OK, let's say Williams is solid this year... I think that we should keep Ward for his last year and try like hell to trade Eisley.

Worst-case scenario, we could still buy out Ward.

The Cap relief would do us good at least for next year...

[Edited by - HARDCOREKNICKSFAN on 07/12/2003 23:55:54]

According to Frank Williams he is...


Frank Williams, who is ahead of the field because of his year in Chaney's system (and a considerable weight loss), had a very different perception. "He came here ready," the point guard said of Sweetney. "He came in and everyone really felt his presence early. He's dominating down there, blocking shots and putting the ball in the basket as well. I thought it would take him longer to catch on to the plays and everything, but he's catching on. He's learning real quick

Knicks Guard Ready To Rock

Friday, July 11, 2003

By JAY LAWRENCE
STAFF WRITER



GREENBURGH, N.Y. - Frank Williams' work ethic again is as strong as his left wrist. It would be hard to determine which is more important.

A first-round draft pick in 2002, he missed training camp last season after breaking his wrist in the Knicks' second summer-league game. The injury, along with tendinitis in his left Achilles, kept Williams on the disabled list for 39 games. Neither he nor his shot ever caught up. When you say it was a lost season, it's not just a figure of speech.

"It was hard catching up on everything: conditioning, feel for the game, everything," Williams said. "But last year was a learning experience. I don't think anything went good last year. But things have changed."

Williams worked diligently during the off-season on conditioning and shooting technique. Both compare favorably to last summer, when Williams, admittedly, was not in peak condition.

He said he is "putting more arc on the ball and lining up [his] elbow" when he shoots. During Thursday's two scrimmages, he ran the floor, made three three-pointers and scored on a drive from the left wing as his Blue team went 2-0, beating the Red and Gray teams.

After the three-hour practice, Williams stayed on the court and shot for close to 25 minutes.

"He has to work on his overall game, but he knows that if he's going to be a productive point guard, he's got to take good shots, pass, handle the ball, and you've got to be in condition," coach Don Chaney said. "He's working on all those things. He's shown improvement. This summer is not a make-or-break thing, but it gives us a gauge on where he is."

Williams has more support this year with the recent hiring of assistant Lon Kruger, who recruited him and coached him for a season at Illinois.

Williams also has been told that the starting job at point guard, held last season by Howard Eisley, is "wide open."

"I'm just getting in as much work as possible, staying focused and trying to have a good summer league," Williams said. "I have a lot more confidence about this season."

LAMPE ARRIVES: Second-round pick Maciej Lampe, whose $2.1 million contract buyout with Real Madrid was finalized in the late afternoon, practiced Thursday night. Negotiations were continuing on the buyout for Slavko Vranes, another second-round pick who is contractually obligated to a Yugoslavian team. Vranes watched the nighttime workout.

SWEETNEY FITTING IN: Chaney called No. 1 draft pick Michael Sweetney "the fastest big man on the [regular-season] team." The 6-foot-8 forward got past the first-day jitters.

"I was a lot more comfortable," Sweetney said. "I'm learning the plays quicker."

Posted by Knixkik:

If Williams can do something to make him good enough to be a starter or perminate back-up point guard then we can try to trade Ward or buy him out. I think the best thing to do is try to package him and Thomas for the best center possible, or small forward if we were to trade Sprewell for a big man. Either way, we would be set if we traded Sprewell, Thomas, Ward, and even Harrington in deals that brought us back a legit center and true sf. I heard a rumor about a deal that would send Thomas and Ward to Milwaukee for Tim Thomas and a future draft pick. That would be the type of deal we would be looking for if we could trade Sprewell for a center. Theo Ratliff would be a nice player to consider.

not theo. our best bet would be... Erick Dampier - underrated, and would be vicious out East.

I cant believe we are talking about Eric Dampier as our hopeful newest center. For goodness sake, ERICK DAMPIER!?

what will you do after Dampier...
It's pointless to try to patch holes..
We need to get rid of contracts and pick up rookies and picks...
No matter what we do.. there is no way we are beating the top 6 teams in a series. Why would we want to pick up more contracts and limit oursleves in free agency for more time than is already necessary..
Think long term fellas! cause this crazy train ain't stopping no time soon!

Well.... since you put it that way...
Olowokandi would be the ideal way to go.

Good looking out for the heads-up, Pike.

Posted by Pike:



1) he makes ten million dollars a year
2) the Warriors would love to get rid of him and his contract
3) he has a monster game about twice a year
4) other than that he is basically an underacheiving STIFF
5) isn't as good as Adonal Foyle in most aspects of the game

take this under consideration.

pike we know you are one of the usual suspects but we all make mistakes...

dampier signed a 7 year 48 million dollar deal wit the warriors. he made 6.8 mil last season. nowhere near 10 million.

our centers are travis knight. mark pope. micheal doleac. combine the 3 and they don't have a monster game none of the year.

big and lazy dampier is but he is an upgrade and could at least move kurt thomas back to power forward

i know what you are thinking and no i'm not big on dampier or foyle but i understand the logic of both players. i agree with you about foyle blocking shots and clogging the middle but he is super cheap and i doubt if the warriors let him go just like that.
but even tho i'm not big on dampier i do understand that he offensively rebounds the ball and can block shots which is more than the knicks have now...