Juice wrote:Not surprised at the pickup. Somewhat indifferent to it. Billups is good people at the same time you kind of wonder what's truly in the best interest of the team. In February it was said we were picking up his option so more than likely this was part of the deadline trade deal.

yeah, just an "extension" of the trade. i can buy that.

misterearl wrote:

OasisBU wrote:This is good news - but we realistically need to find a solid backup PG, a C and probably a true SG. I will settle for 2 of the 3 but it's going to be tough to pull off.

Then we need to worry about our bench.

OasisBU - focus. And don't be greedy.

Donnie Walsh needs to scour the earth for one thing and ONE thing only. A legit center.

A C E N T E R

Two centers would be even better but just one center would fill the huge donut hole left by Mozgov.

The bench can be filled by the best summer leaguers left standing after Las Vegas

Centers/PFs from Hoopshype:

Power Forward
(name, team – 2010-11 salary – status)

David West, New Orleans Hornets - $8.3 million – Early Termination Option ($7.5 million)
Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs - $18.8 million – Early Termination Option ($21.1 million)
Andrei Kirilenko, Utah Jazz - $17.8 million - Unrestricted
Jeff Green, Boston Celtics - $4.5 million – Restricted ($5.9 million Qualifying Offer)
Boris Diaw, Charlotte Bobcats - $9.0 million – Player Option ($9.0 million)
Troy Murphy, Boston Celtics - $0.9 million – Unrestricted
Carl Landry, New Orleans Hornets - $3.0 million - Unrestricted
Kenyon Martin, Denver Nuggets - $16.5 million – Unrestricted
Glen Davis, Boston Celtics – $3.3 million – Unrestricted
Ronny Turiaf, New York Knicks - $4.2 million – Player Option ($4.1 million)
Kris Humphries, New Jersey Nets - $3.2 million – Unrestricted
Reggie Evans, Toronto Raptors - $5.1 million – Unrestricted
Louis Amundson, Golden State Warriors – $2.2 million – Player Option ($2.4 million)
Chuck Hayes, Houston Rockets - $2.3 million – Unrestricted
Yi Jianlian, Washington Wizards - $4.1 million – Restricted ($5.4 million Qualifying Offer)
Josh McRoberts, Indiana Pacers - $0.9 million – Unrestricted*
Jared Jeffries, New York Knicks - $0.9 million - Unrestricted
Luc Mbah a Moute, Milwaukee Bucks - $0.9 million – Unrestricted*
Jason Smith, New Orleans Hornets - $2.2 million – Restricted ($3.1 million Qualifying Offer)
Craig Smith, L.A. Clippers - $2.3 million – Unrestricted
Dante Cunningham, Charlotte Bobcats - $0.8 million – Unrestricted*
Joey Dorsey, Toronto Raptors - $0.9 million – Unrestricted*
Joe Smith, L.A. Lakers - $1.4 million – Unrestricted
Malik Allen, Orlando Magic - $1.2 million - Unrestricted
Jonas Jerebko, Detroit Pistons - $0.8 million – Unrestricted*
Sam Young, Memphis Grizzlies - $0.9 million – Team Option ($0.9 million)
Juwan Howard, Miami HEAT - $1.4 million - Unrestricted
Brandan Wright, New Jersey Nets - $3.4 million – Restricted ($4.6 million Qualifying Offer)
Darius Songaila, Philadelphia 76ers - $4.8 million - Unrestricted
Leon Powe, Boston Celtics - $0.9 million – Unrestricted
Shelden Williams, New York Knicks - $0.9 million – Unrestricted
Chris Wilcox, Detroit Pistons - $3.0 million – Unrestricted
DJ Mbenga, New Orleans Hornets - $0.9 million - Unrestricted
Brian Skinner, Milwaukee Bucks - $1.0 million – Unrestricted
Hamady Ndiaye, Washington Wizards - $0.5 million – Unrestricted*
DeMarre Carroll, Houston Rockets - $1.1 million – Unrestricted
Solomon Jones, Indiana Pacers - $1.5 million - Unrestricted
Brian Cardinal, Dallas Mavericks - $1.4 million - Unrestricted
Brian Scalabrine, Chicago Bulls - $1.2 million - Unrestricted
Josh Powell, Atlanta Hawks - $1.0 million – Unrestricted
Melvin Ely, Denver Nuggets - $1.1 million - Unrestricted

Center
(name, team – 2010-11 salary – status)

Nene, Denver Nuggets - $11.4 million – Early Termination Option ($11.6 million)
Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies - $3.6 million – Unrestricted*
Tyson Chandler, Dallas Mavericks - $12.6 million – Unrestricted
Yao Ming, Houston Rockets - $17.7 million - Unrestricted
Joel Przybilla, Charlotte Bobcats - $7.4 million – Unrestricted
Samuel Dalembert, Sacramento Kings – $13.4 million - Unrestricted
Greg Oden, Portland Trail Blazers - $6.8 million – Restricted ($8.8 million Qualifying Offer)
Spencer Hawes, Philadelphia 76ers - $3.0 million – Restricted ($4.1 million Qualifying Offer)
Nenad Krstic, Boston Celtics - $5.7 million – Unrestricted
Tony Battie, Philadelphia 76ers - $1.4 million – Unrestricted
Kyrylo Fesenko, Utah Jazz - $1.1 million - Unrestricted
Erick Dampier, Miami HEAT - $1.1 million - Unrestricted
Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Miami HEAT - $1.4 million - Unrestricted
Jeff Foster, Indiana Pacers - $6.7 million - Unrestricted
Nazr Mohammed, Oklahoma City Thunder - $6.9 million – Unrestricted
DeAndre Jordan, L.A. Clippers - $0.9 million – Unrestricted*
Kurt Thomas, Chicago Bulls - $1.4 million – Unrestricted
Francisco Elson, Utah Jazz - $1.1 million – Unrestricted
Hilton Armstrong, Atlanta Hawks - $0.9 million - Unrestricted
Aaron Gray, New Orleans Hornets - $0.9 million – Player Option ($0.9 million)
Jamaal Magloire, Miami HEAT - $1.4 million - Unrestricted
Dan Gadzuric, New Jersey Nets - $7.2 million - Unrestricted
Ryan Hollins, Cleveland Cavaliers - $2.3 million – Player Option ($2.5 million)
Kwame Brown, Charlotte Bobcats - $1.3 million – Unrestricted
Theo Ratliff, L.A. Lakers - $1.4 million - Unrestricted
Etan Thomas, Atlanta Hawks - $1.2 million – Unrestricted
Jason Collins, Atlanta Hawks - $1.2 million – Unrestricted
Eddy Curry - $11.3 million - Unrestricted
Hamed Haddadi, Memphis Grizzlies - $1.8 million – Unrestricted*
Alexis Ajinca, Toronto Raptors - $1.5 million – Unrestricted

GodSaveTheKnicks wrote:

crzymdups wrote:Seems like it was the only logical choice with so much cap uncertainty with the lockout.

Choosing between Chauncey and a POSSIBLE $8M in cap space pretty much is a no-brainer. Now we just need to hire the guy who keeps Steve Nash and Grant Hill healthy all season.

+1

Guys we can possibly get the for veterans minimum and should go after:

Reggie Evans
Chuck Hayes
Kenyon Martin
Leon Powe
Chris Wilcox
Jeff Foster
Kurt Thomas
Etan Thomas
Theo Ratliff

These guys will probably get the MLE but I would go after them anyway:

Samuel Dalembert, Kris Humphries

Panos wrote:I don't think you get KMart for the vets min. Or Reggie Evans or Etan Thomas for that matter.

We'll see.

y2zipper wrote:Knicks should take a shot at Greg Oden or Yao Ming for one of those two center slots. Something like Dalembert and then Oden for the minimum to back him up would solve the Center problems, then they can sign a backup point guard.

not sure what the update is with Yao but I read an article a couple of weeks ago where Oden said he won't start running for like 5 months from now.

The only FA that makes sense for us Reggie Evans.

Gasol is more than a MLE and Memphis wil want something back in a sign and trade. What would we offer?

Marc Gasol is gonna come here after STAT called his brother soft?

People like to talk about the Knicks like it's a video game and you just trade players. But you have to think of friendships, who wants to play here, who wants to play with who. I dont see anyone on that list of free agents who fits our needs. Period. Draft the best player available at our draft pick and try to package him and Turiaf for something.

nixluva wrote:Man I want no part of Oden or Yao. As great as their talent and size is, their a career ending injury waiting to happen. I'd rather go hard after DeAndre Jordan. I don't think the Clips will overpay for him. In fact they let this kid get to be an unrestricted FA! What's that about? If i'm him I sign with the Knicks and leave that broken organization in the dust. They'll find a way to mess up having Griffin, cuz they always do. He can come to NY and start and play with a team that has 2 Superstars and is much closer to winning.

The Knicks don't have the cap space to make a huge signing because they're going to keep themselves in the sweepstakes for CP3/Deron Williams/Dwight Howard. I like DeAndre Jordan as much as the next guy, but if he goes to UFA, somebody with cap space will get him because they can pay more. Players like Jordan who haven't made any money yet will go for the money.