Has C. Anderson been signed?

I've liked Swift since the start of the season; His per48 stats are near tops for PFs.

He seemed to give luke-warm praise of Nazy. He didn't bring up Nazy until asked about him. In fact, he kept saying the team needed an athletic big man and the announcer had to "remind" Lenny that the team had Nazy.

Also, Swift is the type of player the Knicks do not have. He's better in the open court, something Marbury wants to improve for the team. The Knicks looked pretty good out there when they still had Doleac and KVH, and Marbury was just getting to guys off screens for the mid-range jumpers. The Knicks looked really sharp when they had that going, but Marbury hated it. That's why Zeke got TT and Nazr, but it turns out Nazr isn't that good in the open court either.

Still, no way that guy takes the MLE. Apparently, if no one offers Swift more than that, West will keep him. So, unless we have anyone worth trading for Swift after the Crawford deal, for a sign-and-trade, we aren't getting Swift.

IF Etan Thomas settled for the MLE Swift there's a chance Swift would too. They are coming off similar years and have a similar profile.

You really think West is going to give $40 mil to a bench player getting 18 mpg? Especially after he just used a lot of money on Brian Cardinal? I think the Knicks can get him for the MLE.

I really dont think we should offer swift the MIDLEVEL exception, they were willinging give 40min for a 18min guy, Cardinal. And I believe they would do the same their own 20min guy, Swift. This would make sense if Memphis were piling contracts to trade for better players.

I don't obsess over height. Stro Swift is more valuable than ten Doleacs.

athletic bigs who can block shots that are available:

- Swift - best option - maybe attainable for the MLE

- C. Anderson - good alternate plan to Swift - might re-sign w/DEN though

- Keon Clark - injury issues are a concern

- Dan Gadzuric - low cost alternate option

Dampier would cost an arm & a leg & command a huge contract at this point, & he's more of a half court type player rather than a guy who can get up & down the court & flourish in an uptempo style game, which i assume Isiah is trying to build here w/guys like Crawford & Ariza...

if Isiah can get Ilgauskas in a sign & trade for KT & filler like is being rumored right now, i would love to sign Swift w/the MLE, who would be a great X-factor type off the bench for this team a-la Marcus Camby in '99.

C - Ilgauskas / Nazr or Vin Baker
PF - Sweetney / Swift / JYD
SF - Thomas / Penny / DerMarr or Ariza
SG - Houston / Crawford
PG - Marbury / Frank or Moochie

i wouldn't mind that roster 1 bit.

that's not the point...Z has an expiring contract...that is a HUGE chip to have come the trade deadline, especially for a guy like Z who can step into most NBA team's lineups & become their starting C...he'd have big value to teams like the Mavs, Blazers, etc. who will be looking for that final piece to make a title run, & also to teams like the Clippers, etc., who might be looking to dump big contracts of good players for cap relief sometime down the road.

i don't think we'll trade for Z just to move him at the deadline. in fact, i think we can be in the eastern hunt with Z. i just think ratliff is a better fit so i'd rather have him but Z is a HUGE improvement over what we have now and we could be pushing the 50 win plateau, especially if h20 is healthy.