Michael Jordan had his Scottie Pippen and they both needed Dennis Rodman to be the disruptor. Rodman as "Heart and soul"? Perhaps. But we all understand the value of Charles Oakley as it related to the importance of getting Patrick's back. Or consider Spree as he was the fire to Allan Houston's ice. Wasn't it LJ who said what needed to be said while VanGundy was watching video?

After the inevitable turnover it is not just about stats, but who will be the locker room's Larry Johnson in 2010?

As the Atlanta Hawks learned with first round draft pick after first draft pick, for nearly a decade - talent is one thing, leadership is quite another. Walsh cannot simply gut the team and lay in waiting for free agents to pick up the leadership check in 2010. That has to be built starting now.

The next two years are not just about luring Lebron or Duane or A'mare. The next two years are about developing a core personality with the players that remain when the dust clears. Chances are Richardson, the most vocal of the bunch, will be gone. So will the elder Rose.

Who will compose the heart and soul of the Knicks? - the two or three guys - or that special young ONE - that players and fans alike can trust their passion with. The guy(s) who will speak not just through their words - but via actions or deeds. Larry Bird once described the role as, "Traffic cop".

Who's gunna take the weight?

it doesn't matter. we don't have anyone now who will be part of our winning core of the future ... maybe chandler and nate, but it's premature to assign roles to guys we don't even have yet.

al harrington and tim Thomas :)

ny is a tough place to have a *leader* when the team isn't winning. the media/fans will not look at a player in a good light if the team stinks. very few players are able to get by and looked at in that manner when a team stinks (best example being don mattingly). so it's tough to say if a *heart and soul* could emerge in this environment...especially when everybody is on notice and even the guys signed through 2010 is on the market. crawford seemed to be the most well liked player on the team and was basically it's spokesman and he was dumped purely b/c of his contract.

Posted by misterearl:

Michael Jordan had his Scottie Pippen and they both needed Dennis Rodman to be the disruptor. Rodman as "Heart and soul"? Perhaps. But we all understand the value of Charles Oakley as it related to the importance of getting Patrick's back. Or consider Spree as he was the fire to Allan Houston's ice. Wasn't it LJ who said what needed to be said while VanGundy was watching video?

After the inevitable turnover it is not just about stats, but who will be the locker room's Larry Johnson in 2010?

As the Atlanta Hawks learned with first round draft pick after first draft pick, for nearly a decade - talent is one thing, leadership is quite another. Walsh cannot simply gut the team and lay in waiting for free agents to pick up the leadership check in 2010. That has to be built starting now.

The next two years are not just about luring Lebron or Duane or A'mare. The next two years are about developing a core personality with the players that remain when the dust clears. Chances are Richardson, the most vocal of the bunch, will be gone. So will the elder Rose.

Who will compose the heart and soul of the Knicks? - the two or three guys - or that special young ONE - that players and fans alike can trust their passion with. The guy(s) who will speak not just through their words - but via actions or deeds. Larry Bird once described the role as, "Traffic cop".

Who's gunna take the weight?

I don't think that guy is here right now.

It's possible that Gallo could turn out to be that type of personality but I haven't seen that yet.

Wilson no.

Nate is tough --- but we all know he has a really long way to go.

D-Lee --- I don't think he's the guy. For me - D-Lee's lack of defensive effort is a real downer.

The one guy could be Duhon if re-upped after 09.

Come to think of it -- it really won't matter because the free agent or 2 we sign will take over the team.

I expect we'll make 1 or 2 smaller free agent pick-ups that may look like Duhon out of the gate and grow on people over time.

Duhon (who i think has a good chance of lasting past 2010 here), DLee, Nate, Wilson and maybe QRich in a much reduced role. That's all we can hope for. Maybe Jefferies? Maybe Harrington?

I can see D'Antoni being cool with Duhon and Nash splitting PG time in 2010-11 and being his on the court leaders.

[Edited by - crzymdups on 29-11-2008 12:27 AM]

im hoping we can land camby that year as well, would love a return of camby even if hes the late stages of his career for 20min play

crzymdups - Nash, in the Larry Johnson role, as D'Antoni's locker room consiglieri?

Interesting. Even at 36. But kinda obvious - like a boxer texting his left jab. And Nash does not arrive in time to impact the next two years of wandering in the desert, searching for a soul.

Knicksfan - I agree, Gallinari has an appetizing skill set and has a history of being a leader in Europe among teenagers but... this is not about how much he'll help. This is about setting the tone for the franchise and, most important, embracing the responsibility of leadership.

Do you think it is a stretch to consider Danilo THE guy who the other guys will seek guidance from, in two years?

this is why it's not really 2010, but 2012. so we all need to eat right and drive safely to make sure we are still around.

Some of this post I believe. I truly believe why we CANNOT draft a foreign player with our next pick unless it was Pau Gasol--a cant miss 7 footer. We don't need any fancy passing Spaniard with a line drive jumpshot or ANYONE with a hint of character issue. I hope hope hope we can get that coveted top 3 pick--the thing is we may have used our lottery juice when we drafted #2 for Chicago. I think Stepen Curry is a leader who a lot of FA would be happy to play with. Either Blake Griffin or Thabeet have their own special skills that we need with leadership and character[actually we could use all 3 players:)] I'm not as high on a prospect who can jump out of the gym and I may have soured at a player who decided US college was not good enough for him--that he couldnt hack a year of it--that doesnt say much to me. I want a guy who can lead through voice and game. Those are the type of players you win with. I think any of those 3 guys could do greta for us EVEN if they werent the fancy pick.

Posted by anrst:

this is why it's not really 2010, but 2012. so we all need to eat right and drive safely to make sure we are still around.

In 2012 the world may change dramatically. Let's win a championship before that.