BRIGGS wrote:

Finestrg wrote:Definitely agree on Aldrich. He showed his worth in spades last year when Woody actually got around to playing him -- gotta believe he improved his value even in limited duty. Dude's a double/double waiting to happen and he's also a darn good rim protector...You're right I could see quite a few teams being interested in him. Hopefully we can find a way to separate ourselves from other interested teams somehow (can we squeak out a little more money than the vet minimum for him hopefully? Maybe part of the mid-level if a guy like Mills or Collison don't eat it all up? And/or do we promise him more mins than he got last year? Legit mins. this year? Maybe that could work...Already thinking past him if we lose out though -- guys like Marcus Cousin, Daniel Orton, Jeff Withey, Alexis Ajinca, etc..

Would love to move away from Tyson Chandler -- would love to trade him off but no longer really want to bring in more long-term salary. Would love to build this up nice and cheap going for the most bang for our buck for the time being -- let's finally throw some pretty good cheap young talent on the wall and see what sticks. I betcha quite a few if not all of the league minimum-types I mentioned above would really surprise a lot of people by becoming rotation players for us...Ideally, I'd love to deal Chandler for a big expiring contract and a couple of good young pieces and/or a pick(s)...Too bad the Hornets don't really have that 1 big expiring contract..

I don't think Carmelo is coming back here. My goal if that happens is to hopefully be able to S+T him for picks to Chicago or anyone else who can bring in a package of something similar. If Chicago and we take back Boozer--we can be OK next year for sure we'd have one of the better frontlines in basketball. But more importantly wed be set up for multiple S+T for 2015 cap space 5-6 players we handpicked over two drafts. Our financial position for this yera is poor--I have my doubt sbaout signing Cole A I think hes going to get 4 years 12mm from someone--something we wont have. Hope Im wrong. I think we can be OK next year--maybe setting up for a trade deadline deal if we dont do so well--but certainly we d be a player a big player in 2015.

I don't know why people don't realize that Aldrich will probably not be here. Pretty sad ... I really like him.

Someone will overpay for a hard working coachable guy like him.

Finestrg wrote:

franco12 wrote:

Finestrg wrote:How's this plan -- at the very least (again, over the cap and no picks) regardless of what we wind up doing with Melo, Chandler, etc., make an effort to get a little younger, more athletic and up the overall talent level. It can be done on the cheap:

(1) Open up roster spots by removing the following players however possible:

Lamar Odom - either he's part of a trade or he gets cut. Too old and too troubled now to matter anymore.
Ray Felton
Pablo Prigioni
Jeremy Tyler

Tier 1 FA (what the Knicks would consider upper tier with very little cap room):

(2) Sign either Patty Mills or Darren Collison. Would love to add both but wouldn't want to lowball both and get neither.

(3) Resign Cole Aldrich.

Tier 2 FA:

(4) Consider signing the following guys to 2-3 year deals:

6'11" C Marcus Cousin
6'10" C/PF Daniel Orton
6'8" PF Richard Howell
6'8" SF Devin Ebanks
6'8" SG/SF DeQuan Jones
6'6" SG/SF Terrence Williams
6'3" PG/SG Seth Curry

(5) Shop Hardaway Jr. Don't know if N.O. would be interested in him (they have a lot of guards) but I'm VERY INTERESTED in a few of the Hornets young/cost-effective players. Not so much interested in Tyreke Evans anymore, but I'd work whatever lower assets we have available for the following players:

Jeff Withey or Alexis Ajinca
Luke Babbitt
Pierre Jackson

If Shumpert and/or THJ wind up getting traded, Terrence Williams would be my replacement for another big SG -- very underrated with good ball-handling/passing/scoring/defensive/rebounding skills, skills that would serve him well in the triangle system. Dude's too talented not to be playing in the NBA.

If Melo stays, incorporate these players around him. If he leaves it'll really be a transition year -- give the above players ample PT and firmly establish them for subsequent years. See who rises to the top. There could be quite a few jewels here. When cap room opens up the following year (or the year after), add a star or two to a (hopefully) potent, already-established young mix.

how do we get younger and more athletic if we trade our 2 best young players in THjr and Shump? And then add in Jeremy Tyler who could turn out to being a solid contributor up front?

I don't mean to be harsh, but did you watch any of the games this year that Tyler played in?

In my opinion, he showed promised.

I agree - lets get younger and more athletic. I'd do that by starting the season with Tyler and Cole penciled in for major minutes up front - maybe starting or backing up Stat & Chandler.

I'd certainly do my best to trade Chandler- I'd keep Stat because I think he can play a nice vet role on this team.

Ah yeah, watched almost every game for many many years...Here's my thought process --

Shump & THJ have trade value, Timmy more so. If there is a good deal in place to get something for either guy, you consider it. And if it's for something other than another SG, Terrence Williams would be a pretty darn good replacement. And as I've said before -- I have a guarded view on Timmy's potential. Don't think it's as high as some Knick fans think. Good player, a rotation player, but I don't see a great player here. No way do I see as good a player as Ray Allen eventually as some have suggested...Been thinking selling high on him right now might be the right move before he gets exposed for the middle of the road talent he probably is. I actually think Shump has more potential, heck I like Terrence Williams more than Hardaway myself. Overall skill level is much higher. And I actually like the New Orleans players I mentioned better than Hardaway by himself too. If for instance Demps agreed to deal us a Withey/Babbitt/Pierre Jackson package for THJ, I'd pull the trigger and not even think twice about it. I doubt they do that though -- like I mentioned, they have quite a few 2Gs already there (including Anthony Morrow who very well may pick up his player option) -- which is why I'd also see if there was any interest in Shumpert, cash or a future 2nd round pick(s). Wouldn't even need a pick back for that package, I'd be content with those 3 players..

I want Cole back but Tyler didn't impress me all that much. I'd rather have Daniel Orton -- I think the upside's higher offensively and defensively. Younger too...I'd rather have Richard Howell over Tyler as well. A little smaller but he's much more skilled imo. Howell is a DeJuan Blair clone only this guy's younger and has all his knee cartlidge intact. He could be a real nice rebounding/no nonsense/enforcer/dirty work guy and his skill level goes a little further beyond that -- he actually has some offensive polish to him around the basket too...To me Daniel Orton and/or Rich Howell > Jeremy Tyler..

I don't think I over value Shump or THjr - but I don't think we can really get anything much back for them.

Unless, its to off load Felton's contract!