martin wrote:RonRon wrote:Melo and Amare were put together to win now. You can see Amare and his leadership all year.
We don't want to waste another year in summer 2012 to add talent. We need to see our core now. If Billups isn't part of the future we have to try to get players that are.Look at Miami and their current losing streak. After losing for an X amount of games, especially with the media in New York, it takes a toll on the players mentally and psychologically. I do not want this to happen to us next year, Amare has been a ambitious leader. We don't want to fall in the mindset that
Boston
Miami
Chicago
Orlando
are another notch above us. We have to make noise and let those teams and ourselves believe that we are contenders. And we are not contending if we do not get that Center...
I am not sure I 100% agree with the statement that "Melo and Amare were put together to win now" bundled with the assumption that you have to go all out immediately to put a contender together without looking only 1 year down the road.
Melo and Amare can indeed compete right now (with a tweak or 2) but it's not like both of them are 32 and there is only a 2-3 year window like Boston had.
This upcoming off-season does not have the FA guys the Knicks need, which is primarily a 1) C who can defend, rebound, and intimidate 2) long-term PG fix.
A lot of GMs, etc were writing off Nash when he was leaving Dallas and I feel it's almost the same way with Billups. The dude just knows how to play and it's worth while to have him around for another year to help teach Melo, Amare, TD, Fields learn to compete and defend at a high level. And with the extra year you get to see how his body and foot speed hold up.
Why would you risk cap space for summer 2012 when Howard, CP3, Deron come up for play? Especially when this year's FA are just fillers?
The NY Media, sportswriters, and ESPN will always find something to say about the New York Knicks. Melo is already learning that when we win, it feels great, when we lose, it the exact opposite. In New York, EVERYTHING gets magnified, the good and the bad. We can be very tough on our players. We will find things to point out about Melo and Amare, if they are losing. Look at Lebron, Wade, and Bosh, they knew they were going to be hated by many when they signed with Miami, they knew everything will still be magnified if they lose. They are just losing a couple games right now, they are already calling out each player. It's tough for pro athlete's state of mind, especially an all star. They are all stars because they have confidence in their games, when they lose, they will get scrutinized and might lose some of that confidence. They feed of that negative energy of each other.
Howard, Deron, and Cp3 are great. I would love to add Howard, but he already said he intends to play with the Magic the rest of his career. If we are seriously thinking about signing these players, we must sign only 1 year deals this summer. As a player, only the ones that intend the raise their value in 1 year would sign one year deals. Or veterans that are looking for that ring. We need a center before we become a contender, good quality centers never come cheap. If we really are going this route, that means we can not use the MLE because we have to give a possible 3 year deal to use it. It can have a player option, or the veteran can retire.
Practically, we would be giving up next year to possibly signing that 3rd all star.
That 3rd all star also will have to be willing to take a smaller piece of the pie.
If that all star isn't a center, we will have to wait for another year to use a MLE if it still exist.
Then we have to wait till these guys get back in rythem an learn to play with each other.
Also, we would also be letting Fields go if we go this route.
Even Rautins, if he ever develops because we have to use the whole cap to sign one player.
So essentially, that one year would cost us 2 more years.
Howard
Amare
Melo
would currently be probably the best 3 of any franchise. However, if it isn't Howard, i just don't think it is worth the wait. We want to go for it while we still have
Amare and Melo in their primes. A lot of people discount that Amare played pro ball at a very young age, he came straight out of high school. His body is quite frail and his game is based on athleticism. When we can see his game declining, the big 3 wouldn't be as big. We are comparing it to their games right now.
Besides for Howard, I don't think it is worth the wait.
2012
Amare
Melo
TD
Balkman
"this years pick"
fields and rautins walks...
"3rd star" if it is a center especially Howard, its great, if not, we still holes to fill again.
centers that may be available
2012
Howard
Tim Duncan
Chris Kaman
Deandre Jordan
You know what, if these centers are available, you make a very strong argument. However, Center is the only position I personally would go for in 2012.
Duncan and Howard are on other levels from Chandler and the rest of the list. Obviously, Howard would be better for the future because of their ages.
Chris Kaman isn't as polished defensively as Jordan and Chandler but he is a better offensive player, different games, still a big body.
However, I believe Deandre Jordan and Chandler are similar type players. Jordan is younger, Chandler is more experienced. Jordan is more of athletic freak, but we know Chandler doesn't care about stats except for W. He has shown that in Dallas already.
We would lose the ability to retain Fields though, also if we signed
Chandler/Jordan this year
We have a chance to sign another player as well, like save 2m or so for the Barnes, Shannon Brown. And in the 2012 year, use the MLE if it exist.
