sebstar wrote:Do you have anything else to add?

let me know when you catch up to Donnie's plan.

No problem, just know that we have seen this movie before and it was a horror film.

See its easy to be play the hindsight is 20/20 game. But at the time, few people were lamenting the trade of draft picks for Curry. Curry at WORST was supposed to be a very serviceable big man that would get us into the playoffs while we figured out better alternatives. The draft picks were supposed to be moot.

But Murphys law happened and we saw the results.

We had flexibility to sign a major free agent this offseason while still maintaing our precious assets --- draft picks.

What if the big time free agents re-sign? What if we're left with the second-tier, bottom of the barrel free agents? What if there arent any suitable trades out there, if for no other reason then GM's know our back is against-the-wall. Those scenarios are all strong possibilities.

So we sign guys who arent worth the money because we have to justify the trade and we end up digging ourselves a bigger hole? We wont have draft picks, or few young players to help get us out of our bind. Sound familiar

Hey, we sign Lebron --- I'm good. But we didnt move a healthy chunk of our future assets for "flexibility" its supposed to be because we're going to sign two, legit, max free agents which will make our draft picks moot. Anything else and there will be a serious problem.

martin wrote:

sebstar wrote:So basically you're just becoming a management-warrior and not even acknowledging assets like lottery picks and future first rounders.

No problem, just know that we have seen this movie before and it was a horror film.

Isiah tossed away first round picks and lottery picks for caca players who he signed to bad contracts thus multiplying the problem, Donnie is managing the first rounders with the hopes that being able to lure 2 max or near max players is better than only being able to pursue 1.

There is a BIG difference between the 2. If you think you can lure LeBron with Jeffries on your team and a mid-first rounder slide in 2011 & loss of 2012 (that's what we are talking about), then by all means. I think there is a better chance to sign LeBron or one of the other top agents with a side kick.

With the extra room that Jefferies vacated, Donnie can also get involved in trades for that second side kick max guy if he want to participate in a big old trade without having to match salaries.

Flexibility.

on the flipside, having our picks & Jordan Hill combined w/the cap room we already had would have given us the flexibility to work sign & trade scenarios this summer... teams like the Heat & Celtics acquired their star talent via trades using young assets to go along w/the superstar players they had acquired via the draft (Pierce & Wade)... Heat got Shaq in exchange for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant and a first-round draft pick... Celtics got KG for Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, a top 3 protected 1st round pick, a return of MIN's conditional 1st round draft pick that they gave up in the Ricky Davis-Wally Z trade & cash considerations... they got Ray Allen in exchange for a #5 overall pick, Wally Z and Delonte West... these teams used their amassed young assets to build their championship teams, they didn't build with just cap space... even the Orlando Magic had to give up assets to acquire Grant Hill & T-Mac the summer they went all in for free agency.

we're trying to build a champion almost completely through free agency... we have no assets left to trade other than Gallo, Wilson & TD, & those guys are already supposed to factor into the rotation for next season... Lee being an UFA limits our ability to use him as an asset as well since he has the final say on whether he'd agree to go to the team we're trading him to... it's only natural for people to have trepidations over this move because we haven't gotten anything back yet other than freeing up an extra $9 mil this summer... if we were trading those assets directly for a tangible player that would make the deal worth it, it's an entirely different story... if T-Mac were out there playing like an Allstar, or if Sergio really looked like Jason Kidd Lite, then you at least have a bird or 2 in hand... right now we're all in on prayers for Lebron & Bosh this summer... it's a huge risk that needs to pay off in spades this summer or we will end up regretting this trade bigtime... if things work out, then Donnie will look like a genius... July 1st is D Day.

The question is will Hill be better than who we sign? And if we are decent the height of the picks we swap, or gave away won't be much of a question.

And we won't know this for a while now.

If HIll is Amare then we'll be pissed. If HIll is MoTaylor then its no big deal.

sebstar wrote:

martin wrote:

sebstar wrote:No, we could have signed one max free agent. Used Jeffries and Curry's expirings next year. Still see if Jordan Hill was worth developing and still kept our draft picks in case things fell apart. Flexibility and patience.

Hey, we sign Lebron --- I'm good. But we didnt move a healthy chunk of our future assets for "flexibility" its supposed to be because we're going to sign two, legit, max free agents which will make our draft picks moot. Anything else and there will be a serious problem.

Great, now you are optimistic. In your scenario you just signed 1 max free agent. With Donnie's, he envisions signing 2 max free agents (and still have Curry coming off the cap in 2011). Have fun with Jefferies and Hill and the mid first rounder in 2011.

BTW, does Hill plus the mid first rounder in 2011 equate to a near max free agent? Either signed outright or traded for?

I dont understand what you're trying to say at all.

I have no problem with a "plan" to sign two max free agents, just the idea of giving away all of our assets that have boxed us into a rail.

Question have we put ourselves in a good position if we have to explore, plan b? Meaning having to adjust if the 2010 free agent pool doesnt bear out?

Lebron? How confident are you that we're signing him?
Gay? Memphis is already on record, saying they will match any deal.
Wade? Long shot.
Joe Johnson? No.
Bosh? Maybe.
Amare? Maybe.

ext...

I guess giving up future assets doesnt resonate with you as much as others. Those that dont remember their history...

If its 10% I take that chance. 1-10 may not be that good, but I will take. Why? Lebron is a once in decade type guy. If you have a chance to get him you have to take it. I 100% agree with you (Seb) and everyone else that says we are at big risk by giving up these assets. Maybe where I differ is if there is a reasonable chance to sign Lebron that risk is 100% worth it.

All this talk about flexibility is what to do if we cant sign the prize, and there are some very solid options. Could they bust? Totally. Could we swing and miss and wind up with another 30 win team next year? Sure can. Is making Lebron a Knick worth that? To me it is.