We have massive cap space and a high draft pick. I'm ALL for rebuilding but at the same time I want to win. I dont care if we draft someone and they are part of the 2nd unit to start--thats no big deal. I dont care if we add developmental guys from the draft--all for it. But there is OPPORTUNITY now and I dont want to lose sight of it. What team really is that great in the EC? Why cant a team change dramatically--in on year? Why did we pay Carmelo if we dont want to win now? No one gives a sht about coming to see Carmelo--they want to see the KNicks win. I DO NOT agree that this has to be a 5 year process.

Virtually ANY POSTION that is a 2way player that can handle the ball and hit the 3pt shot, preferably penetrate and finish with contact as he will get the lane to penetrate with this lineup with 5 shooters on the floor with Lebron being the WORST shooter, with Lebron's leadership and every position being able to rebound, while Durant MUST get WIDE OPEN SHOTS = CHAMPIONSHIPS

Thanasis or Jarrell Eddie for OFFENSE until Thanasis develops 3pt range

Justice Winslow or Mario Henzoja
Lebron (PF/PG)
Durant (center)

And this is why I would not overpay for talents this year and force CA to ask for a trade as he cannot accept a rebuilding team, while being able to better spend the money he makes for more cap flexibity
I am not even counting the assets we would be gaining in this process that can be used for trades or further development if CA is sent to Houston

1- DMO or/and Terrence Jones *both of which have 1st rounder value and RFA in 2017, both are TRIANGLE FITS and could be kept and further developed or easily traded for 1st rounder or move up in draft to acquire 2 TOP 10 picks in this draft along with Memphis's 1st rounder*

2- Memphis 1st rounder or 2 future 1st rounders from Houston that would be in 2017 and 2019 at earliest
3- 2 2nd rounder that are owned by Houston that are NYK's, one this summer's and one next summers

4- Cory Brewer or KJ McDaniels *that we could send to a contender for at least a 2nd rounder*
5- Koustas Pap *unguaranteed 5m salary to allow salaries/trade to work* possible future trading chip to add salaries, traded, or cut right away

6- to match salaries

A- IF NEEDED, take back Jason Terry in a sign and trade *with only 1st year guaranteed or partial guarantee and CUT right away, giving him FREE MONEY to allow the trade to work*
B- Pablo Prig's as he has a partial guarantee
C- Some vet min players like the PF/C that cannot shoot but will not take back longer salaries that are guaranteed over 1year remaining, not interested in Nick Johnson

I would give them back

1- CA

2- Early/Tim Hardaway JR and some more throw ins if needed, including a sign and trade if AB is willing to take less to join Houston
They likely will try to get Thanasis in the process and even though I will try to not include him but if they insist, in the end, I MUST GET back Memphis's 1st rounder this summer and both of our 2nd rounders this summer and next year if so, or both of Terrence Jones/DMO, 2/3

HOW TO EXECUTE A PLAN TO CONTEND, keep flexiblity, rotating assets, and preserving cap space for 2017 with the rise of the cap in 2017 EVERY YEAR and our ability to pay FA's due to Dolan's deep pockets
Even though the CAP will rise to 100m + eventually, it does not mean teams will be willing to spend that money in order, but Dolan WILL because he wants NOTHING MORE THAN A RING and FANS to fill MSG for years to come in the process, with Lebron, he will decline but his leadership/experience/understanding of the game will not, he fits in with how NYK's are willing to pay OVER THE PRIME ALL STAR's, as other teams simply might not give the contract that Lebron wants and feel he deserves at his age in 2017 and AFTER

And this should be one of our plans that Phil Jackson should try to execute, simply by forcing CA's hand and CA has 124m reasons with a trade kicker and NO STATE's tax, with the ability to contend for a RING RIGHT AWAY in Houston than to stay in NYK and watch as we must develop talents before we can contend with CA's contract

CA is a tweener, isn't a leader, isn't a good defender, making him very hard to build around as the 1st piece, unless we have a lot of future assets/developming top tier 2way talents, which we DO NOT HAVE
With that said, he is a very good scorer, and in the right team/system with a Harden to draw double triples teams, leading to a wide open shot, he would fit in with them and other teams, however, not for us
They have the defenders in Beverely, Ariza, D12, possibly Corey Brewer or KJ McDaniels, Josh Smith, if they keep DMO or Terrence Jones, along with the MLE and draft picks that I would want back but might not get all of this years draft back, out of all teams in the entire NBA, Houston would be the most logical sense for CA, Houston, and NYK's to make it work

Beverely
Harden
Ariza
CA
D12

PG
Tim Hardaway/Early
KJ Mcdaniels or Brewer
Terrence Jones or DMO
Josh Smith
AB?
draft picks?
MLE? could be divided...

Morey desperatly wants that 3rd STAR and rub it in EVERY GM's face, however, he must give us back good/great value in the process
If they were willing to pay Chris Bosh MAX money, along with this years result, I can totally see them doing such a move, that would make them a TOP 2 contender in the West for the next couple of years
Josh Smith has great chemistry with D12 and he has found a home in Houston to utilize him correctly, one more year and the cap rises with early bird rights, so Josh Smith will likely stay as this is the best team/overall best fit in his entire career, AB could be a sign and trade target in the range of 2-3m with no STATES tax to contend as well to replenish what DMO/Terrence Jones gives
Early/Tim Hardaway could be utilized in this team with Harden and I hope we are able to keep Thanasis as I have high hopes of him with his motor/work ethic/ceiling
In order to keep him, I would play chicken with Morey and say no deal, then utilize the media to go after 2015 FA's to build a play off contending team this summer instead of trading CA o them and see if Morey/Houston gives in

they could also play Harden at the PG to go BIG/SMall, at least for stretches

Harden
Ariza
CA
Josh Smith
D12/DMO or Terrence Jones while moving Smith to Center, they could make Harden the PG, with 5 legit 3pt shooting threats

ON DRAFT NIGHT, a deal agreed upon but not announced till later...
OUR BEST CASE SCENARIO would be to acquire

Memphis 2015 1st rounder this summer and they own all of their own 1st rounders that are tradable from 2017 and after because they sent this years draft pick to Lakers for taking Lin's contract
2 2nd rounders that NYK's have traded that Houston currently owns, one this summer and one next, they also own Portlands 2017 2nd rounder

Terrence Jones and DMO BOTH, both of which are RFA in 2017, that could be further developed or used to move up in this draft for 2 TOP 10picks

Corey Brewer and Koustas Pap, both of which make about 5m each, that we could eventually send out to contenders for 2nd rounders, or kept for future trades, or cut right away for Koustas Pap who we orginally selected with our 43rd pick a couple years back from Greece

And some more salaries if needed with 150% rule, with us taking LESS salary back to have EVEN more money to spend this summer

For

CA
Tim Hardway JR
Early
AB?? *if he can agree to a 2-3m deal*
And whoever is needed, though I would prefer to keep Thanasis

knickscity wrote:Contrary to what some folks think, this team needs nearly an entirely new roster. The only true guarantee to be back is Melo and if he isnt 100, and he's already stated he'll never be, this team wont reach what some expect. Phil himself has tempered expectations for a reason, he knows this isnt easy. Talentwise this was the worst team in the NBA with a record to match. Upgrade the talent and maybe they can make the playoffs next season, which was phil's goal this seaosn.

I fully agree, I know there are a lot of CA fan's on this board, but this is business and we can better utilize his contract and acquire assets for our future while preserving the cap space needed for TOP TIER FA's while getting cost friendly contract this summer instead of overpaying for talent

With this draft having so many high ceiling players, this is a move that is very realistic, and would give us the cap flexiblity and youth/assets that we would need to build a contending dynasty/franchise that we have missed

While we have traded our 1st rounder next year for AB, we can still get back our own 2nd rounder in such a move

Whiteside/Durant among with many other FA's are very possible top tier talents that would consider NYK's because of endorsements and the talent we would acquire that would allow us to contend
NOTHING beats winning, but nothing beats winning in NEW YORK, with a owner that is willing to overpay and keep talent when the cap will continue to grow after 2017

And I have been saying this for a long time with the possibly of trading down to a TOP 6 pick if we land a TOP 2 pick if a team is willing to overpay as Phil Jackson has said is available
Now what if we can get 2 picks at about 6/7, with the assets/moves above, if needed trading a future 1st rounder to move up in order to do so, along with getting 2nd rounders in this draft on TOP OF IT
And some talent in DMO/Terrence Jones that could be easily moved for 1st round value or kept for further development and maybe moved later along with the contracts of Corey Brewer/Koustas Pap/Calderon for Durant if Durant forces a trade to NYK's like CA did years back

Russell or Mudiay
Winslow or Mario Henzoja

any 2 of these above would be no brainers, while it would still be great if we had some other players below or others

Frank the Tank
WCS
Kristas Pap or Grant

2nd rounders???