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djsunyc
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Isiah, Larry put spin on deal
In backing up risky swap for Francis, they agree future brighter with more valuable, likely tradeable assets
BY GREG LOGAN
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
February 24, 2006
GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- The Knicks staged another successful news conference yesterday. Coach Larry Brown insisted he and team president Isiah Thomas are on the same page regarding their trade for Steve Francis, and Thomas praised Brown for improving the value of everyone on the roster with the exception of oft-injured center Jerome James.
"Every player has been talked about in a trade and has value," Thomas said of the league's highest-paid, 29th lowest-achieving team. "The record doesn't indicate the success had in terms of upgrading the roster and upgrading the talent. You go into this summer now, and you have a lot of players other teams want and we go into the summer with two draft picks.
"We feel pretty good about the direction we're headed. Again, we're not happy with the record. However, our future is bright."
If only it weren't for that darn 15-38 record the Knicks take into their game against the Nets (30-23) tonight at Madison Square Garden, everything would be hunky-dory. But they'll go to work on fixing that with Francis in the club's 33rd starting lineup of the season despite not practicing yesterday because he had to complete his physical exam.
Brown plans to play Francis and Stephon Marbury heavily together in a pairing of two shoot-first point guards. Since yesterday's NBA trade deadline passed without the Knicks making another deal, Jamal Crawford still is available as a shoot-first sixth man. And don't forget recently acquired shoot-first small forward Jalen Rose.
Brown expects Francis to help Marbury because he's another ballhandler, he rebounds, he demands defensive attention and he allows Marbury to play off the ball more. "I bugged Isiah when I saw his name," Brown said, referring to Orlando's decision to make him available after trading for Carlos Arroyo.
"I just thought he was a quality player, and felt the same way. We thought it would help a lot of issues with our club. When Stephon wasn't able to play, you've got a quality player who can step in. It's a good thing."
Adding the kicker, Brown said, "In the summer, we'll have other options."
In other words, the Knicks believe they have tradeable assets in Marbury and Francis despite the fact each has three more seasons remaining on his contract, Marbury for $60.3 million and Francis for $48.7 million.
Thomas said he shared the skepticism that has been expressed around the league about the chances of Marbury and Francis working together successfully, but Brown talked him into it. "You start listening to some of the qualities brought out and the way that he thought they could play together, and it made a lot of sense for us to do, particularly in terms of upgrading our talent level and where we are today," Thomas said.
"We're in it for the long haul. It's not going to turn around real fast, but I'm glad he's a partner with me working with it."
Before the trade deadline, Brown listed his needs as a shot-blocker and a backup point guard capable of running the team and controlling the tempo. "We weren't going to move a guy to satisfy one of our needs short-term," Brown said. "If we could have gotten a great defensive rebounder/shot-blocker, then, obviously, you weigh what you have to give up. We didn't think any of those things were available."
Filling those needs would have required the Knicks to part with one of their rookie big men, Channing Frye or David Lee. All it took to get Francis was Penny Hardaway's expiring contract and second-year forward Trevor Ariza.
The end result, as Thomas sees it, is a young team with players other teams want and contracts that are "reasonable for the talent level" plus a great coach. "I'm pretty positive about our future," Thomas said. "Extremely positive about our future."
Of course, the scoreboard might not reflect it after playing the Nets tonight.
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