The Knicks Fix

I'm looking forward to seeing Duhon/Jamal in the backcourt.

If we can solve the PG w/o trading DLee, then if we do trade DLee, what are we trying to get for him? I understand trying to move DLee and Randolph together to clear cap space, but then we are giving away 20 rebounds. Who fills the void? What should we expect back in return?

The Clippers have nothing we need except for Elton Brand and we're not getting him. Cuttino is another undersized gunner that we don't need.

If we go on the assumption that D'Antoni wants this team to run, we are going to need shot blockers and rebounders. We have no shot blockers, and everyone is itching to get rid of our rebounders.

Fast breaks are ignited off of defensive stops; rebounds, steals, blocked shots. If you can't stop anyone and you can't force any turnovers, how are you going to run? The Suns didn't play much defense but they had a better talent pool to work with.

I just don't see this team running off of baseline inbounds passes. By the way, David Lee is also probably our best outlet passer for the break.

Orange and Blue, your trade proposal from the last thread had Mike Miller in there. Did you mean Brad Miller? Mike Miller was just traded to the T Wolves from Memphis. If you mean Brad Miller, no thanks. He's 32 and on the downside. He can rebound but he's yet another 7 footer who can't block a shot, and he's lost a step or five. If you mean for contract purposes, then I admit I don't know his contractual situation.

As for Mihm, he's another non-shot blocker, and the next time he plays close to a full injury free season will be his first time.

That also gives you a forward rotation of Odom, Q Rich, Chandler and Gallinari to play both the 4 and the 3. That's shaky at best, and not as good as we have now. That also gives you Curry Mihm and Miller at center, assuming we shed J James and Randolph Morris. Not exactly D'Antoni type 5's. Not a shot blocker among any of our new frontcourt players (centers or forwards) so I don't see how it improves the team.

Your basically giving up Lee, Balkman, Zach, Jeffries and Rose for Odom, a player the Lakers don't seem to need, and who wilted under the pressure of the Finals..

I don't hear Eddy Curry name or spot in the starting rotation in any of the rumored trades and signing. What's up? The guard position is not as big an issue as the center position. Riles may want him for the Matrix. I'll throw in Jamal. Get these two losers of my team. When was the last time either one of them have been in the playoff? Start over; let the Matrix and Marburry play out their one year. Get Miami to throw in some future draft picks. And let’s go young.

Hey, guys – I wanted to be the first Fixer to check in from Africa. I’ve been trying to keep up, but it’s tough. (Left NYC an hour before the draft started.) Lots of good possibilities floating around. Whoever keeps trying to send Artest to LA is right. He is exactly what the Lakers need to go up against the Celtics again. Think about Bynum, Gasol and Artest as a front line. I like Odom, but he frightens me. He’s great when he’s on his game, but tends to disappear. And makes too many bone-head plays.

Anyway, I don’t get access to the internet very often where I am. But just in case this is the first, I wanted to add a continent to Alan’s world-wide domination of Knicks' blogdom. Back in a week . . .

So, if this Duhon thing doesn't work out, what about Jannero Pargo...CP3's back-up?

I heard he opted out looking for a better deal. I really have no frame of reference, since I've never seen the guy really play. Any thoughts?

@Old school

if pargo opted out he is probably
looking for a 4 or 5 years contract...

the knicks are only offering a 2 year contract

@Loki

i wish the knicks would trade curry....but who the hell wants
his crispy creme eating,no hustling ass?

Another low price option at center, could be "the Birdman" Chris Anderson. I hear the Celtics are talking to him.

"The Birdman" may also have a chance to excel under the D'Antoni system...this is figuring he's truly cleaned up his act.

Sorry, I forgot...Just Bloggin' &

Keepin' it Old School...

@ orange and blue: I read through your trade proposal very carefully but I think it is impossible to get that many teams and players involved in a trade. Sacramento was not getting anything worthwhile in your scenario so I ignored that part of it for brevity and concentrated on the main players for the Knicks and LA. It seemed more like a video game trade with all those players going between three teams.

@ Trane: You must have missed the part about LA taking Randolph AND Artest. That would be like a NY Yankee payroll with Gasol, Bynum (extension), Kobe, Randolph and Artest (extension). Artest would be a good fit in LA though.but why would Sacto help out LA.

Pargo is better than Duhon but is also a backup PG. He has a better shot and is great in the open court but is also erratic and streaky as hell. Think Chris Childs minus the defense and the Kobe punching.

@ bokonon: "The Clippers have nothing we need except for Elton Brand and we're not getting him."

Not true. Clips have rights to Eric Gordon. I think he can be had for a package involving Jamal Crawford and David Lee (I posted details in the comments section under Alan's entry hyping up K-Berg.)

The Clips went all-in when they signed Baron. Two of the past three NBA champions won by trading away the future for a win-now roster. The Clips roster, as it stands now, does not get it done -- they still have more work to do. Crawford and Lee are great fits for them, and they have Gordon, two No. 1 picks next year, and $15M in money that expires before 2010.

As Alan would say, "Stay tuned . . ."

"Ellis and Crawford are essentially the same player. "

I respectfully disagree. Ellis is a more dynamic player from coast-to-coast. His acceleration allows him to get to the hole, he gets in the paint with more relative frequency than Crawford, who often over-dribbles, camps out by the three point line, does a few crossovers to get three feet closer and hoists up an off-balance, ill-advised shot.

last season was supposed to be about crawford getting to the basket more often, with his 15lbs of added bulk to absorb the impact, but it backfired; by the end of the season he had lost quite a bit of that extra weight just to get his "feline quickness" and streaky shooting back.

Crawford is a better long-range shooter than Ellis.

Ellis, despite his smaller stature, is an upgrade over Crawford defensively. Crawford is merely a streak defender.

Ellis is 5.5 years younger than Crawford. That matters quite a bit in basketball years.

Ellis, for his career numbers, shoots 50% from the field, Crawford: 40% (Ellis understands the benefit of better shot selection).

And last but not least, Ellis gets to the free throw line much more often than he shoots 3's, Crawford is famous for averaging more three point shot attempts over free throws throughout his career (except for that one year with Brown, his best as a team player).

Crawford may thrive under D'Antoni, if he is still here, but so would Ellis, if not more so.

Just bloggin'

Anderson is intriguing, especially since he looks to block shots. Another guy who's out there, but an impossibility with our roster and salary situation is Pietrus. The guy does it all, plays D, plays big, and can run the floor well, shoot it and post it. I think in the right situation, he can be a big contributor. Curious that there hasn't been more noise about him. Shame we can't go after him.

Alan,

I love your basketball insights but I fail to understand your Jamal Crawford enthusiasm.

Just because Jamal Crawford will be able to shoot twice as often will not make him a great player. Shooting is a small, albeit important, part of the game.

Crawford's defense and court sense don't automatically improve because he shoots more. And in both departments he's demonstrated that he has no talent in either category.

He and Curry need to be traded sooner than later and preferably for draft picks and change.

I don't understand why it seems okay for jamal to jack up as many shots as he wants to per game. I feel like for every good game he has, he has 5 bad ones. Does anyone else remember that during each game this season when the knicks would be in a decently close game, and when it became crunch time Jamal would be the only one who would take a shot? The last 2 minutes of the game no one else would touch the ball. Maybe he won like 3 games for us, but he forces up ill-advised shots at the end of every close game. Look at his track record the guy has never been a winner. He will never be a top 2 player on a good team. If he is your first option, which he appears to be on the knicks, you know your team isn't good.

fwk - I have to agree. Its a matter of when we change that position, and what's strategically the best time to get value for Crawford. He has knuckles where his head should be, and if D'Antoni is going to be less defensive oriented as expected, we need two-way players at all positions. D'Antoni's system will create the open shots for guys that might not have the creability of Jamal "Love me, Love My Dribble" Crawford. Hell, Bruce Bowen is an offensive threat of sorts in San Antonio's system. An NBA player should be able to shoot a jumper when they have their feet set and the time to wind up. When guys sprint to open spots and the ball finds the open man, they will will shoot and score. The "creates his own shot" mantra is an artifact of television marketing strategy, and cannot make up for being unable to play the game right (as we've learned over and over with this squad). There's a reason why players were able to score back in the ice age before the carry, the jump stop and the leaky pivot foot. Offenses got them open, and regardless of position, on the good teams, like the old knicks , the open man could, and was expected to, shoot.

Jannero Pargo is Crawford with a bigger jaw and a more determined look on his face.

flybanjo,

You obviously like Eric Gordon much more than I do. I personally wouldn't do any deal for him much less Lee and Crawford. I don't think Crawford could ever be more than a good bench player, but I think he's a better player than Gordon. Just my opinion. Besides we already have our fill of undersized shooting guards. Why would we need another?

If you want to do a deal for picks and cap relief, alright, I just don't think you include Lee in a package like that.

Another PG possibility (although restricted FA):

Chris Quinn: The second-year guard from Notre Dame was one of the few bright spots for the Heat last season. Filling in for the injured Jason Williams, he averaged around 15 points and six assists down the stretch with a 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Quinn is restricted, and the Heat will probably match any offer, but it might be worth a shot for a team seeking a hard-nosed guard who can shoot with range.

Keepin' it Old School...

I dont get it ny why o why does every one want to get rid of marbury it makes no sense. Let him come off the books. Hes still better than anyone else you can bring in come on duhon lets be real people. i know you dont like the kid but come on be smart. Dont make move based on the fact you dont like him that would be dumb now if if he has a great yr everybody going to be like sign him back if he has like a 20 and 8 yr. Ny coachs for the last 4 5 yrs sucked had no system didnt even know how to sub right. I wacthed every game and always would be like we have a good team whats wrong i tell you who has to go mardy is a waste a pg who cant score even if hes open scared to shoot hes a bum morris bum curry is an offensive foul somebody work with this guy. Bring ewing in as a coach help this guy n8 and crawford are going to be good under this system. All you guys that just talk dont relize what we have thats good steph must stay name 11 pgs that are better i bet not 1 you can get at this point you guys are bone heads and can any of them have 30 and take the game over even when they are hot. So the guy had two bad seasons so what look at was going on last yr the guy had like 5 deaths in his family how many of you guys would be thinking straight at your place of work

Another Randolph Trade That Works...

I came up with two trades to get Zach outta town to get under the cap in 2010. Check it out and let me know your thoughts.

http://www.newyorkknicksfan.com/?p=14

nice job on those deals, andrew. it's just a matter of what team is willing to roll the dice on zach. i don't think cleveland would, because james has said he values good teammates, and bringing in zach might be the final push out the door. and sacto? who knows. geoff petrie has a solid rep, but he's taken a team that could have won a title five years ago and run it into the ground. his last two draft picks -- hawes and jason thompson -- were really suspect. who knows what they'd do. but as long as they have artest, it's hard to seem them bringing in another potential problem player.

i think it's best to hold on to zach right now and see if you can elevate his trade value. maybe do something at the trade deadline.

Al,

You're my fav but Jamal Crawford will not be an All-Star. He's a 40% shooter and plays no D. The worst thing that can happen to Crawford would be for Mike D'Antoni to give him the green light on offense. He'll average 24 ppg on 35% fg, 30% 3pt and no D. That's not an All-Star.

andrew - i like what your thinking, but doubt the cavs would do anything that would help the knicks get under the cap at all. they know we'd be trying to move randolph now to be able to take lebron away from them in 2010.

man, the whole situation just drives me crazy, considering how irresponsible isiah was.

the zach trade really epitomized his whole tenure... sacrificing the future for experiments with big-name, big-numbers, big-ego guys.

ugh, think of how much easier things would be if we had frye and francis coming off the books instead of zach's huge contract...

Alan,

I emphatically disagree with your comparison of Ellis and Crawford. Ellis is by far better than anyone on our roster. I think
we should pull out all stops to get Ellis. He's lighting quick and can Play PG ...given the chance and from under the shadow of Baron Davis! If Nate can duplicate last years summer League
play....him backing up Ellis and Crawford ..woulld be another teams Nightmare! Sorry but I'm not playing for 2010, I'm playing for 2008-2009. That Lebron fairy tale is making me regurgitate and as much as it hurts me, I agree for the first time ever with Mike Lupica's Article linked below, written for last Sunday's Daily News.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/2008/06/28/2008-06-28_knicks_fans_dream_of_lebron_james.html

Alan, I completely agree in regards to Crawford. There is no fiscal reason to move him, and I think he could be tremendous in this system.

Also, while Ellis may be explosive, the Knicks need a ball-mover...so I agree you here too.

Matt B worth repeating:

"man, the whole situation just drives me crazy, considering how irresponsible isiah was.

the zach trade really epitomized his whole tenure... sacrificing the future for experiments with big-name, big-numbers, big-ego guys.

ugh, think of how much easier things would be if we had frye and francis coming off the books instead of zach's huge contract..."

i read somewhere that the La Clippers still need help
at the SG position

what do you think about trading crawford to La for the
rights to Gordon and Al thorton

LA wants to win now and the knicks are rebuilding

the knicks would get younger and LA would
replace the numbers they lost from losing Magette
to free agency

any thoughts?

Not sold on Gordon and look who you have mentoring him..."Matador" Mar-baby. What a great role model...

Keepin' it Old School...

(1) Since I had wanted and thought JA would be the Knicks pick and not DA (mainly because of DA's defensives deficiencies), let me welcome DA to the Knicks. He is our first building block to a championship team, he's an offensive leader (matured offensively beyond his years), a fourth quarter/last shot player, and the closest offensive 3 we will have had since Bernard King! (2) With the Knicks this upcoming season having a chance to be a 500 team yet still not make the playoffs I have already started scouting for the 2009 draft. The draft again will be a two player draft: BJ Mullens and Demar Derozan (though i would not be unhappy with Agent Zero light: Stephen Curry as a late lottery pick) still as I look at the Knicks needing at least four years-due to their salary cap/bad contracts problem-to realisticly contend for a championship the most realistic chance the Knicks have at soon winning a championship is not Star-wishing for LB but by realisticly drafting the aforementioned players! (3) @ Gee Money, I'm a second what you said man. The thing is the Knicks have a lot of neurotic, psychotic fans who would rather "throw the baby out with the bath water". I use to think their heads were just fat but I've come to realize their heads are both fat and thick. Still there are some Knicks fans who will give the "benefit of doubt", who are "positive and not negative", who think about "lifting up their players and not tearing them down", It's just that there are not a lot of us out there who blog as much as village/vocal idiots!

@NYC2I: If I offered you the Craw for the #7 pick in the draft, wouldn't you laugh at me? If the dude was worth the 7th pick, wouldn't we try to build around him?

Craws value is really to be determined. He may thrive in a west coast offense, but the jury is out. I think his game will be a reflection of the system he plays in.

Alan,

This is my first time actually posting, but I read the blog every day. It's great!

I agree with you in regards to Crawford. He will flourish in this system, and there is no fiscal reason to move him (Especially for Mobley). I think Jamal's weaknesses can be overshadowed by this new system under Mike D and it would be silly to trade him now. It would just be trading to shake things up, and as Knicks fans know, this is not a pragmatic way to create a working dynamic. Even if Crawford isn't in the long-term plans (i.e. 2010) playing in this system will raise his trade value, if nothing else.

I also agree with the Crawford/Ellis comparisons. I would only deal for Ellis if Crawford were involved.

Did I really read that teams are inquiring about Z-bo?

"I also agree with the Crawford/Ellis comparisons"

No offense, but that's because you're not watching both players closely enough.

That's like comparing apples and oranges. Ellis is a runner, Jamal is a chucker.

Ellis is more of a poor man's Iverson than anything resembling Crawford. I would never compare Crawford to Iverson. You can't compare Crawford to many players because he is one of the only guards in the league to shoot more three point attempts than free throw attempts.

One of the major precepts of fundamental basketball is to get to the free throw line as often as you can. all great nba players know how to do it when the game is on the line.

Crawford does not and will not play that way.

whatever, doesn't matter because Ellis isn't likely to go anywhere with Baron Davis looking to join the Clippers.

I'm done for today. go ahead with the, "yeah, Crawford and Ellis, same player."

Alan is usually accurate in his assessments, and while I agree with him that Mobley is no better, I just don't know how he can use "ever-improving" and Jamal Crawford in the same sentence. there has never been a more consistently inconsistent basketball player than Jamal. Every year, one thing is certain: he will end up shooting 40 or 41%.

Perhaps, Dantoni's system adds 2 percentage points at best to that because of more easy buckets. Like everybody else, Hahn has been seduced by the Jamal moves:

The Seduction: Starring Jamal Crawford
http://www.cosellout.com/?p=229

Alan, I wholeheartedly disagree. Jamal Crawford is a perennial loser for a reason. His terrible shooting, defense, and basketball IQ are a part of that reason. This guy isn't a player you can depend on. Furthermore, he's a bench player at best.

I think it's laughable you call Jamal Crawford an all-star in D'Antoni's system. All star? Really? D'Antoni's system is also based on efficiency and when has Crawford ever been efficient? Jamal doesn't shoot the ball well and D'Antoni relies o his guards to shoot a lot. Combine that with Crawford's terrible shot selection and how does that make him a better player?

The guy will be entering his NINTH NBA season. It's time to cut this stuff out. He is what he is and he will never be anything more.

my main problem with Crawford is he is just a jump shooter
he never gets easy shots at the basket

everything is perimeter.
if d'antoni's system will get crawford closer to the basket
then i would understand his shooting percentage going up

Crawford is a bad shot maker
he likes to take shots that are difficult

i would trade crawford straight up for ellis

ellis's shooting percentage is higher and he attacks the basket
like nobody's business

i think ellis is a much better player than crawford because of that
and he is younger and more athletic

i like crawford but i think ellis would be a upgrade

Again, too late.

Strictly CYA material on this blog. Too little. Too late.

Break A Backboard Crawford's a "one-dimensional" player, according to one second-rate hockey scribe.

Strictly a 60 percent bricklayer, that's Break A Backboard Crawford, the Princess of the 4 for 16 night from the floor.

Things could be worse. At least he's not Stephon Marbury or The Baroness.

Al you are spot on and the biases of some of these knuckleheads shine straight thru .

Where has it been said by any coaches that Crawford had a low BBall IQ? Its been widely claimed that hes a student of the game and wants to get better .Its sad the stuff people have to make up all because somsone shoots 41%

Crawford is like Ellis only ELLIS CANNOT SHOOT outside of 15 feet he only attempted 52 thres all year .You take him out of Nelsons offense and someone of you would be in for a rude awakening.

Crawford handled distribution .and leadership responsibilities this past season.Ellis didnt say anything and just ran the lane while the other guys took on all the responsibility in the media and otherwise. Give Ellis Crawfords responsibilities and you would be singing a different tune.Hes good at what he does but hes nothing like AI and is far far from some all around player .

Ft shooting huh ?

Among shooting guards Ellis was 8th in attempts and Crawford was 10th however Crawford was 5th in percentage while Ellis was 20th .

Ellis is the perfect example of what happens when you put a guy in the right system.Its easy to magnify those strengths and hide those flaws.

You put Crawford in a system where he can get easy layups and open spot up shots and he will put up big numbers at a good percentage .

and the part about the all star is not that far fetched but its based on really how well the team does .If Crawford is playing well and the knicks are at the all star break in contention for a playoff spot he will get consideration as hes a good kid whose style of play Im sure the league would love to market.

@ Luke, Your so right man, those knuckleheads, uh Knicks fans wasn't harping on JC's talent when he was playing his rightful position (shooting guard)- as he was being fed by Marbury and torching DWade and the Miami Heat for 50!!!!!