I don't usually post here to often but I spend a good 20-22 hours a day on this site - thought I'd weigh in going into the draft.
I consider myself a realist - I try not to get to high or too low and take the homer approach to this whole offseason rebuilding process that we've been so blessed to be a part of for the past several years. Earlier this season, I thought the Knicks had about a 10% chance of landing Lebron. Post-trade deadline, I thought those moves were much needed and really gave the knicks a punchers chance of success by giving them an advantage no other team had (2 maxs) - then once the season ended and the Cavs lost in that fashion, I started to think through the scenarios and my Leprobtimism started climbing, probably peaking when I read the report that Amare was basically a done deal in Miami. (My thinking at the time was that Wade def stays there, Amare teams up with him and Lebron says to himself the only place I can really go to compete with that is to NY with Bosh since they have enough room for two max guys)Now, over the past 48 hours, every peice of news I read seems to send my hopes plummmetting.
With that said, I haven't been this excited for a draft in a long time. Is it me, or does drafting college players seem like the farthest thing from importance going into tonight? This seems to be all about jockeying for cap space and setting up for July 1st. In terms of the knicks advantages in the Lebron sweetpstakes go, their number 1 biggest asset is the ability to sign 2 max guys. No one else could have done that. A close second would be the city of NY and the lure of winning here. Those are your two biggest chips. Now, while I do like Gallo/TD/Chandler, I think it's safe to say that out of all teams involved in the lebron chase, our supporting cast is the weakest. (Rose/Noah, Harris/Lopez, Wade/Enough Said,or Blake Griffen and co in LA) (don't be a homer, you know it's true)
Within the past 48 hours, I saw Miami send off their pick with Cook to clear more room - I read a rumor that the bulls were trying to move Deng to the Clippers and then another that they were trying move Kirk Hinrich to the Wiz with the #17 pick (why on earth they'd want him is beyond me with Wall and Gilbert). Both those teams would now have enough room to sign both a Bron and Bosh(in addition to Wade in Miami). I know people say Lebron won't want to share the spotlight with Wade but can he really turn down a Wade/Bosh/Bron trio in South Beach? Same goes for the bulls with Rose/Noah et all. Bottom line is, they've really evened out the race - the Knicks #1 chip is now being shared - Two weeks ago, I thought it was a two horse race btwn Clev/NY - now I just have zero conviction once again. The only thing I'm really left with is this terrible fear in the pit of my stomach. What if Wade/Bosh go to Chitown - What if they all go to Miami, what if Amare goes to Miami? What if Bosh goes to Chicago and Lebron stays in Clev? What are the knicks left with? It used to be "be smart and don't blow your cap space this summer and go after Melo next year" but with him on the verge of taking a monster contract, that's now off the table.
I hate to be such a debbie downer with my first real post here but I just can't shake that feeling in the pit of my stomach - Hopefully, the knicks can do something big tonight to get my hopes back up. After all, that is the the only thing they've been selling the fans since '06
6/24/2010 5:45 PM
