Even with lots of dollars, Knicks need change
Nathaniel Ziering
June 20, 2006

Picks
1st Round - #20, #29
2nd Round – None

Depth Chart

PG : Stephon Marbury/Steve Francis/Jamal Crawford/Nate Robinson
SG : Steve Francis/Jamal Crawford/Quentin Richardson
SF : Quentin Richardson/Jalen Rose/Qyntel Woods*
PF : Channing Frye/Malik Rose/Maurice Taylor/David Lee
C : Eddy Curry/Jackie Butler*/Jerome James

* Denotes Free Agent

As everyone knows the Knicks were a total disaster in 2005-2006. They spent a whopping $125 million dollars for a paltry 23 wins. They suffered 42 rotations under first year head coach Larry Brown and assumed big contract players in Jalen Rose and Steve Francis in seemingly desperate moves by GM Isiah Thomas.

The young players – Channing Frye. Nate Robinson, David Lee, Trevor Ariza, Qyntel Woods and Jamal Crawford – were pulled in and out of the rotation by Brown, often for no rhyme or reason. The result was a lack of self-confidence by the players and a fear of the head coach. With the exception of a six-game winning streak in January the Knicks never had any chemistry the whole season.

To make matters worse the Knicks franchise player, Stephon Marbury, openly quarreled with coach Larry Brown in the media and tried to orchestrate a mutiny of Brown, which may play out with Brown’s dismissal by the NBA Draft.

The result of all this cacophonous madness was 23 wins, a soap opera that has continued into the summer and perpetual embarrassment for the franchise.

Team Needs

On paper the Knicks have a pantheon of talent but too many high salaried players who play the same positions. The Knicks biggest problem is the lack of a coherent philosophy. Are they a young team rebuilding or a team ready to compete in the playoffs now? Do they want to be a defense first team or join the rest of the league in the run and gun vogue?

The first thing the Knicks need to do is decide on a head coach, the philosophy of the team will follow from that ultimate decision. If Larry Brown returns the Knicks front office need to supply him with defensive minded, high IQ players. If Brown is dismissed it is rumored that Isiah Thomas will take over the reigns of the team. Thomas loves athleticism and was an offensive minded coach in his short tenure as head coach with the Indiana Pacers.

1. A young, athletic small forward.

After the Eddy Curry trade was commenced in training camp last season the Knicks let their only true small forward walk away in Tim Thomas. The Knicks started the season with an injured Quentin Richardson and second year player Trevor Ariza manning the small forward position. Richardson struggled through his worst professional season and Ariza was replaced in the rotation by a late free agent pickup in Qyntel Woods. Ariza eventually was traded in the Steve Francis trade.

The Knicks also imported veteran Jalen Rose from Toronto just before last season's trade deadline. Rose provides a scoring option at small forward but is a defensive liability and not a long-term option as he enters the last year of his weighty contract.

2. A defensive big man with shot blocking capabilities.

While Eddy Curry and Channing Frye continue to develop on the offensive end their defense is porous at best. In the 2005-2006 season, opposing players drove to the hoop at will. It is rumored the Knicks have promised UCONN Forward/Center Josh Boone to be picked in the upcoming draft. A year ago Boone may have been a lottery pick but after a disappointing senior season at UCONN his stock considerably dropped.

3. A sturdy backup point guard.

In a surprising deadline trade the Knicks brought in former All-Star Steve Francis to New York. The move still baffles almost every NBA fan and pundit. Francis has very similar skills to incumbent New York point guard Stephon Marbury. If the Knicks keep both Francis and Marbury they will share the point guard and shooting guard duties and will be followed off the bench by Jamal Crawford, who can also adequately play both the point and shooting guard. The Knicks still need a steady and reliable backup point guard who can distribute the ball and play tough defense when needed and is effective in limited minutes.


GM’s Draft Strategy

Everyone expects GM Isiah Thomas to make a big splash in the draft. Anything but a big draft day trade will leave Knick fans moaning in the Garden. Isiah has shown a penchance for drafting well, though his trades have been circumspect and yet to bring any fortune to the Knicks organization.

If the Knicks don’t trade their draft picks the following players are the best options:

#20 Thabo Sefolosha, Hilton Armstrong

#29 Josh Boone, Shawne Williams, James White

Personal Analysis

The Knicks are saddled with bad contracts and have thirteen players currently under contract. Adding their two draft picks will bring them to the maximum fifteen players. Most of the Knicks salaries would demand two or even three for one player trades and the Knicks don’t have the roster space to accommodate such moves. In this respect the Knicks best option is to open roster spots any way possible.

Don't be surprised if the Knicks package both their picks to move up in the draft or to package one or both of their picks with some of their expiring contracts.

The Knicks have rich expiring contracts in Jalen Rose (15 million) and Maurice Taylor (9 million) who they can move for a young starting small forward that can contribute right away. The 2007 NBA free agent draft pool may be the best in years to come and many teams may be interested in trading players for expiring contracts to get under the cap by next summer.

Furthermore, the Knicks are in a precarious position as they need to continue to get younger but want to stay competitive simultaneously.

Free Agency

This may be one of the weakest free agent pools in years. The Knicks are deep at every position and their only real free agent need is a steady backup point guard who can play defense and set up scorers. Possible targets should be Jannero Pargo, Milt Palacio and Jacque Vaughn. The Knicks should be able to land one of them with less than half the MLE for a one or two year contract.

Possible Trade

One possibility would be to take advantage of the uncertain situation with the Seattle Sonics organization – which may leave Seattle - by making a pitch for small forward Rashard Lewis, who has the player option to opt out of his contract after the 2006-2007 season and may not return to the Sonics.


The Knicks could offer Jalen Rose’s expiring contract, promising young role player David Lee and Seattle native, sparkplug Nate Robinson. As well the Knicks would swap the 20th and 29th picks in the draft to move up and get Seattle’s 10th pick where the Knicks could get a defensive big in Shelden Williams of Duke or Cedric Simmons of North Carolina State.

To meet CAP requirements the Knicks would also absorb the expiring contract of Seattle power forward Danny Forston, who has played his way out of Seattle head coach Bob Hill’s rotation and Seattle fans hearts.


In this scenario the Knicks would acquire a young, athletic small forward and a young, defensive bigman via the draft.

The Knicks would be trading three players and two potential players (via the draft) for two players and one potential player (via the draft), thus opening up roster spots for further moves. They also stay in the expiring player trade market with Forston (7 million).

Other Considerations

1. The Knicks could make a play out of the uncertain situation with the Portland Trailblazers organization – which is for sale - by targeting disfavored small forward Darius Miles and a backup point guard in either Steve Blake or Jarret Jack for expiring contracts and/or young players/future draft picks.

If unrestricted free agent Joel Przybilla and the Knicks were interested in joining forces, the Knicks could offer Portland additional cap space for the promising defensive center in a sign and trade.

This would give the Knicks a young, athletic small forward in Miles, a young, but experienced, defensive big man in Przybilla and a steady, young point guard in either Jack or Blake.

2. The Knicks could also look for a trade involving Houston big man Stromile Swift. After a splashy free agent signing last summer Swift was a bad fit under Rockets head coach Jeff Van Gundy. Swift can play both the power forward and center positions and give the Knicks the shotblocking presence they desperately need.

The Knicks could additionally inquire to see if the Rockets were interested in trading their 8th pick in the upcoming draft. This would give the Knicks an opportunity to select a young wing player like Rodney Carney, or Rudy Gay, if he somehow unexpectedly drops a few draft spots.

Offseason Outlook

Whatever happens in New York, expect a major shakeup in personnel as GM Isiah Thomas continues his search for a competitive team to make his bosses and the fans happy.

interesting...

Posted by joec32033:

What's interesting is that Zeke told LB there wouldn't be a major roster shakeup, and now everyone is predicting a major roster shakeup because Zeke is the coach...

Not trying to start a LB/Zeke debate, just stating some reported "facts" (notice the quotations around facts).

they kept lb around to get draft input. they also listened to what he said about team building. i wouldn't be surprised if they do make moves that lb was asking for or something similar.

if h20's contract comes off the cap b/c of his medical retirement, the knicks cap # in 06/07 will be around $115-120 mil.

so about $60 mil in luxury tax which will make the total paid for player's salary in the ballpark of $180 mil.

and if lb gets, let's say, $25 mil, the knicks will be paying over $200 mil for their team next season.

knicks 06/07 = ALL BANG FOR THE BUCK

[Edited by - djsunyc on 06-26-2006 10:21 AM]

I question whether Dolan would be willing to let Isiah increase the payroll, especially if he's now on a short leash.

The young players – Channing Frye. Nate Robinson, David Lee, Trevor Ariza, Qyntel Woods and Jamal Crawford – were pulled in and out of the rotation by Brown, often for no rhyme or reason. The result was a lack of self-confidence by the players and a fear of the head coach.

That's what I've been saying for months.

Other points ok, but this:

Posted by djsunyc:


3. A sturdy backup point guard.

In a surprising deadline trade the Knicks brought in former All-Star Steve Francis to New York. The move still baffles almost every NBA fan and pundit. Francis has very similar skills to incumbent New York point guard Stephon Marbury. If the Knicks keep both Francis and Marbury they will share the point guard and shooting guard duties and will be followed off the bench by Jamal Crawford, who can also adequately play both the point and shooting guard. The Knicks still need a steady and reliable backup point guard who can distribute the ball and play tough defense when needed and is effective in limited minutes.

is BS, unless one (or more) of the other guys goes. You don't get yet ANOTHER point guard with this glut. I'm still smarting over that Francis trade. What a stupid move! More fuel into the bad chemistry pot!

Posted by crzymdups:

Posted by joec32033:

What's interesting is that Zeke told LB there wouldn't be a major roster shakeup, and now everyone is predicting a major roster shakeup because Zeke is the coach...

I think it was just that Brown's idea of a major roster shakeup involves trading Marbury and Isiah's doesn't.

i think it's tough for me to see marbury has a breaking point for management. i don't think they would mind trading him. i think it involves someone like curry. i could see isiah getting bent out of shape for that one.

but it's now apparent that they decided to get rid of lb back in march so them telling him they won't make roster changes is probably their way of trying to get him to quit. steph got big on the mic b/c he knew lb was on weak ground.

he'll get his money, probably all of it as i don't think stern wants to set a precedent here. and then the page on the lb/knicks era can finally be turned...

[Edited by - djsunyc on 06-26-2006 2:46 PM]