If the Knicks pull off Anderson/Williams/Trybanski/Harrington/Mutumbo for a re-signed Crawford, JYD, and Eddie Robinson, Crawford can get a deal starting at $5.3 million, signed for 5 years, it amounts to probably 6 years, $42-48 million.

This leaves the Knicks with 11 players under contract. To fill out the 12th spot, they could either throw in DerMarr Johnson or Trevor Ariza. I'd imagine they have those 2, plus Andre Barret (probably him, IT really likes him) or Ales Chan (if he's not a dud). So figure those 3 will be on the team in some form, so here's what the team looks like:
PG: Marbury, Norris
SG: Houston, Crawford
SF: TThomas, Penny, ERob
PF: Sweetney, JYD
C: KThomas, Mohammed
IL: Ariza, DJohnson, Barret

The Knicks still have the MLE left. If you're Isiah and the Knicks, do you use it on a guy like Chris Mihm, a young 7 footer who would provide nice depth on the frontcourt, or do you not spend it and give a guy like Ariza playing time.

If I'm Isiah, I'm spending it, but not a big contract (2-3 years). I think Mihm would be an excellent player to get and throw in the frontcourt. Could they get Etan Thomas for the full MLE? I also like Reggie Evans, the PF from Seattle. He's only 6'8", but he's a rebound monster: Ranks #5 in the NBA in Offensive Rebounds Per 48 Minutes(5.9)/Ranks #19 in the NBA in Defensive Rebounds Per 48 Minutes(9.4)/Ranks #7 in the NBA in Rebounds Per 48 Minutes(15.3). I'm not sure if he's a FA, but I'd wonder if he's obtainable for a guy like DerMarr Johnson, if he has a good summer league (Johnson, in my opinion, becomes the Knicks next good trade piece. If he develops into a good offensive player, he's cheap, and they don't need him with TT, Ariza, and ERob all ahead of him at the 3, and Crawford and Houston at the 2.)

Who else would you go after for the MLE (other names include Marcus Fizer, Mike Doleac, Stephen Hunter, Gary Trent, Darius Songalia), or would you not use it at all?

I would probably try and use it on DOleac just to add more depth to the bench. That would be a lethal combo with Crawford and Doleac off the bench with Penny and Nazr

Yea I would take a shot at Etan. The best chance we have of getting him is by offering him the full MLE at 6 years. Even though Grunfield has said that he would match any offer for the MLE he might hesitate giving that big of a committment to his backup C.

were not getting etan thomas for an MLE has anyone paid attention to a market that rewarded guys like Foyle for 40+mm? Blount etc.. there is no common sense top think we can offer an MLE to etan thomas and think they wont match--i really dont think he will even sign one i think he will get more.

Chris Mihm is a guy we can get for 3-4mm which is cheap right now, and since Boston spent their money on Blount+ have jefferson perkins et al i dont see a place for mihm if we jack the price up a tad. Hes a solid 7 footer BETTER WAY BETTEr than doleac and he has considerable upside.