Jerome James took the title last year, and JJ2 isn't fare behind:

Article by Hollinger

2. Knicks waive Ime Udoka, sign Jared Jeffries
Isiah Thomas has an unusual fondness for dumping his full midlevel exception on mediocrities with "J.J." for initials, particularly when there's a better player already sitting on his roster. A year after ignoring the presence of Jackie Butler and giving Jerome James his full midlevel exception, Thomas repeated the effort by waiving Udoka after the season and then signing Jeffries for the full midlevel exception as a free agent.

Udoka would have provided exactly what the Knicks need: a defensive stopper on the perimeter who doesn't need the ball but can hit 3-pointers from the corner. Instead, he's doing it for Portland and helping the Trail Blazers to a surprisingly competent start … and doing it while making the minimum.

As for Jeffries, he has some value in the right system but he is much more effective in trapping, pressing defenses like the one he left in Washington, where his length could create deflections and shorten the floor. Plus, Jeffries can't stretch defenses like Udoka can -- other than rebounding, his primary offensive weapon seems to be the missed layup.

Two things make matters worse. First, Jeffries hurt his wrist and missed most of the early part of the season (not to mention his four-game suspension for his part in the brawl); since coming back he's underperformed offensively even by his modest standards. Secondly, because the Knicks are over the luxury tax he costs them twice as much, making this a $60 million mistake rather than a $30 million one.

the wrong choice was to waive Matt Barnes & sign Jefferies... Udoka's a scrub & always will be... the best thing he's got going for him is the fact that he sorta looks like Allan Houston.

Jefferies sucks lets be honest, we have to watch him for a while now with that contract

Did anyone see Jefferies play for the Wizards? This guy has always been awful and I do not understand why some Knick fans are under this false illusion that he's just slowed by injuries and his suspension this years (newsflash this guy has always been atrocious). He was one of those players who thought he was better than he was in college decided to make the jump early only problem (whatever limited offensive skills he had) were left in Bloomington along with any future development he may made. This season is probably his best offensive year. And defensively last year he was known for holding Lebron James to a measley 35 points during the playoffs.

I don't think you can pass judgment on jeffries yet- he still hasn't found a rhythm or found a place yet.

Posted by crzymdups:

Jefferies is better than Barnes or Udoka. I'm sorry, but to claim otherwise is just ridiculous.

i'm not claiming that Jefferies is worse than Barnes... but spending the money to sign him you'd have figured you'd be getting more of an impact player... dollar for dollar i think Barnes would've been the much better value in hindsight.

Best moves

2. Magic re-sign Trevor Ariza
I remain completely baffled that nobody made a stronger play for Ariza this offseason. Did somebody find a crop of athletic 21-year-old forwards growing on trees and forget to tell me? Somehow, the 6-foot-8 jumping bean got only a two-year, $6 million deal; his next contract will be worth five or 10 times as much.

Ariza had a disappointing 2005-06 in which he was stuck at the end of the Knicks' bench and insulted by coach Larry Brown, but he was much more productive after Orlando liberated him in the Steve Francis trade. This year he's been even better. Ariza is shooting 54 percent from the floor for the division-leading Magic in addition to his usual solid work on the boards, and establishing himself as a defensive presence as well. His playing time has steadily increased as a result, and now he's breathing down Hedo Turkoglu's neck for the starting small forward gig.

Mike James signing-Worst
Speedy Claxton signing-Worst
Pedja signing-worst
Banks signing-Worst
Telfair trade for Gay/Foye-Worst
JR smith traded for Eisley-Worst
Nene Signing-Worst
Wilcox signing-Worst

JJ2 siging-Very bad.

JJ2 is overpaid but they're calling this the second worst move of the entire offseason??? Wow! That seems a bit excessive.

I was against the signing this summer because I liked Balkman and thought we could go with him and Jalen Rose and Q at SF and avoid incurring the expense. But IT wanted Jeffiries. I think it is still too early to write him off as another JJ type signing, but it is not looking good.

On a side note, Hollinger is so full of crap. This guy tries to pick at every move IT makes without ever even watching the games. The worse offseason move was those BS rankings Hollinger put out at the beginning of the season. He should have listed that as number 1.

Posted by bettalaylow:

Jefferies is better than Barnes or Udoka. I'm sorry, but to claim otherwise is just ridiculous

Umm Matt Barnes is averaging 11 pts 4 boards shooting a 46% from the field while shooting 43% from the 3pt line. So I think its ridiculous that you immediately write him off from being better than Jefferies. Seriously people who think this guy has a good player lurking inside his body just talk to a Wizards fan or someone because your waiting for something that ain't going to happen with this guy. He was garbage there just like he's been garbage here and this probably won't change considering he's in his 4th season and hasn't even shown glimpses of being better than what we've seen thus far.

JJ is what he is on the offensive end. but the difference he brings can be seen in a game like the Pistons game. first time we faced the Pistons, Tayshun Prince had 31pts on like 75% shooting - Jefferies was out injured. Second game - Jefferies was on him for the majority of the game and shut him down. in 3OT after Marbury fouled out, he was the only guy who could stop Rip Hamilton.

He's a very versatile defender. On offense, he sucks. whether he starts or not, playing 25mpg for us he will help our defense. Lee should be playing more than him, but that doesn't mean Jefferies is not valuable - Lee is one of nine players total in the NBA to be averaging a double double in pts/rebs, that puts him in rare territory, to say he's better than Jefferies is not a slight to Jefferies. Jefferies is what he is and what he is ten times better than a player like Matt Barnes or Ime Udoka. Before he got here, we had no one to stop the Pierces, Tmacs, Jeffersons, Princes of the world.

I'm sorry, I've seen a lot of Matt Barnes games, he is a mediocre defender at best. He's putting up numbers in the run and gun system in GSW, but I think Mike Miller went off for something like 40pts against him in a 145-135 memphis win over gsw.

This is ridiculous. Jefferies was a good signing. What's our record in games he plays? .500. I'll take that over last year's matador d from such board faves as Qyntel Woods, Matt Barnes and Ime Udoka.



[Edited by - crzymdups on 01-10-2007 6:49 PM]