Posted by BRIGGS:

that is my exact point. Would a plan of executing a trade to acquire variable assets instead of 1 player been the way to go--IMHO yes. I would have rather pulled off the Mcdyess Ward Doleac to Atlanta for Ratliff and Rahim while retaining all of our assets. Rahim would have continued to score 20 points on the Knicks and actually with both of those players--we wouldve made the playoffs and likely we would have been more competitive because no one has a C in the east and a combination of KT and Rahim in the post with Ratliff wouldve trumped most eastern teams. At the same time we couldve continued to increase FWs value by giving him 30 minutes with eisley spelling him. If we needed to pick up a Ron Mercer for to compensate for Houston-he was there.
With a line -up of
C- Ratliff
PF Rahim
SF Van Horn
SG Houston-Andersen-Mercer
PG Williams-Eisley
C- Mutumbo
PF Thomas Sweetney
SF Johnson

i think the biggest reason that isaih wanted marbury is for leadership. before the trade, knicks did not have a vocal leader. spree used to be that person but now he is gone. dice just plays and houston was hurt and really leads by example. marbury is a leader on the floor. he has the potential to be a great leader like kidd ( see 02-03 phoenix season). he is young and willing to learn from two of the best point guards in history ( wilkens and thomas). the team was in flux when the most vocal leader on the floor was howard eisley. the trade of bringing rahim and ratliff would still have the same problem. ratliff is an energetic guy but no leader. well, we all know about rahim's story. not vocal at all and plays well in spurts. honestly, we would have had a worse team in my opinion. imagine with houston down and the defense collapsing on rahim, who does not score well with double teams. ugly. don't get me wrong. i would love to have rahim NOW. but not if he is the best option on our team.

the only reason I would want Rahim is to trade him. We need an athletic 4/5 that can defend. Was anyone watching the Nets series?

I think Sweetney will be a good scorer rebounder for many years to come, but we dont have one good defender in the post, and it kills us everynight.

Briggs, you know what, I respect you cause you're a knowledgeable fan.

Yet, reading you changing your mind all the time is tiring.

You're shooting Marbury. I remember one of your post saying that he was unguardable, that was a huge asset and that we had to surround him with better players. After a game against the clippers, I think.

Same thing about dice. You shot at that trade, yet, after seeing one preseason game against san antonio, in which you were amazed to see all defenders collapse on dice, you said "dice is a monster". again, same stuff, "we have to surround him...blablablabla".

Be brave for once. try to wait and see if it works before crying.
this trade is not a failure yet, but you're still posting bad vibes in the hope of being able to say one day, "i told you so".

We had no proof lampe could become a good player. We had no proof vujanic could become a good player. To the opposite, we already know that marbury is a good player, and yes, we're waiting for the proof that he can be great.

rebuilding from scratch is useless. How many times did it work in the moderne era ? I can hear the name of san antonio, a team that could get the 1st pick since his 2 best players missed one entire season and suked bad for no real reason.

To start building a house, you need a first brick. That's what marbury is. A first brick. Seeing that trade as a final goal is shortsighted.

This trade is not a goal, it's a first step in the right direction.

I do actually agree with Briggs that being in the postition we were in the Rahim/Ratliff trade would have been a better fit, but its totally irrelevent. That trade wasnt available and we got a great player in Marbury. Yea, its only stats but he's done in 8 year what only one other player has ever done over a career... average 20/8

"Mike Bibby Tony Parker Sam Cassell[although he is older] Chauncey Billups Steve Nash are guys who are all comparable to Marbury"

Marbury is an upgrade over every one of those guys. Tony PArker said himself the hardest PG he's ever had to play against was Marbury.

Clearly he needs a better supporting cast. I love the line "Isiah is good used car salesman" because thats exactly what we need at this point both with other players and other GMs.

yuck... not a big fan of building around guys with back problems