BRIGGS wrote:Tyrus Thomas--I know that Charlotte just paid up but they haev salary commitments to 60mm without Tyrus

If we frontloaded a 5 year 57.5mm $ contract that started at 12.7mm--it would make it very uncomfortable for Charlotte to match.

resisgn Lee to 6 years 62mm

Sign T Mac to 3 years 16.5
-----------------------------------
12.7
9
5
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26.7mm with almost 7 mm additional $$ to fill out the roster

I wanted Tyrus so bad for Al at the trade deadline.

I really wanted to see Tyrus play in this free flow system. With guys like Al, Lee and Gallo our front line athleticism is sub standard we really could have used the jolt Tyrus would provide.

Now he will rock with LB in Charlotte.

If we were to land Lebron and he gave consent on keeping D-Lee --- I'd love to add Tyrus to that mix.

When you can produce that type of triple threat production--you can be a serious piece. Id have to imagine that a priority with the Knicks is to get a guy who can do a lot of things that Tyrus can do on the court--especially when he is 23 years old. He can play 7 feet at 6-9

Solace wrote:I'm fine with Tyrus Thomas, but then it would have to be instead of Lee. We have don't have a true stud player as our #1, we're looking at peaking at 45 wins and then being back to the lottery after a few years.

I mean I get what you're saying, but we paid too steep a price to waste the valuable cap room like this. At this point the plan has to be LeBron, Wade, Bosh, Amare. If we get none of those, we shouldn't fill the cap up and just try again in 2011 and continue to carry no big contracts until we find the piece that we can't acquire without being under the cap. Otherwise, it's just a waste.

Id rather haev a 7-1 265 guy who can play in the middle but they dont grow on trees and we have not pursued one. Tyrus might be perfect for MDA--so it's prudent to keep an open mind and watch what he does in a serious position in the last 25 games. The only way to get this player would be to overpay in almost any event.

Im also open to the idea of spending less on really good players to improve the team and keep my options open for 2011 when we would have a legit chance at a 7 footer. We could sign a avid Lee to 6 yeasr 60mm and sign a Luis Scola to a 3 year 24mm$ contract and find a shotblocker as a third guy off the bench. While under sized--we would become tougher upfront and add skills. Scola Lee wouldnt be a shot blocking presence but those are two high quality players and Scola would be a big help to and with lee underneath and a reasonable cost.

BRIGGS wrote:Tyrus is avg 13 points 7.5 reb 3.5 blocks 53% since the trade and he's playing very well again tonight

When you can produce that type of triple threat production--you can be a serious piece. Id have to imagine that a priority with the Knicks is to get a guy who can do a lot of things that Tyrus can do on the court--especially when he is 23 years old. He can play 7 feet at 6-9

Briggs,
Your whole argument about the Knicks screwing up does not make any sense any more, because you are advocating they screw up a little more.
Having the bird rights to Tyrus is a little different than overpaying for him so Charlotte does not match.
Overpaying for a potential threat is not good enough anymore, they have to hit a homerun this offseaon.
They should concentrate on signing Lebron and Wade and/or Bosh. If they don't, nothing else will really matter until 2013.

If we're making crazy deals to scare off other teams because we can't get LeBron or Wade, then it will be something like offering Tony Parker 1 year at the max and seeing if San Antonio blinks.

Plus, if we keep Lee, we're going to need someone bigger than Tyrus to play next to Lee. I know Thomas blocks shots and can board but ideally, I think we need to bring in a 6'11 or 7 footer in here and we can probably get an older vet that fits the description for a cheap price.