babyKnicks - I consider Wilcox a player who can go in one of two directions.

He, like many other players, has had a career that has never quite fulfilled expectations. Then again, playing with the Clippers has been known to reduce even talented players to bumbling fools.

Chris Wilcox, playing in an offensive system that is tailored to his strengths, could be a load. His skill set could even be superior to David Lee's with regard to finishing inside the paint. (see illustration posted above) Where he falls short is with consistent rebounding and blocked shots.

I want an audit of the dude who posts measurements of NBA players. Charles Barkley (who I have shaken hands with) is 6'4 and Chris Wilcox is 6'8 max, not the gaudy 6'10 is he listed oon the Knicks official site. Wilcox is no center and should NEVER, ever be forced to play in the middle.

Why is this important? Because it is a chess game of meshing skill sets and not measurements. Wilcox can play the four in a system where a lead guard can Vulcan Mind meld with him and know exactly when to get him the pill as he rolls to the rack. Basket!

Forget him playing next to Al Harrington. Harrington is not anyone's power forward in the sense the Knicks desperately need muscle. Wilcox needs to be paired with a legit 6'11 center who can rebound and provide an intimidating presence inside. Blocked shots optional but not required.

So, for me, it rolls something like this

Duhon - after an off season of accelerated training

Hughes - after an off season of slight ego adjustment and a new uniform number

Chandler - after 10,000 jump shots and another Summer League session to build confidence

Wilcox - after getting acclimated to New York, some words from Charles Oakley and a trip to the stylist for a new look

Marcus Camby - after Dolan is convinced by Walsh that a proven center IS that essential and by any means necessary

Al Harrington - after a moment to get re-adjusted to his stated role as sixth man, an off season of work on his fundamentals

Danilo Gallinari - after some 'west and 'wewaxation, his back heals and he can develop at his own pace

That's seven

Everyone else can take a hike


[Edited by - misterearl on 03-22-2009 10:38 AM]

and when are we going to see Nichols? How many more games must this team lose before MDA figures out we have no shot at the play offs?

Did you see how Howard was trying to back down Wilcox and he couldn't move then the refs bailed him out by calling a foul. He's alot stronger than Lee for sure.

The Answer Man Wants Muscle

Q. buddapaw - Did you see how Howard was trying to back down Wilcox and he couldn't move?

A. I missed it, but I will take your word for it. Chris Wilcox has a powerful base that prevents him from being pushed around on the block. If the chiseled Dwight Howard can't root Wilcox out of position, then I would like to hear the short list of players who put up more resistance down low against Superman.

Rookie makes an excellent point about personal foul issues but that can be corrected with more compatible matchups and by making nice with the refs on a regular basis. Wilcox needs consistent minutes in a specific role. Not as a center, but as an active, hard-body forward in the time-honored tradition of cats like Anthony Mason and Larry Johnson (without the patterns cut in his fade) who play with passion.

I love David Lee, but he does not remotely fill the role of enforcer that is DEMANDED at the four or five. I want my frontcourt bulls to make opponents think twice before they run into the paint with silly thoughts of a finger roll, or a layup. The lanky David Lee was made into a center type at Florida. He was forced to bulk up when he would have flourished as an NBA small forward in the Billy Cunningham mold.

Lee is has no business playing in the frontcourt unprotected, without a bodyguard.


Q. franco12 - and when are we going to see Nichols?

A. If you want anything more than 3 minute cameos of Demetris, you may need to wait until July, in Las Vegas for Summer League

Fantasy Island

"I think this would be realistic and can get done this off season."

Chandler - cool

KMart - what value/ talent does Denver covet that Donnie Walsh owns?

Curry - not impossible, but extreme longshot unless he gets extreme help in making over his life

Hamilton - and Joe Dumars gives up Rip why again?

Nash - no thanks

Kidd - at what cost?

Draft pick - go big

Posted by TMS:

Posted by VDesai:

We likely won't re-sign him this offseason.

yeah, unless he's open to signing a 1 year deal he's not gonna be here next year.

I think if you gave him the full MLE for 1 year he just might take it. I don't see him getting more than a 2-3 year deal for 2-3 mil a year elsewhere anyway.

Trick Question

Wilcox's best years were in Seattle from 2005 - 2008 when he averaged 30, 31 and 28 minutes per game respectively.

Lee averaged 29, 29 and 35 minutes of play over the past 3 years and contributed 10.7, 10.8 and 16 points per game on average.

Rebounding, Lee has averaged 10, 9 and 12 per season.

Wilcox, in Seattle averaged 8, 8 and 7 rebounds per game.

Just for kicks and giggles, if Chris Wilcox was entrusted with 30 minutes per game and he could be cajoled into to producing his Seattle numbers, would the Knicks really miss David Lee?

... or how much would the fans miss David Lee?

Posted by misterearl:

Trick Question

Wilcox's best years were in Seattle from 2005 - 2008 when he averaged 30, 31 and 28 minutes per game respectively.

Lee averaged 29, 29 and 35 minutes of play over the past 3 years and contributed 10.7, 10.8 and 16 points per game on average.

Rebounding, Lee has averaged 10, 9 and 12 per season.

Wilcox, in Seattle averaged 8, 8 and 7 rebounds per game.

Just for kicks and giggles, if Chris Wilcox was entrusted with 30 minutes per game and he could be cajoled into to producing his Seattle numbers, would the Knicks really miss David Lee?

... or how much would the fans miss David Lee?

We certainly wouldn't miss Lee, especially if we traded him for someone else (Bo Outlaw & a first rounder??).

Posted by VDesai:

Posted by misterearl:

Trick Question

Wilcox's best years were in Seattle from 2005 - 2008 when he averaged 30, 31 and 28 minutes per game respectively.

Lee averaged 29, 29 and 35 minutes of play over the past 3 years and contributed 10.7, 10.8 and 16 points per game on average.

Rebounding, Lee has averaged 10, 9 and 12 per season.

Wilcox, in Seattle averaged 8, 8 and 7 rebounds per game.

Just for kicks and giggles, if Chris Wilcox was entrusted with 30 minutes per game and he could be cajoled into to producing his Seattle numbers, would the Knicks really miss David Lee?

... or how much would the fans miss David Lee?

You're showing me rebounding numbers for Lee that are 35% better than Wilcox numbers, and you're asking if the Knicks would miss Lee if we replaced him with Wilcox? Clearly.

Lee is such a great rebounder that on average, our opponents grab 4 more rebounds every game.

You'd have to take a look at the Seattle teams wilcox played on & look at his team mates, what position he played.

And while Wilcox might not grab as many boards as Lee, I think he would actually prevent some offensive boards that Lee allows since bigger/stronger players push him out of the way, and likewise, Wilcox defense would probably help prevent points.

The downside of Wilcox is probably on the offensive end- Lee is probably the smarter player MDA looks for. And the other thing not being factored in his cap & salary costs, and whatever potential talent you get back for Lee.

I love Lee & would love to keep him, but not at any price.

We're a 30 win team with Lee, and we're a 30 win team with Wilcox.