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technomaster
Posts: 23358
Alba Posts: 0
Joined: 6/30/2003
Member: #426
USA
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The only definite core player we have right now is Curry... any and all others have a lot of duplication, so we can afford to trade away some of them.
Our best tradable commodities:
Collins is an intriguing young player, based on how he did over the final month or so of the season. he carries a lot of trade value, perhaps even more than Lee. No one knows if he's our best young PG prospect, or a journeyman... and teams will want to find that out. Having him on the floor gives you a lot of options (pair him w/ a small SG, use him as part of a big lineup, send him out as a change of pace guard, defensive specialist, etc).
Lee looks like a double-double waiting to happen, he seems very marketable and fan-friendly. Most people don't think he has a much higher ceiling, though certainly he can become a better defender and shooter. Maybe his upside is similar to that of Troy Murphy. But like Murphy, maybe as age/injuries sap him of his athleticism, he'll evolve into more of a journeyman.
Balkman seems to be a game-changing talent, but he's difficult to categorize because you rarely see a guy with a combination of his skills. He really does seem like a young Rodman. Excellent finisher, ball handler, passer... very smooth player who can play 3 positions. Upside might be like Josh Howard, maybe this is all he'll ever be (a change of pace bench rotation guy).
Channing Frye obviously had a brilliant rookie season, but things never came together in year too. Maybe putting on the extra weight/muscle didn't pay off dividends, much in the same way the bulked up Okafor was ineffective (and injured a lot) in his 2nd season. People still remember the rookie year though, and think they can get Rasheed Wallace-like offensive output from him. Worst case, he can he a solid jump shooting journeyman bigman.
Nate Robinson might have all of the scoring ability of an Allen Iverson. Tough to say. He's certainly unstoppable when he wants to score - he's without parallel in terms of strength and quickness. Like many short players, you can neutralize his ability to pass by putting a tall/long armed/quick defender on him. Perhaps his best use is as a SG or 6th man scorer along the lines of Ben Gordon. I don't think his wingspan is long enough to make him an effective PG... and he may not have the right mentality for it - however, alongside a BIG PG (Crawford/Mardy, perhaps), you can get the most of his strengths and limit his weaknesses. He's got high-fan-favorite potential. His undersized nature will continue to be a hit w/ the "common man". He'll probably sell tickets on that basis alone.
Randolph Morris didn't show too much in his time as a Knick... but he certainly seems to have the potential of a typical, solid Kentucky PG (see Mohammed/Magliore), probably capable of averaging a double-double in the NBA. It doesn't seem as if he has superstar-type upside. But... I bet the Nets would love to have someone like him on their team. (however... in related news, anyone know why Nazr Mohammed got like no playing time at all in the playoffs?)
“That was two, two from the heart.” - John Starks
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6/3/2007 4:02 PM
