I hope Isiah does indeed match becuase I think he's a better backup then Jerome and obviously he's much cheaper. If Isiah keeps Butler then that increases the chances that Jerome has played his last game as a Knick and that Isiah will conduct buyout options. I would think.

We gotta match. Butler is still intriging with his potential. 3yrs 7mil is way worth finding out the type of player he can become.

Whats up with that guy Akeledale(spell) though. He hardly plays. Are we trying to hide him from another team snatching him up?? I remember that happend last season to one of our prospects. Who played well in camp and got snatched up by another team with an offer.

Smart buisness would be to use Taylor & or Rose contracts to dump James buy trading there ending contract & James contract that runs through 09 for 2 contracts that run until 07 & 08.

Posted by MaulingandAppalling:

LET JACKIE GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sure he's talented, but a big man without fire is never going to matter in this league.

A voice of reason

Posted by MaulingandAppalling:

LET JACKIE GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sure he's talented, but a big man without fire is never going to matter in this league.

Butler is only 21 and already a serviceable backup center. It's a bargain to get a serviceable backup in this league for 7 million over 3 years considering that a player like Michael Doleac, who was already entering his prime, got 11 million over 4 years, while a young player like Butler will continue to get better. Plus, if Jerome James is out of shape, the Knicks don't have a backup center. I don't see why they should let Butler go. it makes no sense.

Posted by purple012870:

A couple of things to consider here:

-Knicks have 7 days to match

-Gregg Popovich, the Spurs coach/GM, is trying to stick it to the Knicks here by overpaying for a guy to steal him. He's trying to put the Knicks in a bad position of losing a guy or overpaying to match. Popovich is best friends with Larry Brown.

Here's what I think the Knicks response will be. In the next 7 days:

a) The Knicks will pursue Kenyon Martin. Denver desperately wants him out (both for financial & chemistry reasons....he doesn't get along with George Karl). Knicks are looking to dump as well. So, two packages make sense. Steve Francis for Martin straight up. Or, Mo Taylor (who is an absolute lazy dog of a player) + Jerome James (see Mo Taylor). In this scenario, Knicks definitely match the Spurs offer for Butler as James (the backup C) would be gone. A front court of Curry, Lee, Frye & Martin is pretty versatile & pretty good.

b) The Knicks don't get the Nuggets to bite on that package for KMart. If this is the case, its unclear whether they'd match the Spurs offer.

I don't think they can save any $$$ on a buy out of Big Snacks. 1) Why would he accept less? 2) A buy out doesn't get you out of luxury tax or salary cap problems.

Stop sippin on that purple. This contract is not overpaying, its a little under what he could actually get elsewhere. It has little to do with LB, imo.

Plus JB could end up being a part of our longterm core of young players.