BRIGGS wrote:

SupremeCommander wrote:he's a SG in a PG's body... why the team still looks for this role is BEYOND me

No he's a 2G but if this is all they could muster for a bench enhancement this is discouraging.

He was the Lakers target if they lost Shannon Brown. How is that discouraging if the Lakers wanted him too?

Paladin55 wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:It is sad that guys have to be bypassed because of youth and a need for guidance in the draft. Imagine if the Knicks felt comfortable enough with their organization and coach to make a different pick other than a 24 year old 4 year player. Stephenson is being compared to Tyreke Evans. Roger Mason would not be in the conversation if the Knicks went for the best available player. Character counts but it doesn't make up for a lack of physical ability and talent.
The Indiana Pacers announced Thursday they have signed second-round draft pick Lance Stephenson to a multi-year contract. Per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Stephenson, a 6-5, 210-pound guard, was the 40th overall pick in June’s NBA Draft.

The 2010 Big East Rookie of the Year from Cincinnati recently played for the Pacers’ summer league team in Orlando where in four games he was the Pacers’ second-leading scorer at 14.8 ppg.

He also led the eight-team Orlando summer league in field goal percentage at .733 (22-of-30) of those players with 10 or more field goal attempts, earning all-league honorable mention honors.

We will see with Stephenson. If you watched the SL the guy was clueless on D, and wandered around the court on offense when he did not have the ball. Most of his shots were on drives- he rarely hit a J or took a 3. Also seemed to attract injuries like a magnet.

I was not Rautins fan- thought we could have picked him up after the draft, but Stephenson has a lot of flaws, and you just have to wait to see if he can become a solid rotational player. Seems too slow to be a PG, and does not have the ability at this point to be and effective SG in the NBA defensively, and offensively. We will just have to wait and see- I would not anoint him yet.

I understand about putting too much emphasis on SL but anyone could argue that Stephenson looked like a lotto pick(i thought the pacers and the lakers won the draft) and our guy Rautins looked like the worst out of the 60 guys drafted who got a chance to play.

BRIGGS wrote:I want to try to win this year but without a strong bench enhancement as I anticipated --I may have to reconfigure my thought process on W's.

You were high on this team last week. Roger Mason instead of Shannon Brown makes you reevaluate?

Markji wrote:

Andrew wrote:

Markji wrote:Why do we need Roger Mason if we have Bill Walker, Kalenna, Chandler, and Douglas (spot minutes) at the 2 guard? Something must be up. Either someone is injured and isn't expected to play(maybe Buike?) or a trade is going down soon (Bye Wilson). Other than that, we have depth and Roger Mason isn't that good.

Out of the 4 guys you listed only 1 is a true SG (Kaleena) and his is coming off of an injury. Walker is a question mark and a potential injury risk, and Chandler is coming off of injuries as well.

Chandler should be all right....they weren't serious injuries. The person I am most concerned about is Azubuike because he had a very serious injury. And he is the best SG if healthy. Roger Mason doesn't add a lot. Rudy F would be better. I think we are using interest in Roger M to have Portland bring down the price for Rudy?

The problem with Wilson is he always gets hurt, and it is always used an an excuse (more than likely towards the end of the season), if he plays through it.

This is just a depth signing. Definitely a bit of a let down after not getting Shannon, but the article on the front page says they only offered him a one year deal, 2.7 mil and the starting gig, while the Lakers are offering him a multi year deal. Donnie is protecting cap space. I can see both sides.

Mason would be a backup. Chandler gets hurt too much to be depended on as a starter. I think Walker, with his knees would ideally be used as super sub off the bench, it extends his career, keeps him fresh late in season. Buike would be the ideal starting SG for this team.

If Wilson could turn himself into a Maggette like 2g (with the range, minus constant injuries), I think he can play the 2. I am just too worried about his injury history to depend on him.

knicks1248 wrote:

Markji wrote:Why do we need Roger Mason if we have Bill Walker, Kalenna, Chandler, and Douglas (spot minutes) at the 2 guard? Something must be up. Either someone is injured and isn't expected to play(maybe Buike?) or a trade is going down soon (Bye Wilson). Other than that, we have depth and Roger Mason isn't that good.

Why do you pay for car insurance even though you never had and accident..

Look at our options at the 2g

We have a unproven player in walker, another coming off a season ending injury in AZ, We have TD who will get abuse by bigger players despite his intensive d, and chandler, who hasn't really shown he can shoot from the perimeter with anykind of consistancy..

I agree. This is more for insurance. Looks like he will have the same contract offer that we gave Brown. A 1 year deal for $2.7 million is not bad. He fails then we only have him for 1 year.

jusnice wrote:Mason went to UVA, my almamater, and he is super clutch. Not bad off the dribble and has the ability to hit the open shot. He is well built and pretty durable. Definitely an updgrade over Rautins.

Dude, Marv is an upgrade over Rautins.

No offense, Marv.

smackeddog wrote:A bit more info about him- last season he was suffering from a hamstring injury and also a torn tendon in his right hand, which may explain why he lost the ability to shoot. What worries me is that some other fans more familar with him said that he seems to think he's a great player, not a role playing journeyman (which is what he is!), and it seems like from this quote they might be right:

....He wants a place where he can log consistent playing time.

“At this point in my career, I should be an impact player,” Mason said. “The last two years, I proved I can play. I should have a key role on the (new) team.”

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/free_agent_mason_prepared_to_move_on_97750319.html?c=y&page=1#storytop

Seems like he really burnt his bridges with the Spurs after only one year too- not a fan of this signing at all, but hopefully it's just for one year.

Sounds like al harrington

briggs what is up with the rautins obsession? fields looks like a good pick. knicks may have gotten a solid player in the 2nd round. you are DEMANDING they make two solid 2nd round picks. beggars can' be choosers man as a knicks fan i'll take what i can get. if fields is going to contribute this year i'm happy. stephenson had a few good SL games. take a minute to relax. this is a solid signing.

TMS wrote:

EwingsGlass wrote:All of the free agent talk tells me that there is a trade in the works that will take place after signing a free agent with the last of our cap space-- and that it will involve multiple players (including most if not all of our SGs). Either that or Azu's injury, Wilson's unnatural position, and Bill Walker's summer league performance make the Knick's feel the need to get another SG. Though I really don't think either Brown or Mason are that much of an upgrade over what we have. I think there is more action than what we are seeing.

agreed. its just a matter of time til Wilson gets traded to clear cap space this summer. we're still in the Wait for a Free Agent to come save us mode.

I don't believe we are. Donnie's been making moves this summer. I don't think that's fair to say.