Just curious what you guys think. Out of all the new acquisitions, I think Harrington might be worth moving forward with - it's obvious Cuttino and Timmy Thomas are gone as soon as their contracts expire - Cuttino might never even play again with the heart concerns. But Harrington I like. I haven't seen him closely for a while since he went to play on the west coast, but I like the guy's game to be honest. He didn't have a great one tonight shooting the ball, but he's very skilled, very mobile and aggressive on offense with a solid enough handle to get in the paint and either score it or set it up for someone else. With Crawford gone he's probably our best one-on-one player right now. He's more than just a jumpshooter, which is what I thought we were getting. Really not too much he can't do offensively, playing both forward spots. Good trade by Walsh here - more than just a salary dump for marginal players at the end of their careers like the Zach trade. We actually got a damn good player for Crawford who's right in his prime. They'd never come out and say it but obviously the trade was made with the idea of shedding his salary in a couple of years, but I could see him remaining past that. I think LeBron would like playing with him and Walsh loves the guy. Al and Walsh have a good respect for one another...

[Edited by - finestrg on 12-02-2008 11:25 PM]

i've always liked Harrington... i think i must've proposed at least 20 different trade ideas to get him to NY over the past couple years... i can definitely see him as part of this team's future going forward.

i think what will determine his future here is when or if Gallinari ever pans out... Al can play both F positions & would be an ideal 6th man type player if we ever got someone like Lebron... of course that also depends on how much he expects to get when he's eligible for a contract extension.

No way- he still has major issues with shot selection and isn't anywhere near a complete player. If you could get two real superstars why would you jeopardize that by throwing money at a 3rd tier player like Harrington?

Posted by JamaicanJetFan:

Is Gallinari a bust if he becomes Al Harrington?

I don't think so. Nobody's expecting anything out of Gallo at this point - most people have written the guy off already. But I'd sign up for that right now - another Al Harrington with an even deadlier, more consistent jumpshot. Gallo looks to have that kind of ability that suggests more. He just needs to get healthy.

I tell you what, to go out on a limb here, right now I think Harrington's a better player than Wilson Chandler. Go ahead let me have it. HAHA! But seriously -- obviously Chandler's about 7 yrs. younger and has his whole career in front of him and does possess the very high ceiling (hopefully Chandler puts the whole package together and winds up becoming a better player than Al eventually but he's not there yet), but I think if I had to pick one guy right this second to go to war with tomorrow for a game 7 do or die and the choices were Harrington or Chandler, I might take Harrington. More consistent jumpshot (Willie can shoot but he's put up some awful looking shots this season), better handle, more creative and lightyears more aggressive with the ball offensively. Chandler might have better rebounding and defensive instincts but not by much. Harrington's not great but by no means a stiff defensively or on the glass. If Chandler eventually turned into Al Harrington offensively, that wouldn't exactly be a bad thing. I'd be pleased with that actually...


[Edited by - finestrg on 12-03-2008 12:18 AM]

Posted by 4949:

I think Harrington and' Duhon are def keepers.

Duhon DEFINITELY. Harrington, we'll see two things: how he fits the team after more games and what he would ask in a new contract? (Hometown discount maybe?)

Not much of a fan of Harrington so far. He's 28 and doesn't pass for his life.

Chandler is better already.

i don't think there's anyway we can keep harrington. best bet is to move him for a pick next year at the trade deadline, unless we're seriously competing for the playoffs.

that would be a roster of 8 players (after lebron is signed). that leaves $3 mil to sign 4 more players. logistically, i'm not sure how you can field a complete (and competetive) team and sign a max free agent...

basically, signing a free agent would be year 1. then it would take 2-3 more years of making expiring year deals and MLE signings to take off. barring, of course, that some of the original 7 turn out to be really really good.

...and it leaves us with 3.9 to spend on one player, with the mid level exception as well.

We won't need to renounce Duhon. Yes, you most likely lose Al.

Clearing Curry is the key, otherwise someone else would need to be let loose.

You could use the vet minimum and the lower level exception to get to 12. You might need to sacrifice Nate or Lee.