i think we should make the playoffs almost by accident again with what there is in the east--and EVEN if we didnt--i wouldnt care.

The way I see us getting out of this nightmare is

A--having a nice lottery pick and perhaps another mid range pick

B-- Following Next year we have 34 mm in ending contracts

C-- if we dont sign any long term contracts, we will have multiple roster spots open

D--part of the goal this year has to be the advancement of FW MS and we will see with guys like demarr ariza and chan--if they can make a statement

E-If we spend money --spend it on youth. Steven Jackson is an unrestricted FA worth 20 mm for 4 years. Its very unlikely we will get any of these RFA's--if they think they really can get Dampier--well go for it with our payroll and really try to win--but we need a solid secondary plan if we cant get him. We dont want to be stuck in a position where we sign an RFA--stuck for 15 days to see many other guys get signed. Steven Jackson + Dampier are the guys URFA I would spend 5mm per on. Rodney White is a guy I would spend 2mm per for 2-3 years--something of that ilk.

try to win this season, but the goal for the knicks is to be a big time player next off-season. If we cant get a Dampier--we still need to get a young C and depending on the advancement of Mike S the 4 position as well.

When i look at our roster, im still not in love with anything. we have a shooting G who will be 34 with bad knees. Tim Thomas is just so questionable who lacks toughness--do we have a C? we still need a great deal of information on our younger players. the only staple is Marbury.

Brigs why do you avoid the truth to always prove your points... Alan Houston will be 33, not 34, you do this all the time.....

Why are people so obsessed with 2006-2007? We are not clearing cap! Mark my words. Isiah Thomas will never ever lose Allan Houston or Tim Thomas without getting something back! I can almost guarantee he will trade H20 with a year remaining on his deal for an impact player.

Briggs,

We are not in the horrible situation you think we are in. Aside from Penny, Isiah has yet to bring in subpar players with huge contracts ala Layden. You think we are going in the wrong direction, constantly citing the Moochie Norris deal. However, we gave up Spoon who makes more than Moochie and bought out John Amechie. It appears Moochie has 1 more year than Spoon but there have been some reports saying that is a team option. I have not heard a final word on his contract status but we needed a change in the locker room. Spoon was not a good influence on Sweetney. He was fat and out of shape and did not have a good attitude, all the while taking minutes away from our rookie. Sweets solid play all happened after the Spoon deal. You also constantly complain about things Isiah hasn't done. The Malik Rose deal or the Aaron Mckie deal via expansion draft you (and I both) were opposed to. However, I will not blame Isiah until he actually makes a move that will hamstring us. The MLE is a valuable option for us. I see Chicago matching Crawford (but not if they can get Stephen Jackson). However, Washington has cap room and if they match Etan for the MLE they won't be able to go after the bigger names. Especially with Jamison and Kwame, I see them going after a center such as Okur or Dampier. We should not just tank this season or not worry about it -- the fact is we should use it to build team chemistry, enhance defense, improve from within, and get better, younger, and more athletic pieces to help us get to where we want to be.

I could definitley see a sign and trade where we get Crawford and JYD for KT, Frank Williams, and Mutomobo. The Bulls could then sign Bowen or S Jackson for the MLE and have a really tough starting 5, top to bottom.

If Wash gets Damp or Okur, i think we have the best shot at landing Etan Thomas. For the LLE I would go after Doleac or Mihm.

There are many ways to improve Briggs. You don't know what will happen and neither do I. However, you should make judgements after the transactions happen rather than before.

Briggs... thats a good post and I agree. This is why I see no need for major changes unless it gives us a bigger piece to work with down the road or come feb (like Walker).

I do think you grossly underestimate our talent and depth and if healthy this is an easy 45 win team... if not more.

Stephen Jackson is not needed imo, unless you were trading Tim Thomas in a deal for a bigman...i consider him as a SF anyway, so what's the point in signing another swingman when you already have a glut at the position now? that's a Scott Layden move.

What is Stephen Jackson? Is he a SG or SF?

If he can play SG- which I seem to recall he did, then its not a glut to have him and TT- I think it would be useful to have someone who can challenge TT for playing time- something that will bring out the potential in TT.

This team needs some scoring- and Jackson and Crawford bring it-

Crawford's a 10 times better choice imo, because he can play the PG as well as the SG...that's exactly what this team needs, another player who can run the offense & distribute when Stephon is playing off the ball who is well suited for an uptempo game...Frank is a good backup PG, but i think JC would fit what Isiah wants to do alot better...we don't need another swingman like Jackson when we already have Tim Thomas, Penny Hardaway, DerMarr Johnson, Shandon Anderson & maybe Trevor Ariza on the roster already...if you're making a trade using 1 of those guys for a bigman, then i would have no problem w/signing Jackson...but i'd still much rather have JC regardless.

[Edited by - TMS on 07/01/2004 19:25:45]

Posted by djsunyc:

i also agree with briggs. this is only year 1 1/2 of the isiah era and it takes time to rebuild this thing. next season, we should see what you're saying - development of our OWN players, and that also includes nazr. if we sign someone, it should be someone young. you're right on point with that one BUT like others have said, you're way too pessimistic with the squad we currently have. without any changes, we will be challenging for homecourt in the east.

Agreed; and with additions like Jamal and Etan, the team can compete with anyone for the 1st seed in the east

what market? Teams make silly moves plain and simple. Who's better? Nash at $13mm, Areanas at $10mm or Chauncy Billups at the MLE? I'm not saying Crawford is a Knick, but there is no market in the NBA, except for bigmen... which is equally retarded.

Phoenix overpaying for Nash doesn't really set the market. When it comes down to it Nash is more proven than Crawford, and what team is going to bowl Crawford over with money? He said he wants to play in NY, that's what matters. If he WANTS to come here, that's a big thing. Knicks can offer him a lot and still do a sign-and-trade, which is what most writers think will happen. If Crawford signs a 6 yr., $45 million contract and is traded to the Knicks with JYD for KT, Othella, Deke, and Cezary, I don't think it hurts the Knicks.

Briggs, you're a great analyst of basketball and college bball and the like, but you don't have a crystal ball, so stop with these percentages. Last year Sac-Town had a "zero, zilch, none" chance of getting Brad Miller, and they wound up giving up Scot Pollard to get him. I'm sure you saw that coming too.

The reality might be that, on paper, it doesn't look realistic, but this is a guy that John Paxson ROUTINELY called out in the papers for lack of a work ethic, a guy who's just going to stunt the Bulls' development and future by taking time for BenG and Hinrich, and a guy who has openly pined for playing in NY under Isiah.

If Paxson can get rid of the franchise problem child and get some wiggle room with the cap, I think he does it. You think he doesn't. The Bulls have a lot of FAs coming up, they aren't going to ruin their low total salary because they don't want to lose a promising player, esp. when they JUST DRAFTED a combo guard. You'll have Gordon doing almost as much as Crawford for fraction of the price. It just doesn't make sense, no way Crawford re-signs with the Bulls, zero none zilch 0% that happens. If they match a full MLE then they'll have to let either Curry or Chandler walk next year to avoid the luxury tax, re-sign Hinrich the year after that, and be right near the luxury tax threshold with three guards and a big man under contract and a team going nowhere.

Maybe they want to rebuild for the 4th time?