smackeddog wrote:

yellowboy90 wrote:As much as I love Sheed and he was one of my favorite players growing up I would still try to sign Kenyon Martin. If JR is healthy to start the season and Kidd stays at the two James White may not have any minutes so they could cut him even though his contract is guaranteed to make room.

If Amar'e is out for a long time, who would people prefer, Rasheed or Kenyon? The problem is we don't actually have the choice- K-mart doesn't want to be here, which is why we went for Rasheed. Our decision is do we take the chance on Rasheed or do we sign a younger PF who is available (like Anderson)?

He doesn't want to be here for the Vet min but as time goes by and he is still on the market that ma change. If I knew Rasheed was able to give you a good 10-15 min. I would be ok but I know Kenyon can still defend the 3,4,5 and can give you everything Kurt Thomas will give us but better. For right now it is just fantasy but If Sheed is not practicing with the team by Monday it is cause for a concern.

yellowboy90 wrote:As much as I love Sheed and he was one of my favorite players growing up I would still try to sign Kenyon Martin. If JR is healthy to start the season and Kidd stays at the two James White may not have any minutes so they could cut him even though his contract is guaranteed to make room.

James White is headed for Erie.

Ranking The Expendables: (eligible for the final 2 roster spots)

1. Sheed, he has a ring, polished skills and plenty of competitive fire in his belly

2. Chris Copeland, appears to be a quick study and has a non-stop motor

3. Mychel Thompson, unfortunately (for him) we already have Steve Novak, needs more work

4. James White, did not do much to distinguish himself, could use a jumper

5. Henry Sims, showed flashes of being able to manage the paint with some timely blocks

6. John Shurna, did he make a shot?

7. Oscar Bellfield, you cannot show much when you are glued to the pine

No to Kenyon Martin.

yellowboy90 wrote:As much as I love Sheed and he was one of my favorite players growing up I would still try to sign Kenyon Martin. If JR is healthy to start the season and Kidd stays at the two James White may not have any minutes so they could cut him even though his contract is guaranteed to make room.

totally agree, James White does not do anything well and is not even athletic anymore.
He looks to play team ball and get others involved, but isn't signifigant talent in penetration, shooting, rebounding, lock down defender, ball handling etc...
Just because his contract is guaranteed does not mean we should should not look to upgrade our roster when talent is still available.
Kurt Thomas looks to be in great shape for a 40 year old, however, how many 40 year old veterans do we need that are no longer mobile.
Tyson Chandler, Camby, Kurt Thomas, Rasheed Wallace are all suited to play the Center at their age and NOT PF especicially vs the athleticism, mobility, 3point stretch 4s, and big SF/PF like Marion, Gereld Wallace, Josh Smith, Dirk, Love, Rudy Gay, Lebron, Ryan Anderson etc...

Can Camby play with Tyson Chandler together at the PF/C effectively is the ultimate question?
2 DPOY's threats, consinstently during their careers in REB, DEF, and shot blockers *especially Camby*
There would be questions with our lack of speed with both positions, but if they can play together, HELP DEF and shot blocking can come from 2 players not allowing our opponents to predict who would be helping and break down our defense.

I love Camby but if he is not able to play with Tyson Chandler together, it would have made much more sense to sign a veteran minimum player like Ryan Hollins/Darko

or for a bit more, 2m per year,

Ivan Johnson/Greg Stimensa/AR*backup PF with rebound/shot blocking ability

Keeping the picks, salaries of the players we used to acquire him, for another position/player.[/b]

Pablo looks to be a decent player, much smarter and ability to run a team better than Felton, however, he is very similar to Kidd.
While Pablo is not a strong penetration threat, KIDD is not a threat at all, that can handle the ball.
In fact, Kidd is more of a SG than a PG at this point of his career.
GREAT Penetration/POST UP presence leads to good consistent high % shots, more imporatnly, breaking down opponents DEF.

As for Kidd, saving the mini MLE while having a vet min PG like John Lucas III, CJ Watson, Patty Mills, Nate Robisnon, Aaron Brooks, even Royal Ivey/Malike Wayns *Phillies backups* are all much more adaquete backups.
PG's that have the ability to penetrate would be ble to break down our opponents DEF, and create good looks for our vets that do not have the speed to keep up with the NBA quickness/speed game.
Penetration, the ability to break down our opponents DEF CONSISTENTLY, finish with contract, dribble through DEFENSES IN TRAFFIC, all consistently, was exactly what Lin brought to the table and improved our OVERALL TEAM CONSTISTANTLY/EFFICIENCY.

Look at Dragic did in Houston with much less talent/stars last year!
Continue to look how Lowry will improve the Raptors this year.

What Lin did WITHOUT AMARE/MELO, while Melo could not improve the team, get WINS, get the job done, to beat LOTTERY TEAMS, prior to LINSANITY. *WHICH MADE LIN, MAGICAL*
Look at what talent we had playing with Lin during the stretch, the best players offensively were Novak, Tyson Chandler, Iman Shumpert, Laundry Fields, JEFFRIES/BILL WALKER.
Tyson Chandler/Novak/Fields were all completely different players with Lin than with Melo, offensively.
Why was Melo unable to do it then if he is an "ALL STAR", no excuses.
I can only think of one rift that a team member throws their team mate under the bus that Melo and JR Smith both did with Lin in FA. SHAQ and KOBE.
HOWEVER, NOT 1 player in every sport even discusses another player's salary and to be a TEAM MATE? *Melo/JR Smith sure have class, Lin is still a team mate till the offer sheat is not matched 3 days after*
Even Amare has NEVER thrown Tyson and Melo under the bus, for his lack of production since their were acquired till today.
They both take shots/space away from Amare to produce consisently that MVP chant's in MSG prior to their arrival.
Any person and coach can tell you it is part of the reason why Amare has suffered from his "ALL STAR" form.
How can I respect someone like that, a Diva, STAT WHORE, and wants to be the MAN regardless of the benefits of the team, while Dantoni gave him every opporunity to be the man?
He turns around and says "I can't play that style effectively, but explodes during the Olympics, with the same exact role/position/theory that Dantoni wanted him to play with Lin"

All while Lin had fully supported/welcomed Melo*prior to Dantoni deparure* and JR Smith on the court and off the court, making up stories that Melo brought up the notion of playing Lin that Dantoni dismissed.
Melo/JR Smith did not wants to LIN to be the man and does not welcome respect as a player/team mate, while throwing low balls and waiting for their next contracts.

*How many max contract does it take before people realize Melo IS NOT worth the drama that comes with him, (answer) 1 more contract when he demands opts out and demands to be JOE JOHNSON part 2 in NY.*
Will Melo take less money like Paul Pierce did at their same points of their careers for the better of the team?
Would it be wrong for a team mate or ANYONE in the league to call his contract ridiculous, at his age/producition/ consistentcy of taking poor shots throughout his entire career?
Have we improved since the acquistion of this DIVA and has Denver improved since the trade and our *role players that are worthless by some posters here*

FELTON and even Pablo both do not provide the ability to penetrate/finish, handle the ball in traffic, and push the tempo that Lin has.
I admit, Pablo has the ability to facilitae and IQ that could be taught to Lin, but Felton does not have a high IQ and is a average PG at best, also with poor shot selection, without the IQ and penetartion of LIN.

KIDD was signed to be another player/coach, not as a PG. BUT WE SIGNED TOO MANY of these type of veterans without the balance of youth and physical skills.
Using the MINI MLE on Carlos Defino for a SG/SF and if we did not match Lin's contract and NOT trading for Camby, we might even be able to have the full MLE to use on 1 player or split it on 2 solid players.

Beasley only got 1m more per year for 3 years at 18m, splitting it we could use it on Gereld Green/Tolliver/Delfino.
Even Felton is not much better than these vet minimum players that we could have saved our assets/player salaries on that we overpaid with Camby/Felton.

Camby ironically has been traded for 1 2nd round picks since his Denver days, to Clippers, Portland, Houston, but we traded for 2 2nd round picks many years later.

Kenyon Martin makes sense, he has experience with half of our roster and is a mobile, tough, forward/defender, and can play off jab, jab, jab, shoot.
Losing Jeffries hurts our defense, while we do have a replacement.
Anthony Tolliver, could have played a similar role as Jeffries and provide 3point shooting like Rasheed.
More imporantly, he is healthy/in shape/not injured, also a solid REBounder, and isn't 40.

Martin isn't as versatile as Jeffries but he can defend 2 positions as an adequate backup.
I have payed much watched him on the Clippers and Denver, he has not a step/athleticism would serve as a solid 1 year gap player.
He can hit the 12 footer, grab 6-7 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, run the floor/finish for fast breaks, and most importantly is a mobile forward that can DEFEND with our anchors of Chandler/Camby.
Some people here compare Camby with what Jeffries brought to the team, while both players are completely different.
There are things that Camby brings to the table but Jeffries also compliments our DEF with his versatility/length/mobility 1v1-DEF/IQ/TEAM DEF.
Jeffries is a solid mobile/versatile forward that can defend 3-5 positions that compliments Tyson Chandler and TEAM DEF.
While Camby is a great backup Center that has the ability to start, we are unsure if he can even DEF PF's.

James Singleton signed in Europe but he could have been a solid player as well.
We missed our on Andray Blatche, he took the time to work hard and get in shape.
No one ever questioned his talents but his mental approach/work ethic for the game, realizing he has an opportunity to earn more money and reestablish himself on a good team for a future contract, his upside and NBA shape improved mutch within the past few months.

Eddy Curry is in shape and would provide a inside post presence of the bench, Dallas picked him up, but I do not know if Eddy Curry would even welcome a return to the Knick's.

Clean wrote:I don't understand the hate for James White. I think he is exactly what we need for his position. A good second backup to the SG anf SF position. He can occasionally hit the open shot and plays good D. He is pretty much the SG/SF version of Copes role on the team. He will be playing behind brewer,JR,Kidd and Shump.

Clean - how would you change this order?

1. Sheed, he has a ring, polished skills and plenty of competitive fire in his belly
2. Chris Copeland, appears to be a quick study and has a non-stop motor
3. Mychel Thompson, unfortunately (for him) we already have Steve Novak, needs more work
4. James White, did not do much to distinguish himself, could use a jumper
5. Henry Sims, showed flashes of being able to manage the paint with some timely blocks
6. John Shurna, did he make a shot?
7. Oscar Bellfield, you cannot show much when you are glued to the pine

PS: Sheed looked good.

http://knicksnow.com/videos/1864/sat-practice-scrimmage-highlights

Who's Gonna Do It?

RonRon wrote:
As the season approaches, more cuts will be made and White/Kurt Thomas are 2 players that should be looked to be cut to free a roster spot.
Copeland has earned a spot with his shooting/post up game as a 2nd/3rd unit player, and with Amare our *experienced over the hill vets*

RonRon - you do not cut a man who shoots 47 per cent from the field, rebounds and plays tough defense. Why do you cut Kurt?

Free a roster spot for who? This ain't baseball cards where you plug and play around. These are people. You cut a loyal, hardworking Knicks player like Kurt and what signal do you send to the rest of the team?

Kurt stays for so long as he can pick and pop with relative ease.

RonRon wrote:

Clean wrote:I don't understand the hate for James White. I think he is exactly what we need for his position. A good second backup to the SG anf SF position. He can occasionally hit the open shot and plays good D. He is pretty much the SG/SF version of Copes role on the team. He will be playing behind brewer,JR,Kidd and Shump.

If he is unable to DOMINATE in summer league, he is very limited offensively.
His DEF is no where near *LOCK DOWN*, shooting is not consisistent, and his athleticism is not even GOOD in the NBA level, especially his youtube highlights/dunk contest suggest at the age of 30.
With all the roster spots that we used on 40 year old, over the hill players, we need a blend of youth/speed/athleticism and versatility that compliments their experience.
For a vet minimum deal, I would much rather have Matt Barnes, who has been looking very solid with hit 3point shooting, DEF, and rebounding at the G/F position.

Gereld Green *3.5m*, a player that White has been compared to for their *athleticism*, is just much more impressive and does everything much better than White.
White IS NOT ATHLETIC in the NBA Level anymore, there are many players that are >>>>> White including recently waived Rodney Carney from Heat, Matt Barnes, Pietrus, ex Clipper Bobby Simmons.

As the season approaches, more cuts will be made and White/Kurt Thomas are 2 players that should be looked to be cut to free a roster spot.
Copeland has earned a spot with his shooting/post up game as a 2nd/3rd unit player, and with Amare our *experienced over the hill vets*

yellowboy90 wrote:
I like White and also thought he got better as the pre-season went along. He was actually knocking down his open shots and making good decisions with the ball for the most part. However with Kidd starting and JR coming back I just do not see where the minutes are coming from.

James White, like Chris Copeland, is a great story in perseverance. Men who stay true to their dreams are to be commended. The NBA is not a forgiving place when the final cut date rolls around. Imagine the thrill of getting a locker space at Madison Square Garden after travelling with Scavolini Banca Marche Peasaro (Italy), the Austin Toros, (D-League), Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul (Turkey), the Anaheim Arsenal (NBDL), Spartak St. Petersburg in Russia or the Springfield Armor in the D-League?

Unless Marcus Camby and Amar'e are in worse condition (sheesh) than is being revealed, White will join Chris Copeland on the pine modeling some nice suits from Armani.

In Case Of Emergency, Break Glass

Sheed's post up game is polished. He grabbed rebounds and made his presence known. Forget the shot, his assist to Pablo Prigioni was pretty.

Overlooked among the over-publicized technical fouls is the fact that Rasheed can play. The expression on his face displays that he is ready to get the most of this last dance.