Posted by 30andOverClub:

Three Walsh quotes within the past month:

"I'm not going to put (Dolan) in that position," Walsh said. "It's my fault if that happens."

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/2008/09/27/2008-09-27_for_good_of_knicks_cant_get_rid_of_steph.html

"I can only tell you this," he said. "I was doing this in Indiana for a long time and I can't ever remember buying out a contract. I did it through trades. (Buying players out) just isn't good management."

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/2008/09/26/2008-09-26_donnie_walsh_mike_dantoni_stephon_marbur.html

"He is coming to training camp. We have not approached Stephon about a buyout."

http://www.nypost.com/seven/09242008/sports/knicks/hous_back__steph__too_____for_now_130459.htm

If there was a public mandate from Dolan, why is Walsh talking like these buyouts are his decision?

Who knows. You suppose it's because he's the GM and dolan just doesn't talk to the media or public? And so he's protecting dolan from any further criticisms? All I know is in the last couple months I remember reading twice' somewhere that dolan will not let Walsh buy anyone out. I am assuming this was straight from dolan.

I think Oohah and 30andOverClub are right - this is Walsh's policy not to buy out contracts, and not Dolan's. No one has produced any quotes from Dolan saying he wouldn't do buyouts, or from anyone saying that Dolan refused to do any buyouts.

To get back to the crux of this thread, if we trade a guy like Balkman for ewing who is a guy like Balkman, we might as well keep the guy like Balkman, since we need a guy like Balkman, and we don't need a guy like Roberson, no?


oohah

I really dont think Balkman was that good.

You're correct, Balkman wasn't that good, but he had his uses. Nice shotblocker, good for some steals and he could dunk on anybody. On the downside, he was the king of the all-glass layup, and his shot was abysmal.

Ariza was/is better than either Balkman or Ewing.

oohah

Posted by BasketballJones:

I think Oohah and 30andOverClub are right - this is Walsh's policy not to buy out contracts, and not Dolan's. No one has produced any quotes from Dolan saying he wouldn't do buyouts, or from anyone saying that Dolan refused to do any buyouts.

I wish I could find the damn quotes that were made in the newspapers (or wherever I saw them) and then question were they came from. I go based on what I read and see and have been known to quote others accordingly. But if producing direct quotes is gonna be something important around here, then LOL on that one. I don't think anyone here lies about what they saw and I don't think we should start now. And besides, how often are we gonna get a direct quote from dolan? Rare, rare, rare.

The Knicks have 16 players signed to contracts so either they:

1. Buy someone out; or,

2. Make a 2 for 1 trade, or a 3 for 2 trade.
Curry and Roberson are definitely on the trade block. And Malik. 2 of the 3 will be traded if Walsh can work out some decent deal. People may put Curry down, but he is a valuable piece to trade to a team that needs a lowpost scorer.

Walsh is right now trying to make the trade. He better do something very soon or he will have to buy out someone's contract whether he likes doing that or not.

[Edited by - markji on 10-25-2008 08:53 AM]

Posted by 4949:

Posted by CrushAlot:

He is a role player but in NY he has a nostalgic value. The Knicks are the Isiah Knicks, The Anucha Knicks, The Dolan Knicks. They used to be good and they used to be the Ewing Knicks. He is certainly better than Balkman and has a role on this team. He is not yet a rotation player but I think management thinks he can become that. He wasn't drafted by the Knicks. I am not saying that he is an all star but he is a guy with potential, character, an amazing work ethic, and ability. He also has a connection to one of the greatest players in the Knicks franchise history. Don't sell his talent, character, and heart short because he has the same name as his father but will never be a superstar. He can be an exciting rotation player and maybe more. Make the same argument in a convincing manner for Jerome James and I will never post here again.

I'm so sick and tired of Houston for one. I cannot even believe he had yet another' chance to try out for the roster. To be honest, I want to forget all about the Ewing, Starks, Spreewell, Houston eras. I want to start concentrating on the Lee, Chandler, Gallinari eras. We can't move on if we won't let go. It's not like we have some kind of a 'tradition' or anything like that. And the championships are just too far away for most to have even experienced here. We have to make our story now and into the future.

A little harsh on Allan? Hey, I'm tired of the annual comeback trail as well but the guy hadn't played a meaningful game since 2003 and any game at all since 2005....he was never a threat to the roster cutting procedure.

Yet, he is a Knick at heart and you got to applaud his desire to want to come back HERE and if he couldn't come back on the court he WANTED to come back in the front office or as a coach.

You MUST applaud that.


..........as to this thread. Walsh and his "I dont do buyouts" better not bite us in the ass. He reached for Roberson. He brought in EwJr. He needs to just man up and cut Jerome or Malik. We have plenty of contracts to trade as time moves forward so cutting Jerome or Malik doesn't screw us in any way.

Keep the kids buy out one of the wasteful vets.

I STILL say that Walsh is trying to consummate a trade to cut us down to 15 though.

Posted by earthmansurfer:


Perhaps you should be a pro scout cause how much have you seen Ewing play? He sure made a difference last night. Ariza was a great energy guy too, but he has been in the league for a few years now. After a few years and with his work ethic, how can you say Ewing won't be a lot better?

Are you actually trying to say something? Then say it. And yes, I should probably be a pro scout.

by the way, Ariza is 23, a year younger than ewing and he is in his fifth year in the pros vying for a starting spot on the Lakers. Ewing is 24 and is a rookie struggling to make the Knicks.

Stop being silly.

'nuff said.

oohah



[Edited by - oohah on 25-10-2008 12:55 PM]

Posted by BasketballJones:

Posted by 4949:

Posted by BasketballJones:

I think Oohah and 30andOverClub are right - this is Walsh's policy not to buy out contracts, and not Dolan's. No one has produced any quotes from Dolan saying he wouldn't do buyouts, or from anyone saying that Dolan refused to do any buyouts.

I wish I could find the damn quotes that were made in the newspapers (or wherever I saw them) and then question were they came from. I go based on what I read and see and have been known to quote others accordingly. But if producing direct quotes is gonna be something important around here, then LOL on that one. I don't think anyone here lies about what they saw and I don't think we should start now. And besides, how often are we gonna get a direct quote from dolan? Rare, rare, rare.

Sometimes people make claims and are called on it. They find quotes to back up what they say. You could try google.

So your calling me a liar? Are you guys trying to make me less credible here or something? This isn't about finding a quote is it?

I wonder how MDA feels about Roberson? If he really thinks that he can get something out of him, then he'll want to keep him around, but if he's honest with himself, he knows that Roberson likely won't play much and doesn't address many of the teams needs. We need another backup SF who can also defend other positions. Jr. blocks shots too and we all know we need more help defenders on this team. I just see Jr. being the better basketball decision.

In the big scheme of things Jr. and Roberson don't matter much, so I won't cry over either pick. I just get the sense that Jr.'s pedigree will kick in and he'll be the better player down the line.

Posted by 4949:



Aside from whether he said it or not, we simply cannot continue to keep buying out players, when they don't work out. They tried it before and it failed.

They picked up the rest of Larry Johnson's 12 years, 84 million dollar contract and then had to eat the rest of his salary because he could no longer play, because of a bad back. Same with Houston. Six year, 100 million and he didn't finish either. And then there was the Brown contract and basic buyout, Jalen Rose contract and buyout. I believe they had to do the same for Luc Longley also. And then Anucha case cost what' 11 million?

It's just way, way, way too much money dolan lost and to keep doing it would mean losing even more. Not happening and if it did' then I'd be the most surprised person on earth. Fiscally, it just isn't sensible to go that route anymore.

To me, those examples only show that the acquiring of albatross contracts is a bad thing to begin with. Tt wasn't really the buying out of those contracts that was the mistake. For example, it doesn't really help the Knicks to keep Jalen that one extra year when he was basically washed up and couldn't contribute since the Knicks would have to pay him anyway, and his roster spot could go to someone more useful.

I think it's worth the money to see if Ewing Jr will pan out or not. Especially since it'll really only cost the Knicks $450,000. (Ewing Jr's contract). And that's because regardless of whether Jerome James is on the roster or not, he's going to get payed to do nothing. If it doesn't cost us much to see if we can get a useful player down the road I don't see any reason not to do it.