Posted by islesfan:

Posted by crzymdups:

The Crawford thing was real. But Zeke messed it up by asking for too much (i.e. making them take Moochie AND Shan!). Damps is a possibility, but only for all our expiring deals and we have to take NVE. To make both deals happen, we would have to drastically overpay either Crawford or Dampier. That's the only reason they are 'interested'. But make no mistake, players like the idea of playing in New York. Very few are willing to take less money to play here, but most will gladly take more.

There are things the Knicks can do this summer. Kobe and Vince are not among them. Why would Kobe give up his entire life to take $100 million less in guaranteed money? Why would Toronto trade Vince Carter, their sole draw, for nothing? Why would Vince want to play for Lenny Wilkens, a coach he vilified after Lenny was fired (maybe Vince was only bitter that Lenny made the playoffs without Vince?)?

Chalk it up to everyone being bored out of their minds with no real news to discuss.

Here's some news: the Denver Nuggets turned around their entire franchise thanks to Scott Layden. They acquired Nene and Camby for basically nothing and while they waited for Nene to develop and Camby to heal, they got bad enough to draft Carmelo. Instant team. Now, they've had cap space for two years and added Miller and Martin and Boykins. That's how you rebuild.

The Knicks? Hopelessly capped out and thus when something like the Martin situation comes up, they can only offer expiring deals as assets while a team with room can act swiftly to sign the guy. So, we're stuck hoping someone is intent on blowing up their squad to get financial flexibility for a decent player. Anytime one of these situations comes up, obviously the Knicks are the first on the phone and obviously the opposing GM knows better than to take players from New York who are repeatedly ridiculed in the mass media like ESPN. The result? Our players get underrated from being constantly devalued in print as being overpaid and losers, while marginal players from other teams like oh say, Erick Dampier (who has never won anything) become extremely overrated because New York has interest. It's an endless cycle which the Knicks have been losing for 30 years or so and will probably never win at the cycle, let alone win an NBA championship. So instead, we discuss the merits of giving a 24 year old guard who shot 38% 70 million dollars. It eases our pain, okay?

This is one of the best posts that I've ever read. That pretty much sums up the Knicks situation.

I repectfully disagree....IMHO, Zeke jumped through hoops to get this done.....Paxson didn't budge....I think little Paxson has the explaing to to...

Posted by islesfan:

With all due respect, unless doing the Knicks favors, like taking their worst contracts off of their hands, is part of Paxson's job description, I don't think he owes anybody an explanation. But if Moochie Norris is what stood in the way of this deal being consumated, then I think Isiah has some explaining to do for Knicks fans who wanted to see this deal get done.

Posted by Nalod:

Naz and O for Damp makes great sense. But its the shackled effect of a long term contract for a player 30 and what appears to be motivated by an opt year.

NO doubt losing sucks, and Damp on a bad team will stiffle stats also.
I gues we must put our faith in Isiah that 30 year old damp is going to help and be effective for most of his contract.

I suspect Damp will go to the money. Every one wants to play in New York all things being equal. But the are not.

Damp is Nate Thurmonds son. Nate played for the Knicks at center and Willis was the PF. Nate was traded and became a late bloomer playing many years for Golden State. Its all just a little bit of history repeating.