According to Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune

Van Gundy's new job: There's been much talk that new Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy will try to bring in some former New York Knicks he coached, especially to spread his gospel in the locker room. Several young Rockets players have been calling friends around the NBA because of concern about Van Gundy's reputation as a control-oriented, slow-down coach. Said Van Gundy: "I had some guys with the Knicks that played a huge part in any sort of success that we may have had, so I'm going to try to bring some guys here that have been so good and so much a part of any success we had in New York. I'd like to bring them here."

Much speculation has centered on Latrell Sprewell, whom the Knicks long have tried to deal. But one of the reasons Van Gundy supposedly walked out on the Knicks two years ago was that Sprewell told him off and tuned him out. The Rockets have several big men they would like to deal, including Kelvin Cato and Maurice Taylor. It's likely Van Gundy will try to get Allan Houston and the Knicks could be enticed, especially with questions about Antonio McDyess. It could happen if the Rockets included Eddie Griffin, who played one year at Seton Hall in South Orange, N. J.

Should we trade Allan Houston for Cato and Taylor?
How about Spree for the same 2?
According to realgm.com trade checker, they both work contract wise.

If I was Layden, I would trade the following....
From the Knicks...
Allan Houston, Othella Harrington, Spoon, Kurt Thomas
for
Eddie Griffin, Kelvin Cato, Maurice Taylor, Glen Rice

I beleive it helps both parties...

Houston is going to be a good lineup. Ming needs a PF that can rebound and shoot the medium range jump shot and a lights out shooter in Houston. They can protect Houston's defensive liabilities with this lineup.
Houston Lineup
C - Yao Ming
PF - Kurt Thomas
SF - James Posey
SG - Allan Houston
PG - Steve Francis

Bench - Mobley, Norris, Nachbar, Harrington, Spoon


With the Knicks we get a Center and a young PF and move Spree back to SG. Also, if all bigs are gone by the 9th pick, we can actually pick a PG and be happy. (TJ Ford if he slips or Kirk Hinrich)
Knicks Lineup
C - Kelvin Cato
PF - Eddie Griffin
SF - Glen Rice or Lampe
SG - Spree
PG - Eisley/Ward

Bench - Anderson, Maurice Taylor, Knight, Doleac, Frank Williams

IR - Dyess

why...why...why

Wow... went over the stuff today... glad to see I didn't miss anything.

nah,sorry dont like it.we trade our #1 all-star scorer for who.i understand if it was T.Brand - J.O'Neal - K.G - B.Grant etc.Griffin is ok but not an all-star.to trade houston we need to get an inside threat to open spree's game.same goes for spree if traded.i say just trade O.Harrington and C. Ward for K.Cato. we dont need M.Taylor's contract and we get ride of Ward's. either C.Wheatherspoon or O.Harrington. and JVG gets Ward as there precher.

Swish Can't you see Vandummy is not a leader? He needs somebody who played in the same system just to sell himself as a N.B.A headcoach. He's really and truly just an assistant coach , but now he has to prove it somewhere outside of NY and word on da street is .....It ain't happening. If spree gave him the finger and Robert horry threw a towel in Danny Ainge's face , you can expect to see Mobley or Francis throw a FULL can of "DIET COKE "AT HIM AND TELL HIM HE IS FULL OF IT !

when he wins with HOUSTON then you will say he already had good players so it doesn't count. JVG can't win with you bro.

trade houston for Griffin, Rice and Cato? sure. but don't trade KT.

Actually this topic is about NY making a trade wiht Houston, not about JVG, pLAYA.

I am all for trading Houston to Houston for Griffin and Cato! I would do it in a second and then draft a true SF, move Spree to SG and hope that Kruger can make Williams a player in the NBA.

NY could then be: Williams/SPree?drafted SF/KT/Cato w/ Griffin/Dice/Eisleya nd Anderson off the bench. Not bad! They would just need to sign a shooter to come off the bench, when it was needed.

As for JVG getting in his own guys, ask yourself what does Bill Parcells do every time he coaches a new team? He gets guys who he has coached before or gets VETS who he knows will be leaders on the field, just in case his message is not getting through. Phil Jackson brought Ron Harper with him, and wants Scottie now too. Phil and Bill have been pretty great coaches right? What is wrong with a man learning from others that are successful and emulating them as much as possbile.

[quote]
Posted by GoNyGoNyGo:

Actually this topic is about NY making a trade wiht Houston, not about JVG, pLAYA.

I am all for trading Houston to Houston for Griffin and Cato! I would do it in a second and then draft a true SF, move Spree to SG and hope that Kruger can make Williams a player in the NBA.

NY could then be: Williams/SPree?drafted SF/KT/Cato w/ Griffin/Dice/Eisleya nd Anderson off the bench. Not bad! They would just need to sign a shooter to come off the bench, when it was needed.

As for JVG getting in his own guys, ask yourself what does Bill Parcells do every time he coaches a new team? He gets guys who he has coached before or gets VETS who he knows will be leaders on the field, just in case his message is not getting through. Phil Jackson brought Ron Harper with him, and wants Scottie now too. Phil and Bill have been pretty great coaches right? What is wrong with a man learning from others that are successful and emulating them as much as possbile. Stop lying it's about vandunce realizing that his current roster is gonna tune him out just like the last roster for the knicks did. His system is out dated cmon admit it man.

[Edited by - playa2 on 06/18/2003 06:46:59]

hmm.. i'm all for trading allan. I know he had a great year, but what do you think he'll be producing in another 2 years? When allan signed his $100million contract everyone was all over him as overpaid. And its true, scoring his 22ppg this season did not make him worth his salary, even if he did score 50+pts twice on a offense deprived team. I say get rid of him now before he is averaging 15ppg and getting paid $17+mil a year.

JVG probably see's something worth gettin him.which i see why.he has ming to destroy the inside game and then houston for the outside jumper.thats the game plan.in witch francis cant keep up with cuz he's more of a slasher,like spree is.now knicks focus on "D" to win that there game plan.Cato,Dice,Griffin,Spree,Eisley wound be a "D" Crew.Now to up grade this trade for Houston,Thomas,Ward,#9 for Cato,Griffin,Francis