FREE AGENTS
Raymond Felton - He's no Paul or Williams but he's proving he's a good player that's extremely difficult to contain. Might be out of our price range though. He's having a very good year (his shooting percentages are way up across the board) and his team is playing competitive ball. I think Larry's learned to appreciate him - he might like him more than Augustin.
Acie Law
CJ Watson (restricted)
Kyle Lowry (restricted) - I think the potential's there for a real good two-way player here.
TJ Ford - Not having a good year, neither is his team. Only 1-36 from downtown this year. If you're this small, in a D'Antoni offense, you better be able to a least shoot it well from deep. He's not doing that. I know some of you guys like him and he's still fairly young and has talent but I think I'd pass.
Mardy Collins (restricted) - Not sure he'd be an upgrade over Duhon, though he was making some progress with us before being traded - with his jumper and his surprisingly quick take to the basket. Probably not good enough for a starting role here though.
Jordan Farmar (restricted) - A steady young PG who's made good progress while with the Lakers. Maybe we offer up a decent part of the mid-level along with the promise of a starting role. Not sure if the Lakers would want him back. Probably, considering Fisher's also a FA.
Marcus Williams
Mario Chalmers (restricted) - I don't see the Heat giving up on him.
Carlos Arroyo
Jason Williams - Great pickup by the Magic. He's playing well for them.
Paddy Mills (restricted)
Steve Blake
Sergio Rodriguez (restricted) - Looks to be an afterthought in Sactown, only getting 13.8 mins/game this year. I think this guy's quick, very creative with the ball and a decent enough offensive player. Still very young. A guy that might really take off with an expanded role. I could see the Knicks being interested.
Randy Foye (restricted) - They traded a considerable amount for this guy and now with Arenas gone for probably the rest of the year (maybe they look into voiding Arenas' contract now though the union probably wouldn't let that happen) I don't think they let him get away.
Javaris Crittenton
Mike Miller - He's a 2-guard but he can also handle the ball and distribute. I know he's not a PG but in terms of us improving our backcourt depth, I'd be interested in this guy for next year provided he's healthy and the price is right. Very smart player and he's a tremendous outside shooter - right up D'Antoni's alley.
Tyrese Rice - I know he's playing in Greece. Not sure what type of contract he signed. This kid can ball though. Hard to believe he went undrafted.

POSSIBLE TRADE TARGETS
DJ Augustin - Where there's smoke there's usually fire. My thing is why trade for this kid when you have a good chance of grabbing similar/better PGs in the draft?
Jeff Teague
Rodrigue Beaubois
Nick Calathes (rights owned by Dallas)
Ramon Sessions - Maybe Minny signed him with the idea of eventually striking a deal with Walsh & the Knicks, maybe after the final salary cap figure comes out and after we hopefully get our larger pieces in place next summer. He's a decent young talent on a decent contract.
Ricky Rubio (rights own by Minnesota)
Darren Collison - I liked him in college and I like him even more now. Even though his numbers are nothing to write home about, he's played well for the Hornets this year from what I've seen. He'll never really get a chance to run a club behind Chris Paul - I think he might be capable of eventually doing that. He'll show eventually that he's too good to remain someone's backup forever.
Jerryd Bayless

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Just about all I can think of. Let me know if I missed anyone and who you guys like.

I think you are looking at four guys that can be had

$$ 3-5 Million

Kyle Lowry-He isn't a talented offensive player, but his defense more than makes up for it. I still think he is a very talented backup on a good team. His penetration skills are very effective. His jumper needs some serious work.

Jordan Farmar-I think he is a victim of playing in the wrong offense. His defense is supspect, but his strengths are tailored to this offense. He is a pick and roll player with good range on his jumper.

$$5-7 million

Randy Foye-Had Arenas not been suspeneded I would have put Randy in the first category $ money wise. I really believe this is a chauncey billups situation waiting to happen. He is more of the combo type player but his talent next to a player like Lebron would be very similiar to Mo Willima and his skill set. He can make and take the big shot and needs the right situation. Local kid with a good head on his shoulders.

Raymond Felton-I think playing for Larry Brown is no easy task and this kid has performed quite well. He isn't elite, but he is good enough to distribute and attack the defense and keep everyone honest. With the knicks shooters he would be very effective.

So I say you pair Foye and Lebron in the backcourt and we are the favorites in the eastern conference next season. It's doable.

Foye/Douglas
Lebron/
Chandler/Jefferies
Gallo/Hill
Lee/Curry

i really, really like Nic Wise... i really hope he drops to the 2nd round so we can take him, i think he'd be absolutely perfect for MDA's system... he excels in the P&R, he's fast & can really push the pace, he's tough & doesn't back down from anyone, he's got the cahones to make big shots in big moments, & he's already got a nice chemistry with Jordan Hill so it will make both their transitions easier next season.

(Breaking down the NBADraft.com bio by taking dramatic license with a second hand report)

Alexey Shved (the name has a nice ring to it)

Strengths: A 6-7 (did you say 6'7?) natural point guard with immense upside... (upside is good, immense upside is better)

A real competitor, also very smart... (hey, we like smart guys, yes?)

Charismatic ... (cool, the press may dig his schtick.. teammates... who knows?)

Tremendous passer and ball handler ... (me like)

Has a nasty crossover and handles the ball well against the quickest of defenders ... (me like even better)

Creates baskets for his teammates and makes those around him better ... (sign him up)

Very bouncy, good leaper with huge wingspan ... (huge wingspan is always helpful)

Looks very young. Could still be growing ... (adding to his 178 pound frame at The Shake Shack could help)

Has huge hands giving him added control over the ball ... (chicks dig guys with huge hands)

Applies himself defensively and shows good instincts staying in front of his man and not biting on fakes ... (cool)

One of the top overall prospects in all of Europe ...(the Knicks could be the new United Nations of NBA hoops)

Weaknesses: His frame is very long but his shoulders are narrow and he is very skinny ... (so was 6'7 George Gervin)

May never be a very strong player... (don't need him to bench press at the NFL combine, just dribble through heavy traffic with his head up)

Added strength will allow him to drive to the basket and absorb contact better ... (it will also slow him down)

He'll also be able to use his size better on the boards ... (we have big guys for that)

Being from Russia, he has some hurdles... to make the transition to the NBA/USA culture (buy him a MetroCard)

I love dis guy

GodSaveTheKnicks wrote:I think the only way NO trades CP3OH! (my name for him.. a bit long I know) is if he asks out. I have no idea what's going on in New Orleans. Either management is too incompetent to turn a profit or New Orleans just can't support an NBA team but the Hornets have been making moves to save $, not to bring Chris Paul closer to contending for a ring.

From what I've read about Paul, dude is INTENSE on the court and I would guess that the losing eats him up and that management focusing on saving $ and not paying the tax vs. getting him some help (Devin Brown as his 2 guard, really??!) eats him up even more. He is wasting his prime.

If that happens and NO is just looking for salary cap relief while they figure out what the hell they're doing..maybe some expirings/draft picks would do it. Chris Paul might be one of the only players worth giving up expirings and draft picks for. (Isn't the point of having cap space and draft picks to find someone like him anyway?)

If all that fails he has a player option after the 2012-2013 season. Hopefully DW doesn't blow his load and give 2nd tier FAs 7 year $200 million dollar contracts and we have a chance to land him.

My unrealistic Chris Paul dreams aside, I doubt we land a quality PG AND Lebron AND Lee. I'll take Lebron and Lee and wait for next 2011 summer to go get a playmaker.

Question for you TMS:

If you have a player like Lebron..who is the ideal type of player to put next to him anyway?

I think it's a really hard question to answer because he could theoretically score in the post if he wants to and eliminate the need for a traditional PF. He can handle the rock and set up his teammates and eliminate the need for a traditional floor general. He obviously can be a super dominant SG or SF. He doesn't necessarily need a back to the basket center to throw the ball into.

I think it's gotta be someone who doesn't need the ball to be effective (ex: MARCUS CAMBY, Shawn Marion, Udonis Haslem). Guys who can clean up the boards, finish around the rim off putbacks, hit the open jumper.

or

Someone who's a good enough orchestrator to allow Lebron to play off the ball so he doesn't spend so much energy bringing the ball up the floor and setting up the offense.

if i have a player like Lebron, i think a PG who can knock down big shots, penetrate & play ballhawking defense on the perimeter along w/a rebounding, shotblocking bigman in the paint who can also help spread the defense w/perimeter shooting ability & open up the lane for Lebron & the PG to penetrate are the ideal types to have next to him... if i had my pick of guys currently playing in the NBA to fit those 2 roles to a tee, i'd go with someone like Chauncey Billups at the PG & someone like Rasheed Wallace in the frontcourt.

i think TD could do a solid job at the PG playing next to Lebron cuz he plays the sorta game i'm talking about... i also think Jordan Hill could work very well w/Lebron as well cuz he can hit those midrange J's & he's mobile enough to run the break alongside Lebron.

GodSaveTheKnicks wrote:

TMS wrote:
if i have a player like Lebron, i think a PG who can knock down big shots, penetrate & play ballhawking defense on the perimeter along w/a rebounding, shotblocking bigman in the paint who can also help spread the defense w/perimeter shooting ability & open up the lane for Lebron & the PG to penetrate are the ideal types to have next to him... if i had my pick of guys currently playing in the NBA to fit those 2 roles to a tee, i'd go with someone like Chauncey Billups at the PG & someone like Rasheed Wallace in the frontcourt.

i think TD could do a solid job at the PG playing next to Lebron cuz he plays the sorta game i'm talking about... i also think Jordan Hill could work very well w/Lebron as well cuz he can hit those midrange J's & he's mobile enough to run the break alongside Lebron.

1. PG who Ds up and can knock down Fisheresque shots

Either we go cheap here and try to get Farmar/Lowry/Felton or find a stopgap and wait.

2. Big Man who can rebound and block shots, also with jumpshot

Too bad DLee doesn't block shots. Otherwise I think he fits the rebounding, outside shot (improving and will continue to improve I think) checkboxes.

Is there a big man who more closely fits the bill than DLee?

We may just have to wait on a PG..

i think our best shot to get a PG to fit the role is TD at this point, cuz there aren't any PG's in free agency that really fit that bill... Farmar is overrated on this board if u ask me... i watched a ton of Laker games last year & he has never stood out to me as a guy i'd want on my roster... he's not even better than Delonte West in my view... i think Toney Douglas will be better than Farmar when it's all said & done.

Lowry could be a nice option, i like the defense he plays & he can really push the pace w/his quickness... he's also a very good rebounder for a guard that small, but i don't think we'll have enough cap space to sign a guy like him... he won't come all that cheap, IMO it will take at least a full midlevel type contract to sign him.

Felton is nice on offense but defensively he is horrible... he also won't come cheap.

i think at PG i'd draft someone like Nic Wise or maybe that Jeremy Lin kid w/1 of our 2nd rounders & let him battle it out w/TD in training camp to determine who my starting PG will be... this is assuming we will either re-sign D Lee or make a move to sign another max FA like Bosh or Amare.

as for the frontcourt spot, i think Bosh would be a perfect fit next to Lebron cuz he can help spread the floor & provides another superstar to play alongside Lebron to help alleviate some of the scoring pressure & can also block shots... but if we end up re-signing Lee, i think we would have to make sure we sign another frontcourt player that can block shots & defend, someone like Marcus Camby, which would mean Lebron would have to play the 3 w/Gallo as the 6th man off the bench.

Rodney Stuckey is a RFA in 2011, he'd fit that role nicely IMO... Mario Chalmers could be a cheap alternative option but probably not much of an upgrade if any over Toney Douglas... Tony Parker is the obvious name that pops out next year but i don't see any way he leaves SA.

I know LeBron or another max guy AND Lee is probably the priority (as it should be) but I tell ya, LeBron or no LeBron, we're definitely gonna need a halfway decent PG on the floor that can do some things. All this guy Duhon can do fairly well is shoot the 3 ball. That's it. He brings nothing else to the table. You wanna say he works the P&R well with Lee, OK, but to me, the success of that play has much more to do with Lee than Duhon. In that scenario, it's up to Lee to continually get himself open and then finish. Sure the pass has to be on the money but w/o Lee's effort to get open and ability to finish, that play never even materializes. I think it's more Lee making Duhon look good on the P&R than vice versa to be honest. Not really into bashing Duhon apart here -- he did a pretty good job for us the past couple of seasons, all considered. He came in here and did exactly what Walsh wanted him to do which is fill in for a couple of years. After the season though, it's definitely time to move on. No question about it. I don't want to hear anything about how Duhon already knows the system, blah, blah, blah... That's all nonsense. It's not a hard system to learn man, seriously...

Just to clarify using the mid-level exception, 'cause I wasn't sure myself (taken from wikipedia):

"A team is allowed to sign one player to a contract equal to the average NBA salary, even if the team is over the salary cap already, or if the signing would put them over the cap. This is known as the Mid-level exception (MLE). The MLE may be used on an individual free agent or split among multiple free agents, and is available to any team that exceeds the salary cap at the beginning of the offseason. The Mid-Level Exception for the 2008-09 NBA season was $5.585 million.[2] The MLE is $5.854 million for the 2009-10 NBA regular season."

Well, since we'll have a lot of cap room to start off with that could go quickly on two players, I guess we won't have access to the MLE so there goes that idea of bringing in one of these capable young veterans like Felton, Foye or Lowry (guys like Felton & Foye might be looking for even more than that anyway). Can anyone see a way where we don't trade Jeffries or Curry, sign LeBron and Lee AND THEN have any money left over for a PG? I mean do we really bring back Duhon for another year (I think we'd be able to go over the cap to sign him right)? Don't even know if that's possible...I couldn't be behind that anyway. He's terrible man. I hope they have a plan because they really backed themselves into a corner with this PG situation. I think our best opportunity for a decent upgrade might come in the draft -- we better hope a guy like Sherron Collins is still around when we pick. I have trouble seeing it, which is why we might have to trade up into the first round to get him. God only knows what Donnie's plan is....