I'm pretty sure he is a restricted FA--if the Knicks can determine that his knee will be fine--perhaps a frontloaded MLE would steer the Clippers away because that would put them over the cap?

go for it!

i'd only do it with an insurance piece to the deal so we're not stuck if he can't play again.

Posted by Marv:

i'd only do it with an insurance piece to the deal so we're not stuck if he can't play again.

If we spent 80mm$ on Curry with no insurance and Q rich with 45+MM with no insurance--what is 30--they just walked away from saving 20mm from Francis so he could play a week. Now I'm with you--I dont want damnged goods either--but the kid is 22 and Crawford had a similar knee injury in school.

worth it for a guy with as much potential as livingston has and looking at the knicks young "studs" in the backcourt (mardy and nate, puh-leeeeze) i'd say its worth it. it'd be the best MLE signing the knicks have had...ever. i can't think of one good MLE signing.

are you serious? weatherspoon was one of the players i hated most, man he sucked. a 6'6" PF! he averaged like 7 and 6 with the knicks.

Posted by BRIGGS:

I'm pretty sure he is a restricted FA--if the Knicks can determine that his knee will be fine--perhaps a frontloaded MLE would steer the Clippers away because that would put them over the cap?

First of all there are about 3 major things to look at as to why it's not a good idea and highly unlikely the Knicks could obtain him.


Number 1


He won't become a RFA until 08/09.


Let's say their team remains the same for the next 2yrs. You must not be aware of how the CBA works, otherwise you probably wouldn't have posted this. The cap next 2yrs at worst or best case scenario depending how you look at it, will be $55-56mil. The Clippers will be approx at about $56mil in committed salary factoring same salaried players or players exercising their options, draft picks, and possible MLE signing. The luxury tax is already at $65mil. If the cap raises next 2yrs then more than likely the Luxury Tax will also. With that said the Clippers can offer him a salary starting at $6-7mil if they decline their TO options on current option players with the mind set of just reaching the Luxury Tax. You can go over the cap to sign your own free agents. The key is to avoid the Luxury Tax. If Shaun shows progress they'll more than likely offer him an extension and not let him become a RFA and I'm sure he'll accept probably out of loyalty.


Number 2

They said the injury will keep him out of basketball next yr possibly the whole season. He tore every single major ligament in his knee. I'd be suprised if he plays at all next yr. If he does and shows he regained his form like I said he'll be extended.




The only way that I see him becoming available if he struggles in J-Will like fashion to come back or Donald Sterling loses hope on the kid. The latter will be unlikely if he makes a comeback because Donald Sterling has an absolute woody for the kid. He surely won't be lost to another team over a frontloaded MLE deal..... LOL think people!

[Edited by - TrueBlue on 03-26-2007 09:52 AM]

That would be a pretty terrible gamble IMO. You're giving MLE dollars to a guy who will probably never be the same athletically due to that devestating injury. Plus, it's not like he was exactly setting the world on fire beforehand. In fact, on the whole he was playing downright awful for most of his career, except for maybe the couple of weeks leading up to the injury. No thanks.

he's too gimpy a player... all the talent in the world doesn't mean jack if you're always injured... i wouldn't go a full MLE contract on this kid unless the contract was insured.

yes, let's pick up every injury prone player from the league and just roll the McDyess. Its worked so well so far;

McDyess - knee
Houston - knee
Q - back
Francis - knee
Curry - heart

Wasn't Kurt Thomas an mle? He was a very good free agent signing.

Regarding Houston's knee, he was healthy for a number of years before he hurt it.