Posted by BRIGGS:

Posted by crzymdups:

Posted by BRIGGS:

That is the whole gig--we can't let Crawford walk. You cant let a 20 point scorer go like that if you want to attract a big time fa. If they have a plan it should be Chris Bosh--that should be the target player for this team. We need to keep many of the players we have and add that 7 footer type who can give us the defense in the middle as well.

Crawford will be 30 entering that summer. i really dont think you can build around him at that point. nate and chandler will probably be consistent 20ppg scorers by then anyway.

besides, we wont have any cap room after the $60M you gave Lee and the trade you made for Vince Carter, so what's the point, man?

Hard to replace. Guys in the NBA respect JC and he's in his prime. Maybe the Knicks can extend his deal 3 years and 10mm per to keep him. You simply cant let him go with no replacement--that is 10 steps back. At the worst we would somehow have to swap him for a combo deal where you get a potential player like Bellinelli and a reasonable pick + an ending contract.The Knicks wont get rid of Crawford--you really think that?

the question is will he be in his prime in the season this team is aiming to make its move? in 2010? and how many years of his prime will he have left? people respect the hell out of Chauncey Billups and Detroit just traded him in basically a salary dump for a season of an old Iverson (but really for the cap room next summer).

i have been one of Crawford's longest supporters here, i think he's a great third or fourth option on an elite team, he's just been asked to do too much here. i think he could easily average 24ppg in this system this year and shoot 45% or so and if that means we trade him and get a few picks or a young prospect, we move on. if there's a way to keep him, i keep him. but realistically, he's gonna get some interest this summer whether we like it or not.

now we are worried about losing Crawford? I appreciate his game but dont really like it. He got the worst winning % in the NBA and has never played in a playoff game. He's not Mitch Richmond either. Let him walk.. nice to know you. I would rather play Nate at 2 than Crawford who's height over Nate does nothing.

Posted by fishmike:

now we are worried about losing Crawford? I appreciate his game but dont really like it. He got the worst winning % in the NBA and has never played in a playoff game. He's not Mitch Richmond either. Let him walk.. nice to know you. I would rather play Nate at 2 than Crawford who's height over Nate does nothing.

i do think Craw's not making the playoffs is mainly situational. he was drafted onto an awful bulls team and then traded to perhaps the worst four year run in the history of the knicks. was he part of it? yes, but he was also surrounded by madness.

i think if he'd been on a team like the Spurs or the Cavs the last few seasons, people would think of him as a playoff killer and clutch player. trade Ginobili for Crawford the last four years, do you really think Ginobili adds wins here?

I'm with you Briggs, if these teams with 2010 Free agents we want to sign would want JC, why not keep him here to attract some of these guys.



I think Jamal will resign with the knicks, playing for Mike'D is too fun and he is already here. A couple of years and 1 or 2 million extra isn't killing the 2010 plan.

I reallly don't think Jamal is going anywhere. Fans have been talking about trading Jamal for years and he never gets traded. It doesn't matter if it is Isiah or Walsh the organization seems to like him. He is normally the guy they want to speak for the Knicks or the face of the Knicks. Remember when Walsh was hired the first guy that he mentioned that he was pleased to have on this team was Jamal. I really think the organization wants to keep Jamal like they did with Allan Houston. Whether we like him or not do not be surprised if Jamal Crawford retires a Knick. The dream of 2010 does not mean the Knicks will clear house. I'm sure Chandler, Jamal, Nate, Gallinari, and maybe Duhon will be around. Any new players will be picked up by free agency or trade. 2010 is not the only year that the Knicks might use to build a team.

Posted by fishmike:

how about Crawford and Lee for Harrington and GS unprotected #1?

You get a pick and Harrington is off books the summer of 2010

if we do that trade i want anthony randolph. that is a MAJOR infusion of talent for GSW.

looking at the boxscores, he's put together a couple efficient games in a row. nobody knows if it will hold up but not having marbury there seems to have made crawford more comfortable taking shots instead of trying to force shots (i.e. competition with the other guard spot). it's tough to tell the whole story via boxscores tho so i may not be describing it right. in any case, in 2010 he will be 30. if he opts out, he will be signed till he's 34. i suggest a sell high philosophy with him and every other big contract player on the team.

I think the biggest point here is none of the knicks players are super valuable to the extent we should be worried about losing them. They are all mediocre players, those are easy holes to fill. Lets see how it plays out. I wouldnt be too worried about the future since we dont know what kind of players will potentially be available to us. I hate to reference it, but look at what boston did.

Posted by Cookdcokehop:

If Jamal averages 27ppg do you resign him?

i dont care what his ppg is, its all about the percentages.

Posted by BRIGGS:

That is the whole gig--we can't let Crawford walk. You cant let a 20 point scorer go like that if you want to attract a big time fa. If they have a plan it should be Chris Bosh--that should be the target player for this team. We need to keep many of the players we have and add that 7 footer type who can give us the defense in the middle as well.

I'm not really worried about JC leaving - I think we could replace him with someone younger who would be more attractive to play with for a big free agent.

Jamal is no spring chicken any longer and he has the type of body that I believe may break down in the next few years.

I'd be very careful about proactively trying to extend Jamal. Let the system boost his value and try to move him if necessary but don't over pay for a one trick pony who could fall apart quickly in 3-4 years.

Did Jamal not start last season shooting 45%+ for his first month before then shooting 29% the following?

So, while you have to like that his percentages are at least in a more than acceptable range I'm not about to pretend this guy is going to keep it up.

Now, if he does, and he's shooting 45%+ by the trade deadline? I think you have to trade him to get value and avoid making the mistake of paying him for that value in the form of a 5 year extension of which he absolutely will demand.

If he dips a little, but finishes the year around 42%, he WILL opt out and that's when I think you LET HIM WALK.

The guy will want a 5 or 6 year deal whichever he's allowed by the NBA maximum. I don't want this guy through 2014 or 2015 on my team! Do you!?

So again, if he's blowing up, trade him for value at the deadline. If he's doing well, 42% on 22ppg, it's a career year, and you LET HIM opt out and LET HIM walk away and count your blessings it happened.