Checking back in
I’m back. No, they didn’t send me to Europe or anything like that. I just had five consecutive days off to enjoy with the family and spent the entire time avoiding my laptop.
Not much going on these days.
Donnie Walsh is down in Orlando for the day most draft hopefuls dread. They will be accurately measured in every direction, thereby erasing the questionable numbers listed in college media guides. A lot of guys come up short.
And there’s no excuse for being overweight.
Most of the players who’ve declared for the draft and signed with a reputable agent have been working out daily with strength and conditioning experts and basketball coaches, who are getting them prepped for predraft workouts that begin next week.
It will be interesting to see who comes in for the Knicks.
Agents play all kinds of positioning games, so there’s a chance they won’t get a look at players like Jerryd Bayless and O.J. Mayo, who might be gone five picks into the draft.
Walsh isn’t going to be sitting around in Orlando just watching the drills and games. Since the Knicks don’t have a second-rounder, he can let the scouts do their work and concentrate on starting conversations with the powers that be around the league. The value of each player on the roster needs to be assessed before any deals come together.
It’s not a complicated process.
Whatta ya give me for Stephon Marbury? Do you like Renaldo Balkman.
Before they head for training camp, the Knicks need to unload some of the duplicate talents, and that goes beyond Zach Randolph and Eddy Curry. There’s no reason to hang onto Marbury, Jamal Crawford and Nate Robinson. Same goes for Balkman and Quentin Richardson and Wilson Chandler.
I’m sure the Knicks will be a part of every rumor, which is something Walsh didn’t have to deal with on a grand scale in Indiana. And since there will no doubt be all kinds of hot stove blog proposals, remember this, don’t concoct any deals that add to the bottom line in New York beyond 2010.
May 29th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Mike
good to have you back. I was about to say you were given the Isiah Thomas treatment.
Do you think Donnie will try to get any more picks in this year’s draft – like how chicago bought phx’s #7 pick for $3mil a few years back?
May 29th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Trin,
There are usually some teams that don’t really need another draft pick, like Portland at No. 13, so if Donnie Walsh decides he likes more than one player he could do some dealing and get a second pick. It’s also a way to keep payroll down heading toward the summer of 2010, but the Knicks have to be careful not to have too many youngsters on the roster.
May 29th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Mike, I hope you enjoyed your time off. Trin, great question, what do you think Mike? Would Dolan spring for a first round pick if all it costs him is money? Also, any thoughts on the odds that the knicks trade the pick as a part of trading a big contract? Also, does anyone whether we could just give a player away? If Philly had the salary cap space, could we just say, “here, you get ZBO and in return we don’t have to take on any contracts?” I know, it ain’t gonna happen but you gotta wonder what Philly’s reaction would be to the offer.
May 29th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Oops, sorry, I forgot to referesh my screen to see if Mike had answered, my bad.
May 30th, 2008 at 12:55 am
The Knicks would be insane to deal Marbury. That’s 21 mil coming off the books after next season – you have to keep him.
One trade to consider is Jamal Crawford-for-T.J. Ford. Then move Marbury to the 2-guard position. Ford and Crawford both have 3 years remaining on their contracts.
May 30th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
I can’t believe no one has yelled at me yet. Here’s what I wanna do. MAKE A DEAL FOR CARMELO NOW! He’s a top ten NBA talent that might be available. Give them Lee for inexpensive young talent and Marbury for cap relief. Take Kmart then sit Zbo or Curry until they decide to play some D. You know, deficit spending NYK style. I don’t mind salary as long as we get a return on our investment. Trade our pick for a complimentary part or if Gallinari is the guy so be it.
May 30th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
dan
Is Melo the guy you’re going to base the future of the franchise on? There is no cap room in 2010 if that kind of deal works out, and I have serious doubts about Denver being ready to blow it up. Do you have any concerns about his behavior off the court? To make it worth a return phone call, the offer would have to start with the expiring contract of Stephon Marbury, David Lee and the No. 6 pick.
May 30th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Mike,
I think Melo has done something that Lebron, Kobe and almost every other NBA all star has not and that’s win a National Championship, as a freshman, etc. The guy, at least at Syracuse, displayed a toughness that is made for NY. Additionally, he always shines in international play.
Why wait to maybe get Lebron in two years? We’re also getting our man two years earlier in his pro career. Hey, the Celtics proved it can be turned around in a hurry. The Knicks proved that you’re not gonna with Zach Randolph, but Melo is not Zach. (The two of them together might be hard to stop, however.) The key is the return on your investment. Carmelo is worth staying capped out. (It’s a long shot we’re getting under by 2010 anyway.)
Or we could have Gallinari.
May 30th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
oh yeah,
Not one concern about off the court stuff.
Mike,
Put it to Donnie. Get it percolating.
May 30th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Of course Denver would not be wise to part with Mr. Anthony. What could we give them that would put us over the top? I already mentioned I’d take Kmart.