martin wrote:Finestrg wrote:simrud wrote:I think all these waiver moves are marginal one way or another. We are not going to get a rebounding, shotblocking big body player from the garbage bin of the NBA. Going to have to use the MLE and LLE to complete the front court in the summer. At least we have a decent backup PG in Carter now. I think getting a couple of decent bigs to split the C minutes is doable in the summer with MLE and LLE. We shoud be ok at backup PF between Turiaf, the 2 Williamses etc.
I don't agree dude..First off, there were/are rebounding/shot-blocking big men available--legit Cs and PFs--we just didn't target any of them apparently..And I don't think we have to throw MLE or LLE-type money at a player for the fix..There are so many players out there that we could've gotten to plug holes..Isn't that the name of the game now, plugging holes? Regarding the MLE btw -- I doubt we come in over the cap in the off-season (the only way a team can use that exception) OR they might wind up doing away with it altogether in the new CBA...And then there's the overpaying issue--throwing too much money (full MLE) at a bad player like Jeffries got us in trouble once before; I'm not looking to repeat that mistake..The cap needs to be managed wisely now..No more mistakes -- we make some bad signings now, forget it--it'll take us right outta the running a couple of years from now for another big piece possibly..To me you use a MLE deal when you're ALREADY championship caliber, not before..It's a death sentence to use it before and cap yourself when you're not on that level yet..And I don't agree we're OK with Turiaf and the two Williams at back up 4/5...Turiaf IS NOT a good enough rebounder or scorer, Shawne Williams is competely out of position and overmatch trying to cover other teams' big guys inside and the coach might never even give Shelden Williams a chance anyway (regardless, dude's had an underwhelming career to say the least).
I do agree that we're OK with Carter as another PG/ball-handler off the bench though..All of our energy should've gone into identifying and getting the best frontcourt players possible -- Bigs that play big and fill holes..We didn't do that..Why I don't know.
Finestrg, a couple of things: First, you assumption that these D-Leagues can plug holes is a big assumption. Why, if they are so good, have they not been called up? I am trying to recall the last big to make his way from dominating the D-League to making a small impact in the NBA and am coming up empty. Most likely every team in the league could use another big and yet we don't hear any squeaks about any big men.
Second, "I doubt we come in over the cap in the off-season". Let's use real numbers. Just in case you were not aware: http://hoopshype.com/salaries/new_york.htm. Most likely, the Knicks WILL be over cap.
DL Bigs... Let's start recently and work backward in time: How 'bout Chris Johnson? Boston Celtics? Guy's gotten into every game for them so far since being called up, including 17 mins the other night in Denver. How 'bout Anthony Tolliver? Here's an undrafted D-Leaguer that's had nice success and gotten regular PT for a couple of different teams over the past two years (we were actually rumored to be interested in this guy at one time before he ended up with the Wolves in case YOU weren't aware..
). How 'bout Reggie Evans? Ever heard of that guy? Dude's a top NBA rebounder..Marcin Gortat was basically a D-Leaguer at one point (drafted 57th in '05 by PHX, then traded to the Magic--I believe he played 1 season in the NBDL before he ever even played for Orlando)..Similar story with Amir Johnson...Joey Dorsey too; he was drafted late but really improved his game in the DL..Udonis Haslem? Never drafted by an NBA team. How good a role player is he? DaMarre Carroll has been up with the Grizzles and contributed..How 'bout Joel Anthony?? Hamed Haddadi?? Remember Bo Outlaw? Good player, I don't think he was ever drafted..Anthony Mason?? Hello? Come on bro, don't make me keep going..Now remember, we're just talkin' BIGS here..I'm not even counting all the PGs and wings that have come up from the NBDL over the years and had an impact in the NBA..Point is this (and I think you can see now that it goes w/o saying): the DL is a useful resource from which to get players from. It's my opinion that we could've gotten better bigs, bigs that could've actually filled a hole like REBOUNDING, in the DL right now over what we just brought on board..Furthermore, I'd rather look at all available data including what my gut tells me when I watch a guy play personally when making "an assumption" on whether guys from the DL could or couldn't help this team..Just curious: what pray tell, if anything, goes into your assumption that DL bigs COULD NOT help this team?? Misterearl's uninformed comments???? Is that it? 
Just ran through the cap numbers, and yeah, I guess you're right -- looks like we will be slightly over $60M by the time next season rolls around (true that could either be over or right at the cap, or maybe even under..who knows---I don't just "assume" there's gonna be some 10% cut to the cap like other posters do..Very good chance it could be higher---what happens if it ascends to $61, 62, 63M? Then we could be below..Just goes to show you right there, btw, I'm not presumptuous about anything unless I see facts
What happened this year -- the cap turned out to be a few million higher than what was being anticipated--you mean to tell me, if the NBA made a lot of money this year, that can't happen again??)...Probably 'over' or 'at'---right now based on prediction and forecasting, I'll concede that...Still, I stick by my secondary point when talking about using the MLE -- I don't think you go out and use the full MLE on a guy that may not put us over the hump..I'm not ready to box myself into a corner like that again. We've done that before, with Jared f'in Jeffries in fact, and have gotten burned ROYALLY..We'll have to see who's available and if it's worth using..I know this much -- if we hand that type of contract to the wrong guy/a player that's not gonna be a difference maker in terms of instantly becoming an elite team, I'd pass..We could put ourselves in real jeopardy and I don't wanna go through that situation again...I'll have to see who's available and make an educated guess at that time..DeAndre Jordan's been talked about on the board recently; he could be a possibliity..Also, even if over the cap, I believe we can still add mimimum to low cost talent to fill out the roster..A good place to look for that kind of talent IS IN THE D-LEAGUE!!