Olbrannon wrote:This reeks of homerism for the Knicks.

Perhaps. But it's also homerism for the Yankees, Cubs, Dodgers, Giants, Jets, Rangers, and EVERY professional sports team that plays in a market with multiple teams.

The argument is in no way inherent to the Knicks.

I mean just the fact that the Clippers average 1500 less home fans than the Lakers tells you all you need to know.

People go to Clippers games, in the same ARENA that the Lakers play in...

Explain that for me please.

Sport fans just are not capricious and flighty. That's what makes them fans.

Loyalty runs deep. For most it goes back to childhood, and is generational. People don't change teams because of an arena, or because the don't like the owner.

It just doesn't happen and frankly I'm dumbfounded anyone with even a passing familiarity with NY sports thinks its a factor.

BRIGGS wrote:Kind of like the last 10 years? you're right--Knicks always ahead of the curve:) cash your paycheck from Dolan--who cares but were not idiots here my man.

Was Walsh here the last 10 years?

What's been your complaint the last 2?

I'll say it again. Chandler/Gallinari was always where this was headed and likely will end there.

And if that's the case, the whole Dolan/Thomas narrative that fans are all too eager to eat up resulted in what exactly?

martin wrote:it works! Certainly does, not sure how competitive offer is. Very trump-able by others, no?

Cash Savings/Expiring+Moz+Fields+2011 for a decent C and Super star PG.

Denver just netted Cash Savings/Expiring+Gallo+Chandler+2014+Twolves pick for Elite scorer Melo. NO gotta hire some Denver staff to help them out!

But herein lies the difference.

Paul can refuse to sign an extension with another team, fully confident HE won't be costing himself millions of extra dollars. The CBA uncertainty will be in the review mirror.

Understand this is the guy who made the famous wedding toast.

I agree, it's not a homerun offer by any means. But you can also eliminate all teams that Paul doesn't want to go to. He's free and clear to say no.

This would be more of a Cleveland/Toronto situation than the Denver situation is, with Paul completely in the driver seat.

He can say NY trade, or I'll leave as a free agent, and it it doesn't even have to mean to sign with the Knicks. he just has to say this is the team I will go to mid-season, or will will just retain my options for the offseason.

Again, by no means certain, but I like the changes better than trying to get him with 'Melo in NJ or Denver.

Knickoftime wrote:

martin wrote:it works! Certainly does, not sure how competitive offer is. Very trump-able by others, no?

Cash Savings/Expiring+Moz+Fields+2011 for a decent C and Super star PG.

Denver just netted Cash Savings/Expiring+Gallo+Chandler+2014+Twolves pick for Elite scorer Melo. NO gotta hire some Denver staff to help them out!

But herein lies the difference.

Paul can refuse to sign an extension with another team, fully confident HE won't be costing himself millions of extra dollars. The CBA uncertainty will be in the review mirror.

Understand this is the guy who made the famous wedding toast.

I agree, it's not a homerun offer by any means. But you can also eliminate all teams that Paul doesn't want to go to. He's free and clear to say no.

This would be more of a Cleveland/Toronto situation than the Denver situation is, with Paul completely in the driver seat.

He can say NY trade, or I'll leave as a free agent, and it it doesn't even have to mean to sign with the Knicks. he just has to say this is the team I will go to mid-season, or will will just retain my options for the offseason.

Again, by no means certain, but I like the changes better than trying to get him with 'Melo in NJ or Denver.

Hey I agree with this.

IMHO Melo has made some of the more inept steps throughout this whole process. He doesn't make sure he opts out in the correct year. He values money that won't make a real difference in his life over winning a championship. He doesn't want to create a LeBron-like spectacle and yet here he is in the middle of it (most of it beyond his control but still there).

nixluva wrote:If the Knicks make it to the 2nd round this year, it's a win for the organization. The fanbase will forget about the pain of the process and be revived by the excitement of real playoff basketball. I want to see this deal go down, cuz I think the team is better off having 2 elite players and filling in around them. I think they will be able to improve the team despite the loss of so many assets and cap space.

I like the chances of the lineup we'd be left with after the trade and I think it will be an improvement. Having Billups instead of Felton actually helps cuz he has chemistry with Melo and should have no problem in feeding STAT. I don't know if he'll be in complete synch on the PnR, but I think he'll be able to keep the ball moving and hit the shots he has to take. Most of all I think that Billups and Melo will really help in the playoffs.

I agree with that it's just a high price to get there. The last I heard we give up at least a 2014 1st and Moz, Gallo, Chandler, Felton It does play out nicely with the Paul to NY scenario as pointed out. How far is that going if the NBA slaps the 'franchise player' on the next CBA 'to keep the league competitive'?

Uptown wrote:@ KnickofTime....I must say, you rare all over this thread. I've been combing through some of the posts and just when I'm itnrigued to reply to one, I see your post right beneath pretty much echoing my same thoughts but written very eloquently. Welcome to the board by the way.

Oh, I think he has been around for a while.

BlueSeats wrote:

loweyecue wrote:

Uptown wrote:@ KnickofTime....I must say, you rare all over this thread. I've been combing through some of the posts and just when I'm itnrigued to reply to one, I see your post right beneath pretty much echoing my same thoughts but written very eloquently. Welcome to the board by the way.

Oh, I think he has been around for a while.

Nah, it's not TMS. It's powerforward99 from way back on RealGM.

I'd love to see KOT and TMS go at it together sometime though. That would be nuclear.

If it's not the timing of his emergence would be just a coincidence? I don't believe in coincidences. BTW I am completely ignorant about real GM posters so I'll accept your opinion. And wanted to mention both you and Martin had some great posts on the starphuch thread. Good reads all the way.

martin wrote:Hey I agree with this.

The scenario actually makes more sense when you examine the competition (I'm assuming an Okafor package).

Lakers - If Bynum could stay healthy for a season, this would give them an enormous leg up, but it would also put them first in line for Williams and Howard. Expect the Lakers to come away with one of the big three if Bynum can stay on the court next season.

Orlando - Nelson, Bass, Redick, could get it done in terms of expirings with a little ability. Joining Howard is possible, IF he stays. Howard going to Lakers might work to Knicks advantage.

Dallas - Kidd, Terry, Beaubois, Mahinmi are comparable part,s but Dirk Nowitzki's 34 at this stage. Does a 26 year old Paul want to make his bed there?

Celtics - have the expirings salaries to match, but not a lot of young pieces and they have Rondo for multi-years at less money. Would Paul want to go someplace with Pierce, Allen and Garnett on their last legs? Would the Celtics even swap the younger Rondo?

Bulls - Rose: not gonna happen.

Thunder - Westbrook: see above. And not their style.

Spurs - already got Parker, Duncan is near the end, Ginobli is no spring chicken. NBA knows their shelf life is expiring.

Heat - overkill, don't have the contracts or young pieces.

And ladies and gentlemen, your dark horse candidate.

Clippers - they have both the contracts and young talent, and the cap space to sign him outright in the summer of 2012. Paul, Griffen and one of their other young pieces is scary, and they'll have ANOTHER lottery pick coming this year (or did they trade it away).

If Paul is serious about wanting to go someplace with other stars to go to war with Miami, Chicago, Oklahoma and LAL during his prime, Knicks and Clippers look like decent options, with maybe Orlando in the mix if he stays.