Vmart wrote:Why aren't Morey and Cuban going after him?

smackeddog wrote:Why do people assume that every player in every league wants to play for the Knicks above all other teams? He had obviously built up a relationship with the Spurs, they'd been tracking him and he played for their affiliate.

I guarantee there isn't a single D-league player that would turn down a chance to play for an NBA team, no matter how good or bad the team is.

Finestrg wrote:

VCoug wrote:I've lost almost total faith in our front office this season. Why are we wasting our time with retreads like Amundson? He's 32 years old and has been in the league 8 years; we already know he sucks. Why is Early being deactivated for Amundson and Lance Thomas? Why is Jason Smith still on the team? He hasn't made a single positive contribution and I would expect him to be gone after this season. Pay him the remainder of his deal and waive his ass already. Why aren't we bringing up other D-leaguers? We need to take chances on guys like Curry, JaMychal Green, and Quincy Miller. I mean, what's the ****ing point of anything we're doing this year?

Well said. Good points, esp. about Early. He made it back, right? He's healthy? They why the F didn't he play the other day in London?? The kid needs to be developed to the fullest the rest of the way. Your guess is as good as mine, bro. Definitely agree with you one some of these DLers too. Out of all the teams in the NBA, we're the worst and should be utilizing the DL as a avenue to get better at a few positions more than anyone. They're passing up some real good opportunities here. It's a shame. I really have no idea what we're doing.

And right now the only guys we have under contract for next season are Melo, Calderon, Hardaway, Prigioni, Early, Acy and Wear have team options, and whoever we draft with our 1st round pick. With only $26M-ish to work with in cap space this Summer if we want to put any sort of competitive team on the floor next season we need get lucky with at least one D-leaguer.

Knicks1969 wrote:Knicks scouting department has been one of the worst for years; they have no clue. All if their focus is in scouting high price players.

Lin, Novak, Cope, Cole, Travis Wear. Whatever.

Knicks1969 wrote:Knicks scouting department has been one of the worst for years; they have no clue. All if their focus is in scouting high price players.

Phil has some guys with experience on the staff. He has his own views on how he wants to build the team and I think he'll have good advice from guys who have experience finding talent and making deals.

Mark Warkentien - He was elevated to Vice President of Basketball Operations in 2006, replacing the released Kiki Vandeweghe shortly after the season ended. In his time in Denver he made two blockbuster deals, one involving the Philadelphia 76ers which sent Andre Miller to Philadelphia for Allen Iverson, and the second transaction sending Iverson to Detroit to return Denver native Chauncey Billups home.

Before his current position, he was in the front office of the Cleveland Cavaliers as Director of Player Personnel and then became the interim GM for the latter half of the 2004-05 season. Before working for Cleveland, Warkentien worked for the Portland Trail Blazers for ten seasons. During his time in Portland, Warkentien held many positions. He was a scout, then promoted to Director of Scouting and the became assistant general manager for the Portland Trail Blazers from 1998-2003 and spent the next season as Director of Player Personnel.

His NBA career began in 1991 with the former Seattle SuperSonics, where he spent three years as scout.
He also coached several Southern California college basketball teams, before joining Jerry Tarkanian's coaching staff as an assistant at UNLV.

In March 2009 Warkentien was mentioned in Sports Illustrated's as mid-seasons Executive of the Year and again in April 2009

He won the NBA Executive of the Year Award for the 2008–09 NBA season. His transactions included sending Allen Iverson to the Detroit Pistons for Chauncey Billups, and signing free-agent Chris Andersen, while moving the Nuggets under the luxury tax at the same time.

On January 30, 2011 The New York Knicks agreed to hire Warkentien as a high-level consultant.

Clarence Gaines Jr. - NBA veteran joined Knicks as basketball advisor in summer 2014...Serves as talent evaluator on both the pro and college levels and is also involved in player personnel decisions.

Key member of Chicago Bulls staff (alongside then-head coach Phil Jackson) throughout Chicago’s run to six NBA titles during the 1990s...Originally joined Bulls as a part-time scout in 1988-89...Promoted to full-time status in 1989 and served for 11 seasons (1989-90 through 1999-2000) as scout and special assistant to the general manager, overseeing college, high school and international scouting during the Bulls’ championship era.