the insider said that isiah is looking to make another megedeal. is this the same report from tuesday? if not can someone please post. thanx

Here goes (Chad Ford's Insider):

Will the Knicks pull off another blockbuster? As I just wrote above, the feeling on Wednesday was that Thomas was looking to make one major trade. Both scenarios (Portland and Cleveland) are still just rumors in my mind. But they're interesting and more plausible than they first appeared on paper.

Upon taking over the Knicks, Thomas set out to get two marquee players -- Marbury and Wallace. Thomas used up most of his trade bait to get Marbury, leading many to believe that Wallace was unattainable. Given the latest talk, that may be misguided. While Blazers GM John Nash has been adamant in the past about not taking back long-term deals for Wallace, a trade with the Knicks may make some sense for Portland if the Knicks are willing to take back Ruben Patterson as part of the trade.

If the Knicks sent Van Horn, Williams, Sweetney, Michael Doleac and Dikembe Mutombo to Portland for Wallace and Patterson, the Blazers' cap number would rise from a projected $42 million next year to around $55 million. That's a pretty big increase to swallow, but if they can last one more year while they wait for Dale Davis and Damon Stoudamire to come off the books, the number gets much more palatable.

Right now the Blazers have only $18.3 million in committed salaries for the 2005-06 season. That number would go to $27.6, still far enough under the cap to make a big free-agent signing and re-sign Zach Randolph. In 2006-07, their number would actually go down from a projected $18.5 million to $11.5 million because Van Horn comes off the books before Patterson.

The bottom line for the Blazers is that, at $42 million, they won't have enough cash to get a marquee free agent to replace Wallace anyway. Why not take on a good small forward (whose talents are better suited to the West Coast style anyway) and a bright young point guard, clean up the image of the team by dumping Wallace and Patterson without sacrificing wins (Van Horn, Williams, Sweetney and Mutombo should at least be able to duplicate the wins Wallace and Patterson are giving the team), and still have enough cap room in 2005 to start reloading the team?

For the Knicks, the addition of Wallace, a superstar talent with a NDBL head, would be another major coup. Thomas believes he can get through to Wallace, and combined with Marbury, Houston and Kurt Thomas, the Knicks would have enough talent to compete with any team in the East.

The other scenario with Cleveland (Van Horn, Williams and Sweetney for Ilgauskas and Miles) makes plenty of sense for the Cavs, though you wonder if Thomas would just be better off swapping Williams and Othella Harrington for Miles (sources claim the Thomas turned that deal down on Tuesday). Ilgauskas, paired with Mutombo, would give the Knicks their best low-post scoring option since Patrick Ewing. Concerns about Ilgauskas' feet, poor defense and lumbering approach are issues. But the ability to platoon Ilgauskas, Mutombo and Thomas should give Don Chaney one of the better front lines in the league. Thomas has also been a fan of Miles for a while. He gives them that long, athletic presence at forward that Thomas has been craving.

Why would the Cavs do it? They're into surrounding LeBron James with the "right" players and this trade makes some sense. Van Horn's ability to play multiple positions and to stretch the defense are an asset, as is his unselfish style of play. He has just one year more on his contract than Ilgauskas, and given the Cavs' current cap projections, shouldn't hinder what they're trying to do.

Williams would immediately be the best full-time point guard on the team's roster, and Sweetney gives the Cavs more muscle in the paint. Cap wise, the Cavs would actually shave about $2 million off the cap for this season. Next year, the presence of Van Horn, Sweetney and Williams would add around $3 million to the cap assuming the team lets Miles go without compensation. In 2005-06, the Cavs would still be looking at roughly $10 million in cap room, even with Van Horn on board. The deal doesn't quite work as well as the Portland one, but it's still in the realm of possibility

"If the Knicks sent Van Horn, Williams, Sweetney, Michael Doleac and Dikembe Mutombo to Portland for Wallace and Patterson"

I hate that deal. To many wing players with BAD contracts. Penny, Anderson, Patterson all this no place to play because Kurt and Wallace are both playing a lot of minutes.

I can live with Rasheed if I have to, but I would rather keep KVH and use Thomas and or Deke to get Sheed. Then go with a pure uptempo athletic type line up
pg Marbury
sg Houston
sf Anderson
pf KVH
c Wallace
bench Penny, Moochie, Othella, Leon Smith, etc.

Thats a good line up in the East. It lacks interior defense but the perimter D is better with Marbury and Shandon.

Only reasonable idea here is OT + FW for miles. Can't give up Dikembe unless we get a center back.

Both those trades are awful.

I agree. I don't want to trade KVH as well. He is a good rebounder and is a good shooter. He can also keep up with Marbury in the open field. I see KVH and Shandon benefitting the most with Stephon's acquisition.

Unless the Knicks get someone better, the Knicks need Wallace, and for Othellla and Williams, but Thomas balked. I agree with keeping Van Horn, but he does have a high value, and we should trade him, NOW! And as much as I want Williams to stay, I know he's not going to stay in NY much longer.

And yes, I do like Darius Miles! He's pretty young and athletic. Anyone else like Darius?

I like Miles Potential. But people have grown tired of him everywhere... One thing I am looking forward too is a Frank and Stephon backcourt in the short-term... Stephon could then get his scoring, learn the offense from Frank... Houston could then get his rest. Which he kneeds (get it haahahah) badly. A three game to five game hiatus to heal and get swelling down. His knee has to stabilize if we are to have any real chance this year. You could raise Frank's trade value... play Sweetney and do the same. We are rushing a deal now. Why? Isiah has to be a little patient. Rasheed is a shell of himself. Van Horn, Sweetney, Williams is far to much... and Ruben Patterson? He can play.. but is a complete Cancer as well. With Stephon, Thomas, Wallace, and Patterson .. thats too many ego's and we start to become the Jailblazers East.

What's up RAIN. I agree about Van Horn. The guy arguably is outplaying Wallace this year, and there are a multitude of arguments in favor of Van Horn over Wallace. Wallace IMO has become more passive than Van Horn. He is taking more than 4 3's a game now, and he gets to the line less times than Keith. In addition, Keith is really a better rebounder, and over their careers, Keith has a higher scoring average. I think Wallace has more talent, but something is to be said about how he has never taken it upon himself to get better, or really be the player in Portland. He still hasn't averaged over 20 ppg in a season, and this year has let Randolph be the go to guy. Wallace has more talent than Randolph and more experience, but has still let the young guy take over. And watching him about 5-6 times this year, he seems to be disintrested. I don't want a headcase who doesnt offer enough advantages over KVH.

As for Miles, he's just an athlete and might not develop the skills to be a real bball player. 4 years in the league and his numbers really haven't changed at all. He may never be more than a role player. And Ilgauskas is nice, but is not better than Van Horn IMO, and is too slow for a Marbury offense. How would he fit any better here?

I wish they go after a Wilcox/Swift/Al Harrington type. Frank Williams and Sweetney for Wilcox/throw in (ie. Doug OVerton) works.

[Edited by - VDesai on 01/08/2004 14:38:55]

Rich...my question is, do you or anyone else think that one of those teams would take a package of Williams/Sweetney? IMO, I think the Clippers are desperate for a point guard and could use Williams. But how are people on Williams throughout the league? We know the Cavs like him, but I don't want D. Miles or any of their expendables except maybe Diop.

YEA and Shaq said it was a lucky game for Frank when he played against the Fakers, how does he know all the way on the left coast! Don't forget how he lead the knicks in victory over minny and gave cassell fits.