OK, I'll let the other 300+ Melo threads speak for themselves. Loved Melo at 'Cuse, would love to have Melo on the Knicks as a FA. End of discussion on Melo. Here is my Plan B.
Assumptions: Cap stays at around $58M. HOWEVER, I will point out that TV #'s are reporting a 30% increase in viewership this year, I would have to guess that cap would go up ever so slightly, even a million or 2 would make the biggest difference in the world for the likes of the Knicks. We can't really discuss CBA and how it effects salary, so we'll just keep that out.
1) MDA provides us an offense that puts up numbers but Donnie remembers that an equal amount of defense also wins championships.
2) If you look at my numbers, they add up. And the guys that are signed as FA (Nene and Pietrus have Player Options for next year but their offers are for MORE than the options).
3) Knicks NEED a better PG off the bench and Ridnour is superfluous on the Twolves after Flynn comes back and with Rubio in the wings. A guy like TD in a triangle offense would be a very good fit off the bench. As much as I would hate to lose Turiaf, here is the trade I propose (cap fillers would have to be involved, but they dont matter much): Ridnour for TD, Turiaf. OR If Turiaf forgoes his option next year: TD, AR (who Twolves can move for a #1 or whatever). OR TD, Turiaf, AR for Ridnour and some future pick.
4) Nene provides beef, protection for Amare. He can shoot out to 18". Has good hands. Can post up of the offense needs. Has the highest FG% in the league. Rebounds and protects the rim well enough for deep playoffs (nothing extraordinary). Can get up and down the court. Is a tougn, mean-ass mutha****a; he and Amare team up to be the nasties C/PF combo out there.
5) Pietrus is a lockdown 2/3 who can shoot from distance. Another gazelle. 39% career shooter from 3point land. Playoff tested. Bring him off bench to stick on Wade, LeBron, Pierce, Ray Allen, Kobe, Durant, whomever.
6) My biggest flaw and assumption with the current makeup of the team. Chandler HAS to be asked to accept his QO. Handshake deal. How much does he want to stay in NY? If Donnie is resigned in April, does he have the wherewithal to get this type of deal done so the Knicks can sign the other players? Promise to oversign him the next year out. Make it happen.
6B) OK, maybe Chandler doesn't do deal. His cap hold is right around what Peitrus is slotted for, with the other $3M you go after: Grant Hill or Battier or some young, athletic gun.
7) You cut and then resign Williams and Rautins as necessary (I really like Williams and have good hopes for Rautins).
8) Knicks #1 for 2011 is up for grabs to make trades work, so are their 2 #2's coming up in 2012.
Nene $12,000,000
Amare $18,217,705
Gallo $4,190,182
Fields $788,872
Felton $7,560,000 Moz $3,343,896
Chandler $3,099,851
Pietrus $6,000,000
Ridnour $3,099,851
Williams
Rautins
----------------------
$58,300,357
All the guys are 28 and younger (Ridnour will be 30 in Feb, Pietrus 29 in Feb). I think this team can complete against Boston, Orlando, Miami, Chicago in the regular season. To make it DEEP into the playoffs internal growth needs to happen with Fields/Chandler/Gallo/Moz, and I think those collective guys got it in them (or at least one of them does).
This is a team that can run for another 5 years without changing much. You have TONS of youth. You have TONS of defense. You have TONS of depth at every position.
What's not to like?
12/22/2010 3:46 PM
you put pieces together that best compliment the star you do have.