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martin
Posts: 68674
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Joined: 7/24/2001
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Can the Knicks dump Spree or Houston?
by Chad Ford
Andre Miller is off the rumor mill. So is Baron Davis. (The Hornets may want to send a thank you card to Cleveland for that one. They would've never given away Davis straight up for Darius Miles.) Vin Baker, who was recently inducted as a permanent member of the rumor mill, is also off the block — at least until the Celtics get over their hangover and realize who they're in bed with.
What do all three players have in common? The Knicks were heavily pursuing Miller, Davis and Baker in a desperate attempt to get the franchise back on track after slipping out of the playoffs last season. Their relentless attempts to trade either Latrell Sprewell or Allan Houston have been well documented. So have their rejections.
In addition to being rebuffed by the Cavs, Hornets and Sonics, the Knicks have talked with the Bucks about Glenn Robinson, the Hawks about Jason Terry, and the T-Wolves about Wally Szczerbiak. All three teams are still laughing.
Why the obsession with trading away one of their two best players? Knicks brass feels like the team needs to move one of its shooting guards and bring in either a bigger, more versatile small forward or a top-flight point guard next season. Spree has been playing out of position for four years in New York and the team feels like it has finally taken its toll. One of the two needs to go, and so far, Spree appears to have the most trade value.
What's the problem? The Knicks are trying to get an All-Star-caliber player back in return. Both players put up career numbers last year. Houston had a career high in scoring (20.2 ppg) and three-pointers made. Spree put up his highest point total (19.4 ppg) since he joined the Knicks. Nevertheless, it's become pretty apparent that there isn't a blockbuster trade out there for Spree or Houston.
Spree's troubled past, his age, 32, and a huge contract that still has three years and $40.5 million remaining are his poison pills. Hawks GM Pete Babcock recently cited character as the primary reason why his team wouldn't trade for Spree. "It's unfair to compare players, but we went against our organizational standards to a degree with J. R. Rider a few years ago. We rolled the dice -- we lost big-time on it. We would have to think very hard about bending again."
Other teams think it's the combination of his age and contract that's the real problem. In an age of luxury-tax woes, most teams can't afford to take on that kind of money. "I thought he really lost a step last year," one team exec told Insider. "He can still put up big games for you, but the intensity was lacking. I thought he was terrible defensively. I know it had a lot to do with the tumultuous situation in New York, but you wonder how much longer he's going to be explosive."
Ironically, the Knicks would prefer to move Houston, whom they signed to an absolutely outrageous deal last summer making him virtually untradeable. His six-year, $100 million contract signed last year will probably be the last of its kind. The Knicks bid against themselves and gave Houston $50 million more than anyone else could.
"Houston is a good player," another team exec said. "But he's way overpaid. The only way the Knicks could move him would be to take a massive salary back in return. Right now, they may be willing to take the gamble."
Are both players truly untradeable? Insider made some phone calls and put together three trade scenarios for the Knicks that could make some sense.
1. Spree or Houston to the Nets for Keith Van Horn
Van Horn was Byron Scott's whipping boy all last season. And, after the Finals, Kenyon Martin took a swipe at Van Horn that won't be forgotten. Van Horn is talented, but it looks like he's worn out his welcome in New Jersey. The Nets have been desperately trying to move Van Horn and find some perimeter shooting in the process. While the Nets would prefer Spree, the Knicks are reluctant to let him play in their backyard. The last thing Scott Layden wants to do is trade a fan favorite to the Nets and then watch him become the last piece of the puzzle in the Nets' quest for a championship.
That leaves Houston, who may be a better fit in New Jersey anyway. Spree's game is based on handling the ball and improvisation. That wouldn't really be possible with Jason Kidd controlling things. Houston is more one dimensional, but he'd be the best shooter on the team. Outside shooting was the Nets' Achilles heel last season and Houston may be the best (and most expensive) solution available. The move would afford Richard Jefferson a chance to start at the three, where he excelled in Boston at the summer league.
While Van Horn isn't the answer to all the Knicks' problems, he's young, has size, is a good perimeter shooter and has a tie to Utah (a must for Layden). The trade would also allow Spree to move back to his natural shooting guard position, and give the Knicks a lot of flexibility on what sets they run. If the Knicks can figure out a way to land a point guard, the N.Y. Daily News is reporting that the Knicks are after Nick Van Exel again, and then a big man like Keon Clark or Wang Zhi Zhi via free agency, they'd have a contender.
The deal, financially, wouldn't be as egregious as you think for the Nets. Houston's contract is only one year longer than Van Horn's. If the Knicks were to assume Jamie Feick's terrible contract as part of the trade, the numbers basically add up for the next four seasons.
2. Spree or Houston to the Blazers for Damon Stoudamire
The Knicks have flirted with Stoudamire for some time. He isn't the answer to all of their problems at point guard, but he's the sort of high-energy player Don Chaney is looking for to push the Knicks into a more up-tempo style. Stoudemire's lack of size will be a problem, but the Knicks will still have rookie Frank Williams, who has the size and defensive tenacity to spell Stoudamire when the match-ups aren't going the Knicks way. Of course, the move would push Shandon Anderson into the starting lineup, but with Stoudamire, McDyess and either Spree of Houston on the floor, they'd have plenty of offense.
The deal makes sense for the Blazers only because they are desperately trying to dump Stoudamire. The Blazers think his size and scorer's mentality are crippling the team. With so much offensive fire power, they need a bigger playmaker. They're already on the verge of signing free agent Jeff McInnis (see below), meaning Stoudamire is expendable. If the team adds Spree or Houston, it also has the flexibility of letting Bonzi Wells go. Right now, the Blazers have been stalling on Wells. The team is balking on his contract demands (he's looking for around 6 years, $40 million).
The big question is, who is a better fit for the Blazers? Like the Nets, the Blazers are still desperate for shooting, giving the edge to Houston. Money won't really be a factor. Houston makes a little more than Stoudamire, and has two more years left on his contract, but since when did that ever stop the Blazers?
3. Spree to the Suns for Penny Hardaway
This would be the biggest gamble for the Knicks, but it does make some sense. Hardaway came into the league playing point guard and would be a nice answer to the Knicks' woes at the point if he was willing to make the switch and if the Knicks determined he was healthy.
The Suns are pulling out all the stops to move Hardaway after he bumped heads all season with point guard Stephon Marbury. The Suns would have a logjam at the two, with Joe Johnson and Casey Jacobsen waiting in the wings, but the addition of Spree, along with Marbury and Shawn Marion, would put this team back in the playoff hunt out West.
As far as money goes, the two contracts are almost identical, but the Suns would actually get a little cap relief. Spree's contract is up in the summer of 2005. Hardaway's nightmare isn't over until the summer of 2006.
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7/31/2002 9:37 AM