Posted by Solace:
Posted by firefly:
Basically, I was saying that the only shot we have at a superstar free agent is a flawed one. So yeah, Marbury isn't tier 1 superstar, but its the best we can get. Cap space in the vast vast majority of cases will not get you your superstar. I qualify this statement by saying there is a difference between having no caproom, and being 70 odd million over it. We have it wrong regardless, but caproom is no guarantee to get your superstar.
Picks are a better way, but considering our general goal is to be just good enough to get into the playoffs, we don't have that avenue either (outside of last years embarasment). Ducking and diving, picking up what you can, is the way we have to go. It hasent worked so far, but you can't say Isiah isn't trying. On paper, just on paper, Marbury, Crawford and Curry are a pretty good nucleus. Sadly, basketball isn't played on paper, so we have to keep trying.
I think the way to go is to dump our expirings for equal or lesser talent with picks included from lesser teams. A Miles plus pick for Rose could yield something in the future. Something like that. That's all.
You have to think of it from the other perspective... if we had the cap space, would the scenario be the same? A lot of players want to play in NY. We're always out of the game because of our cap situation, so it's tough to tell what would happen if we were in the game. The thing is that we're never in a position to take advantage of a LeBron, Wade, Carmelo, etc... being a free agent.
I dont think that really comes into it. If LeBron were to *quietly cuz its illegal* call the Knicks and mention that he would welcome a free agency advance, or even just mention it in passing a la Ronron, the Knicks could, possibly get under the cap in time for 08/09 season. Houston, Anderson, JYD, Malik, Mo T, Jalen would all be off the cap, and thats roughly $70 mill off our cap. A few lopsided deals later, we could just possibly be under the cap. So if LeBron really would want to come to NY, just because we're not under the cap now, doesnt mean we wont be under the cap when he is an unrestricted FA.
Besides, if FA's really want to come to NY, we dont need caproom to get them. They could demand to go to NY, and engineer a sign-and-trade. Fact is, Isiah has made a few really stupid deals in his time, notably the Jerome James deal, but the other ones, Q-Rich, Curry, Crawford, Marbury, you can see what he was trying to do. Different teams live in different marketplaces. The Hawks, Hornets, Raptors etc. will always be the ones with caproom. The Suns, Pistons, Spurs etc. will always be living on the edge of capspace, and they find ways to deal around it. The Knicks and Dallas will always be over, and have to fight through their own marketplace.
Some men see things as they are and ask why. I dream things that never were and ask why not?
