2004-05 Record: 33-49
2005-06 Projected Record: 35-47

Key Additions: Quentin Richardson (Suns), Jerome James (Sonics), Eddy Curry (Bulls), Channing Frye (Draft), Nate Robinson (Draft), David Lee (Draft)

Key Losses: Kurt Thomas (Suns), Jerome Williams (Amnesty Clause)

Projected Starters:
Stephon Marbury PG 6-2 200 2/20/77 Georgia Tech '96,
Jamal Crawford G 6-5 190 3/20/80 Michigan '00,
Quentin Richardson GF 6-6 230 4/13/80 DePaul '00,
Malik Rose PF 6-7 245 11/23/74 Drexel '96,
Eddy Curry C 6-11 285 12/5/82 Thornwood HS '01

Reserves:
Trevor Ariza SF 6-8 200 6/30/85 UCLA '04, Jackie Butler C 6-10 250 3/10/85 Coastal Christian Academy '04,
Channing Frye FC 6-11 245 5/17/83 Arizona '05,
Anfernee Hardaway GF 6-7 215 7/18/71 Memphis '93,
Allan Houston G 6-6 205 4/20/71 Tennessee '93,
Jerome James C 7-1 280 11/17/75 Florida A&M '00,
David Lee PF 6-9 250 4/29/83 Florida '05,
Nate Robinson PG 5-9 180 5/31/84 Washington '05,
Maurice Taylor F 6-9 255 Michigan '98

In all seriousness, I have to ask this question. Does Isiah Thomas know that the NBA has a salary cap in place? If a team's collective payroll exceeds $49.5 million, that team must pay a dollar-for-dollar luxury tax on all salaries exceeding said threshold. At the time of this article, the Knicks are roughly $65 million over the cap, which means they'll be paying more in luxury tax than what the 2005 NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs have allotted for player salaries this season.

Clearly, this franchise has essentially given up hope on ever having a reasonable payroll, which is fine as long as your reckless spending results in wins. Last season, the Knicks won a paltry 33 games and showed very little potential for improvement. This was an aging squad with very few players that actually complemented one another.

New York made a lot of changes in the off-season, but most of them were steps backward or sideways. After Eddy Curry refused to submit to a DNA test at the request of Chicago's GM, Jim Paxson, the Knicks (who've harbored a not-so-secret crush on Curry for quite some time) promptly offered Tim Thomas (in the last year of his contract) and Mike Sweetney (a promising and inexpensive power forward) to the Bulls in exchange for the right to sign Curry to a 6-year, $55 million contract. Not only are his health problems a MAJOR red flag, Curry doesn't rebound, play defense, or exert full effort on every play, which won't change now that he's got his guaranteed money. The best part of this deal is listening to the Knicks' faithful talk themselves into Curry as the next Patrick Ewing.

Backing him up will be Jerome James, who signed for the Knicks' full mid-level exemption (5 years, $30 million) in August. Clearly, this was a good investment, since James played hard for four games last season, all against Sacramento in the 2005 playoffs. When he's not playing the Kings, he's a magnet for dumb fouls and appears to get winded on his way from the bench to the scorer's table.

After Quentin Richardson stink-job during the 2005 playoffs, the Knicks promptly offered Kurt Thomas (their only legitimate post presence at the time) in exchange for Richardson and the $37.5 million remaining on his contract. Not only does Q suffer from chronic back problems, but he'll be battling Stephon Marbury and Jamal Crawford for shots all season.

On the bright side, that trade did bring them the 21st pick in the draft, which they used on Nate Robinson (who would've been available later in the draft, but let's not nitpick). Nasty Nate will be one of the most exciting players in the league next season. Imagine Spud Webb, only with superior basketball skills. If you're a Knick fan, here's your new favorite player.

What needs to happen for this team to compete for a playoff spot again? For starters, Stephon Marbury has to learn how to share the ball and elevate his teammates' level of play. Jamal Crawford and Richardson have to share shots. Malik Rose has to immediately move into the starting 4-spot and average at least 10 boards a game. Maurice Taylor has to platoon with Rose and score enough for the both of them. Curry and James have to play hard every game. Allan Houston and Anfernee Hardaway have to emerge from their whirlpools of formaldehyde and regain their mid-90s form. Nasty Nate and Trevor Ariza both have to get at least 30 minutes a game. David Lee and Channing Frye have to be ready to step in right away. Frye needs to hit the glass with more authority and he can't let the New York media get to him if he has an off-game.

Judging from recent history, how many of those things are truly going to happen this season? Honestly?

But wait, say the Knicks faithful. Aren't you being too dismissive? You forget that the King of the Reclamation Project has returned to his homeland to restore order to the league's marquee franchise. Larry Brown is here, and he shall lead them.

Nobody's questioning the fact that Brown is one of the best coaches in basketball. He'll bring discipline and a set playing rotation to the Knicks, two things they were desperately lacking last season. But judging from the way Brown and Starbury interacted during the Athens debacle and his reluctance to play younger players (read: Nasty Nate and Ariza), this doesn't seem like the most ideal fit.

That's not even mentioning the lethargic Curry/James center tandem. Keep in mind, Brown is used to Ben Wallace. Brown preaches defense and this roster is below-average defensively (and that's being nice). Unless Brown is a supernatural miracle worker, expect to see the Knicks in the lottery again next season. Hey, at least they're interesting.

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I know they've always hated on the knicks but saying we'l only win 2 more games than alst year is ridiculous

...just another Knicks hater that'll end up with his foot in his mouth when it's all said and done.

Then Larry Brown can bring up the media's failure to apoloigize when they're wrong, like he recently did.

"That Cleveland stuff was a bunch of baloney. Distractions! My team didn't play like there were distractions. I don't hear anything now, anybody apologizing about this 'done deal' in Cleveland. I haven't heard one person say that, write that."

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/cs-051008smith,1,2443520.column?

What needs to happen for this team to compete for a playoff spot again? For starters, Stephon Marbury has to learn how to share the ball and elevate his teammates' level of play. Jamal Crawford and Richardson have to share shots. Malik Rose has to immediately move into the starting 4-spot and average at least 10 boards a game. Maurice Taylor has to platoon with Rose and score enough for the both of them. Curry and James have to play hard every game. Allan Houston and Anfernee Hardaway have to emerge from their whirlpools of formaldehyde and regain their mid-90s form. Nasty Nate and Trevor Ariza both have to get at least 30 minutes a game. David Lee and Channing Frye have to be ready to step in right away. Frye needs to hit the glass with more authority and he can't let the New York media get to him if he has an off-game.

You're telling me all this needs to happen for the Knicks to snag an 8th seed? The funniest part was about houston and penny. if that one thing happened then we'd be a top 3 team in the east already, with penny marbury houston by themselves. The author should note that if all of this happened, the knicks would be a dynasty with rings galore until the players all retired. Idiot.

this guy is an imbecile. Starbury finished second in the league in assists, and did he notice what teammates he had to "share the ball with"?

heres the bulls preview from the same place:
2004-05 Record: 47-35
2005-06 Projected Record: 45-37

Key Additions: Tim Thomas (Knicks), Michael Sweetney (Knicks), Jermaine Jackson (Knicks), Darius Songaila (Kings), Malik Allen (Bobcats), Eddie Basden (Undrafted FA).

Key Losses: Eddy Curry (Knicks)

Projected Starters:
Chris Duhon PG 6-1 185 8/31/82 Duke '04,
Kirk Hinrich G 6-3 190 1/2/81 Kansas '03,
Luol Deng SF 6-8 220 4/16/85 Duke '04,
Darius Songaila PF 6-9 250 2/14/78 Wake Forest '02,
Tyson Chandler FC 7-1 230 10/2/82 Dominguez HS '01

Reserves:
Malik Allen PF 6-10 250 6/27/78 Villanova '01,
Eddie Basden G 6-5 215 2/15/83 Charlotte '05,
Antonio Davis FC 6-9 245 10/31/68 UTEP '90,
Ben Gordon 6-3 200 4/4/83 Connecticut '04,
Othella Harrington PF 6-9 240 1/31/74 Georgetown '96,
Andres Nocioni SF 6-7 220 11/30/79 Argentina '04,
Jannero Pargo PG 6-1 175 9/22/79 Arkansas '02,
Eric Piatkowski GF 6-7 215 9/30/70 Nebraska '94,
Jared Reiner C 6-11 255 4/8/82 Iowa '04,
Michael Sweetney PF 6-8 270 10/25/82 Georgetown '02,
Tim Thomas F 6-10 240 2/26/77 Villanova '97

Last year, the Chicago Bulls were one of the NBA's most pleasantly unexpected surprises. This team has spent the majority of its post-MJ rebuilding phase buried in the cellar, but thanks to some terrific draft picks the past two seasons and the (relative) maturation of their Baby Bulls into adolescents, Chicago is back on the basketball radar.

Most of the key players from last season's fourth seed squad are back. The trio of Chris Duhon, Kirk Hinrich, and Ben Gordon will log the majority of the time at the guard spots. Last year, the Bulls saw major success when they started Duhon at the point and allowed Hinrich to play off the ball, with the electrifying Gordon coming in when the team needed a scoring boost. During the last three minutes of a game, Hinrich would move to point and Gordon would nail almost every big jumper he took. Unless head coach Scott Skiles sees any reason to mess with that formula, expect to see Chicago employ the same strategy this season.

By the way, the average age of these three guards is 23. If they can improve their shooting percentages, they're going to be good for a long time.

Sharing time at the small forward spot will be Luol Deng and Andres Nocioni. Had Deng been healthy for their playoff series against the Washington Wizards, that series might've turned out differently. He's one of the most versatile young forwards in basketball who rarely makes a bad decision with the basketball. Nocioni brings loads of big-game experience, having been a member of Argentina's top-notch national team for years.

Starting for the Bulls in the post will be the lone remaining Adolescent Bull, Tyson Chandler. Chandler, after signing a six-year, $60-plus million contract extension in the off-season, will be expected to raise his offensive game to the level of his shot-blocking and rebounding skills. Few players have his combination of size and athleticism. In short, he's a freak of nature.

Eddy Curry, on the other hand, is not too pleased with the Bulls' front office. He was looking for an extension similar to Chandler's, but his reluctance to submit to the Bulls' request for a DNA test and his inability to get his heart insured have made for some turbulent, sometimes acrimonious contract negotiations. After pursuing nearly every angle to try and lock up a long-term contract, the Bulls dealt Curry (along with Antonio Davis, but the Knicks are expected to waive him and Davis is expected to rejoin the roster) to the New York Knicks in exchange for Tim Thomas, Michael Sweetney, Jermaine Jackson and draft picks. Curry then agreed to a 6-year, $55 million contract, pending his completion of a lengthy physical.

This will likely turn out to be one of John Paxson's best moves as Bulls General Manager. Chicago won't have to play the 2005-06 season with Curry looming as a potentially malignant distraction. Plus, paying a petulant center who only intermittently plays hard, won't rebound, and is a magnet for dumb fouls $55 million is not exactly a sound financial investment. He's as skilled as any center on the offensive end and he's still very young, but with the money Chicago will save and the trouble they'll avoid, this was clearly the right move.

The Bulls add Michael Sweetney (2005-06 salary: $2.1 million), who'll share minutes at the 4-spot with Darius Songaila. Sweetney is a hard-nosed, blue-collar power forward who'll excel at everything Curry didn't (or wouldn't) do. Thomas is in the last year of his ghastly contract, giving Chicago another $13 million to play with in the off-season. On the court, Thomas will fill in at both forward spots and provide athleticism and depth.

With Curry suiting up for the Knicks, Skiles is expected to move Chandler to center and let the aforementioned Songaila take the lion's share of the minutes. Songaila will prove to be a valuable asset to this squad, with his endless hustle and terrific work ethic. Sweetney, Antonio Davis (if he's re-added to the roster) and former Bobcat Malik Allen will also see ample amounts of playing time down low.

Jannero Pargo and Eddie Basden will likely round out the playing rotation. Pargo has bounced around the league for a few years and is a solid #3 point guard. Basden, an undrafted rookie out of Charlotte, could develop into a Bruce Bowen-like defensive stopper.

The Bulls might not match the 47 wins they put up last season, because they're not going to sneak up on anyone this year. But their extremely talented and young nucleus will be extremely entertaining to watch and could make a repeat appearance in the postseason.

----lol a whole bunch of BS

I'd love it if Frye or Lee could assert himself and win the starting PF job. I honestly don't mind Rose coming in off the bench. I'm assuming AD is gone. I don't want to see Taylor on the court for more than ten minutes a night. That leaves Lee and Frye. Man up, boys. The job is there if you want it!

love the subtle frye dig...atleast you are consistent briggy.

New York made a lot of changes in the off-season, but most of them were steps backward or sideways.

Lets examine... and try to objective here, just for poops and giggles

last year...........this year

C..Kurt Thomas......Eddie curry
PF.Mike Sweetney....Malik Rose
SF.Tim Thomas.......QRich
SG.Crawford.........same
PG.Marbury..........same

key bench players 04: Ariza, Jermaine Jackson, Norris, Baker, Penny, JYD, Rose, Mo T

bench players 2005: Ariza, Jerome James, Nate, Frye, Lee, Mo T, Houston?, Penny?

Please explain which of these is a backwards or sideways move. Only PF could be even argued to be a backwards move. Please

[Edited by - fishmike on 10-09-2005 4:38 PM]

Posted by nixluva:

Its just more of the same. It amazes me how bias the media and fans around the country are against the Knicks.
Look at Curry's last month before he went down with the heart scare:

------------------------------------mpg--reb--blk---pts
Mar. 28 vs. Grizzlies---94-86 W -36----4--- 2 ---25
Mar. 26 vs. Pacers ---100-96 W -29----6--- 0 ---27
Mar. 25 vs. Celtics --- 94-86 W -23----6--- 2 ---16
Mar. 23 vs. Raptors -- 94-85 W -23----4---0 ---16
Mar. 21 vs. Hawks -- 105-91 W -24----6---1 ---24
Mar. 15 vs. Sonics ------93-99 L -29--- 4---0 ---10
Mar. 13 vs. Clippers -- 78-83 L -31----8--- 5 ---19
Mar. 11 vs. Sonics -- 100-97 W -41---8--- 1 ----18
Mar. 09 vs. Blazers -- 97-84 W -33----8---0 ----25
Mar. 07 vs. Bucks -----90-85 W -36----7---0 ----16
Mar. 05 vs. Bucks ----87-95 L ----16----5---1 ----8
Mar. 04 vs. Spurs -----99-102 L --15----0---1 ----9
Mar. 01 vs. Rockets --89-119 L --22----3---0 ----17

He may not have been the kind of rebounder he should, but he certainly is more of a threat than KT, TT or Sweetney, hands down. With proper training and LB reaching this kid mentally, I think he will improve and reach his potential.

We will be so much better if he even plays exactly how he did last year. If he improves the east is in trouble.