TMS wrote:dump Duhon & sign AI... at veteran's minimum dollars it's a no brainer... AI is not Stephon Marbury guys, no matter how hard u try & paint that picture...

It won't be up to us amateurs, the city's backpages will be the one's painting that picture.

DrAlphaeus wrote:I argue the 10 extra wins (tops) don't do much. A shallow "feel good" losing season that ends in April based on rent-a-talent.

I'll argue that <10 wins does wonders here. AI may not be what he was but he's good enough to remind folks of what he was--including future UFAs. Really, the only marketing pitch the Knicks have at the moment is that there's no crowd like a Knicks crowd when MSG is rockin. AI has that ability. And I think it makes it easier for a great player to imagine himself coming

DrAlphaeus wrote:

TMS wrote:dump Duhon & sign AI... at veteran's minimum dollars it's a no brainer... AI is not Stephon Marbury guys, no matter how hard u try & paint that picture...

It won't be up to us amateurs, the city's backpages will be the one's painting that picture.

that's yet to be determined... there will be a media circus for sure but that will only be because of it will be the first newsworthy event to happen in NY for a while concerning this team... if AI comes in & performs u won't hear any comparisons being made w/BarbieGirlbury... there will be a buzz created around this team but in a positive way... that can only help this team IMO... & if he doesn't perform & causes a disruption, then u dump him... what do u have to lose?

there's so much negativity surrounding this team right now we need to find a way, ANY way, to bring in some sliver of excitement & i think AI can bring that... as long as it doesn't hurt our 2010 plan i don't see the harm... IMO guys on this team would benefit playing alongside AI more than they'd be negatively effected.

SupremeCommander wrote:

DrAlphaeus wrote:I argue the 10 extra wins (tops) don't do much. A shallow "feel good" losing season that ends in April based on rent-a-talent.

I'll argue that <10 wins does wonders here. AI may not be what he was but he's good enough to remind folks of what he was--including future UFAs. Really, the only marketing pitch the Knicks have at the moment is that there's no crowd like a Knicks crowd when MSG is rockin. AI has that ability. And I think it makes it easier for a great player to imagine himself coming

Still a "no" vote but this argument is the most compelling one I've read so far. If it meets expectations and brings some buzz, it's an ad that says "your face here" to the FA market. And Iverson acts as the honey in the trap, and reups for his final campaign with whoever signs.

And this is more likely than our current guys getting out of their funk and having a win streak or two in them?

To me, this is using a glass half-empty perspective on the guys who currently wear the uniform, and a glass half-full perspective on someone who doesn't even have a uniform right now. Feels like the same old "grass is greener" self-hatred game to me.

Rookie wrote:

TMS wrote:

DrAlphaeus wrote:

TMS wrote:dump Duhon & sign AI... at veteran's minimum dollars it's a no brainer... AI is not Stephon Marbury guys, no matter how hard u try & paint that picture...

It won't be up to us amateurs, the city's backpages will be the one's painting that picture.

that's yet to be determined... there will be a media circus for sure but that will only be because of it will be the first newsworthy event to happen in NY for a while concerning this team... if AI comes in & performs u won't hear any comparisons being made w/BarbieGirlbury... there will be a buzz created around this team but in a positive way... that can only help this team IMO... & if he doesn't perform & causes a disruption, then u dump him... what do u have to lose?

there's so much negativity surrounding this team right now we need to find a way, ANY way, to bring in some sliver of excitement & i think AI can bring that... as long as it doesn't hurt our 2010 plan i don't see the harm... IMO guys on this team would benefit playing alongside AI more than they'd be negatively effected.

Don't sweat it man. I hear what you're saying, but by the time Walsh finishes hemming and hawing about should he or shouldn't he....AI will be signed with a contender.

i have a feeling Walsh is gonna pass too... AI will probably end up with the Rockets or Cavs, or wait out a few months & see if some other PG goes down on a contending team & they come calling at his doorstep for the stretch run of the season.

TMS wrote:that's yet to be determined... there will be a media circus for sure but that will only be because of it will be the first newsworthy event to happen in NY for a while concerning this team... if AI comes in & performs u won't hear any comparisons being made w/BarbieGirlbury... there will be a buzz created around this team but in a positive way... that can only help this team IMO... & if he doesn't perform & causes a disruption, then u dump him... what do u have to lose?

TMS, I'll grant you all the pluses the best case scenario will bring. What we have to lose is time and resources wasted on another failed experiment, will you grant me that? We got a few petri dishes going already with the youths. I don't have the faith the organization has their **** together to either make it work, or get out unscathed if it doesn't.

TMS wrote:

DrAlphaeus wrote:

TMS wrote:dump Duhon & sign AI... at veteran's minimum dollars it's a no brainer... AI is not Stephon Marbury guys, no matter how hard u try & paint that picture...

It won't be up to us amateurs, the city's backpages will be the one's painting that picture.

that's yet to be determined... there will be a media circus for sure but that will only be because of it will be the first newsworthy event to happen in NY for a while concerning this team... if AI comes in & performs u won't hear any comparisons being made w/BarbieGirlbury... there will be a buzz created around this team but in a positive way... that can only help this team IMO... & if he doesn't perform & causes a disruption, then u dump him... what do u have to lose?

there's so much negativity surrounding this team right now we need to find a way, ANY way, to bring in some sliver of excitement & i think AI can bring that... as long as it doesn't hurt our 2010 plan i don't see the harm... IMO guys on this team would benefit playing alongside AI more than they'd be negatively effected.

One other thing (not sure if it has been mentioned) but if AI plays well for us, he is a great trade chip to a contender at trade deadline. We could possibly get an expiring + a draft pick for him.

cooch2584 wrote:Wouldnt you guys like to see AI get in darkos face and tell him to block some damn shots??

I'd prefer the coaching staff we are already paying to get in Darko's face about that, since they are also the ones in the position to put him in the spots to do it.

DrAlphaeus wrote:

TMS wrote:how do u reason this is a grass is greener situation when it's pretty obvious AI is a huge upgrade over Duhon?

Duhon sucks now, true. He hasn't always sucked IMHO. But this Sophie's Choice between a still-good A.I. and a forever-slumping Duhon just feels forced and presumptuous. Duhon sucks, give Nate & TD more burn.

Duhon hasn't always sucked, i agree... i was 1 of his biggest defenders last year, trust me i'm with u on this one... but this year he is putrid & i don't see it changing anytime soon... he looks overweight & extremely slow to me... i don't think he worked hard on his conditioning over the summer & it shows, not just in his shooting slump, but in the energy & focus he's no longer playing with on the floor... i don't think playing TD & Nate more is going to help the situation too much either... Nate's on his way out after this year anyway, i know it & i think u know it too... TD will get his minutes next to AI & Hughes, i have no concern about that.

if it were up to me i would be looking to trade Nate for any expiring & pick i can get my hands on & i'd bench Duhon... i'd start AI & Hughes in the backcourt & have TD be the 1st G off the bench... AI & Hughes have played together in Philly before (albeit for a short run) i think it won't be too rough a transition for those 2 vets to get a feel of each other on the floor.