or he isnt exactly Rod Thorn

thats why he shouldnt have traded all of our picks--he couldve brought in guys like he has the last two years

Frye
Ariza
Lee
Butler
Robinson

brought in a vet here and there and methodically got us back up while keeping the payroll reasonable

getting the marburys is OK, but if the result is 30 wins--no matter the excuse, you are not going anywhere. I like what chicago did when paxson came in--i think isiah could do the same--and stay away from long term contracts from guys who otherteams were mighty willing to get rid of

Forget about last year, think about this season and the next couple of years....Zeke is making all of the right moves,,,,with time, it will all payoff...

Like Isle's sig says... Isiah wants to win now.

If Isiah did blow it up and went for a complete youth movement, you wouldn't be judging him based on a year or two of progress would you? Don't do it for this version of the team either then. The jury is still out on how this all turns out.

Posted by tomverve:

If Isiah did blow it up and went for a complete youth movement, you wouldn't be judging him based on a year or two of progress would you? Don't do it for this version of the team either then. The jury is still out on how this all turns out.

If he had blown it up and went with a complete youth movement I wouldn't judge him based on a year or two but that's not what happened. He went with quick fixes and adding tons of salary for veteran players who will keep us from adding key pieces in the near future. Instead we're relying on these high priced and very flawed players instead of just watching a youth movement.

isiah thomas's strategy for making the knicks better is simply to add talent. thats why he traded for marbury, thats why he traded for crawford, and thats why he traded for curry. im not saying its the best strategy in the world I dont think its a terrible one either. trading for marbury was an understable decison at the time, I dont think anyone would have expected it to result in last season's record (which for the record I attribute more to isiah's coaching decisons than his roster moves, the same thing happend in LA) Similarly trading for curry is an okay move as well, becuase JJ may not be starter material and frye assumably isnt either, plus eddy curry is a rare talent to find so why not trade for him if it fills our need for a center, add that to the fact that becuase of our current salary cap situation that it will a good while before we can afford to sign someone of currys talent it was a pretty understandable move, despite curry's health complications. Of course the main reason why I dont consider the curry trade a bade move is becuase contrary to what briggs would have people beleive isiah didnt trade ALL of our picks for curry we still have 1 remaining for this season and im pretty sure we have 1 for next season too (although I think chi-town has the option to swap it) so its not like isiah gave up everything for curry. Also as far as whether or not this move puts us on the path of mediocrity I need to see exactly what happens with LB this year before i agree or disagree with that.

Posted by TheloniusMonk:

Some of dudes are so funny. Some of you are such extremists. Will sit here and say all we have is veterans to rely on! It's like some cats ain't even looking at the same roster.

Who said that's "all" we're relying on? When you give that much money to a player I think that means that we're relying on them, don't you? If they don't pan out then they're not tradeable, unless you're willing to get "damaged goods" in return or you wait til their contracts expire. Instead of going clearing cap room and going with youth they're increasing their salaries and going with youth. That's like being a little bit pregnant.

I'll try to be objective as possible writing this. Antonio Davis, Allan Houston and Penny Hardaway's contracts come off the books next year. That's about 48 million off the books after this season is over with. We still have a 1st rounder opposed to the three we had this year and with Isiah's eye for talent he should be more than capable of pulling another rabbit out of a hat. What I observed him trying to do is stay competitive while getting younger and I think he accomplished that. I think the Knicks just need to be coached and that's what Larry Brown is here to do. If we end up under .500 again then I'll gladly join the What in the Hell is Isiah doing Club, but until the end of the season I'll be cheering on these guys with the hope they can put it all together and make Isiah look like a genius

Posted by islesfan:

Posted by TheloniusMonk:

Some of dudes are so funny. Some of you are such extremists. Will sit here and say all we have is veterans to rely on! It's like some cats ain't even looking at the same roster.

Who said that's "all" we're relying on? When you give that much money to a player I think that means that we're relying on them, don't you? If they don't pan out then they're not tradeable, unless you're willing to get "damaged goods" in return or you wait til their contracts expire. Instead of going clearing cap room and going with youth they're increasing their salaries and going with youth. That's like being a little bit pregnant.

No, it's like staying competitive and entertaining while building a solid foundation. Bottom line: fans were bitter and didn't care about the team until the Marbury trade. Before Marbury, the only thing worth getting excited about on the squad was Frank Williams! Frank is out of the league two years later and the Knicks have Marbury to sell tickets and a solid youth movement that actually does have a chance at really competing if the rooks develop. There's no one set blueprint to winning it all. Detroit didn't get under the cap and sign free agents to win it all. LA did. San Antonio hit the motherlode in the lotto and drafted well with later picks.

IT should use his remaining assets (e.g., Penny's and AD's expiring contracts) to replenish the picks that he traded.