I dont like any Bosh/Boozer scenarios that dont have Lee. I will keep saying it. We picked a guy 30, he plays hard, improves every year and was a total pro through some putrid management and works his way onto the all star squad. He's home grown, loves NY and loves the Knicks. Dude went to Barnett's funeral. And we want him gone in favor higher priced soft mercenaries who play less defense than Lee does.

I like JJ. I think the first thing is always to try to improve from within. I think one way is to sign a wing guy that can handle the ball and facilitate the offense. JJ isnt a max player to me, but Dantoni loves him and trusts him. That lets you start Douglas at PG and have him play off the ball a lot while JJ facilitates the offense.

If we whiff on the big studs we could pay JJ close to the max and use the remaining $18mm to resign Lee, Barron and get an athletic guy in the post like Tyrus Thomas. Your team would look like this:
pg Douglas
sg JJ
sf Gallo
pf Tyrus
C Lee
bench: Chandler, Walker, Barron, PG

SupremeCommander wrote:I'd buy the pick and see if we could package the two second rounders with it to move into that 9-14 territory. That might be the only way the team can get a decent center this offseason. I'd be stoked with Aldrich or Whiteside.

I like this thinking but it's going to take cash plus a pick from us to get the 24rth pick. You have to know every one has cash considerations to offer but what else is offered up to close the deal? We bought pick 29 from the Lakers last year(Toney Douglas) for $3mil cash plus a 2011 second rounder. In all honesty they probably want to dump the pick plus a little bit of salary.

Juice wrote:

Marv wrote:yeah but don't forget donnie's not going to make any kind of move like this to jeopardize cap space if he thinks he still has a chance at 2 maxes or some package of players.

We have about $1.5-3mil to play with if we play our cards right.

aw man now you're making me wet my seat.

franco12 wrote:PG Toney / Jimmer Fredette
SG Joe Johnson / Bill Walker
SF Wilson Chandler / Walker
PF Gallo / Jarvis Varnado
C Chris Bosh / Earl Barron

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That squad isn't really much different from the present one that has won 30+- games the last two years. Your essentially swapping Bosh for Lee which is a little + and that is arguable.

Then you're having to live with Gallo at the 4 which is probably a -.

And then yes, its an upgrade to have Joe Johnson at the 2- but how much better is he than Al Harrington?

And MDA isn't going to live with TD as our PG.

Sorry, that line up wins 36-38 games max, and is to some degree capped out for the next five years. The next three years we have only picks that can be bought - typically late first rounders and the MLE to use to improve the team.

I think you're being a bit harsh on that lineup. It's not a world beater but I think surely that group could easily be a .500 team or maybe just a touch better. Bosh and Barron would be an upgrade
and I don't think Gallo is gonna be a - at PF. I think he hasn't even scratched the surface of what he can be and if you put him in more PF type situations as he matures he'll eventually adjust his game. He's gonna get stronger as he matures, he's not fully developed yet IMO. I know I still had a lot of filling out to do at 21. I'd assume he'll be on some kind of strength and conditioning proramg this summer for that very reason.

TD may also continue to develop. It's true that he's not close to the kind of pure passer and game thinker that MDA usually wants, but I think he could continue to show enough improvement to be a productive player for us. We're not talking about the best possible team here, but something short of that is gonna have some holes.

The draft isnt SG deep or talented as some of the other positions
however at #24 some talented skilled guys like Travis Leslie, Paul George or Damion James
may still be on the board Knicks can pick up and will help them since Knicks needs are great.

Don't think any of those guys will be on board around middle 30's picks where Knicks are picking in 2nd round

Jeez people...

WOODMANnYk wrote:Fishmike,

We cannot allow David Lee to play center again.. If we're going to sign him, he needs to play the 4.

Fellas,

No to Ray Allen, HE'S DONE!

I'll take Joe johnson if he was the 2nd best player on the team, meaning we signed Lebron or Wade before we get JJ.

Like many of you have said, he hasn't carried the hawks far and no leadership skills. We need a superstar that can take the intiative on leading this team to the next level..

Anyone thats going to replace what Lee gave us in the front court is going to cost us max or close to max money. Offer lee 6 years $70mm and lets see what he says. 6 years $82mm starts Lee at $10.5. Is he really walking away from that?

Make it happen Donnie.