http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/047/sports/Dealing_with_deadline_can_be_taxing+.shtml
Deal Two: Seattle sends Gary Payton and Vitaly Potapenko to the Knicks for Latrell Sprewell and Charlie Ward.

"Why It Works for Seattle: It's getting ugly in Latte City and the Sonics have no intention of ponying up big bucks for Payton. Yes, he's a Seattle legend, but legends sometimes get traded. And it isn't pretty there right now; Seattle isn't going to make the playoffs and, by dealing Payton, it avoids having to blow him off or insult him with a low-ball offer. In return, the Sonics get the charismatic Sprewell, who would give them yet another option as well as a sheen of toughness embodied by their coach, Nate McMillan. Ward comes along for the ride to handle the point guard duties with Anderson and Payton gone.

Why It Works for New York: The Knicks face the same situation with Sprewell that Seattle faces with Payton. They'd be saving money, always critical for that bloated payroll, because Spree's deal runs two more years. But Spree is also two years younger than Payton. The Knicks would have first dibs on re-signing Payton, who, we sense, would find the New York lifestyle to his liking. Potapenko has been a Knicks favorite for years and is utterly expendable because of all the wide bodies in Seattle. He would immediately give the Knicks a burly presence in the middle, something they haven't had since Patrick Ewing. (We're not saying it's the same. It's just that Potapenko would be the closest they've had to a functioning big man.)"

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No way he'd re-sign in NY...

And who needs a point guard? We have enough young'uns waiting. I'm all for getting the best players available, bur only if they stay.

Fmoran... That would be a good deal for the knicks. The Sonics will want Kurt Thomas. They would trade Radmonivic in a deal for him. Vlady is a tweener (athletic at 6'9), but an outside shooter who plays the face to the basket game. They have Brent Barry and Desmond Mason at the two and Rashard at the three sooo they don't need Spree. They need some toughness underneath in the worst way. Kurt fills that need. I live in Seattle and they're pissed they gave Booth that contract and JeJames feet are bad... Potapenko is garbage. So I don't think this deal does much for us. Radmonivic does have some skills and is athletic but doesn't fill the role our team needs (rebounds and blocked shots). If we trade Spree somewhere else and vacate the Three.. it makes sense.

Posted by rain:

Fmoran... That would be a good deal for the knicks. The Sonics will want Kurt Thomas. They would trade Radmonivic in a deal for him. Vlady is a tweener (athletic at 6'9), but an outside shooter who plays the face to the basket game. They have Brent Barry and Desmond Mason at the two and Rashard at the three sooo they don't need Spree. They need some toughness underneath in the worst way. Kurt fills that need. I live in Seattle and they're pissed they gave Booth that contract and JeJames feet are bad... Potapenko is garbage. So I don't think this deal does much for us. Radmonivic does have some skills and is athletic but doesn't fill the role our team needs (rebounds and blocked shots). If we trade Spree somewhere else and vacate the Three.. it makes sense.

Ok, so if I understand correctly: this will be a good deal for the Knicks because the Sonics will also trade Vlade for KT?

What does that have to do with anything? Besides the fact you invented a trade, you didn't even explain how GP would help NYC. KT is better then Radmonivic, and if GP refuses to sign in NY, we basically gave Spree away for nothing (Potapenko).

Somebody stop this thread. The simple answer is the Knicks do not have what it takes to get Payton. No combination of picks and players is going to make Seattle give up 12mil of cap space they will gain this summber by letting him walk.

>Ok, so if I understand correctly: this will be a good deal for the Knicks because the Sonics will also trade Vlade for KT?
What does that have to do with anything? Besides the fact you invented a trade, you didn't even explain how GP would help NYC. KT is better then Radmonivic, and if GP refuses to sign in NY, we basically gave Spree away for nothing (Potapenko).

I should have been clearer... its a good deal if the Knicks get Radmonivic for Spreewell. Its a bad deal if the Knicks give up Kurt for any package the Sonics give up UNLESSthere is a first rounder involved (which I didn't mention). So no you didn't understand correctly... and its a speculation/trade thread that you started... not the UN security council. I would do Kurt/Ward and a second for Radmonivic/Anderson and the Sonics First. I didn't have the time to explain thoroughly.

falcindor: Who wants cap space over healthy All-Star quality players? Cap space is the only compensation Seattle is gonna get, and that's why they will try and get more out of GP's departure. They have too many big contracts to make a serious run at big free agents this year, and GP may be their only ticket to some talent. That said, the Knicks probably wouldn't offer enough, but don't be surprised to see a sign and trade deal during the summer. The Sonics need more compensation for such a loss.

rain: Stop. Just stop right now. Before you post anything else, try and understand what I am reading. You opened with "Fmoran... That would be a good deal for the knicks." And you haven't explained why once. Not once. There's nothing wrong with suggesting new trades in a trade discussion, but you aren't explaining yourself. Why is the GP trade a good one? Cause I don't see it helping the Knicks.

Sprewell for Radmonivic? I mean, where did that come from? You aren't explaining yourself.

And Vlade for KT? Doesn't help us at all this season. We lose a center, cause Vlade won't play. We add yet another PF, only further overloading that position. We throw in the towel on this season, because Vlade isn't half the interior presence KT is. And we basically throw away a starter for a youthful reserve. We don't need a player like Vlade, not at the expense of KT. We'd be crazy to trade KT without gaining some kind of post presence in return. Sure a first rounder is nice, but then why go for Seattle's 1st rounder when we could do better? Add to that the bad contracts we'd have to take from Seattle, and it's a terrible trade.

I can tell you live in Seattle, cause you are looking out for your Sonics in the worst way. Please take the time to explain thouroughly in your reply, cause I'm getting a headache.

T-Love and Falcindor ... please re-read my posts. I'm not advocating any trades and your basically re-iterating what I've already said. 1> they aren't taking SPree ... in which the article states that he's the target. I said they didn't need a shooting guard or SF <b>AND</b> identified Thomas as the real bait.. which is the rumor now. A day before any rumors were published I stated this. I didn't advocate.. it was merely an opinion of what the Sonics would want and what the Knicks would want. Those were my intentions anyway..

You guys are thouroughly entertaining today! Better than the Security Council, I think...Although Chirac is buggin'...


Spree will stay in the blue jersey. I don't think anything happens before August.