if we cant retool on the run and we are going to let contracts expire-the best way to retol slowly while keeping our core together si through the draft--here are the two players we can legitemately have a serious chance for whether we make the playoffs or not.--->

Chris Kaman another 20 -10 and a block in 27 minutes on 9-13 from the field against Kent St. The first comparison I got from a big tem player was Brian Cook who put up 30 on Michigan but got only 4 rebounds. When Kaman played Michigan he had 30 points and 21 rebounds.
Dwayne Wade--another high caliber game 25 points on 10-15 4 steals 6 assits 5 rebounds. Dwayne Wade is very much like a young sprewell without the attitude but is a better athlete and 20 pounds heavier. He is the best defensive guard in the nation--as I said early in the year he is the best two way player in the nation in terms of the wing position.

IF we are bound to cutting salary-the best option is to start bringing in talent from the draft because you can keep the player on a relatively cheap payscale for years and still retain their rights.
After watching sprewell and Houston I dont think it is IMPERATIVE that we have a 6-8 wing as long as the wing is a superior athlete like Wade.

If we are bound to keep Milos Vujonic and bring Frank Williams along with eisley then we are pretty much set at the PG position long term.

So where are we at in terms of helping the team in the offseason?---my feeling is to bring in the 7 footer with skill level and let him develop. You cant teach height the center pipeline is THIN and this kid is putting up numbers that are pretty incredible. Also we need to really start thinking about a substitue player for Sprewell and as I said from day 1 Wade is my guy. As long as you have normal size froncourt players 6-10+ at the center and 6-9 and up and the PF the 2 and 3 can be players who are in the 6-5 6-6 range. Now what you are getting with wade vis a guy who plays extremely good defense and has athletic ability on par with guys like Ricky Davis Corey Maggette-guys who can score EZkets.

I dont think we will be in draft position to grab guys like Milicic bosh Oka4[and they ALL may not even be in the draft--but with the two 2nd round picks our first rounder and using harrington as some trade bait--we should be able to bring in two rookies who can help contribute right away but dont have to--but help us reduce payroll and address areas for long term success.


This plan has nothing to do with us making the playoffs or not. I am going on the premise that we need to cut payrolland that we will not be in the trade market unless we are pairing $--the way to address needs with talent on the cheap is through the draft. We still have our basic core of players including -hopefully Mcdyess so we are not leaning on a 1st year player to have massive contributions-although I believe both players can contribute. Wade has also played the PG on many occasions for Marquette so he gives another dimension we could use.


Players that I believe should move on after next season are Nailon postell Harrington and the time has come to buyout Ward and let him be before one of his knees implodes.


One reason why we would need to move Harrington is that we cant have all that cash locked into the 4 and he is an asset that is cheap enough that could net us along with our second rounders the area in the draft where we could net both players.


Next years lineup

C-Thomas 6-9 235
PF-Mcdyess 6-9 250
SF-Sprewell 6-5 190
SG Houston 6-6 200
PG Eisley 6-2 180
Andersen 6-6 210
Doleac 6-11 260
Kaman 7-0 265
Spoon 6-7 270
vujonic 6-3 180
Wade 6-5 210
Williams 6-3 200

Stats for the year
Kaman 20 points 11 rebounds 3 blocks 1 assit 64% from the field and 75% from the line
http://college.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=1734
wade 23 points 5 rebounds 4 assits 2 steals 1 block shooting 56% from the field and 75% from the line
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=6510

Thoughts?

Well Briggs, I am with you on the fact that we need to be rebuilding through the draft not retooling on the fly - and what you present is a reasonable possibility given this teams winning % and odds of getting a good draft pick. I just dont see these changes as being enough to get us over the hump...it is a start but the Knicks need to make more moves to become championship caliber. Unless we are talking strictly playoff bound...but I would rather see a team that can get to the finals and contend for the title, the East doesnt have a single team like that right now.

???? Wade and Kaman were selected 5th and 6th - Knicks pick was 9th ???? BTW - Josh Howard was selected 29th in this draft.

I'm not sure what your point is???? Neither player was available when we picked.

oh, gotcha




[Edited by - Rookie on 05-15-2009 1:12 PM]