Posted by Markji:

Also if the Knicks can get rid a guy like Fred Jones who can really play defense I'm sure Mardy will not be around on the Knicks too long.

I was thinking about Fred Jones like you. don't believe he has been signed by anyone. Any chance we bring him back? He played fairly well for us last year and can shoot the 3pt quite well. Last year 38% so he should fit in a D'A offense.

I don't think Fred will back because he was here because of Isiah. He is the one guy that the Knicks let go that does not have a guaranteed contract. I really think that Mardy is a player that only Knick fans think is really good. It's like how fans felt about Sweetney. Fred would not be a bad backup for a combo guard that can play defense but that's not happening. Right now the Knicks are so stacked with players. Fred Jones does not have a chance. Fred Jones will probably be one of those guys that gets picked up during midseason for another team if someone gets hurt. Most teams go through what the Knicks are going through. There are so many guaranteed contracts plus rookies to sign that most teams do not have space for free agents.



[Edited by - BigC on 09-27-2008 7:26 PM]

buyouts are definitely the last course of action u should ever pursue, but when the prospects of holding onto a player for their expiring year entails a huge disruption to the team & more of the same old soap opera, then u have to consider biting the bullet for that last year & cutting ties for the betterment of your franchise going forward.

I have a problem with outbidding for a big name coach who is a bad fit for the team and the media market. I have a problem with giving Duhon the entire exemption for two years especially if Marbury is on the team. This move just increases the amount of luxury tax that the team has to pay. I also think drafting Gallo was a mistake. He plays the same position as Chandler and there were better, more known players available who could help the Knicks now. Those are the changes that have taken place so far along with some reassignments.

Posted by TMS:

Posted by nixluva:

I don't understand how anyone who has clamored for a rebuild and fiscal responsibility can have a problem with the tactics of Walsh.

i'm saying there's a definite justification to buy out Marbury before the season begins so he doesn't prove to be a huge distraction once again to the overall goals of this franchise... buying him out or not buying him out has zero effect on our cap situation, we're gonna be paying the man regardless, so i dunno what your fiscal responsibility argument has anything to do w/this discussion.

My comment about fiscal responsibility has more to do with his overall approach, not just one player!!! The guy doesn't believe we should make bad deals just to try and fix the chemistry on a team that is in a rebuilding phase. So whether it's keeping Steph since we're paying him or not trading Zach for nothing basically, Walsh doesn't want to do that.

Just like anyone else I would love to have a clean slate to start this year, but I also understand that there is simply no reason to rush any moves. I'm not happy about it, but do understand why Walsh would choose to make that decision. Whatever we do this year it's not likely to be a big year minus Steph so what I guess Walsh figures is what's the point of just throwing away the money and giving that talent away when there's a chance Mike may be able to use him?

Posted by CrushAlot:

Why did Walsh throw away the mid level if D'Antoni is going to use Marbury. D'Antoni does not discipline players and expects them to be professionals. He also relied on his superstar to set the tone on and off the court. He can't do that in NY.

D'Antoni from my recollection uses PT as discipline. He doesn't have to say anything, just make his lineup decisions and let the player stew on the bench.

I think Mike will use Jamal and Lee along with Chan to be his new lead guys. Perhaps even Nate! I think he might be able to get more out a guy like Jared too. I don't believe Mike was a mistake as some have the opinion. I think it will take time to really make any judgement on his impact.

when it comes to not doing buyouts, It may just be a lot of talk by Walsh at this point. Like Isiah I don't expect him to be fully truthful if it would be a detriment to his future moves. I mean if he does eventually do a buyout for Malik or Steph it wouldn't be a shock to have gone back on his word.

that's the way it should be. That's the way it hasn't been for the Knicks, but that's the way it should be. I'm the coach, I want these players, go get me them or someone like them.

Posted by nixluva:

Posted by TMS:

Posted by nixluva:

I don't understand how anyone who has clamored for a rebuild and fiscal responsibility can have a problem with the tactics of Walsh.

i'm saying there's a definite justification to buy out Marbury before the season begins so he doesn't prove to be a huge distraction once again to the overall goals of this franchise... buying him out or not buying him out has zero effect on our cap situation, we're gonna be paying the man regardless, so i dunno what your fiscal responsibility argument has anything to do w/this discussion.

My comment about fiscal responsibility has more to do with his overall approach, not just one player!!! The guy doesn't believe we should make bad deals just to try and fix the chemistry on a team that is in a rebuilding phase. So whether it's keeping Steph since we're paying him or not trading Zach for nothing basically, Walsh doesn't want to do that.

Just like anyone else I would love to have a clean slate to start this year, but I also understand that there is simply no reason to rush any moves. I'm not happy about it, but do understand why Walsh would choose to make that decision. Whatever we do this year it's not likely to be a big year minus Steph so what I guess Walsh figures is what's the point of just throwing away the money and giving that talent away when there's a chance Mike may be able to use him?

this thread is about buyouts & you bring up the topic of being fiscally responsible... no one said we should buy out Zach except for a certain someone who somehow thinks he'd be stupid enough to accept a buyout at 70 cents on the dollar.... the topic of buyouts only applies to Steph here, no one else (unless u wanna talk about buying out Big Turd in which case it doesn't matter either way cuz he's completely worthless whether he's on our payroll or not).

for argument's sake, if you have a choice between keeping Steph & trying to trade him at the deadline for some contracts that other teams wanna dump on us, or simply buying him out now, then the "fiscally responsible" thing to do would be to buy him out rather than ladening our franchise w/yet another immovable contract to replace the one we're just getting rid of... if u think Steph will all of a sudden change his spots & become a team player & a good boyscout from here on out while not being a disruption to the team, so be it... i don't happen to share that type of faith in the guy, he's shown me more than enough times he's all about himself & no one else... i can however easily see him go someplace else, be a good teammate for a half season (just like he was for us) & then go right back to being about -3 the following year... that's been his pattern whenever he goes someplace new & i don't think he'll ever change... better to cut ties now & let the team move forward w/o him being a distraction anymore... who the hell cares if he goes someplace else & succeeds? we should all know by now this franchise will never succeed w/him on the roster... that's enough of a reason right there to get rid of him.

I think Walsh is going to have to do a buyout here. Or at least give certain players the Penny Hardaway treatment. It may be a waste of money, but when a player makes too much money and has too bad of a reputation to be traded and is also a problem in the locker room (like some players on the Knicks roster), a buyout is the only option.

[Edited by - Slimpack on 09-29-2008 01:55 AM]

He doesn't do significant trades or find coaches who fit his roster and media market either. He also doesn't draft well or for team need.

Posted by nyk4ever:

Posted by CrushAlot:

He doesn't do significant trades or find coaches who fit his roster and media market either. He also doesn't draft well or for team need.

Why the hell would you get a coach that fits a roster that should be blown up? That makes ZERO sense. You get players who fit the coach which is what this team will be doing.

This is MDA's show from day one. He's gonna be given what he wants and needs to win and I think over the next few years people will be happy with the fact that we have a GM and Coach who are determined to stick to a plan and mold the team in that direction. It's not going to happen immediately in terms of making over the roster, but I think we can be sure it will happen.

He may yet still do a buyout, even tho he said he wouldn't. I'm gonna just wait and see what he does and then make my judgments. We know something is gonna have to happen cuz we've got too many players.

I am not sure what the plan is. More salary has been added. More point guards and small forwards have been added. Another big name who doesn't fit has been added. It seems like the same old plan. When does Mike start to get his guys. Unless they are Houston, Ewing Jr., Roberson and Duhon I think you are mistaken.