Posted by holfresh:
Posted by Bippity10:
Posted by nixluva:
Do we have an Amare type player? I think if you look at what MDA is doing, I think we can see that he's trying to fashion a new version of his PHX teams. I think he'd love to do it better tho. They could've used a real center tho I think a guy who is more agile and a better shooter than Shaq. I believe this is where MDA and Walsh are headed.
The duo has made a move for Duhon a PG they felt could thrive in the system. They signed Roberson, a guy they felt could supply some outside shooting to the team. Other than that there moves were to create cap space. They didn't trade for Harrington and TT and Mobley because of the system, i believe they traded for them to create cap space and gain flexibility. If there contracts lasted until 2012 they would not be on the roster. I think a lot of us are seeing moves and trying to determine what type of team they are building. I think the reality is that they are still in the tearing down and player evaluation phase of the rebuilding and have not begun to build a team yet. We haven't rebuilt in NY in so long that many of us have no idea what rebuilding looks like. We are analyzing every move as if this is who Walsh and D'Antoni are going to go to war with. I personally feel they are trying to gain free-agent and trade flexibility so that they can attempt to get legitimate stars to build around.
For me the only thing I'm worried about is will this team take advantage of the draft. Will they obtain another first round pick moving forward. Every other move clearly seems geared for the future so I'm not sure why we are worrying about how many 3 point shooters we have and whether we need a shot blocker or not. If the youth develops and shows it can win games then you can start worrying about that stuff. Layden and Thomas trained us poorly for rebuilding.
[Edited by - bippity10 on 26-12-2008 12:36 PM]
Come on Bip, you keep pounding Layden and Isiah who were bad in their right...I think it's Dolan who changed his philosophy to rebuild...Clearly it's going to take some time which I do agree with you..I just think we are putting too many eggs in the 2010 basket...I think as we clear cap space, we should try to pick up some draft picks as well...
I keep pounding them? I'm not pounding them I just think it's a relevant comparison. Bottom line is they accepted the position and tried to build the team under the conditions they were given. They were unable to sell Dolan on a different way of looking at things. With the help of D. Stern, Walsh and D'Antoni have been able to change Dolan's mind. Regardless of the perfect storm that Walsh and D'Antoni have walked into it still doesn't excuse the poor moves that Layden/Thomas made and it's still relevant to our current situation.
I'm with you, I do think we should try to pick up draft picks as well. I will be upset if we do not. But step one had to be to clear cap space. That was done, now you can focus on step 2 or more of step 1. If the next trade clears more cap space or brings back a draft pick it's difficult to see the logic behind complaining about either move. Where I disagree is that we are putting two many eggs in the 2010 basket. The goal was too get under the cap. If we could do it by 2009 we would. Instead we shoot for 2010. In my view this is very quick, plus it gives us the opportunity to get one of the marquee free agents. If we don't get one of them have we really lost anything?(besides bloated contracts).
It's clear to me that Walsh and D'antoni have a plan. What isn't clear is if they have the will, smarts and freedom from Dolan to do keep up with the plan. I guess we won't be happy until they actually acquire a draft pick. I understand that. I completely understand where you are coming from and worry that maybe they won't target a pick. But my previous post was in response to the talk of adding more 3 point shooters. I just think at this stage of the game it's not worth worrying about. We are currently rebuilding and many more moves are to come.
12/26/2008 1:20 PM