Okay, this is very long. But its the offseason, I'm bored, you're bored, so if you want to read it if you want. This stuff should work under the cap (I checked), and I tried to make it as realistic as I could. But its all hypothtetical, and I can't assume what another GM might do, much less our GM. Anyway, here it goes.
First and foremost, we have to address Steph. He's the best player on the team (still), but all of his comments in the press and his friction with Brown and the rest of the roster has pretty much written his ticket out of town. Ideally, you don't have to trade Steph for several pieces of trash like Hudson, Jaric, Hassell etc. from Minny. But you better not expect to get equal value back. It's just not happening with his track record, contract and attitude. So the best thing to do is pull a reverse Knicks, and trade him for an expiring contract.
Move no.1
Stephon Marbury, Jerome James to Memphis for Eddie Jones, Brian Cardinal and the 24th overall selection.
Why does Memphis do it? Bobby Jackson is a free agent and Damon Stoudamire is often injured and no where near as good as Steph. Memphis has talent on the wings (Battier, Miller, Warrick) and up front (Gasol). Marbury can run the pick and roll, make plays and give them another go to guy on O, and Memphis has the perimeter defense to shield Marbury's deficiencies. In order to get Marbury so cheaply, they need to take on the human albatross Jerome James, but they need the size anyway. They will miss Jones' perimeter D and Cardinal's hustle, but they already have that in spades.
The Knicks do this because they have to deal Marbury and can't afford to make their cap situation any worse. Brian Cardinal for Jerome James is a money wash, but trading Marbury sheds a net of something like $40 million dollars over the last 3 years of his deal, which is substantial and part 1 of getting the Knicks back in a sane fiscal state. The Knicks are also clearly building their backcourt around Crawford and Nate, and they need a guy that would allow them to have the ball in their hands more often.
Eddie Jones give the Knicks 1 year of good perimeter defense, adequate 3 pt shooting and veteran presence to appease Brown. Cardinal is another dirty work guy...he's heavily overpaid, but hustles all over the floor, can hit the open 3 and be useful bench guy for Brown. If not, he can sit and be a good 12th man. The Knicks also get a draft pick, which will be very important for forthcoming moves.
Could the Knicks get more? I'd love it if they could extract more. But its easy to come up with trades where its obvious that you fleeced someone. I feel like this could be realistically accepted by the Grizz. Alternately, the Knicks could deal Steve Francis instead of Marbury...whichever is preferred by The Grizz.
Move no.2
Stevie Franchise and the 24th pick to Indiana for Jamaal Tinsley and Austin Croshere.
Indiana has a hit a wall. They aren't getting better with what they have and could use a dynamic backcourt player to get them going. Steven Franchise is a gamble, but could fit that bill. Tinsley has been too injury prone to make a difference the last few years. Croshere is an expiring contract and an asset, but the Pacers take back a first rounder as comp for taking on the inconsistent Francis' salary.
The Knicks do it because Steve Francis seemed to forget how to play basketball last year and has an albatross contract. The Knicks save about 18 mil over a the next 5 seasons or so by making this move. IN addition, they do want to take a chance on Tinsley, who is a heady NYC PG that makes good decisions with the basketball and could end up being the perfect 3rd guard to play with Crawford and Robinson. In addition, they get Croshere, another expriing contract, but useful bench player who can hit the outside shot and rebound. Considering this is a better package than the Knicks gave up for Francis, they may have to throw in the 24th pick they just got from Memphis.
Move no.3:
Quentin Richardson, pick 20 and pick 31 and to Philadelphia for Kevin Ollie, Steven Hunter and pick 13.
After Philly loses the draft lottery (a precondition of this trade), they decide they need another scorer and a third wheel for Iverson and Webber. They take on a little bit more money here, but don't give up a lot in return. It's a gamble, but they have to do it considering the lifespan of Iverson and Webber.
The Knicks get a Brown favorite in Ollie who can defend PG's and a backup center who can block shots in Steven Hunter. Ollie could easily be bought out, and since his contract runs only 2 years, he saves us money on net. In addition the Knicks get get to move up in the draft.
Now the Knicks looked for a taker for Malik Rose, but found no one willing to take on his deal without giving us something just as bad in return. Larry Brown pleads for his veteran presence to stay on the roster, so he is kept.
Jalen and Mo Taylor's expring contracts remain in reserve, with the intention of letting them run out. If either requests a buyout, the Knicks will oblige. If Something great comes along at the trading deadline, the Knicks are armed. Either way, the go no where.
The Knicks have to make a choice on Butler and Woods. The Knicks are armed with the MLE, and clearly prefer to keep the big man. Last year Zaza Pachulia got 4 yrs/ 16 mil on the open market. The Knicks are willing to match that on Butler, but unfortunately Woods will walk withour more cash than what the Knicks have remaining to give. A tough choice, but you have to go with the big man here.
In the draft, the Knicks take Woods Replacement, 6'7 217 pound Swingman Ronnie Brewer of Arkansas. An athletic swing who can handle the ball, pass it and defend agresively. He needs work on his J, but the Knicks feel it is a correctable flaw in his shooting motion. Ideally we can draft Brandon Roy at that spot, but what's the chances of him falling to 13? Richard Roby from Colorado is another option. Maybe we go PG with a guy like Marcus Williams or Lowry. Perhaps a big like O'Bryant slips, or we go for Armstrong. Need to wait till the workouts and the invitationals to get a good gauge on the draft.
http://www.nbadraft.net/profiles/ronniebrewer.asp
So that leaves the Knicks with a lineup of:
PG- Crawford
SG- Jones
SF- Rose
PF- Frye
C- Curry
Bench:
Nate
Lee
Tinsley
Croshere
Butler
Hunter
Cardinal
Ollie
Taylor
Rose
Brewer
(someone has to get bought out here, as this puts the roster at 16)
A good blend of youth, athleticsm and hustle. And clearly a team built around Craw, Frye and Curry, which is as it should be. Brown now has some pets (Ollie, Cardinal, Jones, Rose etc.) and the Knicks still have their young core. And finally they have terrific financial flexibility.
Note. Eddy Curry's numbers are an estimate. He signed a 6 year 60 mil deal, but terms weren't officially disclosed. Brewer's contract is based of of Sean May's rookie Deal from last year.
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
A. Houston $20,718,750.00
J. Rose $16,901,500.00
M. Taylor $9,750,000.00
S. Anderson $7,244,000.00
E. Curry $10,000,000.00 $10,000,000.00 $10,000,000.00 $10,000,000.00 $10,000,000.00
J Crawford $7,250,000.00 $7,975,000.00 $8,700,000.00 $9,425,000.00 $10,150,000.00
Frye $2,162,880.00 $2,325,000.00 $2,487,240.00 $3,163,769.00
Robinson $1,102,680.00 $1,185,480.00 $1,268,160.00 $2,020,178.00
M. Rose $6,008,750.00 $6,555,000.00 $7,101,250.00
Lee $861,360.00 $926,040.00 $990,600.00 $1,788,033.00
Butler $4,000,000.00 $4,000,000.00 $4,000,000.00 $4,000,000.00
Jones $15,680,000.00
Cardinal $5,400,000.00 $5,850,000.00 $6,300,000.00 $6,750,000.00
Croshere $9,560,000.00
Tinsley $5,850,000.00 $6,300,000.00 $6,750,000.00 $7,200,000.00 $7,500,000.00
Ollie $3,196,050.00 $3,441,900.00
Hunter $3,024,000.00 $3,248,000.00 $3,472,000.00 $3,696,000.00
Brewer $1,619,280.00 $1,740,720.00 $1,862,160.00 $2,661,026.00 $3,680,199.00
Total $130,329,250.00 $53,547,140.00 $52,931,410.00 $50,704,006.00 $31,330,199.00
So yes, it is possible to get under the cap if you're creative enough in the short term.
[Edited by - VDesai on 05-06-2006 11:47 PM]
5/6/2006 5:22 PM
