Donnie Walsh speaks to season ticket holders
Longtime Fixer "david" and his son attended the season ticket holders' "town forum" meeting with Donnie Walsh. Here are some of the highlights david had to share:
1. Walsh said that Marbury has been a very good player in this league, and he's not sure what has happened here but he's worked hard this summer and has a clean slate. They want to see what he can do when he gets to training camp. 
So it sounds like they are keeping Marbury around for awhile.
(Bloghost note: Stephon is currently working out with some NBA players in Vegas at Tim Grgurich's camp).
2. He said that the rumor about trading Zach Randolph with a first round pick for nothing is a rumor and he won't comment on it. But he also said that if they Knicks don't value their own players, then the rest of the league won't either. And he is not giving away and of the Knicks for less value.
(Note: david and I both agree this is a non-denial denial...but time to move on)
3. Walsh said that he watched the Knicks last 7 games last year once he became GM, and that it was hard to tell how good they were because Curry was out, Marbury was out and "Zach was half playing."
(DW is being generous to Zach here)
4. When asked about the starting line up to start the season, he said he has no idea but a lot will depend upon who plays well in training camp, who works hard, who is a team player.
(That would have eliminated most of last season's roster)
5. Naturally, he loves Gallinari. He said he is not saying he is another Larry Bird, but he also said he's not going to say he can't be that kind of player. He said Gallinari, has "an unusual package," as he handles the ball like a guard, is big and tough and shoots the lights out.
(Howard Stern plans to have Gallo on the show to discuss this 'unusual package' Walsh keeps talking about)
6. When asked if the Knicks might trade Lee at the trade deadline because they don't want to sign him to an extension, he said "I like Lee, so why do people keep asking about trading him?" He got big applause for that. But then he said, something to the effect of, "but we could trade him if we get great value for him."
(Rent David, don't buy.)
7. Walsh said that Balkman was traded because they had "nine forwards," and he was not going to play. And when that happens, a players value declines, and also it creates "chemistry problems."
(Chemistry? Aw man, crazy.)
The overall sense was that the Knicks are rebuilding, that he is not going to make any more moves this summer, that they believe the talent on the team is better than its played, and that they will evaluate the players in training camp.
(Translated: Brandon Jennings could be the PG of the future....so many teams in the East got better - and have you seen Dwyane Wade in the Olympics? Dude....)
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Comments (31)
my boy told me somethn today about a nate 4 sean williams trade ?? anybody hear somethn similar? no talk of that on here so i'm assuming it's b.s.
I officially hate Donnie Walsh. This is so depressing.
wtf do you want the guy to do? nobody wants our players. literally every single player is an overpaid loser, except for chandler nate and lee, and obv we cant trade them.
We just have to hope dantoni can win some games and up the value of the players. Our franchise is screwed if we cant move zbo.
I know Donnie Walsh took over one of the worst basketball teams and situation in NBA history and I honestly did not expect him to completely gut the roster in one summer. I know getting rid of scrubs like Zach Randolph and Eddy Curry is very difficult but for Walsh to keep Stephon Marbury is the ultimate insult to me as a fan. On top of that, Walsh calls Marbury a great player and says he has another clean slate. That to me tells me Walsh is not as classy or professional as I thought he was. On any other team, a drug addict and basketball cancer like Marbury would have been waived.
End of story.
WTF
so walsh is talking about bringing
starbury to training camp?
walsh is talking about chemistry
but the cancer and chemistry killer starbury
is coming to camp
remember training camp was
not when starbury went AWOL
does walsh want to trust starbury going
into the season at PG?
as for Zbo i hope d'antoni
can up his trade value
god help us knick fans
@tha prowler
i did see that rumor about the nate
for sean williams trade but i
think that it is BS
but if its true i am for it
Here is a recap from someone who went:
http://www.ultimateknicks.com/forum/topic.asp?t=28018
Here's a recap from somebody else who went:
www.ultimateknicks.com/forum/topic.asp?t=28018
Nate for Sean Williams Swap Anyone?
http://www.theknicksblog.com/2008/08/13/nets-would-listen-to-nate-for-sean-williams-swap/
Its one the SNY Knicksblog that Alan has on his Bloglist.
What do people here think about that trade would you be for it or against it.
Me for it. I here personality issues about Sean WIlliams, which would be the only reason why I would be hesitant.
Thoughts?
It is quite clear from Walsh's discussion last night (unless he was not being truthful) that:
--no more changes this summer.
--players will come to camp (including Marbury and Randolph) with a chance to redeem themselves.
--they will play an upbeat running offense, and Walsh said it will be apparent quickly who can play in that system.
--that rebuilding will be slow, and they will stick to their plan to get under the cap by 2010.
--their cap could change radically next year if Curry and Crawford opt out.
--they will not give away any of their players for less value, even to create cap room (Zach).
Keeping Marbury is the most depressing thing I have heard all year. Just when I was ready to get excited about the Knicks again Walsh stabs the fans in the back. 5 years we have had to put up with his selfish distractions and scowling. Now I hope Marbury adds Walsh to the long lists of coachs/GMs he has helped get fired so we can hire somebody that will look out for the fans.
Walsh should've made the trade with the Clippers involving Zach Randolph. He is supposedly trying to build cap room for 2010 when all these free agents are available, but he didn't realize somehing - there are some amazing players available that year, you need money to sign them, and not 1 of them will want to play with Zach.
He could've gotten rid of Zach's lazy and selfish attitude, and not had to worry about it ever again. Yeah it would suck to get nothing in return, because he does put up 20-10, but it would save them almost $50 mil over the next 3 yrs. Add in Steph's $22 mil contract this year, and if they got rid of D. Lee, they would have a lot of money. I love the Duhon signing because he's clearly the PG of the future, he's clearly worth $5 mil, and he's definitely the type of PG LeBron would love to play with especially since he has superstar talent.
Signing Duhon won't bring LeBron here, it will just help keep him away, Duhon is no better than any PG he's played with already.
They need to clear cap room as fast as possible, and make a push for both LeBron AND D-Wade. Those 2 together on the Knicks would be the best duo in the history of the NBA.
It's always Armageddon on this message board. Walsh's Slow and Methodical pace is a good thing, people. It means he's "strategizing", something we might want to continue if success is ever to be found.
I want Marbury gone, and I think Walsh will realize that he's not worth the risk sooner rather than later.
Be calm, breath in...and out.
I've posted before that personally I would like to have seen things happen more quickly - to cut ties with some of the players I've completely soured on. Walsh disagrees - he is more optimistic about the possibilities here. I hope he is right.
Orange and Blue - I'd do that trade in heartbeat and not just because its big for small. Nate can be a useful player, but in the overall picture he's never going to be a difference maker. As for Williams - he seems like the kind of big who could throve in an uptempo game and his best strength (shotblocking) is the Knick's biggest weakness up front. I think its smart to gamble on young cheap talent - low financial risk, huge upside, especially when the upside is such a perfect fit.
@Orange and Blue
i would do that nate for sean williams trade.
esp if the knicks are going to keep marbury
think about it
we would have starbury,duhon,collins
crawford can play PG and SG
robertson who is really a SG but plays PG
sean williams gives the knicks
some shot blocking and toughness
with a frontline like curry and zach
we really need some toughness
also remember Mason and Oakley
were not class citizens
they were surly and had a mean edge to them
and i liked that
that is also what i liked about artest
he has an attitude but thats what makes
him an intimidating presence
NYC 2 Infinity - you're totally right about William's toughness and its value to the Knick's front line.
I hate Marbury as much as the next guy, but I don't think it's a terrible thing for a new regime to give the guy a shot to prove that he's not an arrogant, me-first, loser (which, again, I think he is).
I get the sense that Walsh and D'antoni will hold players accountable, but that they don't want to punish anyone for anything that happened before they got here, which I think is a reasonable decision. With all of the crazy stuff that happened to this organization over the past few years, I'm sure it's difficult to get a really good sense of what's truth, what's rumor, and what's somewhere in between.
So if Marbury really is a selfish jerk who can't work well within a team system, that will bare itself out, and at that time I feel confident that Walsh/D'Antoni will cut/trade/bench him. But until that time, I'm ok with them giving him a chance to redeem himself.
Plus, like Walsh talks about earlier, he wants to get fair value for his players, and to just cut Marbury outright would be getting nothing in return, which is not exactly fair value. Let him play, let him build up his value a little bit, then get rid of him. I think that's what he's going to do with Zach, too.
Or, if they wind up completely sucking this year, which is definitely a strong possibility, they'll be in position to add another elite-level talent through the draft, which I think will go a lot farther in convincing a top-level free agent to sign here than trading for Sean Williams or signing another midlevel exception-type player.
Lenny Wilkins gave Marbury a clean slate. Marbury tried to undermine him as a coach.
Larry Brown gave Marbury a clean slate. Marbury went on a daily war with him in the papers.
Isiah gave Marbury a clean slate and Marbury became his enemy as well even threatening to blackmail him if he did not start.
NJ gave him a clean slate and he was hated by his teammates (Kmart, Vanhorn, Feick, Williams, etc)and coach (Byron Scott)
NY fans gave Marbury a warm welcome and a clean slate and he has acted like a selfish thug for 5 years.
Enough clean slates. Walsh was hired and what did he do? He said he didnt like the teams horrible atmosphere and then he kept the 2 biggest reasons for the horrible team atmosphere in Marbury and Isiah. Walsh should be fired already for this alone!
Well, I agree with you, up to a point, Mark.
I think Marbury is a bum. And I don't love the decision to keep him around here. But I can understand someone who is new to an organization wanting to make an evaluation of his own before acting.
I think it's just a matter of taking a measured, calculated approach. Also, there's the little matter of him making $20 million dollars this year. You don't just pay someone $20 million to sit around and do nothing.
Of course, I can't blame you for being frustrated, but I do understand the decision.
I think part of the condition of him taking this job was to let these bums ride out their horrible contracts, so he's dutifully doing it, even it it's not an ideal situation. Again, I don't love the fact that this is happening. But I think going forward, after these contracts finally expire, we'll have a legit GM calling the shots who hopefully won't bring in any more Marbury types.
Maybe I'm just being too optimistic because I can't stand the thought of another completely inept regime, but I'd like to wait and see what Donnie does over the next year or two before demanding he be fired.
@ Mark I was with you until you called for Donnie's head six months into the job. I'm not going to sit here and say don't critcize him b/c his moves have been curious at best but calling for his firing six months in is exactly the reason people said you couldn't rebuild in NY which we have to do.
As for trading Nate for Zach I have absolutely no faith in Duhon so while a good trade, I don't know who takes over the PG responsibilities when he flames out. I still don't believe Marburry makes it through camp, Collins is terrible, Roberson is not a PG, and while Nate probably isn't either, he is your only other option. NYC 2 Infinity made a great point about Williams' toughness, reboounding and shotblocking although he is very limited in alot of areas he is exactly what the Knicks need. I just think Nate is going to be too valuable to the team as its best 3 pt shooter, best ball handler behind Duhon and probably playing more min/game than him, and best speed guy in an uptempo offense. Nate's out of control style dirves me crazy but he is still one of my favorites Knicks and behind Lee probably the most marketable, I say no to the trade.
On a side note this trade makes no sense for Jersey who have Harris, just signed Dooling, have Carter and just drafted Chris Douglas-Roberts. They also have Darrell Armstrong and Ager. I know they don't need Williams anymore but they really don't need Nate either. NJ and NYK never trade with each other either. Can't see this happening.
Ive lost patience. 5 years is enough. Its time to start a new era and close the door on the Marbury era. His 22 mill contract is not a reason to ruin yet another coach and season. Teams bench or buyout guys all the time. The Blazers bought out like 35 million to get Francis away from their young guys. Why do we want to draft young players and then have them "Marburyed"? Its like saying we want to change things but then repeating the same things
Marbury will be gone soon. Stop whining.
Newday just put registration on the Yankees Beat site, and thanks to moderator Katie Strang, the same will probably be imposed on Knicks, Rangers, and Mets sites as well. We have been fine as is, so send your comments against registration now to Newsday.com.
Hey Jr some of us are actual Knicks fans not Marbury fans. Go kiss your Marbruy poster once again
Posted by Jr. suks | August 14, 2008 11:57 Marbury will be gone soon. Stop whining.
The above is Peaceman. He's been heckling this guy JR at StarBerman's site.
* DW wants to dump Marbury but there is no market for him.... no demand, no takers. Too expensive to buy him out.
Peaceman aka Jr suks,
You should have stayed on Bermanburys site if you feel the need to make a SN like Jr suks
Knicks4life,
He was obviously kidding about firing Walsh already but I do think he is doing a very questionable job.
He kept the 2 biggest cancers to the organization (Cancerbury and Isiah). His game plan seems to be I see nothing, I hear nothing, I do nothing. He basically wants to keep the whole team from last season minus Balkman. People see to forget that he was leaving a horrible Pacers team as well. People make him in to some sort of guru. He isnt
Mak,
Marbury is too expensive to keep in any way shape or form. We have to pay him his 22 mill regardless of if he is bought out or not. We dont have to waste yet another season with his cancerous all about me attitude and scowling. I also dont want him "Marburying" up our young players attitudes. The Blazers are smart. They bought out Francis's 35 mill contract after making sure Zach would no longer be around their young players.
When were the glory days for us most recent Knicks fans? The 90's, right? Who was our chief rival in the late 90's after Jordan was out of the game? The Donnie Walsh Pacers! The Magic couldn't stay competitive with us for the whole decade. Neither could the Heat or the 76ers. The only teams that we always had to go through were the Michael Jordan Bulls and the Donnie Walsh Pacers. The guy knows what he is doing, and he didn't do it by stacking each position with a star. He fielded a team with one star in Reggie Miller and surrounded him with complimenting parts. Jalen Rose, Travis Best, Rick Smiths, Sam Perkins, Antonio and Dale Davis. None of these guys are going to the Hall of Fame any time soon. So, don't react so visciously towards acquiring Duhon, Gallinari and Roberson. What is it this team lacked last year? Perimeter defense (Duhon)! Athleticism at the SF position (Gallo)! Perimeter shooting (all 3)! And last but not least, someone to hold the players accountable whent they were underachieving (D'Antoni & Walsh)! The last thing a team of me-first ball hogs needs is another me-first ball hog. D'Antoni and Walsh are going to try to make the most out of this year and next by sending a team out there in which the players who play for the team like Lee, Gallo, Roberson, Duhon, Jefffries and Curry outnumber those who are out to get their own. And quit making it sound like Marbury cannot play ball because his personality sucks. We all know his personality sucks, but anyone who suggests he CAN'T play within the concept of a team needs to show me the last time he had a coach who approached the game with that kind of concept before I'll believe a word of it. Marbury has skills that will thrive in D'Antoni's system (along with Nate and Jamal) and next year we won't have to have this discussion as he's collecting his pay checks in Italy. So, allow the first real coach we've had since JVG to do his job and allow the only team architect who could keep up with Dave Checketts to do his job. Quit judging the team before you've seen it!
I don't understand why people are so down on Walsh. I think he's doing a good job of balancing out the talent. The knicks have a lot of talent but skills are duplicated. If we can add some balance we can really increase the value of some of the players people hate.
After the draft i felt we needed a point guard who takes care of the ball, can pass in to Eddy/Zack, and shoot 3s. The pg wouldn't need to be a great scorer because he would be paired with Marbury or Jamal. Duhon fills this need very well.
We need shooters to capitalize on double teams of Curry. Roberson fits this need.
We need a shot blocker to put next to Eddy or Zack ( who should take turns.) This player wouldn't need to be a great scorer just good enough to keep the defense honest. I rally hope we get Sean Willams.
Marbury and Zack could run a great pick and roll offense and make both of them look good enough to trade for.
These are not great players and they won't make us contenders. But they should allow us to get back picks, prospects and decent players for Marbury, Zack and Curry. Instead of dropping them for nothing.
bring em all in for training camp see who wants to play for the knicks an who wants to be out
nothing really wrong with donnies plan
we can all hate on marbury but when marbury is playing at a 100% he is a very good player...
the true bum of the team is jerome
atleast marbury still plays
stay tuned for more KnowLedge
Marbury is the highest paid player in the nba at 22 mill this season.
He has averaged around a whopping 58 games-15ppg-5apg the last 3 years. Is that worth 22 mill?
Just the fact that you are comparing the highest paid player in the NBA to Jerome James is funny.
The above is Peaceman. He's been heckling this guy JR at StarBerman's site.
* DW wants to dump Marbury but there is no market for him.... no demand, no takers. Too expensive to buy him out.
Posted by MAK
Alan knows the IP address Makunat. I just got home and read your bullshyte. You are the blog cancer posting under everyone's
name. Alan Knows it, hell even Trane knows it! You are a Pure blog cancer! If your hitting on me ...dude I;m staight!
You make maggots gag! Your less than Zero Mak!
I should have your Green card pulled!
Guys, I understand a lot of people want Marbury gone (same here!) but quit basing Walsh already!
I think it's a good idea to bring Marbury into training camp. If it's true that he's worked his butt off this offseason, lets see if he can prove it!
Donnie just wants to raise his trade value, that's it! And if it's the same 'ol Marbury, then he'll be waived!