Pacers GM Donnie Walsh said he had just one conversation with Thomas regarding a trade for Ron Artest. Walsh said he told Thomas he would need Channing Frye and one of his two other first-round picks, David Lee or Nate Robinson. Thomas said no.

from the NYPOST..http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/62853.htm

Hmmm Frye and Nate for Artest... would've considered that.

I would've considered Nate and Lee for Artest.....no deal including Frye for Artest. I said it then I say it now.

Posted by Solace:

I'm not sure I would've done the trade since we did the Curry trade and have no good shot to grab a good replacement for Frye. It would depend on how high I was on Lee and who we could grab in the offseason.

Nate I would trade for a defensive backup center; he's way overrated on this board. Frye is overrated too, but he definitely has value around the league. Still, to get a star, I could give up Frye.

However, with Artest's personality issues, we probably should've gotten a pick coming back if we were giving up Frye and Nate.

I would have pulled the trigger on the Frye/Nate #1 Pick San Antonio combo for Artest and Indiana's #1 (Basically swapping 1st rd picks.. seems fair)

As far as a replacement for Frye... In the draft we have players in the Channing Frye mold (May not be on par w/ him offensively BUT- Josh Boone, Hilton Armstrong or Tiago Splitter could be serviceable big men in the future!

PLUS we likely are going to package Frye in the summer w/ one our PG's it would have been worth the gamble!

In all fairness, the article said Walsch negotiated it, not Bird...

They are looking for a bargain. To get a bargain, they'd trade with anyone. Artest can blow up at any moment!

i don't remember 1 person on this forum who was OK w/the idea of including Frye for Artest when the talks of where he'd be traded to were heating up.

Posted by JayNYC:

Maybe, I'm crazy.. but it seems like we all overvalue Channing Frye. I've read several threads where people say they would not trade him... because of his potential. That's cool.. but when we are talking about acquiring all-star caliber players that are just entering their prime why wouldn't a fan at least consider that!

I've even seen people write that they wouldn't deal him for Kevin Garnett? That's crazy!!! Age aside.. Kevin Garnett is a superstar in this league, and is still arguably a top 5 in all of basketball. Channing Frye is good.. but KG is great.. Artest is a force on both sides of the ball, you have to go after guys like that when they are available. (Especially given the makeup of our team.. a coach that is bias towards veterans, and two- drastically overpaid point guards in Franbury.. the same dudes!!!)

Unless we are going in a completely different direction, YOUTH shouldn't be a major staple of this teams production. Getting guys that can play the game.. that are entering there primes, or even beyond in KG's case makes the most sense IMO.

I don't think it's over valuing as much as losing Frye for nothing if Artest blows up. I also personally wouldn't trade Frye for Garnett unless we are getting at least one pick back in te deal. KG is fast approaching the wrong side of 30 and if we are going to go that route, we should just go all out for a championship and trade as many young players for as many decent vets as possible, because it is a different path. You trade channing for kg there is no reason to keep Lee or Nate or Butler or Woods around because we would need better players to competer for a championship in the near future.

Posted by TMS:

i don't remember 1 person on this forum who was OK w/the idea of including Frye for Artest when the talks of where he'd be traded to were heating up.

I remain indifferent.. in regards to that trade. We lose out on a potential impact player in the front court (Offensively), but would have gained an impact player at the "3" on both ends of the floor... Its a wash. I've always at least considered it @ TMS. Only because we had a serious defensive deficiancy... and no true small forward at the time! I'm not saying I want to trade Channing at all available costs.... I am saying that he should at least be considered as bait when it comes to the high profile players in this league that (a) Fill a need on our roster and (b) are allstar players, that are heady... can make a significant impact, and can ball up!

Posted by joec32033:

Posted by JayNYC:

Maybe, I'm crazy.. but it seems like we all overvalue Channing Frye. I've read several threads where people say they would not trade him... because of his potential. That's cool.. but when we are talking about acquiring all-star caliber players that are just entering their prime why wouldn't a fan at least consider that!

I've even seen people write that they wouldn't deal him for Kevin Garnett? That's crazy!!! Age aside.. Kevin Garnett is a superstar in this league, and is still arguably a top 5 in all of basketball. Channing Frye is good.. but KG is great.. Artest is a force on both sides of the ball, you have to go after guys like that when they are available. (Especially given the makeup of our team.. a coach that is bias towards veterans, and two- drastically overpaid point guards in Franbury.. the same dudes!!!)

Unless we are going in a completely different direction, YOUTH shouldn't be a major staple of this teams production. Getting guys that can play the game.. that are entering there primes, or even beyond in KG's case makes the most sense IMO.

I don't think it's over valuing as much as losing Frye for nothing if Artest blows up. I also personally wouldn't trade Frye for Garnett unless we are getting at least one pick back in te deal. KG is fast approaching the wrong side of 30 and if we are going to go that route, we should just go all out for a championship and trade as many young players for as many decent vets as possible, because it is a different path. You trade channing for kg there is no reason to keep Lee or Nate or Butler or Woods around because we would need better players to competer for a championship in the near future.

joec32033

I think we may have been saying the same things. IMO, Larry Brown isn't enamored with the idea of playing young, inexperienced players. Yeah, he may like Channing Frye.. BUT only because he doesn't have any other big men that are performing at an average level right now aside from him! LOOK NO FURTHER THAN OUR CURRENT STARTING LINEUP! Malik Rose @ the 4???? Say what you will, but with Larry Brown at the helm.. We'd be much better served with having a big man that is in his prime, and is a two-way player. Maybe KG is on the decline, I don't see it.. but I ain't a fortune teller either; If that's the case what about Jermaine O'neal, Carlos Boozer, even K-Mart. All high energy players that contribute on both sides of the ball. LB guys, that could be a force in this system. Eddy Curry would benefit more from having these guys w/ him upfront as opposed to Channing Frye (RIGHT NOW)

Whether you wanna admit it Eddy Curry is the corner stone of this franchise.



Anyway, I guess it doesn't matter now.. Artest is in Sac-Town, Indiana got Peja... Isiah sees Frye as an integral part of our future (so he say's ), therefore has not elected to deal him yet.. so hey, I'll just roll w/ it and wait and see what happens. AGAIN, I don't wanna push Frye out the door for anything, but for the right player.. I think anybody except for EDDY CURRY should be dealt away. It likely will happen too, in a package w/ one of our pseudo-point guards

[Edited by - JayNYC on 03-08-2006 09:51 AM]

Posted by joec32033:

Each of the guys you mentioned (JO, Boozer, KMart are ALL injury risks)...I'd trade Frye for someone like KG as opposed to those 3....i'd much rather take a chance on someone like(since we are talking about bringing guys like this here) Amare instead of Boozer, JO, KMart....I also think that Frye isn't playing because he isn't really rebounding well and not playing the D we need next to Curry. Look, if we had Dwight Howard on this team I would personally bet my bottom dollar he would be starting and excelling with LB.

If I am including Frye in a package I want a bona fide, rock solid no questions or MINIMAL questions player back.

Injury risks.. I agree, it is what it is.. the fact is those players are still "ready now type of LB players" I'm not saying they are my first choice.. I'd name several other type flight power forwards personally. BUT none of those guys are going anywhere dude... I've mentioned the guys that are talked about, and whom we'd have a solid play for. Now Amare, he's coming off an injury plagued season as well.. I'd take him w/ out question though over Channing Frye. We all know Phoenix ain't trading him either.. all though, could make for an interesting story; Channing an Arizona product returns home... Knicks get the guy they should have initially drafted instead of the NENE/Camby/McDyess fiasco.




[Edited by - JayNYC on 03-08-2006 10:00 AM]