If we are in a bonafide yoot movement then a team wanting a finished product like (a consenting to a trade) Melo can trade yoot and picks without giving up their core to "Win now". We in return can take on picks/prospects.

At a later time we can grow our assets and should we start to sniff contention we can then do the same thing to complete our roster. If the D-league can grow then teams will be able to cultivate yoot in this fashion.

Of course every team can do the same!!!

The attraction to NY has to be:

1. Culture of stability and roster construction. This is the foundation to winning.
2. Triangle skill players should want to be a part of this.
3. Phil's zen like cool is an attractive element.

With this in place NYC can become a destination for all the good reasons. Greatest international city in the world, culture, night life, and endless opportunities to meet people beyond groupies and starphuchers.
To be a star in a one horse town is fun but after a while it gets old. KD and Westbrook are outgrowing OKC. In NY, you can go about yoru buiness without starphuckers drooling all over everytime you step outside. Stay out of the clubs and you can have a pretty good time without being the center of attention.

If you don't believe we can change our culture then you won't buy any of this. If you think Dolan will still meddle and the team can't build a lasting base of management, coaches and players then its nto going to sit will with you as a fan.

Obviously winning attracts players but we have to offer something get started. Players want money but they also want stability and an environment condusive to success. Those things LEAD TO WINNING.
Fish is not a great coach but players might think he will be. If so our record is not a problem. Players and Agents know whats going on with teams. 9 coaches and 8 GM's in 15 years is not condusive to building anything. If we continue this pattern then we will never succeed.

I believe our record this year is not part of the past but a necessary bottoming out to clean the rubble and rebuild. Was it plan "A"? I doubt it. I Think PHil thought he could transition it better. But you don't fire him or Fish because of it! Whats in place? More Chaos? More instability? Maybe paying Sam Presti 12 mil a year could have been a better hire but Sam does not have the charisma or the street cred that Phil does. Lets be real, while Phil is not getting good press its still not nearly as bad as it could have been. In fact I think the NY media is being kind to him. It would be ignorant to do otherwise, but thats a whole other issue.

To win anywhere is special. To win in NYC because its been 40 years and its the biggest city would make it a big deal.

What made NY special to some the legacy 70's team was some of the guys were very smart and they were able to find many things in NYC. It satisfied Bradley's intellect, Phils curiosity (Drugs, religion, more drugs, SOHO, etc), Lucas embraced opportunities, Clyde became an fashion Icon, Earl got involved with producing off broadway shows etc. Because of winning, Willis became a coach/GM, Jackson took to Red and became a coach as well as a rounded person, Bradley's political career was enhanced by NY link, Debussure was ABA commish, Bibby became a head coach,.........Not to say these guys would not have succeeded with out NYC but this is just what winning and character do when it comes together. PHil thinks playing in NY is special and despite the 60million I think this aspect is genuine.

Phil is on board for 4 more years. Im not here to speculate on whether he stays or not. As long as he is under contract I think he will move the franchise along and in time hire his repacement and hopefully stay on as a "special consultant" to sort of be part of the team while living on the beach, the ranch and in his Park Ave suite!

This is what the Celtics did. Auerbach went from coach, to GM to team president and then presided over the team to oversee the culture he built. Jerry Buss did this as an owner when he was alive. He was a postitive force as he was a successful man and wove that winning DNA into the teams cultural fabric. Some owners are actually leaders that build companies and understand things. Dolan has hired this.

To build a team that builds on itself takes time to become a contender. The Elements that fuel SAS are commitments to patience when obtaining assets. There success, as is most franchise's over time is not just banners with cute "commitment to excellence" slogans but instead real commitment to an ideal. If we commit to a system of play, look for players that fit a skill set, a hunger to improve, commit to the concept and want to be here beyond the money then that culture will come.

Prediction: Im a fan and this is what I hope. Not what I know.

who is a triangle player that may want to come to NY?

#2: echoing the mreinman: Who exactly are these "Triangle Players"? Is there some mark or stat that identifies current players as being tied to what everyone is calling NBA Latin? Love hates the triangle. Nobody likes the triangular coaches. All you read is hate hate hate.

#3 ESPN has dispelled with ZenCool until further notice. Jayzus, can't you read? Even Woody's a better GM than Phil right now!

The homer fan in me of course hopes all this is wrong. That Melo comes back invigorated and looking like IronMan 4, but much taller and skinnier. Even with a flak jacket. That Gasol and Deandre and all types of high flying athletic types want to join the fray and love the idea of triangulationing the opponent. That Phil hits the lottery harder than we did in 1985 AND finds some way to pay all these high priced FA's. I want yoots, I want cool Langston development stories, I want starphucques, I want Glen Gondrezick back!

But most of me thinks this is just Uncle Nalod takin a sheehit after yet another Brooklyn enema story.

jrodmc wrote:You won't get #1 until probably just right before Phil's ready to leave, and we haven't spent that time going through 3 other PJax proteges after Fish. There hasn't been stability in this franchise since before the Ewing era.

#2: echoing the mreinman: Who exactly are these "Triangle Players"? Is there some mark or stat that identifies current players as being tied to what everyone is calling NBA Latin? Love hates the triangle. Nobody likes the triangular coaches. All you read is hate hate hate.

#3 ESPN has dispelled with ZenCool until further notice. Jayzus, can't you read? Even Woody's a better GM than Phil right now!

The homer fan in me of course hopes all this is wrong. That Melo comes back invigorated and looking like IronMan 4, but much taller and skinnier. Even with a flak jacket. That Gasol and Deandre and all types of high flying athletic types want to join the fray and love the idea of triangulationing the opponent. That Phil hits the lottery harder than we did in 1985 AND finds some way to pay all these high priced FA's. I want yoots, I want cool Langston development stories, I want starphucques, I want Glen Gondrezick back!

But most of me thinks this is just Uncle Nalod takin a sheehit after yet another Brooklyn enema story.

#1. The culture has already changed and there is one clear vision from top to bottom. We know clearly what the system is and everyone is being brought up in the same exact culture from D League to NBA.

#2. It's not hard to see which players are possible fits for the Triangle. Smart, skilled and team oriented. Not every player has been negative towards the Triangle. All they have to point out is the success that other players have had in the system. Didn't stop any great players from being great. Surely didn't stop teams from winning titles!!!

#3. I'm pretty sure that when Phil and his entourage meet with Free Agents they can put on quite a show and help that player to visualize how they can find success here under Phil's guidance and vision for the team. No one is going to have more stories of success with more great players to whip out than Phil. Plus he'll have the money to dole out and hopefully the excitement of a new Draft pick.

Ritangles Isosceles: 6-10PG from Cyprus
Oscar Obtuse: 6-6SG from Omaha of Ohio
LaSteve Scalene: 6-2 PG from Sacremento State
Antune Acute: 7-1 Center from 'Cuse
Egwal Eqwalat'ral: 6-8 PG from Algeria