Seriously though, the more I hear it, the more I don't mind: rebuild. I don't mean COMPLETE rebuild, just rebuild around Spree and Camby. And I DONT mean trade some scrubs for Vin Baker. I mean dumping salaries. Trade Houston (and other players with long contracts) for players (and picks who cares) whose salaries expire by 2003-2004. For instance, maybe Houston, KT, Shandon Anderson and Charlie Ward for Dale Davis, Bonzi Wells and Scottie Pippen. Or maybe Houston and Ward for Szczerbiak and Billups. Players that will need to be traded are Houston, Ward, Spoon or KT, and Travis Knight. Eisley is still pretty young and is a servicable point guard, and Othella is cheap, and Postell is a keeper. Spree, Camby, Eisley, Spoon or KT (whichever stays), Othella and Postell would add up to 35 mil in salaries. The cap now is 42 mil. In 2003-2004, it will be around 50 mil or so. That would leave us with 15 mil in capspace (maybe more if we decide to trade Spoon AND KT and just stay with Othella). That would be enough to sign 1 or 2 big time free agents in the 2003-2004 free agent pool. This pool includes the likes of Tim Duncan, Elton Brand, Lamar Odom, Rashard Lewis, Andre Miller, Steve Francis, Baron Davis, Jermaine O'Neal, Jason Terry, Wally Szczerbiak and more. We could get maybe an Andre Miller and Jermaine O'Neal. Or maybe Lamar Odom (you know he wants to come the NYC) and Wally Szczerbiak. Or maybe we could even get Duncan. Fact is, with so many top tier free agents, you know a few of them will want to come to NYC with Spree and Camby, and we will have the money to give them. Spree and Camby, surrounded by 2 of those free agents would definately be a championship caliber team. Not only that, but by keeping Camby and Spree, we would still have a decent team until then.

the Voice (of Realgm.com)

Here it is - I think we should tank this season. The only reason we have never rebuilt is because - and only because - of the Post Season REVENUE (playoffs). But in order for future playoff revenue to keep streaming in, we need to, and must have some cyclical downtime. A perfect example is that of San Antone, when Dave Robinson injured his back, SA tanked the season, won the lotto and got TimmyD. We should tank this season. If we're in the lotto, you KNOW that the NBA is fixed and Dave Stern will give us one of the top 3 picks. We also should have Marcus Camby sit out AS LONG AS IT TAKES FOR HIM TO HEAL so we can hold on to him and not injure the player for years to come.
Maybe we can get a disabled player exception for Marcus (DPE) as we all KNOW that he's gonna be out the year if his foot is indeed broken, as he was out for a week when he got a paper cut in Toronto (yeah, so what if his finger got infected, it was on his non-shooting hand).

I AM TELLING YOU, IF WE TANK THIS SEASON, CHRIS MARCUS (TIM DUNCAN PART DEUX) is available this year. He can be the center of the future for the Knicks.

I'm not sure if we need to rebuild that much, but a few chances would help. Szczerbiak recently said if he were to be traded he would want it to be to new york. That being said, Houston and Ward for Szczerbiak and someone like Billups would be a gread deal for us. In addition, i think we should look into a deal right now that would send Thomas or Harrington to Denver for LaFrentz. Guys i think we should keep for right now are Camby and Sprewell definetly along with Houston, Weatherspoon, Anderson, Thomas and Harrington unless the right deal comes along. Wally really seems to like new york, but i not sure if Minny would trade him. Also, i know this is a pipe dream, but getting both Wally and Terrell Brandon to go with Camby and Spree would really make us a title contender.

Posted by MCfan23:

I would love to get Wally, but I guess his stock just increased following his 35-point outburst against us. He is one of the top-zone busters in the league, did the guys not know that going into the game? You just can't afford to let that dude shoot, or he'll torch ya!

Houston is another top zone buster and even though Sprewell is not, he's still a better player and the guy more likely to figure out a way to score. I would trade Houston for Szczerbiak, but i'm going to stand by my statement which is we have a fine nucleus and can win by building around them. The fact is...

Sprewell has one of the quickest first steps in the league and is currently one of the most complete players in the league.

Camby is one of the most versatile center in the league and is capable of putting up better numbers then every center in the league except Shaq.

Houston has one of the nicest shots in the league and if he takes control more and does more with the ball, he will be one of the best shooting guards in the league.

Also, with Weatherspoon, Anderson, Harrington, Ward, and Eisley comiing off the bench we have one of the most talented benches in the league.

With all this talent we should be just fine and i can't understand people who don't feel the same way. We do need a couple of moves(Harrington or Thomas for LaFrentz?), but rebuilding should be far from our plans.

I wouldnt mind a semi rebiuld. I mean if we traded all of our stars exceot for Houston and got back maybe 2 stars in return and build around them in the off-season.

Iam all for getting Antonio McDyess and Andre Miller.


Spreewell + Jackson
for
Andre Miller + cap filler

Camby + Harrington + filler
for
Antonio McDyess.

A semi rebuild doesnt mean your team will suck but it mean they wont have any chemistry till next year. If we did something similar to this we can still make the playoffs

A rebuild should be about getting draft picks, raw prospects and players in the last year or two years of their contract. Getting young stars now isn't a reality, why should the trade partner give that up and endanger their own future?

Which rookies don't get alot of, or none, playing time?

Furthermore sign the talented leftovers from the draft and those who were waived. Khalid El-Amin certainly looks GOOD, Cook could be in years. Don't call it a rebuild if you immediately want a player on the verge of super stardom.

Dice and Van Exel? Not going to happen. If you want to make a deal with Denver only thing I see remotely possible is getting Raef + junk for two decent players of ours. No either Houston or Spree(hope not)should be traded for squat if we're serious about rebuilding. Just an ending contract, raw prospect and a draft pick for them will suffice. Any trade now will be lobsided in the trading parties favor as we're coming across abit desperate and we have Layden as GM. I do see a possible trade happening between NYK, Denver and GS where denver and GS swap Raef and Marc and we get some height preferably Dampier.

Well one of the clips their budding stars is bound to leave, Sterling won't pay Big Bucks for them all. I'd love Antonio Daniels but he's already on the verge of super stardom so I don't think we can get him.
Timmy Thomas? Not leaving either unless the Bucks have a first round exit or something.

Diop maybe? Zach Randolph? Highly priced I guess but all with great potential but haven't proved anything as of yet. Larry Hughes might become a possibility, they didn't exend his contract and he ain't all that happy about it. He's a year or two away from breaking through or becoming mediocre. We need to take some risk to swing the balance up or down. The road of no risk has gotten us where we are now.

Posted by Knixkik:

Posted by knicksbabyyeah:

Well one of the clips their budding stars is bound to leave, Sterling won't pay Big Bucks for them all. I'd love Antonio Daniels but he's already on the verge of super stardom so I don't think we can get him.
Timmy Thomas? Not leaving either unless the Bucks have a first round exit or something.

Diop maybe? Zach Randolph? Highly priced I guess but all with great potential but haven't proved anything as of yet. Larry Hughes might become a possibility, they didn't exend his contract and he ain't all that happy about it. He's a year or two away from breaking through or becoming mediocre. We need to take some risk to swing the balance up or down. The road of no risk has gotten us where we are now.

I really like DeSagana Diop and think with Cleveland's depth at center, we should go after him. We don't need to do a lot of remodeling, but we need a few young guys to keep this team contenders in the future. Diop wouls answer some problems for us right now. Also, LaFrentz is still a guy we need to make a push for.

Diop has a messed up foot, and hasn't really played, but still, I'd say we trade Harrington for Diop. DEFINITELY WORTH THE GAMBLE. And I'd ship out Weatherspoon for Raef LaFrentz. Weatherspoon gets his shot blocked more than anyone else in the NBA. That is a certifiable stat.

Man, I thought Boumtje Boumtje and Loren Woods were bad, but Chris Marcus????