Posted by BRIGGS:
Posted by Finestrg:
Posted by BRIGGS:
Posted by nyk4ever:
I agree with King. I've never been overly impressed with Blair and I saw him ALOT. He'll be ok, but I don't think he'll more than a back of the rotation type guy.
His best hope for success in this league is ending up with a professional rugged team like the Spurs or Pistons or something like that.
I think he has a chance to be a good player if he keeps his weight down and stays away from injury[he does have a real strong mental toughness to go along with physical toughness that I love] but he is no Larry Johnson. How can you compare him to Larry Johnson? My goodness LJ was a freak no-brainer talent.
I don't think it's a stretch to say Blair can or will be a good tough interior player--but while we do need toughness--we dont need a 6-6 PF right now. If we had Patrick ewing and there was no Mason or Oakley--then we can talk.
If you've been following my line of thinking on a few recent posts, my plan would be to trade Lee to the team that eventually drafts Blair -- if they did this they'd open up some nice possibilities. First, you grab Blair to take over the 4 for Lee and I'd argue that Blair's younger and even though we may have to wait for him (though not too long - I've seen Blair play plenty of times this year -- in fact, Pitt quickly became one of my favorite teams to watch this past season -- I think Blair can jump right in and help an NBA team out right now) he has better upside than Lee moving forward anyway. In addition, I'd also want an expiring contract or two (with hopefully either 1 or both expirings being decent players to use in the interim) and possibly a pick. Get Blair, expirings and a possible pick plus get out from the big money contract Lee will be looking for. That'd be a huge return for us. A real haul. I could see the other team possibly going for this as well - if said team drafted Blair, they're undoubtedly looking for a PF who can rebound and produce and Lee's still young enough and talented enough to supply what they need and on a better team than us, a playoff team, Lee would have a much bigger impact than he does here. Hard to predict what Donnie plans on doing but if part of his equation involves dealing Lee, this scenario makes for a fair trade that would benefit both teams and one I make in a heartbeat if I'm the Knicks. It's a trade similar to the one Houston pulled off with Sacramento last year at draft time (Artest for Donte Greene - only difference is Lee's on the verge of a big payday). Plan was never to draft Blair with the 8th pick and then not add anything else. That's crazy. Not what I said at all.
And once again, because there still seems to be a little confusion as to what I was getting at with the Blair/LJ comparison, I'm talking about interior footwork & offensive post play and of course the rebounding skills. Those are the similarities and they're undeniable. I'm not some nut here and I think I watch enough basketball to the point where I have a good understanding of many different players, past and present, and what they bring to the table. Of course I understand LJ had a more complete game with his off-the-charts athleticism and 3 pt. shooting. Never said once that their entire games are carbon copies of each other. But I still maintain that Blair has some NBA ready skills and still room to improve even further. Look closely at those clips bro - does that look like someone whose feet are stuck in the mud out there?? I mean the guy just took it right to Hasheem Thabeet in a variety of different ways and Thabeet had no answer. Does that mean nothing? Instead of telling people to go back to the drawing board, how 'bout you go back yourself and re-read the beginning of this thread to see what I'm trying to say. How'd that be buddy? 
[Edited by - finestrg on 05-24-2009 10:41 PM]
Trade David Lee to the team that drafts Blair for the Knicks. I think it is plausible that the Knicks might cross the line for Ricky Rubio[of course on the up and up] with a trade offer that included David Lee to be completed after the draft--we know Memphis likes Lee and of course they get pick 8 with that deal--not bad if forced into it for Memphis and well the only way the Knicks would have to get Rubio. Although it's illegal and very risky--I can see the Knicks and Grizzlies trying to do that[possibly] Is there any other team that is in that position? No--this is more based on fantasy than reality. I think a team in this economy might just like to draft Blair as their 4 and keep him for the 1mm+ it will cost compared to Lees 9-10mm$ Most teams do not have cap space right now so you would also be talking about many more moving parts and with base year compensation---very tricky stuff and of course its really illegal as well.
I disagree on all fronts. First, while I think it's possible to use David Lee & the 8th pick in a deal to move up to grab a perceived top-tier guy like Rubio - which the Knicks very well may do btw, they appear to love this kid like everyone else - I wouldn't go there myself. Number one, Lee and the 8th pick is way too much value to be giving up for an unknown quantity like Rubio IMO. We'll have to see how the personal team workouts go for Rubio if he ever even does any (can he even participate in private workouts while currently being under contract for a European team? I suspect not, but I'm not sure) - we're drafting too low, I can't see him coming in to work out for us, but the jury's still out on him as far as I'm concerned. There's the buyout to consider, his sub-par jumpshot, lack of production in the Euro leagues he's played in, his injury history...plus, with all the Curry bashing going on, this kid's no great athlete himself.... I'd be happy enough with Curry or Teague at 8 - they might be getting just as good a player to steer the ship, maybe better, and then still have Lee and Nate left to deal off for other pieces. Of course you try to bring back maximum value, but why does it have to be a top-3 player or nothing for Lee?? Walsh would really be limiting himself if he looked at moving Lee in those narrow-minded terms. That's what they call tunnel vison... Second, couldn't care less when a deal for Lee ever gets consummated. Trades are consummated in a variety of different ways around draft time - before, during and after the draft. I realize Lee's not signed yet and that's a major issue here but we're still more or less in the driver's seat - we have the final say on David Lee. Unless some team comes along and just blows Lee out of the water with some crazy, irresponsible longterm offer like $12 mil/season, something that forces us to just walk away (which is highly unlikely given the current state of the economy, and I'm sure you'd agree), I still think we're OK here. Picture this: Odds are trade parameters involving Lee could very well be underway as we speak, Lee resigns for market value when the time comes and is then traded shortly thereafter for whatever package had already been agreed upon behind the curtain. Would something like that really be that hard to believe? That's not fantasy my friend, that's reality. And hey, any potential Lee deal could be developed legit as in all dialogue starts after Lee's deal is signed. That'll work just the same...
Believe me, if we ever engaged in any questionable trade discussion and if it ever went anywhere, everything would be handled like gentlemen behind the scenes. Nothing put on paper. No proof that conversations ever even took place. Illegal? Perhaps. But if the league or anyone else ever raised an suspicion or had a problem with anything, I dare them to prove their case... That's how it's always been done in situations like this I'm sure and if you think otherwise, you're only kidding yourself. If you have two willing trade partners, anything can get done. No big deal. Crossing some bogus line in the sand is not something that really concerns me here. Bottom line is that Donnie needs to build this team now and look at every possibility regardless of whether or not it's against the grain or a little outside the box. He's gotta use the hand that he's been dealt here. He has to look at all alternatives with regard to moving Lee and Nate. But make no mistake, choosing the "shoot for the moon or nothing" route as in Rubio or bust is narrow-minded and unwise. He should have plenty of options available to him as long as he's willing to open up his mind to all possibilities. Ironing out a way to bring in a young DeJuan Blair to take over for Lee along with getting out from under Lee's upcoming contract is one possibility that should be explored..
[Edited by - finestrg on 05-25-2009 8:57 PM]
5/24/2009 3:25 PM
