Posted by misterearl:

sebstar -I hear what you are saying and I'm not ruling out catching magic in a bottle in a Donnie Walsh Surprise... but remember the celtics had a willing trade partner from inside the family in Kevin McHale.

By the same token, as as people offer up rumors of rumors, remember this...

the Knicks are not brimming with players that other teams covet. That is just a reality. And no, David Lee is NOT a franchise cornerstone. I don't care who your favorite team is. David Lee is a nice piece, but not one NBA team has David Lee pegged as a difference-maker that will significantly elevate the skill-set of a current NBA roster. Not one.

Nate? C'mon. I just don't see any compelling reason for another NBA GM to be blowing up Donnie Walsh's cel phone.

It ain't that easy

our players are not the most coveted, but another thing that plays into the equation is the other team's circumstances-- which include, like, money, uh..and stuff. you know what i mean though. so through some combination of variables it is still possible that donnie pulls off a doozy.

Posted by misterearl:

When you watch and analyze the quality of the teams competing in the NBA's verion of the Final Four some things become crystal clear. There are no quick fixes and the Knicks are a few steps away from getting to the next. There is no sequence of immediate transactions that will transform the 2009 Knicks and every single NBA GM knows this, Donnie Walsh knows this, David Stern knows this and even the Dolans know this.

Building via a major upgrade in talent requires patience and a bit of serendipity. And no purple012870, you can''t "buy" draft picks because no one is selling draft picks in this post-Bush depressed economy.

2011 is the most reasonable expectation for a return to respectability, and the playoffs, because 2011 is:

- The year the current interim roster dreck is finally cleared away

- The year 2010 first round draft selection Donatas Motiejunas of Lithuania starts his rookie season

- The year Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari, pending good fortune and good health, become a compatible and trusted tandem

- The year the Knicks 2009 first round draft pick returns with a year of experience under his belt

- The year of the first significant free agent signing by NYK General Manager Chris Mullin

- The projected completion of The Madison Square Garden renovation and a marketable and profitable basketball operation is mandatory

You heard it here first

Posted by misterearl:

franco12 - nice try. But no dice.

You referenced a five year plan in your initial post with 2010 as year one. That makes your ETA 2015-16. My ETA is 2011. Besides, I can't go for that long a wait.

franco12 - "...the issue I have with Walsh - and I'm a broken record with this - is the Crawford trade. I don't understand how he couldn't have gotten back a future first round pick from a play off bound team & filler for Crawford."

One more thing franco12, I'm also not one for second guessing consummated trades with alternate assumptions that something better was available. Either you have an NBA GM on speed dial that can verify your claim as fact or you are reading WAY too much on RealGM Juicy Rumors Of The Day. If you have something to offer that validates that Jamal would beget a first rounder I'm all for reading about it in your footnotes. Otherwise, it's just imaginary trading card silliness.


put down the trade checker and step away from the vehicle.

Posted by franco12:

Posted by misterearl:

franco12 - nice try. But no dice.

You referenced a five year plan in your initial post with 2010 as year one. That makes your ETA 2015-16. My ETA is 2011. Besides, I can't go for that long a wait.

franco12 - "...the issue I have with Walsh - and I'm a broken record with this - is the Crawford trade. I don't understand how he couldn't have gotten back a future first round pick from a play off bound team & filler for Crawford."

One more thing franco12, I'm also not one for second guessing consummated trades with alternate assumptions that something better was available. Either you have an NBA GM on speed dial that can verify your claim as fact or you are reading WAY too much on RealGM Juicy Rumors Of The Day. If you have something to offer that validates that Jamal would beget a first rounder I'm all for reading about it in your footnotes. Otherwise, it's just imaginary trading card silliness.


put down the trade checker and step away from the vehicle.

Well- I think you are fairly optimistic to think we can get to the play offs in 2011. But maybe we can get there then. I think the point we have in common is this thinking that things are going to turn around quickly. I think we are a ways out.


And on the trade with Jamal- there is nothing I know that indicates there was another trade for Jamal. Its just an assumption that Walsh took a deal that freed up cap room and kept us competitive over any other deals that might have brought us a first rounder and not as much talent as a player like Harrington.

And its this win now at all costs mentality that I think is still present and will present us from a true rebuilding.