Posted by Bippity10:
I've always been a Marcus fan. I thought we should have drafted him during the Balkman year, blah, blah, blah. I think he went south in NJ when he/they tried to change who he is as a player. In college he was a pass first PG that ran the offense better than any PG in college basketball. Suddenly he gets to the pros and Jersey has him playing the 2 guard next to JKidd. Sorry but he isn't a 2 guard and there are more talented scorers in the D league. But if he can get back to being who he really is, I think he has the talent to not only be in the league but to one day earn a starting spot.
Unfortunately I also know a lot about him (you can see some of it in his career trajectory) and he tends to be a self sabotager(is that a word) in many areas of his life. If he has success will he do it again? Hopefully he has grown up. If so, I think he has the talent to be a player in the league.
Should the Knicks sign him. I would not be opposed to it. Low money for a guy with potential would not be a bad idea but.........Unfortunately the Knicks are still in a precarious position. The reason it will take longer to build here is because we are in the middle of a cultural shift. Unfortunately we are in a position where we need to find veterans that can lead. Does that mean we can't bring in a guy like Marcus? No. But signing to a multi year contract based on summer league play is probably not a good idea.
I dont really consider a mutli year contract paying a player in the 1mm dollar range a mutli year contract. It's a fluid contract with very small NBA $ that can be moved at will. Why would I offer him two years with a third year option--because multiple teams are going to move in soon enough.
It's strategy of what you want on your bench--I dont want Sene's if I can get Marcus Williams's.
I really believe MW can help this team and be a rotation player--thats pretty good for a mm.
If we ended up spending 1mm per on Marcus/ Almond/ a Leo Lyons--you have 3 young players who can fill the back of the bench at a very minimal cost but can actually play NBA basketball. Thats a strategy to manage the cap. With the cap going down next year--you have to have 5 guys making 1mm or less but they cant be guys who cant play--they have to be quality depth with upside.