Under normal curcumstances I'd agree franco -- nobody likes hungry, exciting young players at a good/controlled price more than I do---big advocate of building up a roster with guys like that over overpriced vets any day as long as it's feasible and makes sense (sometimes the situation dictates otherwise; sometimes you need vets esp when you get real close to taking the final step)..I'd go along with that except at PG..The only way I'd draft a young PG to completely take over is if I were a lottery team or I had a top lottery pick and the kid was a can't miss. We're not a lottery team---we have one hell of a foundation in place..The concrete was just poured..All about building the house now; the frame (the blueprint) and then brick by brick..
I don't see a PG in this draft that's capable of jumping right in to take over this team in year 1..The couple that might be able to do that, and I emphasize 'might," will probably be long gone by the time we pick..Plus, as good as TD is and as much progress as he's made this year, there's no way I'm ready to hand him the keys fulltime for next year..Just look at last night---TD was shaky down the stretch..Even in games he's played well in recently he's been shaky at crucial junctures with the ball in his hands (Toney's play in the game Melo won at the end @ Memphis a few games back was extremely shaky down the stretch for example, part of the reason that game got closer than it should've been)..Not trying to rag on the kid--he's been good, just pointing out the obvious. I don't buy Toney Douglas/Derek Fisher comparisons btw..Fisher has the luxury of playing next to do-it-all Kobe Bryant..We don't have that type of superstar, not many teams do..Much more is required out of a NY PG than a Laker "PG" as long as Kobe's still around...Think Mo Williams playing next to LeBron James in Cleveland..Same thing.
So where does that leave us? I think Billups is still a viable option for next season. Alan Hahn reporting in today's Newsday that Walsh and Billups' agent, Andy Miller, are holding preliminary discussions about the possibility of extending Chauncey beyond this year..I can certainly understand that from Billups' POV--he wants the security and stability of knowing where he'll been playing out his career, but I consider it an unwarranted gamble for the Knicks to go beyond next year. I would, however, pick up the full option for next year. Why the hell not? First off, imho, there are no big FAs worth signing long-term this summer for substantial money that automatically make us into a championship-contending team..Second, this injury Chauncey suffered real hurt him in more ways than one -- he totally lost the feel for running the club..Whatever headway he made the first few games was reset back to the beginning as if he just got here..Hey it happens..Did Ray Felton struggle mightily running this team for several weeks earlier this season before things settled down? Yes, he did..I'm gonna give Chauncey some more time here before writing him off..Dude has been a damn good player in this league for a long time..Former champion and he was the MVP of that championship series..Both Nash & J Kidd, very comparable PGs at this stage of their careers, can't even say that (and Chauncey's younger than both of those guys btw--he's got one by 2 years, the other by 3)..Not to mention he was playing very well before he got hurt---going to the line a ton, performing very well down the stretch of games, he won the game for us in Miami--probably the biggest road win of the year, etc. How soon some poeple forget that..Let's relax with this guy..The chemistry is off right now..It takes time to develop that. Did Miami struggle the begginig nof the year? Yup, still not firing on all cylinders despite the number of wins they've amassed..Bottom line is we need stability at that position in the worst way..Unfortunately, we're not getting that from Billups right now but I think it will come---it was there before he got hurt. It's just gonna take time to get it back. Meanwhile, TD hasn't shown me he's the answer fulltime and I doubt whatever PG will be available 20 or below in this draft will be either. I could be wrong but that's just what my gut tells me right now.
And just to dispel another myth: WE WILL be able to rebuild the underbelly with rock solid talent even if we sign Billups and hit the cap ceiling and I'm not even talking about evoking the MLE unless it's for 1-yr salaries only (if Sammy Dalembert's interested in taking a 1-yr deal for semi-substantial money for example, say in the $5-7+M, fine. NP. If not--I know I can go out and add a solid center, a substantial upgrade over Jeffries and Turiaf, for cheap money. Take it or leave it Sammy. I'm not jepordizing 2012 cap room for you. Or for an unknown quantity like DeAndre Jordan--yeah the above-the-rim athleticism this guy possesses is very nice but not worth overpaying for. I bet I could come up with the same if not better production, probably even more skill pound for pound, for a much better price just without the high-wire act...I would hope that's the goal. God knows it should be...Pick up Chauncey's full option at the end of the season..I might even do it sooner..That should calm him down and placate him for the time being..And we'd have our PG stability for next year while sizing up 2012 FA when several top PGs become available. As Hahn pointed out this morning, Billups would even make for a nice expiring contract we could possibly include in a trade to get a guy like CP3 if he pulls a Carmelo Anthony on New Orleans..Let's see what happens..We have some time..Worst case scenario we extend Billups in the summer of 2012..That's WORST CASE.
3/21/2011 11:43 AM
