 million per year, he needs to be dealt this summer. David Lee is a role player at best. He can make some moves to score and he's an excellent rebounder and hustle player but he plays 0 defense and really has no offense outside of 10 feet. That wouldn't be a problem if he actually had a post-up game, which he doesn't. Knick fans have a problem with overrating their young players. David Lee is a good player but he isn't going to be great and should be available to trade if the opportunity to dump a contract like Randolph arises.
As for the rest, I agree with them. That's all for now.
Your analysis of Break A Backboard Crawford is even worse.
"He's a one-dimensional player, but it's a hell of a dimension to have. He's athletic and smart enough to be a better defender, which is that one element missing."
He's a one-dimensional player. A street-baller. Shot 41.0 percent this season. Shot 40.0 percent last season. Shot 40.3 percent for his career. He's a gunner. In nine games this past season, Crawford shot between 20-29 percent from the floor; on three other occasions, his shooting percentage finished in puberty, otherwise known as Perpetual Peaceman.
And how in the name of Rational Thought could a second-rate hockey scribe initially claim that a player he defined as "one-dimensional" later be said to lack only "one element," defense, in his game? Basketball is just mindless shooting and defense? What about passing? Moving without the ball? On-court leadership? Rebounding? Free-throw shooting? Eliminating turnovers?
Thomas Huxley. Smart dude. Look him up. "Logical consequences," wrote Huxley, "are the scarecrows of fools (and second-rate hockey writers) and the beacons of wise men."
++++
And Eddy Curry was born lazy with a streak of pink running down his back. Child (can't call him a man) refuses to rebound. Rebounding is about work. Lazy Eddy will not work. Period. End of story.
We won't even discuss Lazy Eddy's inability to defense the Knicks' basket or his family, both of which have been documented on numerous occasions.
++++
WILSON CHANDLER (18 ppg, 7.7 rebs in last four games)
Last four games? Why not use the D League or the Turkish League as measuring sticks? Last four games mean nothing to a team with 59 failures.
++++
MALIK ROSE (16.6 pts, 10.0 reb per 48 mins)
There's a reason Rose didn't play 48 a night. It's called output. Not simple math by a simpleton. One cannot project a player's performance as a starter using his spot efforts in 49 games as a base. That's sucker math. Where were you when I needed to dump Peaceman's shares in the Baghdad Arms, circa 2002? Sucker City, USA?
@ Anonymous,
My Dog is talking to me again, he's saying Mark or Bark!
I'll be on parole soon!
Hey everybody, Mark's back, offering his peculiar blend of wit and wisdom. If you want a glimpse into what it's like to hate everybody, and above all yourself, pay attention to what he writes. Otherwise, don't bother.
Jamal is New York's best trading chip, depending especially on what happens in the lottery. If they wind up with a promising young swingman (ideally Mayo, but the odds aren't in the Knicks' favor), Crawford and his salary are instantly expendable.
Although Marbury has surely been a failure here in New York--only Minnesota's gotten worse after he left--that expiring contract is the thing. I have to figure that if there's an ounce of sense in Stephon at all--and that's a real question--he'll understand next year is a contract season and he'll try to toe the team line a bit (or a lot) more. The best-case scenario would be where he plays hard, and the other players respect him for that, and can kind of forget that they don't like him at all. The worst-case scenario would be...a repeat of this year.
I have two reasons for preferring Eddy over Zach. First, the contract: Randolph's may be the worst in the league. Second, Eddy's a little more coachable, because he's softer. He'll never be a franchise player but for the next two seasons he could provide some capable low-post scoring, and hopefully some more rebounding. Then farewell, we hardly knew ye.
And I think Randolph Morris is worth re-signing to a minimum, or very small, contract, stashing in the D-league for a season or two and seeing what comes of him. He didn't suck in college, and he's already with the team...considering how big the other salaries are, what do the Knicks have to lose?
We'll deal with this in real-world logic, so contract status counts as much as usefulness.
No one is taking Zach ridicules contract. Or we’re going to have to take back garbage like Simon and the rest of the garbage Milwaukee tried to dump on us.
You have nothing to lose with Marburry if he gets of to a good start, keep him, and let him finish out his contract. Remember we got to give up a 1st rounder eventually. So play horrible and get into the lottery shouldn’t be an option. But if he starts to flip out like he did all last summer long, dumb him.
Eddy’s contract maybe a little easier to move than Zach's and if we're going to be stuck with Zach and keep Lee then a shot blocking rebounding center is more needed than a fat out of shape center.
I do not like Q, his defense is overrated and he can’t shoot to save his life. Buy him out and save some luxury tax money. Develop a young guy. Remember D-Nice, even though I don't know what happen to him we should have kept him. They’re talking about Greene in this year draft and I think D-Nice was better than him.
Jefferies played a little better this year and can play 4 positions for a spell (not the point), I think he has value.
Do Malik a favor, buy him out and let him sign on with a playoff bound team. Save some luxury tax money. He doesn't fit here anyway.
Mardy, Randolph and James, who cares, the all suck.
@George: As I said at the top, this is real-world assessment, my man. Obviously in fantasy world you would burn the villlage and start over. But in the real world, you can't cut the entire team, so you have to make choices.
@ Anonymous: Did you forget your meds today? You're so over the top I'm worried. Do we need to get an ambulance out to your basement? Or do we need the taser again?
Crawford should be used to make the medicine go down on any number of poisonous contracts we wish to unload. There are teams that can use one dimensional players - we are not one of them. I'm on record wanting him gone since before the season started. His getting to sit in the Starbury chair almost all year, hasn't changed my opinion.
The problem with Zeke's "body of work" is that he has assembled ALL one dimensional players, with no vision of how to make them work together. Jeffries was an important piece of Washington's team - Stevenson has not distinguished himself terribly well as his replacement - yet Jeffires has not been of use here. Good teams, good coaches, know how to use a Jeffries or a Balkman, or a Crawford. That's a central problem for Walsh - who of these one dimensional players can be valuable for the Knicks in a new system?
Contracts: the league is filled with ridiculous contracts, Zach's is fairly representative: All Star Money for All Star Skills for a player who's team doesn't win. Where Walsh has wiggle room, is that while many contracts are equivalent in ridiculous-ness, they expire on different time frames. And each team has different requirements and time scales for moving their cap commitments around. Part of the GM game is the never-ending game of hot potato with these contracts. Remember, even Juwan Howard's ridiculous contract got traded.
I agree with Alan, that Zach is not all bad. He really is the best player on the floor most nights, its hard to say unequivocally that under a real coach, with a real system, he wouldn't be able to recognize a double team and pass to an open man. There are no saints in the league, most have to be convinced that the system will reward them for reducing their starring role. He is a ball player. For instance, I wouldn't say that a team like the Warriors after not making the playoffs, might not find that they need a guy who can score in the paint. Paired with Bierdrins, they could be a tough frontcourt. I'm not saying that trade could happen, just that there are certainly scenarios where Zach looks better to another team than he does to us.
Alan - I disagree my friend. We need to bring back Steph because he goes off the cap next year and he will want to show he still got it.Good season or not he won't be back unless NY is goes to the Finals and wins.
Crawford - Trade during draft
Curry - Trade or shop for offers
Robinson - Trade
Lee - Lee can't play defense and is not athletic.
Richardson - ditto
Chandler - Keep
Rose - Trade
Balkman - keep
Randolph - let go.
Marbury - Keep - 20 mill off next year.
Jones - let go.
Jeffries - keep. New coach. He is a utility basketball player.
Collins - A huge Isiah mistake - trade or release
Morris - Let go. Advise for D-League
James - Buyout the bum.
Randolph - Trade during draft - if not keep if Curry goes
cool game alan, let me give it a spin:
dump crawford (doesn't get it. hasn't been to the playoffs for good reason)
dump stephon (keep him until the trade deadline when his trade value is best, then see if we can get some draft picks for him, along with whichever need this upcoming draft does not address)
dump quentin (a shell of his former talent)
keep chandler (good stats in garbage time don't mean much, but he is clearly an upgrade from quentin richardson regardless. hopefully his knee injury IS NOT as serious as it LOOKED).
dump jerome (for obvious reasons)
keep zach randolph (sounds like walsh will try to move him. like crawford, he's no winner, but at least he has a better motor than curry, and you probably can't move them both in the same year).
dump curry (showed no heart this year, give him to miami for peanuts so riles can try to salvage his career of lethargy).
dump fred jones (don't need him for anything, isiah should have kept demetris nichols and jared jordan and cut fred and jerome james prior to the start of the season).
keep nate (best outside shooter on the team, but not in him to ever be a point guard, unfortuNately)
keep randolph morris (low cost moldable big. limited upside)
keep jared jeffries (salary is too high, yet would do better in another system at another position)
keep lee (I bet he gets traded for his upside. he can't play defense, BUT at least works to get rebounds and offense is slowly growing.)
dump renaldo (no jumper, would be giving his minutes to chandler and lee anyway)
dump malik (playing a guy for what he used to do on the basketball court is a theme that needs to be corrected on this team. don't give me that veteran leadership in the locker room stuff either)
keep collins (showed signs at the end of regaining some lost athleticism, hopefully he can get in better shape next year to be a backup point guard and come into the game with nate)
dump dolan (i wish)
dump isiah (mission accomplished... well, sort of)
too many dumps, right? kind of like the starbucks at the northwest corner of union square. I can't help it. 23 wins for the second time in three years will do that to a fan.
...on second thought this game is too difficult. good luck to you, walsh. remember: addition by subtraction.
I'd agree with most of Alan's thoughts. I think that they should use Jamal as a trade chip, though. His trade value likely won't be higher than it is now.
Nice guy, exciting to watch (sometimes), knack for hitting late shots, and the skill set to turn into a more well-rounded player. I just don't think it will ever happen. So if you get a chance to deal him for better contract, or if you can lump in a long contract in a trade with him, go for it.
Crawford was fine in fact with all that went on he was actually pretty good .
He shot 41% but tha was as the main ball handler and facilitator .with few other offensive options . For some reasons the kids out there think its easy to average 20 ppg in the nba but its not.He was at the top of the scouting report and was for the first time in his career pretty reliable in what you were gonna get night in and night out.
The fact that anonymous and his racial stereotyping takes offense to Allen saying Crawfords one dimensional is actually pretty funny considering Crawford also averaged 5 assists is a great ft shooter and is most efficient when he comes off screens .
Defensively this was perhaps Crawford best season ever he was no longer the liability that other teams would game plan to exploit.He still needs to be better but every knick needs to be better in that regard .
I would keep ,Lee,Chandler,Nate,Crawford and and depending on where we pick try and get some solid skilled players for either zach or Curry as only one can remain at this point.
I agree with everything, Alan, and love your blog, except Q Richardson -- he is over the hill, can't jump or shoot or bend over, is too slow for fast 4's and drags them down. He'd be good for a an old team that plays set-up offense....those days are gone. If he can't shoot he should be dumped...he has no value.
DTR
2 more cents:
Curry is the worst starting center I ever saw. No court sense, no feel for the game, plowing into his man is his main move, makes babyish blaming hand gestures and faces every time he gets called for a foul, takes no responsibility for shutting down the middle as everyone whizzes right past him, does not seem to care about clogging the middle, and he's 30 lbs. too fat.
If Herb Williams was not working with him or able to teach him anything why keep Herb? Curry learned nothing in 3 years. Blaming Curry's regression on Randolph is one of the worst excuses ever. Curry can handle the entire offensive inside load for an NBA team? No way.
If they keep Curry they'd be crazy not to get Ewing to work with him and whip his butt into shape and learn how to play. God forbid another year of Curry getting 3 offensive fouls for blindly plowing into his man every 1st quarter. I'd trade him if possible if Ewing won't join the staff.
DTR
Uhhhh Alan you couldn't be anymore off. Crawford offers nothing that anyone else in the league can do given the opportunity to chuck up anything they want. He probably had the most inefficient 20 point per game season in NBA HISTORY. He's terrible, he plays no defense, cannot make a swing pass to save his life and he is too small to play SG in this league.
QBrick a keeper? Please buy him out, what a scrub. Everyone was warned he is nothing but a volume shooter and he is. He's way out of shape, too small to play SF and too slow to play SG. He can't shoot and has no explosiveness. He's a scrub.
Curry, no comment. He has to go. Doesnt even try to rebound, he doesnt care about the game of basketball and he is never going to be a so called "Beast".
Eddy Curry is a must keep
alan please confirm if that was really your media buddy b. tierney of espn radio...
Something don't figure. How can a guy like Crawford, who this cat says is one-dimensional, need only to play better D? If you're one-dimensional, don't that mean you do one thing and one thing only? Seems basketball's about scoring, passing, rebounding, moving without the rock, D, and a bunch of other things. Don't make any sense to write Jamal just needs to play better D if you're already claiming he's a one-dimensional player.
First of all, the cheap shots at Alan are garbage. I find his writing compelling and informative. I wish we had a filter for people who only want to trash other people's opinions. Please grow up and learn what it means to have a dicusssion!
I like most of Alan's ideas but I think Malik Rose should go because his age and skills fit a team that needs a complementary role player for the immediate future. Do him a favor! I would keep Randolph Morris because he has youth and energy and could be a decent back-up. That's especially true if we dump Randolph and James. James, by the way, needs to go under any scenario!
A question for AR: What do you mean when you say Lee isn't athletic?
For a power forward he lacks any size to intimidate penetration by the guards. Rebounding is his only strength and dunks. No jump shot and is still a work in progress. Like the Isiah era...
AR: Lee does need to improve his shot and his defense. That means he must progress under good coaching, but I can't agree with "not athletic."
AR: Lee does need to improve his shot and his defense. That means he must progress under good coaching, but I can't agree with "not athletic."