Posted by TrueBlue:
Posted by K22:
Trying to sell high - while they still have high value?
I think it's worth noting that maybe with one more final tweak they could be back in the Finals. Get another player in there and hire the right coach and they have just as good a chance in the East as anybody else. But Dumars is thinking Long-Term. He's letting the fans know right off the top changes are coming and while he might not blow everything up in one off-season, through time there will be a dismantling and everyone is in play along the way. I'm sure most of their fan base is on board with this line of thinking meanwhile with our organization and our fans, at least when I SAY UGH was running the show, we had the nerve to be taking people off the table in trades or not willing to include certain players in trades and we've stunk worst than a Dirty Pamper the past 6yrs. Big up to arrogant Joe-D for acknowledging what needs to be done and not trying to eek minimal instant gratification results out of roster with a short ceiling.
The loss of Ben Wallace - who even if they kept would have been a loss at present given his rapid decline (so it was good to let him walk, but, they never replaced him so it's hurt them) ---- and the decline of Sheed (hes a huge part of their success) hints that maybe they have gone as far as possible with this roster.
I don't think you can replace BOTH (wallaces) which is maybe what they would need to do (given their 1-2-3 starters are great). Billups is starting to also show signs of wear and tear so that may be another problem they will be facing.
Even though they have a fantastic core the tough question is whether or not to enjoy being in the ECF or 2nd round for the next 2 seasons before an even bigger drop off occurs - or do you have a fire sale of which you could acquire a number of promising assets for the future - BUT - in the near time kiss goodbye to being an EC super power?
Fans might say rebuild now while the players have high value. Owners might say keep plugging along because it's a given we'll be in the playoffs for the next two or three years with or without major additions or changes then worry about player value and an inevitable rebuild.
As to the KNICKS the problem was always the same: Rash trades with no regard to chemistry and need that was then compounded by confusion as to why all that talent couldn't win which was then reacted to yet ANOTHER rash trade to "put them over the top" or "to add a missing piece" or "to add a glue guy to make it work". The problem with the Knicks and all their moves after the Marbury trade was a perception that the core was good and was always just one more piece away. That's why certain players were likely not included to make the potentially better trades go down.
Unfortunately for the franchise and the fans only Isiah and whomever he had control
6/4/2008 11:18 AM
