I have tried to my best to defend Layden, not because I like him, rather because his success translates into better hoops for Knick fans and myself. However, the decision to fine Spree $250k which he will most certainly will have to pay very little of after he files with the PA and a judge rules in his favor, reaches new levels of stupidity on Layden's part.

This HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SPREWELL. It’s about doing what best for the team and the organization. Whether you love Spree or hate him the bottom line is he is productive on the court. He's a 4-time all star, he's 32, a 20 point-a-night scorer and still a versatile defender.

Here is what happens next:
Spree isn’t playing because of his hand anyhow, so "staying away" from the team just alienates him from his teammates and fuels a war of words in the press.
The fine will go to an arbitrator where he will rule in favor of Sprewell and the Players association. The fine will probably be reduced to 10-20k at the most.

What Layden has succeeded in doing:
Angering his most productive player to the point of poisoning any chemistry. Spree isn’t untradeable. Layden no doubt hesitated to move the Knicks most popular player because the deal didn’t look good enough. You now have a player that makes $12million that you don’t want, doesn’t want you, and everybody knows you are desperate to move. Not exactly good bargaining leverage.

What Layden should have done:
NOTHING. That right...not a thing. Tell the media the issue was resolved internally, tell Spree he just needs to focus on getting healthy and into Chaney's new system. After 3-4 games when Spree shows he can still play at his high lever THEN you move him for equal value, or at least equal potential (meaning young players).

INSTEAD:
Layden, out to prove a point and make a statement did just that. He proved he should not be a NBA General Manager and the statement is that image is more important then success. Last I checked image was based on success, and a 32-50 record is a lousy image.

it wasn't just layden... i have an inkling that it was more of the dolans doing as spree pissed him off last year by walking out on a meeting.

and dolan has every right to be pissed at spree, not just for the disrespect in the meeting, but for all of the bull (coming to games late, blowing off 1999 training camp, not going to voluntary workouts, not staying in contact with the knicks during summer offseasons, not reporting injuries that he was legally responsible for in his contract, etc etc etc).

how this was all publicized was wrong though... they should have kept this internal but at the same time when reports of spree not being in training camp show up, everyone would start to ask questions and figure it out.

sprewell deserves the fine, he deserves to be told to be kept away from the team. he needs to learn responsibility and if him being pissed and looked down upon by every newspaper reader does the trick, then more power to the knicks organization for this tactic. and hopefully when spee comes back, he will be pissed. and he will play with more passion and fire to prove all of his doubters and critics wrong.

[Edited by - sexualtennis on 10/07/2002 15:46:44]