Carmelo on Knicks' radar -- in 2011

By MARC BERMAN

Last Updated: 11:21 AM, March 23, 2010

Posted: 1:54 AM, March 23, 2010

LeBron James this summer, Carmelo Anthony next summer?

The Knicks actually are in position to work the 2010-2011 superstar exacta if things fall a certain way.

Anthony, who headlines the 2011 free-agent class, visits the Garden tonight with the powerhouse Nuggets, looking to duplicate the 50 points he hung on the Knicks in Denver on Nov. 28 in a 128-125 win.

Knicks president Donnie Walsh has been on a campaign to alert the team's fans that all the cap room does not have to be filled this July, when the Knicks have space to sign two maximum free agents.

If they sign one maximum guy such as James or Joe Johnson and re-sign David Lee, they'll probably be in position to have enough room for another maximum player in 2011, with Eddy Curry's $12M coming off the books after next season.

"We got this thing [cap] down under, and now have to manage our cap to the best of our ability, taking into consideration what could be available to us as we go on [each summer]," Walsh told The Post yesterday.

Walsh admits he's not going to waste money on a free agent he's not crazy about just to fill up their 2010 cap space.

"I won't," Walsh promised. "Without in any way encouraging you to write about the names of the 2011 free-agent, class, yes. Of course. We're looking at it over a five-year period."

Anthony has had a breakthrough season, averaging 28.8 points and 6.7 rebounds, looking every bit as good as anyone not nicknamed LeBron James.

Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni coached both James and Anthony as an assistant to Mike Krzyzewski on the 2008 gold-medal-winning U.S Olympic Team. D'Antoni probably will coach them again this summer, when Team USA trains in New York.

"I don't want to say he didn't do it before, but with the Olympic experience and being around him, he's turning into a winner," D'Antoni said of Anthony.

"He knows what it takes. He and [Chauncey] Billups are an unbelievable duo and have a shot to win a title. His development as a player on and off court is key. He's one of the best in the league, without a doubt."

Walsh disputes the notion all his eggs are in the July 2010 basket. He says he never promised he'd build a championship team in one summer.

In defending his strategy of tanking the last two seasons to get under the cap starting in 2010, Walsh said, "Something had to be done. We were doing the same thing over the years and were in a snag and couldn't go any further.

"That's why I did it. I still think management of the cap will be important to every franchise as you go forward each summer. Not because of the money involved, but you can get yourself in a totally inflexible position. I'm trying to avoid that."

Tonight, Anthony will be defended by Knicks prospect Danilo Gallinari, who's deemed key in recruiting guys like Anthony. Gallinari recently asked D'Antoni following the trade of defensive specialist Jared Jeffries if he can defend the opponent's best perimeter player.

"I've always guarded the best [in Italy]," Gallinari said. "It's part of learning, trying to understand at which point I am and what I can do to get at that level.

"I like the challenge and want to play against the best."

D'Antoni wouldn't have agreed to give Gallinari the assignment if he thought he'd embarrass himself. Though Gallinari has had a slew of very disappointing offensive stretches this season, he has mostly been adequate defensively, which was a big worry.

misterearl is donnie.walsh...

djsunyc wrote:

sebstar wrote:LOL. IF THAT IS HIS STRATEGY, THEN WHY DID HE TRADE ALL OF OUR DRAFT PICKS FOR THE NEXT 37 YEARS JUST TO RID US OF JEFFRIES CONTRACT ---- FOR THIS OFFSEASON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

there is a possibility he did this to re-sign david lee...

^ Exactly.

People seem to forget that the Knicks did not have enough cap to re-sign Lee and max out one player before that trade happened.

Now Donnie can bring Lee back, sign a max. free agent, and probably still have enough to max another out in 2011.

Flexibility is what it's all about.

misterearl wrote:Flexibility is not a four letter word djsunyc

and you already know how much I love David Lee

who's top rung on the luv ladder? DLee? Douglas? Mayor?

Q. martin - who's top rung on the luv ladder?

A. "Here we go..."

1. The Mayor - quiet, professional and versatile, played most of another productive season despite injury, get well son...

2. David Lee - a core type of blue collar guy that you keep. Think Oak, with a better jumper... without the purple suits.

3. Gallo - the reason Jordan Hill was expendable. He becomes a monster at center.

4. Toney Douglas - Mr Douglas has had a master plan since middle school

5. Bill Walker - because you know I love a good story. I miss Matt Barnes.

that's 5

Step 1: Tear down the roster to the bottom. (Time: 2 years) <---- completed, (sans curry)
Step 2: Build a new team. (Time: 2 years) <---it doesn't happen overnight. And when it doesn't the usuals will start whining and demanding firings and pine for Zach, Craw, and Hill. I give it July 18th and the explosions will begin.
Step 3: Make additions to the new team so you can compete. (Time: 1 year).

Yes, it takes about 5 years, if everything goes right, to turn a 140M capped out mess of a 20 win team into a contender.

You all need to put down the NBA2K/NBALive controllers and wise up.

2010/2011 - fringe playoff team unless something magical happens.
2011/2012 - very good playoff team. contender if something amazing happens this summer.
2012/2013 - very good team who contends for the EC title.

What's the problem?

Other than irrational impatience of course.

However the basic facts are the moment Walsh and Mike were hired that was exactly what they planned to do. So, yes, in a way people are whining about a process that started TWO YEARS AGO. It didn't start with the Jeffries trade! It started two years ago.

So that being established wouldn't a fan be better off just sitting back and seeing what they can do with their new-found cap space this summer? See how they build the new team? Instead of being upset with a plan that has been ongoing for two years?

I would think so.

And as to not tearing down the roster I don't agree with the opinion. We had a capped out 20-something win team. Isiah had constantly said "just one more MLE signing. Just one more trade. It'll all come together!" It never did and it never would. So why continue that path regardless of opinion? The players we had on that roster would have the same wins we have today and we'd be capped out beyond belief with no end in sight.

No matter what happens this summer the right thing to do was to tear down that roster and start over.

At least now we've given ourselves a chance to build a winner.

If we make the playoffs next year, turn that team into a legit 2nd round playoff team and EC hopeful the following year, then add to that team and be an EC favorite and finals hopeful the next.....this would displease you?

To me, it's a whole lot better than averaging 25 wins through those three years with the next round of Zachs, Craws, Currys, Jeffries, Qs, etc. And Jordan Hill damn sure wasn't saving that mess nor would the 2012 pick.

We did the right thing here.

I am certain there will be disappointments and a whole lot of hindsight as we move forward but the bottom line is we could not continue as we were going and we had to try something new. For once in a long time we have serious flexibility here. If no Bron Bosh or Wade we can trade for players on salary and absorb it into our cap space. We have limitless options.

Yes, we gave up a lot in that final trade to get to our goal. Had we not guess what? If we could even sign one max FA we couldn't even retain David Lee. That team would suck. Dumping 10M worth of Hill/Jeffries was essential. Considering the chance came in the final hour that we could do so the price was high and we had to pay it.

Considering where the franchise is committed to heading (and has been for two years now) I don't see much value in being upset over the moves that got us here anymore. The team is moving forward, I'm going with it, will you guys?

Stop falling for media hogwash! Every team we play next there's an article that day about the Knicks wanting to trade for their players. You'd think after years of this we'd stop listening to the BS.

sebstar wrote:Easy with all that whining shyt. Cant I question something that you might be in support of without being called a "whiner". When you got concerns about something, are you whining? Are you whining about how sorry you think Hiil is?

I've already stated my position repeatedly regarding my objections to D'Antoni and this regime. Draft picks, the handling of future draft picks and assets, evaluations, rotations, unprofessional treatment of talent, ext...They are legit concerns from where I stand, and their approach to things will have an impact as we move forward.

But all ya'll want to get offended when anybody has even the slightest criticism of Walsh and D'Antoni, as if we're throwing innocent babies into the fire. Shyt is getting hella annoying.

word

TMS wrote:

s3231 wrote:

djsunyc wrote:

sebstar wrote:LOL. IF THAT IS HIS STRATEGY, THEN WHY DID HE TRADE ALL OF OUR DRAFT PICKS FOR THE NEXT 37 YEARS JUST TO RID US OF JEFFRIES CONTRACT ---- FOR THIS OFFSEASON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

there is a possibility he did this to re-sign david lee...

^ Exactly.

People seem to forget that the Knicks did not have enough cap to re-sign Lee and max out one player before that trade happened.

Now Donnie can bring Lee back, sign a max. free agent, and probably still have enough to max another out in 2011.

Flexibility is what it's all about.

i don't think it would work out where we have enough cap to sign Melo in 2011 if we extend Lee to a contract & sign another max salary player this summer... we only have Curry's $11.3M coming off the books after next season... before we made the trade, we had Fishlips & Curry combined coming off the books for $18M which would have given us enough cap space to target a max guy, but we're going to be filling the cap space Fishlips used to take up by re-signing Lee in that scenario, so we won't be able to target Melo if we use up the cap to sign Lee to an extension this summer unless we forego signing a max FA... don't forget all the contracts we have will increase in value in 2011 as well, which leaves even less cap room to play with.

Well I mean, there are several factors that will come into play but I think Donnie and John Gabriel are paying enough attention to the financials that they feel there is a chance to max another guy in 2011.

Assuming we bring back Gallo, Chandler, Giddens, Douglas, and Walker, that would tie up just over $11.3 million. Giddens and Walker have team options so it isn't a guarantee we bring them back, especially since combined, they would account for close to $3 million.

Lets say we count Lee at around $11.5 million for 2011, that would bring the total to over $22.8 million. What would LeBron make in his 2nd season under the max with us? Around $17.5-$18 million? If it's $18 million, brings us up to $40.8 million.

Then it depends on where the cap is. Keep in mind, I'm being pretty conservative with these numbers. Donnie doesn't have to excercise those team options and if he decides not to, that would bring the total team salary down to around $38 million. If the cap is at $55 million, that gives you $17 million in space. Personally, I think the cap will be higher than that for 2011, but that's just me.

These are all obviously rough estimates though as I'm at work and can't be 100% precise. As you can see though, I think we Donnie can be creative to clear the cap for that 3rd max.