Would you bring back Landry Fields?
July, 13, 2012
JUL 13
11:36
AM ET
By Ian Begley | ESPNNewYork.com
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Glen Grunwald said Thursday that he hasn't decided if he'll match Toronto's offer to restricted free agent Landry Fields.

Fields signed a three-year offer sheet with the Raptors on Wednesday that approaches $20 million. The Knicks have until Saturday to make a decision.

"We're still looking at that offer sheet and what other alternatives might be available to us," Grunwald said.

If you were the Knicks' GM, what would you do?

Initially, most thought there was no way the Knicks would match the offer.

Fields' scoring, rebounding and shooting percentage all decreased in his second year, when he averaged 8.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists in a starting role.

Couple that with the emergence of Iman Shumpert, and Fields seemed easily expendable this offseason. Even with Shumpert out until at least December, most observers thought the Knicks could find a cheap replacement at shooting guard this summer.

But some have started to come around to the idea of matching Fields. The rationale behind bringing Fields back is simple: he may be the Knicks' best option at starting shooting guard.

Mike Woodson could insert J.R. Smith into the starting lineup, but that robs the Knicks' second unit of a significant scorer. Also, Smith was wildly inconsistent last year, a weakness that could be magnified if he played starters' minutes.

Another factor in Fields' favor? Knicks owner James Dolan doesn't seem to be deterred by the luxury tax. Fields' contract would increase the Knicks' already sizable tax bill. But with New York in win-now mode, that doesn't seem to be a concern.

Of course, there are other options at shooting guard on the free agent market.

Problem is, the Knicks are limited in what they can offer. They have the veteran's minimum contract available, and can use Dan Gadzuric's expiring contract in a sign-and-trade.

Would that be enough to land someone like Ronnie Brewer?

Colleague Jared Zwerling cites a source close to Brewer who says that the Knicks have shown interest in the shooting guard. Other free agent options for the Knicks include Courtney Lee, Randy Foye, Shannon Brown and Michael Redd.

Question: If you're Grunwald, would you rather have one of these guys over Fields? Or would you bite the bullet and match Toronto's offer because Fields is your best option?

These teams are using our own players to play us. I hope to God that the Knicks management doesn't make themselves look like prize suckers.

Matching the Lin/Rockets reworked shakedown AND the Fields bloated deal? My God, I am gonna need a drink after reading this madness.

While I am aware that the Knicks are in a tight spot, just paying out all that money, leaving the team mired in cap hell after the next couple of years, isn't a smart move. This team is about to kick out WAY too much money on unproven inexperienced players, who will just shrug their shoulders and cash their checks if their performance isn't up to the level of those deals.

It's gut-check time for Grunwald. If he plays this hand wrong, he's done.

HARDCOREKNICKSFAN wrote:Man, oh man...

These teams are using our own players to play us. I hope to God that the Knicks management doesn't make themselves look like prize suckers.

Matching the Lin/Rockets reworked shakedown AND the Fields bloated deal? My God, I am gonna need a drink after reading this madness.

While I am aware that the Knicks are in a tight spot, just paying out all that money, leaving the team mired in cap hell after the next couple of years, isn't a smart move. This team is about to kick out WAY too much money on unproven inexperienced players, who will just shrug their shoulders and cash their checks if their performance isn't up to the level of those deals.

It's gut-check time for Grunwald. If he plays this hand wrong, he's done.

Agree. Its crunch time for Grunwald.

He got played pretty badly by Houston and Lin. You think its a coincidence they waited so long for the new offer sheet? They were waiting for NY to make their moves. The Camby deal leaves us no real assets to do other trades. The Kidd signing uses our lil MLE, which now makes it hard to get a guy like Felton, once rumored to be Lin's possible substitution. Now we are trapped. Anyway you look at it, we lose. If we match, we lose any flexibility we had with Lin, who now would become a pretty bad contract who would have to play "Linsane" to justify it. We don't match and suddenly Kidd is the starter at PG and the argentinan the backup.

I think Lin lost a few fans tonight.

loweyecue wrote:

Knicksfan wrote:

HARDCOREKNICKSFAN wrote:Man, oh man...

These teams are using our own players to play us. I hope to God that the Knicks management doesn't make themselves look like prize suckers.

Matching the Lin/Rockets reworked shakedown AND the Fields bloated deal? My God, I am gonna need a drink after reading this madness.

While I am aware that the Knicks are in a tight spot, just paying out all that money, leaving the team mired in cap hell after the next couple of years, isn't a smart move. This team is about to kick out WAY too much money on unproven inexperienced players, who will just shrug their shoulders and cash their checks if their performance isn't up to the level of those deals.

It's gut-check time for Grunwald. If he plays this hand wrong, he's done.

Agree. Its crunch time for Grunwald.

He got played pretty badly by Houston and Lin. You think its a coincidence they waited so long for the new offer sheet? They were waiting for NY to make their moves. The Camby deal leaves us no real assets to do other trades. The Kidd signing uses our lil MLE, which now makes it hard to get a guy like Felton, once rumored to be Lin's possible substitution. Now we are trapped. Anyway you look at it, we lose. If we match, we lose any flexibility we had with Lin, who now would become a pretty bad contract who would have to play "Linsane" to justify it. We don't match and suddenly Kidd is the starter at PG and the argentinan the backup.

I think Lin lost a few fans tonight.

The two of you can write a book on how to build and rationalize conspiracy theories. Way to go.

Where the hell is the conspiracy theory? If you don't agree, then you don't have to. Way to go on writing your book on why you disagree.

Anyway...

Knicksfan, you're right- Lin probably did lose a few fans tonight, with good reason.

loweyecue wrote:

Knicksfan wrote:

HARDCOREKNICKSFAN wrote:Man, oh man...

These teams are using our own players to play us. I hope to God that the Knicks management doesn't make themselves look like prize suckers.

Matching the Lin/Rockets reworked shakedown AND the Fields bloated deal? My God, I am gonna need a drink after reading this madness.

While I am aware that the Knicks are in a tight spot, just paying out all that money, leaving the team mired in cap hell after the next couple of years, isn't a smart move. This team is about to kick out WAY too much money on unproven inexperienced players, who will just shrug their shoulders and cash their checks if their performance isn't up to the level of those deals.

It's gut-check time for Grunwald. If he plays this hand wrong, he's done.

Agree. Its crunch time for Grunwald.

He got played pretty badly by Houston and Lin. You think its a coincidence they waited so long for the new offer sheet? They were waiting for NY to make their moves. The Camby deal leaves us no real assets to do other trades. The Kidd signing uses our lil MLE, which now makes it hard to get a guy like Felton, once rumored to be Lin's possible substitution. Now we are trapped. Anyway you look at it, we lose. If we match, we lose any flexibility we had with Lin, who now would become a pretty bad contract who would have to play "Linsane" to justify it. We don't match and suddenly Kidd is the starter at PG and the argentinan the backup.

I think Lin lost a few fans tonight.

The two of you can write a book on how to build and rationalize conspiracy theories. Way to go.

That's the best you've got? Now I understand where those weak arguments come from.

GodNa7ion wrote:I'd rather call Houston about Gary Forbes, since they are cleaning house why keep guaranteed money on the books

Gadzuric for Forbes

release DG get 1.5mil in space

we insert Forbes right behind JR and keep up this great off-season

forbes is nowhere near the player fields is. and i'm tired of dealing with houston.

i want to match all the BS offers on our players and beat everyone next season.

i hope the knicks match on fields.

Clean wrote:Lin might not know it yet, but his contract just ensured the Knicks won't match Fields.

Clean wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

Clean wrote:Lin might not know it yet, but his contract just ensured the Knicks won't match Fields.

You can read Dolan's mind?

No, but If I was a betting man I would put money on it. Lin has made enough money to cover his contract for MSG already. Fields on the other hand hardly played up to his 2nd round contract. Do you envision seeing us pay Fields 10mil in year 3 to brick open shots and Fts?