Posted by fishmike:
thats a plan with a lot of holes. How's it working out for Atlanta or Chi who built their teams around cap space.
A much better plan is to stockpile picks, talent and good young players. Marbury may not have a friendly contract, but he's the equivalent of a 27 year old with a 100 mph fast ball. Someone will always be willing to take a shot at getting him straight.
Cap space is not tangible and doesnt give you leverage. Having assets other teams want does.
Also consider guys like Amare, Lebron and Yao are pipedreams that guys like Chad Ford like to right about. Most will sign extensions in year 3. Most others will have any offer made by another team matched. This is not a path to go.
Adding 3 good picks, resigning Ariza, and adding Q were good moves. Those are desirable players and pieces to have. Plus we have an extra #1 next year.
I think the Knicks, having the Garden and NYC to sell, would be a very attractive place for free agents, as it was in 1996, the last time they had significant cap room.
I don't see any reason why you can't construct a team with players whose contracts expire during the same or similar time horizons.
Given Marbury's knees, I would compare him to pitcher who once threw 96, but now throws 94, and needs to add another pitch (in his case defense) to return to an elite level.
That said, if Isiah can emulate the Miami model and trade two or three good young players for a dominant big man, prefereably one who is under 30, the Knicks could be in a position to compete for a championship over time.
I just think that you can create cap space and acquire young talent and draft picks. They are not mutually exclusive goals.
The key to Brown's success here will be how he develops the young players.
, that team was bad and now we actually have some talent