http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/knicks/2008/09/our-first-ever-live-chat.html

Frank will be here at 1 p.m. to start the first-ever Knicks Knation live chat. In the meantime, you can begin submitting your questions. Your comments will not appear until they are selected by a moderator. Thanks and see you at 1.

1:00 Greetings from Saratoga and thanks for all the questions regarding our beloved Knicks. Hopefully they'll give us more thrills than losses this year.

1:01 [Comment From William]
How can Walsh say he has full autonomy when 1. Isiah Thomas isn't completely fired, and 2. Stephon Marbury and Eddy Curry are both STILL on the team.
1:02 Walsh gave Isiah his first coaching job with the Pacers and likes Isiah. He wasn't going to trash Isiah. As for Stephon and Eddy, give it time. Walsh is trying to trade players who have bad contracts and low trade value. It's not easy.

1:03 [Comment From jason]
do you think the knicks will make a improvement with the new coach this season and if theres a good chance marbury will be traded this year aswell?
1:04 My only concern with the new coach and philosophy is that the teams that win in the NBA win with defense. The Knicks haven't been a good defensive team since Jeff Van Gundy departed and they won't get better this year. At some point you have to stop the other team from scoring.

1:04 [Comment From George]
I heard Donnie Walsh took all the beat writers out, so does that mean you are going to take it easy on his draft pick this year and the changes he made in terms of coaches and player signings if they dont pan out?
1:05 It is a well known fact that the best way to get to the beat writers is to feed them. That being said, Donnie is a regular guy who isn't afraid to take the heat. Believe me, they will catch a lot of heat if Gallinari is a bust. It comes with the territory.

1:06 [Comment From Donnie NJ IWIM]
I feel we should keep steph. What is the worst that he could do. I mean when he acts out wrongly bench him. I mean the truth is he can play but there has not been a coach that will sit him when he is not for the team. Now if we are going to cut someone lets be real if Eddie can't run then what is jerome james going to do. He is our worst sign out of all the guys. I like the idea of David Lee playing center but lets be real he is no oak or mason.
1:07 Marbury is still the best player on the team and I'm not sure Chris Duhon is more than a back-up. Stephon will play well this year and will be on his best behavior. But I still get the sense that he won't be here. So much for giving everyone a clean slate.

1:07 [Comment From Kendall]
From what you have seen at practice does Mike D'Antoni put any emphasis on defense?And do the players interact with Stephon Marbury?
1:08 Mike D'Antoni coaches offense, talks offense and then coaches offense some more. As for Marbury, I wouldn't call him an outcast but he certainly isn't the most popular guy among his teammates.

1:09 [Comment From christian]
do u think allan houston will be on the opening day roster
1:11 I think the Knicks want Allan on the roster but I don't think that he can physically keep up. It is hard not to root for Allan to make it but I still don't understand why a player who was once an All-Star as well as a starter on a team that reached one NBA Finals and two conference finals would want to be the 12th or 15th man on a bad team.

1:11 [Comment From Mike]
I don't believe the Knicks should sign Lebron James in 2010. We don't need a player that's bigger than New York itself. We need a hard nose gritty player who can compliment everyone around him day in and day out. That's why i believe if it's possible,Dwayne Wade would be the perfect fit for the knicks in 2010. He has the NY style attitude and plays NY style basketball. The Knicks also need to rid Jared Jeffries of his contract,as well as Quentin Richardson. The big Blockbuster Trade the Knicks should look at is to trade Zach Randolph,Wilson Chandler,Nate Robinson, and Mardy Collins to New Orleans for David West and Mike James. That would be a perfect trade for the knicks and it would benefit both sides dramatically. What do you think about the potential trade and free agent signing in 2010 and my thought?
1:12 [Comment From Carey]
To Mike: You must be crazy for not wanting Lebron. He will ignite any team and any city
1:13 [Comment From Michael_Knight]
Frank you probably stopped the whole city from working with this! LOL
1:13 Wade over LeBron? You can't be serious. While LeBron was establishing himself as the best player in the NBA not named Kobe, Wade was working on his acting skills. LeBron James would be bigger than the Knicks if he ever played in New York...and you can start printing playoff tickets as soon as he arrives. New Orleans is not trading an All-Star like West. You sound like you want the New York (Mike James) and New Jersey (West) guys on the Knicks. The only New Yorker I want on the Knicks is Lamar Odom.

1:14 [Comment From Guest]
With 18 players on the roster which 15 do you think will make the opening night roster? I am a BIG Mardy Collins fan do you think he has a shot?
1:15 Mardy Collins is in good shape and has played well in camp. In Wednesday's scrimmage, he took the ball the length of the court and dunked in traffic. It was pretty impressive. He's a Philly guy and most of the Philly-born players are tough. But I don't think he's much more than a back-up.

1:16 [Comment From Guest]
Trying to get a feel for what to expect from the Knicks this year. What options do they have regarding trades? Why hasn't a personal trainer been assigned to Curry as he seems to have a bit of an imaturity' problem relative to professionalism? Why no interest in Livingston as they need point guards on the cheap?
1:17 I think a big thing to watch for the Knicks this year is the status of David Lee and Nate Robinson. I get the sense that Lee will eventually be traded because if the Knicks sign him that could put them in danger of not being under the salary cap when LeBron becomes a free agent. The job for the Knicks this year is to compete every night and clear cap space (Zach Randolph).

1:17 [Comment From Sean Brennan]
This year it seems that every position is open except Jamals, and time off the bench will be tight too. is there an added intensity at this years camp?
1:19 I wouldn't say intensity. I think the players are very optimsitic - like they are every year - about having new leadership at the Garden. But let's be honest for a moment; this is still the same team that won 23, 33 and 23 games the last three seasons. So while it is easy to blame Isiah Thomas and Stephon Marbury, guys like Curry, Crawford, Lee and Robinson also deserve some blame. The only guy you can't blame is Jerome James...because he never plays.

1:20 [Comment From Drew]
When do you think Danillo will be ready to go? Also, is there anything new on the Zach trade front? Finally, if Danillo has to have surgery and Steph stays for the seaon, is it best to view this season as a bust going in and look forward to next years lottery?
1:22 The Knicks believe that Gallinari will be ready by the end of training camp. The players I talk to have their doubts about how much of an impact Danilo will have this season. Going from the Italian League to the NBA is a big jump. Being hurt in training camp isn't helping matters. I don't think the season is a bust if the Knicks can re-establish a winning culture and compete each night.

1:22 [Comment From Fellow Frank]
What's the scouting report on Ewing Jr.? Does he have much of his father's genes - can he be an impact player?
1:22 [Comment From Richard]
What are the chances of Patrick Ewing jr. making the Knicks?
1:23 [Comment From JLG]
What are the odds of Patrick Ewing, Jr. making the roster?
1:24 Little Pat looks just like Big Pat but without the fadeaway jumper. He's a young and athletic kid who will have to fight to make the roster. I can't be objective on this one because I love the father and I've known little Patrick for 12 years. He is a terrific young man.

1:25 [Comment From Michael_Knight]
Does Jim Dolan have a grudge against Patrick Ewing Sr? It seems like Pat could have been a good Coach not to take anything away from D'antoni or at least benefit the Organization in some manner
1:26 I don't believe Dolan has a problem with Patrick but someone does. How is it that he can work with Doug Collins in Washington, Jeff Van Gundy in Houston and Stan Van Gundy in Orlando and yet the Knicks won't hire him? It's not like Patrick is sitting on his couch looking for a no-show paycheck from the Knicks. Go ask Yao Ming and Dwight Howard what Patrick Ewing has meant to him...and then take a long look at Eddy Curry and ask yourself, "Why won't the Knicks beg Patrick to come back?"

1:27 [Comment From Gaurav]
Frank, loved the book Just Ballin'. Any plans to write a book on the Isiah era? I think it would be interesting to read about the destruction of a franchise. Or would the Garden media have you shadowed by security the rest of your life if this book is written.
1:28 [Comment From borifm]
lets talk knicks future not pass
1:28 Thanks for the Just Ballin' plug. Can you believe it will be 10 years since the Knicks last reached the NBA Finals? Do you really want to re-live the Isiah years? Maybe I'll write a romantic novel about a reporter who falls in love with a basketball franchise only to have his heart torn out because of bad management and bad players only to be rescued by the Knicks City Dancers.

1:32 [Comment From IS]
What was the real story behind the Balkman trade?
1:32 Money and clearing a roster spot. The Knicks saved something like $350,000 by trading Balkman. Plus, they have too many power forwards and small forwards on the roster.

1:33 [Comment From Andrew]
When does David Lee start catching some heat? He has not gotten better since he's been here, on any other team Lee is at best an 8th or 9th man.
1:34 Lee should catch heat but so too should Crawford and some other guys like I mentioned. Lee works hard but in recent years he's bulked up in order to survive the pounding he takes under the boards and by doing so he has lost some of his quickness. Also, I'll bet that he leads the world in getting his shots blocked.

1:35 [Comment From 7th ave]
Why are the knicks so soft
1:36 That's a great question. In the '90s, the fans seemed to love hard-playing, hard-talking guys like Oakley, Mason, Harper, Ewing, Starks, Sprewell. In those days, the Knicks were physically and mentally tough. They need to get back to that way...The Knicks Way.

1:38 [Comment From Fabio]
Who are your starting 5?
1:38 I'd go with Marbury, Crawford, Richardson, Lee and Zach.

1:38 [Comment From mike Fl]
does anyone look like there unhappy as a knick? does anyone want to leave?
1:39 I don't think players are unhappy but if Malik Rose, Jerome James, Zach Randolph and Stephon Marbury can get consistent minutes with another team as opposed to sitting on the Knicks bench I believe they would take it.

1:40 [Comment From LaMont]
I've heard Jerome was actually hustling up and down the court in one of the practice drills...(pause for laughter - yeah right?) do you think he could actually have a "breakout" year and be a pleasant surprise as he is more defensive oriented than Curry or Randolph?
1:42 The Knicks have tried something very innovative with Jerome. They have a doughnut dangling two feet in front of him to get him to hustle. In fairness, Big Snacks is working hard and taking his job seriously. It took three years but Jerome is finally with the program. He'll look much better in his suits when he's on the bench this year.

1:43 [Comment From Seminara Sports LLC]
Frank, you do amazing work. Do you believe the Walsh-D'Antoni regime will work and that the Garden will be rockin' again?
1:45 Amazing work? At least someone thinks so. I want it to work but Walsh's most successful teams with the Pacers looked just like the Knicks most successful teams from the '90s. So why the radical change to play an uptempo style that is soft defensively? Were the Celtics soft defensively last year? How about the great Bulls teams? I don't get it. So yes, I have my doubts.

1:46 [Comment From Robert]
My expectations for the Knicks this year are not high. My expectations for Walsh are. I want to know your thoughts of what he is going to do this year to improve our team.
1:47 He's looking to clear salary cap room. Walsh has let it be known that his plan is to dip into the free agent pool in 2010. In other words, he's giving himself a two-year grace period. That's a very shrewd move by an experienced basketball executive. Let's face it, you have to find a superstar somewhere. Only teams with stars win in the NBA. It is a superstar league.

1:48 [Comment From AnOleMember]
IN your opinion -- who was the most solid leader of the franchise while you were there?
1:50 There was no greater leader, teammate or unselfish player than Larry Johnson. He is by far my favorite Knick of all time. All of his teammates loved and admired him. He'd arrive for games at 4:30 just to stretch his aching back. He always played hurt. He always guarded the other teams best big man, whether it was Kevin Garnett or Shaquille O'Neal. He had the most underrated Knicks career in franchise history. The Knicks won two playoff games the year after Patrick Ewing left. They've never won a playoff game since Larry Johnson retired. They haven't had a winning season since Larry Johnson retired. Larry is the man.

1:50 [Comment From Marc S]
If we lack defensive coaches, why aren't the Knicks bringing in Oakley and Starks to help just for camp at the very least?
1:51 The Knicks refuse to embrace their past and D'Antoni refuses to embrace the idea of defense.

1:52 [Comment From Zade B]
Its not a coincidence that Isaiah was successful as a coach at his other stops, but not here. Red Auerbach in his prime couldn't get this group of rejects to play "team" ball. D'antoni will soon find out that you can't coach ignorance...AND..he is going to miss the "you know what" out of Rolando Balkman.
1:53 D'Antoni has a huge task ahead of him. But he deserves a fair chance to prove that with the right players his system can work.

1:53 [Comment From mike Fl]
does lebron want to be a knick?
1:54 I don't think LeBron knows exactly what he's going to do in two years. A lot can happen between now and 2010. What if the Cavs reach the Finals and the Knicks fail to significantly upgrade their roster? Do you think LeBron is signing with the Knicks if his main running mate is going to be Danilo Gallinari?

1:54 [Comment From EJ]
What do you think are the realistic possibilities of the 2009 team?
1:55 Realistically, the Knicks should improve by 10 to 15 wins.

1:55 [Comment From George]
Do you think the knicks have a realistic shot to make the playoffs based on what you have read and seen from them so far?
1:56 [Comment From Jay]
Do you feel that the Knicks will make it to the Playoffs this season?
1:56 [Comment From George]
I think they have a shot at the seventh or eighth seed
1:56 Playoffs? You're talking playoffs? They could be in a fight for eighth. I would say that Boston, Toronto, Philadelphia, Detroit, Cleveland and Orlando are locks. That leaves two spots and I think Washington, Atlanta and Miami should be ahead of the Knicks. Plus, you still have Milwaukee, Chicago and Charlotte. But look on the bright side, they should be better than the Nets.

1:58 Time for one more question...

1:59 [Comment From AnOleMember]
Let's face it -- there is a dark cloud over the Garden...manegement and player changes will alwasy result in losing seasons -- the cloud is owner James Dolan -- do you ever see him selling?
1:59 I don't believe Dolan will sell but I think he's trying to do the right thing with the Knicks. He's taking a step back and hiring an experienced person (Walsh) to run the team.

2:00 I hope I was able to give you some insight to the team. We'll have to do this again soon. As John Starks would always say, "You're damn skippy." Peace.

2:01 Editor's note: Keep the chat going in the comments section, which we'll open up in a minute. Thanks - and yes, we will do this again soon. Keep checking the blog, we'll post info on the next chat soon.

Frank Isola seems to be the only guy without an agenda in this whole mess. I got to thank him for my new sign.