The Knicks Fix

Alan, with all the talk about teams willing to trade down, is there any talk about teams looking to trade up, like to the 6 spot. I read about there not being a great deal of difference between talent at the 6 or 7 spot vs say the 12 spot. Hence, a team might look to trade down, but who then would be willing to give up anything to trade up?

Would you personally rather trade the 6th pick to dump Zach Randolph, or would you rather keep it to draft the best remaining player available.

I've been watching video of prospects for the draft and have come away very impressed by Joe Alexander. Right now he's listed in most mock drafts at 13, 14, but i think by draft time he will have cracked the top ten. Assuming OJ Mayo, Bayless, are off the board would it be that much of a reach to draft him? My thinking is you could put Chandler at either the 2 or 4 and alexander at the 3. This kid is pretty special i think.

My second question is point guard related. Do you think Russel Westbrook could be a solid point guard and not just a combo guard? I think he's going to have a better NBA career then DJ Augistin regardless. What do you think?

Alan,

All the reports I read indicate that Riley wants Mayo, and will use cap space next year to nab either Boozer or Brand. If this is true and Beasley is available, do you think No. 6 (if Mayo slides) + David Lee gets it done (and is that a good idea in your opinion)?

hey you mentioned there was a trade that zeke messed up at the deadline with the nuggets for randolph... can you tell us what the components were, and what it was zeke kept tweaking that ruined it? just curious about what could have been... thanks!!

My man Alan,

I kinda feel that Mayo got a bad rap early on. I'm really liking what I'm reading about his character in recent weeks, his abilities never being in question. Bayless seems to be slipping a bit and Westbrook's stock seems to be climbing (I always liked that kid's game). That said, would you grab Mayo if he's available? If not, how do you feel about the prospect of Bayless or Westbrook running the point for the Orange and Blue?

This draft seems to be deeper in potential than many. And isn’t that what the draft is all about? After all, how many sure-things are there? (rhetorical - not my questions)

Here’s my question: Trading down is predicated on getting two decent prospects later in the first round. How feasible is that?

Alan:

please take your pick a or b:

A)
How much power does Isiah Thomas still have within the Knicks organization? They brought in his biggest fan Walsh, did not outright fire him as he certainly deserved to be fired, and have not brought in a new GM to this day. Don't you think the Knicks should completely eliminate Isiah, the president/coaching failure? If not, why didn't they keep on Scott Layden after his crappy tenure?

B)
Which possesses the greater IQ, James Dolan or the floater I left behind after that big meal I ate yesterday?

With the glut at small forward for Knicks, who stays and who goes? Chandler, Balkman, RIchardson, or Jefferies. My pick Chandler and Jefferies. Your?

How high a pick can the Knicks trade David Lee for? Lee to me seems like the only Knick that's coveted by other teams, makes very little money, and his lack of offense makes him a poor fit in Mike D'Antoni's system.

Remember, Lee was the one player that kept the Knicks from acquiring Ron Artest (Isiah refused to include him in any deals) so his trade value must be pretty high.

I think Lee might be worth the # 5 pick IMO. He's a good fit on that young Memphis team where he won't be required to score at all.

Alan, do you think Donnie Walsh will add any free agents this summer? In your opinion, would he simply insert the 6th pick into his roster without signing anyone else? Obviously he'll look to make trades, but other than that, do you see him making any signings with the mid-level exception?

Alan since the knicks might be intrested in moving up or down in the draft do you think this trade would work for all teams involved.

http://www.realgm.com/src_checktrade.php?tradeid=4615924
if u look at this trade also include ny 6 and nj 10 and 21 pick to denver plus the miami 2 pick coming to NY and then we get blount hunter and haslem we buy out blount trade haslem for expiring contract or let his contract run up and keep hunter he would be nice off bench in dantoni's system and draft either beasly or rose this year with #2 and then we will be about 25 millon under cap by 2010 and the only 5 contract we will have is of curry crawford chandler robinson if re signed and balkman and either beasly and rose and we can offer enough to get lebron and wade to ny

Alan, who do you think will be traded this offseason?

Alan - have you heard anything about Curry's future with the Knicks? If he got in shape, could he function in D'Antoni's offence (quick hitters in the post in the early offence, maybe)? Is there any reason to hope that Curry even can be pushed into getting into shape?

patrick33 - for B), I'd have to go with the floater...

Alan my man,

You spent all that time mingling (drinking?) with every important suit in the league... where are the rumors to pass on to your loyal readers? This is a blog --- > journalistic standards be damned! Give me your top 2 Knicks rumors (however crazy or unlikely) and top 2 from around the league that would make our jaws drop.

- Jesse

ps
Enough about Ewing. Bring back Mase and Oak and watch them strike the fear of God into this roster. The threat of Anthony Mason waiting for you after your post-game shower is some powerful motivation. For real.

Alan, who do you think will be traded this offseason?

Al,

Eric Gordon vs Danilo Gallinari. I think the draft will come down to these two for the Knicks. Who would you take and why?

How's the newborn doing?

Anyway, not that anyone really cares but

a) Is there an update on Jerome James status and has anyone asked Walsh what he'll do with him?

b) Any chance we'll pick up an additional pick, not related with a trade involving our sixth pick?

Will the Knicks draft the best defensive player available? Donnie has to see where Isiah went wrong drafting for offense minded players that can't play on both ends. Do we see Curry and Randolph in Knick uniforms because of their limited ability on the defensive side?

alan,

please give us your honest evaluation of the current knick roster, in terms of which payers you believe can prosper on a d'antoni team. which of the players have the intelligence and the work ethic to make positive contributions going forward?

Hey Alan wussup?

Just wondering if you/the knicks believe bringing in D'Antoni will maximise the talents of the seattle boys. Neither meet a shot they wouldn't take, and both seem to enjoy uptempo play. Crawford has been the closest thing to a leader we have and Nate seemed to show growth last year.

So basically can we assume Nate & JC will be here this season?

thanks

I think the most important position in the Knicks new system will be the PG. Even if we don't win many games next year players have to start developing trust in their on-court leader. I want your prediction on who will be the Knicks PGs in 08-09' and 09-10? Not just the starter but the backups too.

Allan
Do you think zach randolph will be traded?

Alan,
Sorry to ask you this again. Did not see your response or I missed it....

Who would you add to the NBA 50 Greatest? 5 or 10.
This would be the 5 that I would add:
- Kobe
- Duncan
- AI
- JKidd
- DWade
(still no Nique or Lanier or World B. Free LOL).

Also, did Ewing ever called DWalsh to express interest in the HC job? Or did he wait like royalty?

Lakers in 7. In 6 if Kobe is scoring and dishing.

Alan,

Can D. Rose pull a Eli Manning and demand to only play for the Knicks? Has that ever happened in the history of the NBA? Didn't Chandler do something similar last year?

I think this should be the philosophy for building an NBA team what do you think?

Never add salary until you have a player who can be the best player on an NBA championship team.

Never make a trade that adds salary unless its for the best player on an NBA championship team.

If you have a player who can be the bet player on an NBA championship team then you can add salary to bring in a player who can be the second best player on an NBA championship team.

Once you have the players who can be the best and second best players on an NBA championship team spend whatever you have to, to make sure they have the players around them to win an NBA championship.

Of course Isiah violated all of these rules many times but I think this is the only philosophy for building a championship team, with a salary cap.

alan,
is there any plan to replace the knicks medical staff?

Predict your starting 5 on opening night

Hi Alan,

If you could have your pick right now between the following soon-to-be free agents:

LBJ
D-Wade
CP3

Who would you choose, in what order and why?

Keep up the good work m8!

Any chance of Melo in NYC?

Will the Knicks be worth watch after December?

Do the Knicks need to hire a new GM? If Donnie is going to be calling all of the shots anyway, why bring another cook into the kitchen? For the additional roledex of NBA contacts? Someone to blame if things go wrong?

Keep up the good work Alan -- I come to this blog before anywhere else for Knicks news and reaction.

Do you think the Knicks will take a shot at trying to sign Kurt Thomas? He's a free agent. He'd add some much-needed toughness to this team. Kurt can knock down that mid-range jumper in his sleep. He can defend the big man. I think he'd be the perfect complement to Curry down low. At this rate Zach will probably be gone. Lee will probably be packaged with Zach wherever he goes. Assuming Eddy is seriously working out for the new system, we could have a nice tandem up front. Even if we draft a big man (A. Randolph, D. Jordan), they'd probably come off the bench. And to top it all off, Kurt played on that Phoenix team when it was going to the Conference Finals. I think it would be a great sign by Walsh. He never should've been traded in the first place.

Hi Alan,

Have the Knicks shown any interest in Ohio State's big man Kosta Koufos, and in your opinion would he be a fit for for the new Knick system?

Will D'Antoni adapt this team and its players to his system, or adapt his system to this team and its players?

In your opinion will Patrick Ewing one day ever be the head coach of the Knicks?

Alan,
Another question if you don't mind.
Kinda like Johnny B's question..

If you have to pick among the 3 PGs, who would you pick and why, short term and long term...
- T. Parker
- CP3
- Deron Williams

S/T, I'd pick TP.
L/T, I'd pick CP.
Can't go wrong with DW either.

Alan,

What was the single worst move of the Isiah tenure in your estimation?

- Alienating his boy - Starbury?

- Signing Zach to play along side Curry?

- Stockpiling a bunch of similar players w/ "potential"? And having very few work out for him?

- Building up Curry to almost All Star playing only to completely abandon running the offense through him & having him disappear?

- Botching the earlier mentioned possible deal w/ the Nuggets?

- Something else?

Is Tj Ford a decent point guard or all hype?

Hi Alan,
Do you think the Knicks will try to buy or trade for another first round pick? Pheonix is notorious for selling theirs.

Much thanks and keep up the great work.

When D'Antoni took over in Phoenix, he made players like Boris Diaw, Leandro Barbosa and James Jones look like vital cogs in the wheel. Do you think that under-utilized players like Wilson Chandler and Renaldo Balkman will flourish under D'Antoni in the same way? I certainly do. I think Chandler has a bright future in this system.

How about John Starks as an assistant? He has coached in a lower league and would bring fire to the bench. I would love to see that instilled in a few of our guys.

Alan,
Does the Coach's salary count against the cap?
What about the Knicks City dancer's salary?

can u give latrice on the knicks city dancers my contact information ?? tell her she has an admirer. i'll owe u a favor in return.

In your opinion, What does Stephon Marbury's future look like? Should the Knicks trade Stephon Marbury, buy him out, or let his contract expire?

keep dishing the dish and we'll talk about it on PSD!

Alan,
been quite a while since you've done the mailbag, hasn't it?

That's not really my "question."

My question is, and let me preface it by saying that I know you are not in possession of any magic crystal ball, but, if there were one personnel move Donnie Walsh and Mike D'Antoni (or as Walsh likes to refer to him, Mike D'Antonio) were to make prior to November, what in your best estimation would it be according to all your sources of info?

I'm talking about a roster addition or subtraction rather than the signing of any new GM or any assistant coaching staff hires.

My guess is that Marbury, ZBo and D Lee are all being shopped for different reasons, but again that is only a guess.

by the way good article on eddy curry recently. I hope he gets his act together. why he is still working with the same off-season trainer, besides Grover's Chicago location, is beyond me. get someone else in there to kick his butt. a marine corps staff sergeant with full veto rights to "e-city's" MSG direct deposit account comes to mind. then again that's pretty much what scotty skiies was in the first place, so D Walsh, good luck with that.

just bloggin'

Is there any possibility that the Knicks pull off a blockbuster this off season? Or does Walsh do that smart thing and let contracts expire and trade any player with a long deal for expiring contract, and build through the draft the next few years, then make a run a Lebron or Wade.

Hey Alex,

Have Walsh or D'Antoni made any suggestions that they want to improve the team's defense, or is it all about run-and-gun offense?

DTR

lol.....alex??

Allan
you can ignore my question about randolph and and answer this question instead...

do you think that d'antoni would utilize jarred jeffries by playing him at the 5 spot?
i remember when he was at washington they used him to guard athletic 5s like KG,and amare...

Alan,
Do you think we have any valuable assets that can buy us the first pick and land us derrick rose? Is there any other asset except for Lee? Do you think it is worth it or will Rose be ruined by our current roster without a good role model like Lee?

Can we all start calling you Alex? Does sound cooler than Alan. Can we make that a rule going forward? Just bloggin

Hey Alan

Here's my question, another variation of who will the Knick's pick should they stay at the 6th slot question.

Here's my twist on it.

Assuming that by the time the 6th pick is called, Rose, Mayo, Beasely, Bayless and Lopez are gone.

And the following are on board

Randolph, Love, Westbrook, Augustin, and Jordan remain on board...

Which of the above mentioned remaining players should the Knicks take?

Who will the Knicks likely take?

Hey guys,

I've got a new blog. It's not really basketball related, but you might find it interesting. I try to be funny.

biologicalfannypack.blogspot.com

Check it out.

Peace.

Hey Allan,

Heard anything about the Warriors have interest in moving up to the 6th pick? Baron Davis on the block??

Roll out your crystal ball and predict who do YOU think the Knicks SHOULD pick at #6 and who are they LIKELY to pick there?

Thanks. I am an avid fan of your articles and blog.

WOuld it be possible for us to trade down and still get DJ Augistin?

In case anyone was wondering what the actual damage was:

By this very crude estimate, Isiah Thomas cost the Knicks $118,000 every day he was on the job.

http://dberri.wordpress.com/2008/06/01/the-isiah-thomas-tax/

From HoopsWorld on changes coming to the Pistons:

"Wallace is supposed to be Detroit's post presence, but his lack of focus could lead to his ticket out. One interesting idea would be to offer Wallace to the New York Knicks for his former Portland Trail Blazer teammate Zach Randolph.

While Randolph is nowhere near the defender that Wallace is, he's a more consistent post scorer and rebounder. The Knicks are looking to get under the salary cap before 2010 and are considering moving Randolph to facilitate that process. Wallace is going into the final year on his contract at $13.6 million. Randolph is owed $48 million over the next three seasons."

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=8927

I don't know who might consider such an "interesting idea," but I'll take it. You gotta figure the only teams that will look at Randolph are those with a stable, veteran core. Detroit would be dangerous with Zach, no doubt.

Wallace on a team as bad and young as the Knicks might be a disaster. He needs veteran players around him to keep that temper in check. Unless we just buy him out and let him and Marburry expire in the same season or trade him and Nate to Denver for Melo then a great trade.

Pistons are built on defense though and Zach plays none. I doubt they would make this trade unless the new coach switches philosophy.

Is Peaceman still here spreading his germs? Or is he posting under a new handle?

Celtics in 7.
Big 3 versus Big 2 (kobe and gasol/odom)
No contest.
OJ Mayo

I can't fathom how a Knick fan can cheer or pull for the Celtics to win the NBA Finals.

I hate the Celtics.

That said I respect the world of Garnett. Ray Allen is an affable personality. Pierce is a piece of shyt, mad game thought, who disrespects the Knicks at every turn.

I can't root for the Celtics for tha reason. But if Garnett gets his good for him.

My Prediction Lakers in 6-7

The 2-3-2 format favors them.

They are now playoff tested.

They have finally learned to win on the road.

They are extremely good at home.

Kobe and Co. will have to at the very least win two road games against the Celtics on the Road or win three straight games against the Celtics to win the Championship.

As good as Kobe is this year I don't think that will happen.

Lastly The Celtics three Stars are hungry, Kobe already has a few rings. He might just let it slide like the Pistons did.

Anyhow boo on you for pulling for the Celtics.

Aint no real Knicks Fan.