First off, this first trade must happen or everything else would be pointless.

I think this trade should be beneficial for both teams.

NY sends Sprewell, Harrington and 2nd Rd Pick to the Hornets (#36)

Hornets sends Elden Campbell, Augmon, Traylor and 1st Rd Pick (#17)

Augmon are garbage fillers to match-up contracts so Hornets can get Spree and Harrington.

The Hornets need a 3rd all-star in their lineup to get over the hump. Their lineup would be...

C-Jamal Magliore
PF-PJ Brown
SF-Mashburn
SG-Sprewell
PG-B. Davis.

Bench - Harrington, Wesley, George Lynch, Nailon
That's a pretty solid bench.

With the Knicks we get rid of the structural flaw. We get a 1st rd pick that is might turn up good (Stoudemire, Haislip, Ely) solid bench player in the Corie Blount mode. Or if Dickau is still there then I would pick him. Then I would be happy with any of these 3 (Nene, Skita, Wilcox) for our 7th pick.

Then I would trade either Ward or Jackson to either NJ, Sac or San Antonio. NJ and the Spurs need backup PGs and all 3 want desperately to get out of the 1st RD due to guaranteed contracts and the fact that both Ward and Jax have expiring contracts in 2 years might be enough of a carrot to make the deal. If we get Dickau at 17 then I draft big here (Boozer, Gadzuric, Sampson) if not then we draft for PG (Juan Dixon, Roger Mason, Smush Parker).

Then, I would try to see if Minnesota would bite with whoever is left with Ward or Jackson for Marc Jackson. This might be a bad deal for us if Marc Jackson doesn't pan out since he has a monster contract in the Weatherspoon type, but it would get rid of our glut in the PG area. Again, the expiring contracts might be enough of a carrot for McHale. Plus he gets a PG, a much needed position in their team.

NY Lineup

Center-
Elden Cambell
Forwards-
Marcus Camby
(Skita/Nene/Wilcox)
Guards-
Allan Houston
(Dickau/Smush Parker/Juan Dixon/Roger Mason)

Bench-
K. Thomas, Eisley, Augmon, Traylor, (Stoudemire, Haislip, Ely, Boozer, Gadzuric, Sampson, Postell

Our bench would be kinda suspect, but I can live with the starting 5.

no - if the first round pick that we get from charlotte doesn't pan out, as many first picks do not (o'bannons, montross, the list goes on), we're stuck with two overthehills and a fat bum(traylor). and they get an allstar and a quality backup, nevermind the fact that often some second round picks excel first rounders in the nba.

gerald wilkins was the last pick in the second round
anthony mason was a third rounder

Thomas,

I agree with you that most 1st round picks don't pan out, but this trade is a start of re-building process and in the way of this re-building we gamble on some young talent.

Elden Cambell is a big body with 1 year remaining in his contract.
Traylor is a fat bum with a 1 year contract.
Augmon is a defensive specialist with 2 years in his contract.

The lone gamble would be the overpriced Marc Jackson, but he is 6'10" and can bang. Worth the gamble I think.

Again, this would be a rebuilding mode, but a pretty good starting five in Campbell, Camby, (Skita/Wilcox/Nene), Houston and new PG (Dickau/Dixon/Parker).