"The Knicks are in the process of adding more big salaries to their roster.

Two league sources told ESPN Insider Chad Ford that New York has traded Nazr Mohammed and Jamison Brewer to the Spurs for Malik Rose and a first-round pick.

The Knicks also traded Vin Baker and Moochie Norris to the Rockets for Maurice Taylor and a first-round pick, Ford reports.

Once again, team president Isiah Thomas is willing to take back huge contracts to get more talent. In the Spurs deal, the Knicks are sending back $5.5 million in future salaries for the remaining four years, $27.3 million of Rose's contract.

In the Rockets deal, Thomas is sending back $8 million in future salaries and getting back $18 million in return. In total, the Knicks, who have the largest payroll in the league, will add an extra $32 million in future salaries.

For the Rockets, this trade was a salary dump and an effort to shore up a thin point-guard crop.

For the Spurs, not only did the clear $21 million in long term salary, they got another legit center in Mohammed -- something the team felt the desperately needed."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1998814

[Edited by - s3231 on 02/24/2005 15:12:24]

Posted by s3231:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1998814

Awesome. They can either draft 3 first round players or use some of them in trades. Maybe the Knicks do have some nice trade assets going into this offseason after all!

In the Rockets deal, Thomas is sending back $8 million in future salaries and getting back $18 million in return. In total, the Knicks, who have the largest payroll in the league, will add an extra $32 million in future salaries.

I guess we can forget about that theory of cutting payroll

We can also forget about the theory of Nazy's groin injury making him untradeable.

[Edited by - Bonn1997 on 02/24/2005 14:51:56]

Sorry, Nazr, gonna miss ya, but this is great news.

Wow, I can't believe Baker and Moochie got us a first round pick alone. With 3 picks we can definitely move up in the draft if we need to.

[Edited by - s3231 on 02/24/2005 15:00:32]

New starting lineup

PG: Marbury
SG: Crawford
SF: TT or Ariza
PF Sweets
C KT

6th Man TT or Ariza
JYD
Taylor
Sundov

Suddenly we have no PG's

thomas's got some explaining to do. those better not be houston and SA's picks this year, they're both in the top third (at least) of the standings! and the salaries, i wasn't thrilled with baker or norris, but I was willing to wait them out. now it's even longer, and we have a layden-esque overload of PFs! what gives?

I am excited about the picks, rose and taylor I am not so excited about, but the picks are great..

come on guys, this is the point, we can take those two picks and parlay those into a early pick if need be, don't you realize we can have possibly two picks in the top 10... Man talk about adding youth and talent in a hurry!!

It does hurt to lose Nazr, but this draft is so deep, it's worth it to get the pick. Wait to see how the draft goes, its shaping up to be one of the most important nights this franchise has had in a long time.

We need to wait to hear the confirmed details because I thought that Houston wasn't allowed to trade their 1st rounder this year. Maybe both trades involve future 1st rounders.

I hate the extra salary. When will we ever do a trade that reduces salary. We are always helping other teams dump salary. I love the draft picks.

I also think that maybe the new players will add some grit and toughness. Plus Sweetney should now be starting with KT at center.