Basically a rehash of the Q for Kwame rumors we were all able to come up with on own, but he adds that the Kwame talks with the Knicks are actually heating up and he says nice things about Nate...

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Nate's Knicks?
When judging what players did and didn't do in the summer leagues, there are two important facts to remember:
One, Loren Woods once scored 28 points in a summer league game. And two, Nikoloz Tskitishvili was the MVP of the Las Vegas Summer league last year, averaging 25 points per game.

Success in the NBA's summer leagues isn't a very accurate predictor of who will become an NBA star. While young players such as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Al Jefferson and Marquis Daniels gave us early signs that they were ready to have breakout years, players such as Qyntel Woods, Willie Green, John Salmons and Zarko Cabarkapa also dominated in the leagues.

Still, you can't help but get excited when a young stud like the Knicks' Nate Robinson starts lighting up the competition in Vegas. Robinson is averaging 21 ppg for the Knicks' summer league team and has quickly morphed into a fan (and league) favorite with his high energy and unlikely aerial assault.

He's been so good that GMs are now all claiming that they tried to trade up in the draft to get him -- which is the surest sign that a kid can really play.

It's going to take all of a week for Robinson to steal Knicks fans' hearts and become the most popular player on the team. Everything he does has at least a hint of the spectacular in it.

Which poses an interesting dilemma for Isiah Thomas. He's already hinted that one of the reasons he wanted Robinson badly was because he knew his energy would be infectious for both the team and the fans. Presumably, he didn't mean Nate's waving a towel from the end of the bench. Now Isiah has to find minutes for him.

Stephon Marbury and Jamal Crawford are combo guards who, like Robinson, look to score first, pass second. The team also traded for Quentin Richardson, another score-first guard, who is expecting big minutes in the backcourt.

If those three veterans play their regular minutes from last season, they'll get 115 minutes per game … well above the 96 mpg actually available at the backcourt positions. Factor in Robinson and the Knicks have a major logjam on their hands.

Some of that can be alleviated by playing Richardson at the three for part of the game, but with Tim Thomas and Isiah favorite Trevor Ariza also at the position, there isn't a lot of time there either.

Which brings us back to the Marbury trade talk. Isiah can claim all he wants that Steph will "never" be traded. And maybe that's true -- I can't find a GM in the league willing to take the four years and $76 million left on his contract.

But the Knicks are going to have to do something. Crawford is another possibility, though his contract numbers (six years, $50 million) will make him hard to move as well.

Richardson (five years, $39 million) may be the Knicks' most movable piece this point. The Wizards are hungry for a shooting guard, now that Larry Hughes is signing with Cleveland, and the Knicks have been in hot pursuit of Kwame Brown. That pursuit has heated up in the past week, since lottery pick Channing Frye began struggling in the Vegas summer league.

A Brown-for-Richardson swap makes sense for both teams, giving the Knicks the size they lost in Kurt Thomas (with much more upside) and the roster space Robinson needs to take over New York.
posted: July 11, 2005 2:48:01 PM PDT | Feedback

http://insider.espn.go.com/insider/magazine/magBlogArchive?id=2039748&month=jul#July11,200512:46:53PMPDT

But I really don't see a problem minutes-wise.

Steph 35 Nate 13
Craw 35 Q 13
Q 22 Ariza 26
TT 25 Sweets 22
Frye 25-30/ ???/???


our problem is atr center, the guards minutes will be fine. If he begins by saying summer league play isn't the best indicator, how is he so sure that Nate's minutes are a problem and that the 10 most of us project he will get aren't enough?

Posted by Killa4luv:

But I really don't see a problem minutes-wise.

Steph 35 Nate 13
Craw 35 Q 13
Q 22 Ariza 26
TT 25 Sweets 22
Frye 25-30/ ???/???

Q should not be getting the bulk of his minutes at SF. His best asset is his post game, which would be largely taken away if he's being guarded by guys taller than he is. TT at PF is awful. He doesn't play with enough power to be a backup guard let alone a starting PF.

I have a feeling Nate will command a minimum of 20 minutes a game. Jamal or Q has to go. And if it's for Kwame - all the better.

Posted by fishmike:

it doesnt matter... other team's PFs and SFs were guarding Q when he was with LA.

The bottom line is depth is a good thing and the best players will play. Q can play PF for all I care. The guys that play the hardest on BOTH ends of the floor should get the most minutes. If it means MArbury is cut to 30, or Crawford cut to 20 life goes on. Ariza will get crunched again somewhat... you can just smell that with TT still here.

We have NAte for 4 years cheap. This isnt a problem. We need to get Channing playing well, especially on the interior D. We need to get TT off to a good start so we can trade his ass for a good bag of ball and couple of the Laker's cheerleaders

Fish, I agree with what you're saying about people earning their time. It's why I stated earlier that I agreed with Aguirre's decision to bench Channing if he picked up the quick bonehead fouls.

Now two questions for you.

1)Taking under consideration that your thoughts above are well reasoned would you move Q or Crawford for Kwame?

2) Would you feel comfortable with a Marbury, Crawford and Nate backcourt or a Marbury, Q and Nate backcourt?

Before I go I might as well give my opinion for you to chew on. Real simple: swap Q for Kwame and let the cards fall where they may.

Sorry Brandy, you're a sweetie and my homegirl and all...but'cha boy gotta go

[Edited by - junkmein on 07/11/2005 21:27:00]

talent-wise, you don't do that. but if Isiah can't land Larry Brown, I think the direction of this team goes to legitimetaly rebuilding, and THAT is when attaining Kwame is a decent to good idea. Right now, you won't see any deals made until a coach is chosen.


Larry Brown = Trading for Legit Center

Herb Williams = Trading for Potential (Kwame, Stro, etc.)

Posted by Bonn1997:

I could see TT playing well in a contract year and having more value at the trade deadline than he has now.

I could see that too... and if no trade happens @ the deadline (for some odd reason) then his $13,975,000 rolls off our cap like water off our backs.