Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Steve Francis?
ESPN is reporting that the Knicks are in the hunt for Steve Francis. The contours of the deal are:
The reason to consider it? You consider it a good deal if you've given up on JC. Thus, from a roster perspective, it is one of the youngsters for Francis. This may be compelling.
Another reason: we are not giving up any draft picks. But we are unlikely to get any in return as the Magic are packaging picks in an effort to trade for Darko.
The more I think about it, the more I like this deal.
New York was believed to be offering Penny Hardaway, Jamal Crawford and at least one other player, likely Trevor Ariza, David Lee or Nate Robinson, in a deal in which the Knicks would also take back center Kelvin Cato, whose $8.64 million salary comes off the cap at the end of the season.This is not a crazy deal. Francis is troublesome, but certainly a proven young talent.
The reason to consider it? You consider it a good deal if you've given up on JC. Thus, from a roster perspective, it is one of the youngsters for Francis. This may be compelling.
Another reason: we are not giving up any draft picks. But we are unlikely to get any in return as the Magic are packaging picks in an effort to trade for Darko.
The more I think about it, the more I like this deal.
Monday, February 13, 2006
10 Days to the Trading Deadline
There are 10 days left for the Knicks to make yet another costly error. Penny is being shopped for cap relief as he won't play this year. That means that -- in order to add some marginal (at best) player -- we'll take on someone else's mistake contract. This we should not do.
Brown is referring to Curry and Frye as the franchise. Curry gets that label only because we gave up the franchise's future to get him. Brown says there are already too may young players, but that is sour grapes versus not having one of top 3 picks of the draft. Frye is a great addition, but not a one-man team.
Obviously, the deals for Lamar Odom were non-starters, but beware of equally unsound deals involving a package of Penny with Nate, Ariza or Lee.
We can't have too many young players if we trade them all away.
Brown is referring to Curry and Frye as the franchise. Curry gets that label only because we gave up the franchise's future to get him. Brown says there are already too may young players, but that is sour grapes versus not having one of top 3 picks of the draft. Frye is a great addition, but not a one-man team.
Obviously, the deals for Lamar Odom were non-starters, but beware of equally unsound deals involving a package of Penny with Nate, Ariza or Lee.
We can't have too many young players if we trade them all away.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
What did you expect from Rose?
He was traded because of his contract. The Raptors were wiling to give away Denver's 1st pick so that they could stop paying him. Antonio Davis was only added to make the salaries match. (In the NBA, it is nearly impossible to trade a highly-priced player without jettisoning salary back in the deal -- thus, A. Davis' short contract had value).
Rose has been given an audition and the tank is empty. But he is on the roster this year and next at close to Marbury money. Get used to it.
We can only hope that the Nuggets trade K-Mart and drift into the middle of the lottery. Don't bet on it.
These are dark days indeed.
Rose has been given an audition and the tank is empty. But he is on the roster this year and next at close to Marbury money. Get used to it.
We can only hope that the Nuggets trade K-Mart and drift into the middle of the lottery. Don't bet on it.
These are dark days indeed.
Monday, February 06, 2006
A $32 Million Draft Pick
That's all I can say about the Davis/Rose trade. It makes no sense other than to say that the Knicks want to blunt the coming criticism when the Bulls have the Knicks' top 4 or so pick in the 2006 draft.
There is little more embarassing for a franchise than to have one of the very worst records in the league and not have their pick.
We give up Davis (no loss) for Rose (no gain) and Denver's first round pick. In doing so, we add about $16 million in salary next year and about the same about in luxury tax. The Dolans have spent $32 million on Denver's pick. Denver is a middle of the pack Western Conference team which may or may not make the playoffs. Even if they don't make the playoffs, the odds are that will be a late lottery pick. Think 10-12 at best.
We also hear that Penny's expiring contract and Ariza may net Theo Ratcliff or Darius Miles. Neither of those is worth discussing. Ratcliff is too old for our plans and Miles is just not the kind of player we need.
This weekend was yet another big step back. In my view this is the start of a major meltdown in the front office.
There is little more embarassing for a franchise than to have one of the very worst records in the league and not have their pick.
We give up Davis (no loss) for Rose (no gain) and Denver's first round pick. In doing so, we add about $16 million in salary next year and about the same about in luxury tax. The Dolans have spent $32 million on Denver's pick. Denver is a middle of the pack Western Conference team which may or may not make the playoffs. Even if they don't make the playoffs, the odds are that will be a late lottery pick. Think 10-12 at best.
We also hear that Penny's expiring contract and Ariza may net Theo Ratcliff or Darius Miles. Neither of those is worth discussing. Ratcliff is too old for our plans and Miles is just not the kind of player we need.
This weekend was yet another big step back. In my view this is the start of a major meltdown in the front office.
