1. Players care about money. Those teams with 0-18, 4-14 records have those records because they don't have any good, expensive players. So these teams with plenty of money to throw around will the ones signing the FA's.

2. Basketball is only a five person game. Two amazing players can often make a team. The rest of the team just has to be David Lee caliber. That's why big name FA's won't care about what the team looks like before hand, when it's getting a complete makeover with two high quality all stars and a solid supporting cast the year they are coming.

3. That team with an 0-18 record is getting a top 3 pick next year. In a good draft, that top 3 pick can become a franchise player and carry the team along with the 2 FA's for a decade.

Lesson? Tanking works. Say the Nets get Bosh, Stoudemire and Wall next year. Who really gives a flying f if they started 0-18 the year before?

A team with Devin Harris, John Wall, Amare Stoudemire and Chris Bosh is going to be a competitor for many years to come.

Nash, Johnson, Marion, Amare, WHOEVER

GodSaveTheKnicks wrote:See: Joe Johnsons choosing a rebuilding Hawks team vs The Suns. He chose the Hawks over a team that would have looked like this:

Nash, Johnson, Marion, Amare, WHOEVER

i think guys like Joe Johnson, Carlos Boozer, etc. are the ones that will go where the money is regardless of the surrounding cast... guys like Lebron, Wade & Bosh know they'll make the max dollars whereever they go, so supporting cast will be more of a determining factor for the elite guys.

TMS wrote:

GodSaveTheKnicks wrote:See: Joe Johnsons choosing a rebuilding Hawks team vs The Suns. He chose the Hawks over a team that would have looked like this:

Nash, Johnson, Marion, Amare, WHOEVER

i think guys like Joe Johnson, Carlos Boozer, etc. are the ones that will go where the money is regardless of the surrounding cast... guys like Lebron, Wade & Bosh know they'll make the max dollars whereever they go, so supporting cast will be more of a determining factor for the elite guys.

Think back to Orlando dumping salary for 2 max guys - they wanted Duncan (& Hill if I recall), but had to settle for Hill & McGrady.

If they had gotten Duncan and Hill - even hurt as he was, chances are they would have had a title by now.

Instead, look where that ended up.

I feel the main guys will stay largely where they are. We're looking at second tier talent. Sure, the second tier guys are far better than anything we have, but...

franco12 wrote:

TMS wrote:

GodSaveTheKnicks wrote:See: Joe Johnsons choosing a rebuilding Hawks team vs The Suns. He chose the Hawks over a team that would have looked like this:

Nash, Johnson, Marion, Amare, WHOEVER

i think guys like Joe Johnson, Carlos Boozer, etc. are the ones that will go where the money is regardless of the surrounding cast... guys like Lebron, Wade & Bosh know they'll make the max dollars whereever they go, so supporting cast will be more of a determining factor for the elite guys.

Think back to Orlando dumping salary for 2 max guys - they wanted Duncan (& Hill if I recall), but had to settle for Hill & McGrady.

If they had gotten Duncan and Hill - even hurt as he was, chances are they would have had a title by now.

Instead, look where that ended up.

I feel the main guys will stay largely where they are. We're looking at second tier talent. Sure, the second tier guys are far better than anything we have, but...

Anyone that follows the NBA knows the Knicks will spend. That means if and after we get two max earners (or a $17mm and $12mm a year guy) we can add an expensive supporting cast. We can overpay for draft guys (like Douglas). We can use Curry/JJ (if they are still here) expiring contracts for some pricey guys. Maybe Kaman (size) or Diaw, etc

also, you're forgetting MSG/NYC. this is the best city in the world to play in, the best arena, best fans. almost every nba players says this. there will be guys who want to play here, its not like we're trying to lure them to memphis or minnesota, this is NEW YORK!

markvmc wrote:

TMS wrote:

markvmc wrote:See: Boston.

Boston got KG & Allen via trades.

True enough, but those particular trades wouldn't have happened without the players agreeing to go to Boston who had won 18 (?) games the previous season.

yeah, that's why i say preceding season's record doesn't really mean anything, it's all about who these players will be coming in to play with... getting both KG & Ray Allen at the same time was key for Boston... these guys knew the type of roster they'd have & the chance to be a championship contender for years to come, so they were all on board w/the plan to come to Boston... this is why it's so important to get rid of Curry or Fishlips' contract so we can offer 2 bigname FA's the same type of opportunity in NY.