try to strike now while Washington is on a roll for the playoffs. I believe a huge package deal where we send them Thomas and Ward make them better--much better right now for their run in the east+ we can send them a future 1 and vujonic and take back laetners two years i.e

kwame brown and Laetner for KT Ward Vujonic and a 2005 1 protected to 5

Continue to play harrington and try to dump him and the trade deadline for an ending contract + a 2003 pick. his contract is small and does not have long on it anyway but he could really help out a team like the Lakers.

I do not think we will be in the top 5 picks so i do not think we will be in position to grab Okafor or Bosh IF they even come out. I think we have to look at players from pick 7 down and if we obtain a second 1st rounder I would also be obliged to move down some in the draft if I can get the players I want.
Since we are dealing with relity and we PROBABLY wont be dealing high lottery--the first player on the list is Nick Collison. I believe we can aqcuire him in the 7-9 range or even a bit lower. If we can indeed move for a another mid round pick Im looking at Ben gordon as an explosive sharp shooting back up PG to replace Ward. And thirdly if we can take both high 2nd rounders and again move up into the middle--we had three mid round picks in 97 Im looking at either of Dwayne Wade first and Dahntay Jones second as an heir apparent to \sprewell.

In essence moving Thomas Ward Vujonic 2005 number 1 to the Wizards for Kwame Brown and Laetner

Moving Othella Harrington at the dealine for an ending contract and a 1st round pick.

Moving both high second rounders to a team that doesnt want the salary obligation of a first rounder and finds the two high 2nd s more appealing--many clubs may now be more interested in this method.

Acquiring
C-PF 6-9 255 Nick Collison with our core pick
PG ben gordon 6-2 210
and either 6-5 Dwayne Wade
or 6-6 Dahntay Jones


fully netting Kwame brown 6-11 250 21 yo
Collison 6-9 255 23 yo
Gordon 6-2 210 19 yo
Wade 6-5 215 21 yo

while keeping the core of the club together. You create a new foundation adding in youth athletiscm size in the front and backcourt with real good kids from top notch programs.

I agree with you that getting Kwame Brown is in the Knicks best interest - however I wouldnt give up Vujanic for him, giving up KT and Ward even adding in a pick or another player is good but giving up our future PG is a mistake. Having Kwame and Vujanic on the same team would be a great starting point to build on for the future of this team.

Ill give up Vujonic in a NY second to sweeten the pot for kwame. the guy who posted that Kwame wont be traded is probably close to right---unless we make it so good that it would be hard to refuse. Frontcourt players are much more imporatnt than Backcourt players--not even close. You can have a real good team with an excelent frontcourt and a marginal pG but NO WAy the other way around. If you need an example look at how Andre Millers teams have done the past few years. Lets be realistic Vujonic is not the second coming of Magic Johnson and that alone would propell me to use him as an asset to get high quality in the frontcourt.

"Frontcourt players are much more imporatnt than Backcourt players--not even close"-True, but while all signs (and scouts) point to Vujanic becoming a great NBA point guard, Brown has rarely even shown flashes of becoming a great player. If Washington doesn't want a real solid backup PG (which they desperately need) who comes off the books soon, one of the best PF/C's in the NBA (which they also desperately need), and a lottery pick for a player who they are growing disgruntled with, then screw them, they can keep Kwame, I'd rather have Vujanic and the lotto pikc then to give up all that and watch Kwame develop into Derrick Coleman.

Posted by BRIGGS:

Ill give up Vujonic in a NY second to sweeten the pot for kwame. the guy who posted that Kwame wont be traded is probably close to right---unless we make it so good that it would be hard to refuse. Frontcourt players are much more imporatnt than Backcourt players--not even close. You can have a real good team with an excelent frontcourt and a marginal pG but NO WAy the other way around. If you need an example look at how Andre Millers teams have done the past few years. Lets be realistic Vujonic is not the second coming of Magic Johnson and that alone would propell me to use him as an asset to get high quality in the frontcourt.

Kwame isn't the second coming of Moses Malone either. You find it very difficult in you heart to say any thing good about Euro players thats why you want to give up Vujanic in every package. No he isn't Majic, majics only come once in a life time. Right now I'll take a Nash clone in a NY second. Your getting all worked up about Kwame and he isn't even going anywhere. The Wiz have a plan for him and its their future. Sure they maybe a little dissappointed in his developement but he has shown them the flashes of brilliance that give their organization hope after Jordan departs. I think Kwame would help the Knicks I want him on the Knicks too but not at such a steep a price. KT, Ward and 2004 number one protected to 5 ok I would do it but Vujanic is a no go in any deal.

Not Vujanic. He is the real deal. Kwame with minutes can put up some crazy numbers. I think a future 1st + Thomas would be a bargain. Id throw in this years high 2nd rounder from Denver. But dont touch Vujanic. Knicks must actually rid of Ward this summer to make room for Vujanic. Vujanic says unless he has a good shot at starting he wont sign this summer.Hes not threatened by Eisley in the slightest but he doesnt want Ward in his way.

You posted that point guards don't have as much impact... I brought up Kidd because he's a backcourt player that propelled the Nets, with an above-average (not all-world) frontcourt to the Finals , his weight aside .... where they got romped. Frontcourt players are great to have... but there is no hard and fast rule. Look.. I like your enthusiasm.. Kwame is going to be a nice player with some work. He's not Jermaine O'neal yet and thats to me is the best case scenario. Your draft picks are all run/jump athletes that may be good... but they are prospects just like Vujanic ... who has played almost two full seasons of pro-ball and averaging 28 a game. You want to trade him... he held his own against Andre Miller and Baron Davis (another no-impact back-court player)at age 19 ... which his team beat... you want to trade him. He'd be tearing up the NCAA's right now. Add a high pick, plus a player who comes off the cap, plus our most dependable front court player. I hope this adds some perspective, your giving up too much. I'd rather do a Stro Swift and parts for Spree and/or Thomas. Its all fun though... keep firing away... I like the conjecture

KT, Ward, and a future #1 should be enough to get Kwame from the Wiz. I wouldnt throw in Vujanic - they are getting KT who is valuable, Ward who is decent and his contract is expiring, and a #1 pick. That is more than enough for this kid...he may have upside but he still needs a lot of work, throwing in Vujanic would be ripping NY off - the other deal is fair. Now the ? is, is Washington even considering trading Kwame - the answer is more than likely no.

Posted by falcindor:

The #'s dont match up. The best we can offer that is fair and works under the CBA is:


Kurt Thomas + Future 1st round pick + 2nd Rounder from DEN
for
Kwame Brown + Brian Cardinal

Works for me but it will never happen.