Ira wrote:Jason Thompson is a good overall player. He can score, play d and board. He's not great at any one thing, but does most things well. As a backup at center and pf, he'd be a good fit.

unless we're talking about a Mozgov/Azabuike trade to get him, i wouldn't do it... i don't give up AR for Jason Thompson, i think AR has a bigger upside & he's 3 years younger.

Childs2Dudley wrote:Who wants to bet BRIGGS will make a "Time to trade Jason Thompson" thread one month after acquiring him?

Cruel...very cruel.

You know Briggs is a stocks guy, and always looking to make a profit, build a portfolio, unload an underperforming company, or discover the next big thing- he's just translating this to basketball.

BRIGGS wrote:

Childs2Dudley wrote:Who wants to bet BRIGGS will make a "Time to trade Jason Thompson" thread one month after acquiring him?

If MDA wont play Randolph and if the Knicks are unwilling or cannot send him to the D league to play--then what value does he have to the team? We need a third big who can play without question. Certainly there are other players out there but in terms of bigs who are proven and cheap--the list is smallish.

I understand where you're coming from but its still too early to tell if AR can fit in with this squad. I'm hoping that with this new found commitment to playing uptempo that AR will start to get more burn.

TMS wrote:

Ira wrote:Jason Thompson is a good overall player. He can score, play d and board. He's not great at any one thing, but does most things well. As a backup at center and pf, he'd be a good fit.

unless we're talking about a Mozgov/Azabuike trade to get him, i wouldn't do it... i don't give up AR for Jason Thompson, i think AR has a bigger upside & he's 3 years younger.

I agree that AR, on the surface, has bigger upside. But two things bother me about him. One is that he's an injury waiting to happen, so I think it makes sense to trade him while he's healthy. The other is that he doesn't play smart. I like his size, quickness and athleticism, but when I see him on the court, I'm not impressed with his game.

To me there is a philisophical question here. Are we close enough to winning or being a certain level of team where it makes sense to trade for inferior talent to get a piece that might fit better? I dont think we are there yet.

You're right fish, we're not there (at all)

alexs wrote:Not enough of an upgrade I think, just sitting it out for a while could be a much better strategy, especially AR should come along, too talented not to get it at a certain point in time.

We have an MVP type post player we have a 20+ point wing we have a top 10 PG we have a top3 6th man we haev a defensive big who brings a ton of energy and toughness we have a 6-7 do everything wing who has played very well on both sides of the ball--what we need is a third skilled big--we see how thin we are when Turiaf goes down. This team has many of the needed parts to bve a big time team now--just need to fill in the blanks. If Gallo keeps up the 20-24 pts--there are so many shots to go around. we could use a guy who could give us 12-8 and hopefully azu comes back--that would upgrade the team. If I could get Thompson for as cheap as possible I would but I think its going to take an AR type deal--whats better getting 0 value or helping this team win now without disrupting FA, and for the right big deal--I would easily disrupt FA. I just think Thompson is the cheap way to improve.

The goal is to win--no team is that great in the east if we are able to load up a bit more.

fishmike wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:

alexs wrote:Not enough of an upgrade I think, just sitting it out for a while could be a much better strategy, especially AR should come along, too talented not to get it at a certain point in time.

We have an MVP type post player we have a 20+ point wing we have a top 10 PG we have a top3 6th man we haev a defensive big who brings a ton of energy and toughness we have a 6-7 do everything wing who has played very well on both sides of the ball--what we need is a third skilled big--we see how thin we are when Turiaf goes down. This team has many of the needed parts to bve a big time team now--just need to fill in the blanks. If Gallo keeps up the 20-24 pts--there are so many shots to go around. we could use a guy who could give us 12-8 and hopefully azu comes back--that would upgrade the team. If I could get Thompson for as cheap as possible I would but I think its going to take an AR type deal--whats better getting 0 value or helping this team win now without disrupting FA, and for the right big deal--I would easily disrupt FA. I just think Thompson is the cheap way to improve.

The goal is to win--no team is that great in the east if we are able to load up a bit more.

Briggs, as a fan I would love to agree. But collectively Gallo, Chandler, Felton, Fields and Turiaf (the pieces you mention) have done VERY LITTLE at the NBA level to prove that we are as close as you think we are. I want to see 40-50 games with that group. A 45 win team (.550 winning %) is your good, but non elite NBA team

If we are 28-22 (.55) after 50 games (right about the trade deadline) then I am on board. If we are winning the games winning teams are "supposed" to win. If we are winning some games against the good teams in the NBA then OK. This team shows promise. BUT... There still seem to be a lot of holes in this team and its not clear where they are. We just lost 6 in a row and a lot of those teams were awful. We are doing some things better, but mostly Gallo is beasting and Felton's role seems to have been adjusted and its working out great.

I need to see more before I trade my prospects for guys who will be NBA carreer role players. At one point AR was the guy you wanted to see start at center. Maybe he's the missing piece. Maybe its Mosgov. Time will tell... cant speed up time.

Fishmike--go tell me the records of the last 25 teams with a guy who won the MVP. If Amare stays at his current level(game picked up--he will be in the running) When you have an NBA MVP caliber player a legit 20 pt wing scorer a legit top 10 PG a legit top 3 6th man a solid back up defender at C I mean we haev some serious pieces--when you have that--its win now my friend--win baby win--there is no defeatist attitude. I feel Gallo is here to stay now where he is at skill wise and that gives us a big 3 with more of a team concept. The time to win is today.