Shaq to Miami for Lamar Odom, Brian Grant, Caron Butler and a draft pick (don't know who this ended up becoming). Bam. Instant title for Miami.

Then there was the Gasol brothers trade... which elevated the Lakers to another level.

The Knicks aren't far off. I don't expect Amare or Felton to get much better. It's almost like banking on Chandler/Gallo/Fields/Douglas/Mozgov to make incremental improvements from the 3rd-7th on the depth charts. Not saying this would happen, but if the Knicks could net our version of Gasol with Gallo as a key trading block, would it be worth it?

Perhaps going nuts here, what if we could trade Gallo/Curry for... Camby & Rudy Fernandez, for example. (talk about mortgaging the future!) Would Camby/Amare/Chandler/Fields/Felton feel more like a championship starting 5 than w/ Gallo in there?

misterearl wrote:briggs - no competing franchise is tossing away a valuable 6'11 asset so the Knicks can compete for a championship.

This is at least a two year process. Any quick fix will require accepting the risk of breaking the harmony that has developed over the past month.

"You never know what you have 'til it's gone"

Would Camby/Amare/Chandler/Fields/Felton feel more like a championship starting 5 than w/ Gallo in there?

NYKBocker wrote:I think we have to be a little more specific on what kind of ONE good big man away from winning it all THIS year. I think we need a tall center that can rebound and can shoot the 3. This will keep Amare feasting in the middle and will help us a lot in the defensive boards. Defensive boards equate to fast breaks which is also our strong suit. I am not sure who is out there that can do this. Earl Barron has some outside shooting and can rebound but he cannot stretch to the 3. He would have to make sure he give enough space for Amare and always go to the other side.

We need someone in the mold of Brad Miller circa 2000-2005. Is there such an animal right now? DJ's lover in toronto can do it but I doubt Raps will trade him.

A 3pt shooting big would be nice but I want the Knicks to get someone who can also grab offensive boards and either keep the play alive or finish it with a dunk. Unfortunately AR is probably the best at grabbing offensive boards on this team but he isn't doing enough of everything else to get PT.

NYKBocker wrote:Kaman in Clipperland might be available. I think a Kaman for Curry/AR package might be a fair package assuming Kaman is not damaged goods.

Blatche or McGhee might also be good options.

AR/Azabuike for Blatche

or

McGhee for AR

I remember the Knicks saying privately that Kaman had a tude' when he worked out for them prior to the draft. Regardless, just have a bad vibe about him.

GustavBahler wrote:

NYKBocker wrote:Kaman in Clipperland might be available. I think a Kaman for Curry/AR package might be a fair package assuming Kaman is not damaged goods.

Blatche or McGhee might also be good options.

AR/Azabuike for Blatche

or

McGhee for AR

I remember the Knicks saying privately that Kaman had a tude' when he worked out for them prior to the draft. Regardless, just have a bad vibe about him.

This is one of those classic thread themes that reminds us that the more things change.

The more they stay the same.

Quality big men are almost impossible to sign during the season. Jared Jeffries is a specialist with a skill set so specific that he had to be pulled against the Indiana Pacers. Ten day contracts are only nice for late season auditions.

Alas, most big guys like Courtney Sims are who we thought they were. They look good from a distance. Up close, not so much.

The difficult task of scouting and recruiting a 6'11 center continues.