Thursday, September 02, 2004

Sundov Signed; Key Preseason/Training Camp Battles

Bruno Sundov has told a Croatian sports website that he has signed with the Knicks and will play for them in the upcoming season. Sundov signed a 10-day contract with the Knicks last year, and it was not renewed.

Once the signing is announced by the NBA, the Knicks will have 15 players on their active roster, the same amount allowed by the leauge once play starts (12 roster spots, 3 injured list spots). This means, in all likelihood, the Knicks will not sign shotblocker Keon Clark.

Though Sundov and recently signed Isiah Thomas pet project Jamison Brewer could just be training camp invitees, it could also mean the Knicks are done dealing for the offseason. Or, there could be a deal in place involving Mr. Knick Trade Rumor, Kurt Thomas.

Either way, the preseason and training camp should, for the first time in years, actually have some meaning, as the Knicks have some critical position battles to sort out.

Shooting Guard
Jamal Crawford and incumbent Allan Houston will battle this one out. Though Crawford is younger and more explosive, if Houston is healthy in training camp he should retain the job and Crawford would be the 6th man. Crawford knows this, as does Houston. Houston, however, will benefit from having Crawford, as he does not need to rush back since the Knicks have a capable shooting guard waiting in the wings (unlike in the playoffs, when Shandon "I should be arrested for robbery since I'm actually paid by the Knicks for being the worst player in the NBA" Anderson shot 26% from the field, as the Knicks were demolished by the Nets in 4 games). Even if Houston starts, Crawford could see more minutes per game.
OUTLOOK: Houston comes in banged up, and Crawford is the opening day starter. Once Houston is healthy, the Knicks will have a potent 3-headed monster in the backcourt.

the Frontline
Kurt Thomas and Nazr Mohammed, the 03-04 Knicks starting power forward and center, respectively, will look to fight off others in the battle for time up front. A revamped and physically fit Mike Sweetney comes off a dominating summer league performance will be the main contender for minutes at power forward, and Vin Baker was rumored to have been dominating summer games at a gym in Connecticut where he plays in the offseason. The Junkyard Dog, Jerome Williams, should also push for minutes at power forward, and head coach Lenny Wilkens said he plans to move Tim Thomas to power forward at times to use his longest and most athletic player in different offensive sets. All of this should lead to a grueling contest for time at the 4 and 5.
OUTLOOK: Sweetney comes into camp in even better shape than summer league and starts at power forward. Kurt Thomas is moved to center, and Nazr Mohammed, Vin Baker, and Jerome Williams all come off the bench.

"Backup" Point Guard/Best Hair
Though Stephon Marbury should average around 40 minutes per game and he'll probably be relieved by either Penny Hardaway or Jamal Crawford at point guard for short stretches, there will still be a backup point guard on the roster (even though he, as pointed out, probably won't play at all). Jamison Brewer and Moochie Norris will duke this one out, and Brewer could get the nod here. Isiah Thomas loves him, and his athleticism and defensive attitude could give him the go at backup point. Norris has more offensive skills, but what Isiah wants, Isiah gets.

Norris, sadly, has been reduced to potential trade fill-in. His contract combined with $3 million makes him basically a free backup point guard for teams in need, and if any move is made, he'll probably be in it. What would make this battle even more exciting would be if Norris came into camp sporting his throwback 'fro, which used to be his staple. Last year he shaved his head and his game was never the same. Brewer rocks Rasta style dreads, similar to former NFL running back Ricky Williams. Hey!, the Knicks have some flair. You wouldn't've said that a year ago when the Ho Train, Howard Eisley, and Charlie Ward were "duking" it out for starting PG.
OUTLOOK: Brewer wins, because Isiah said so.

12th Man
2nd round draft pick Trevor Ariza and arguably the most overpaid person in the world (read that again) Shandon Anderson will fight it out over who can rack up the most DNP-CDs (Did Not Play -- Coach's Decision, the staple of the 12th man) and who can pick up a mysterious case of elbow tendinitis (a common injury for players on the "injury" list.) If Ariza plays as well as he did in the summer league, this should easily be his spot. That would sadly mean that Shandon Anderson will get paid $7.3 million this year to watch Knicks games in the best seat in the house, on the bench. Wow.
OUTLOOK: Ariza, please, for the love of God.

Well Knicks fans, at least we'll get an offseason that actually matters. Hopefully this will lead into a season which actually matters. Let's go Knicks.

1st Preseason Game: October 14th vs. the Nets (Jason Kidd out until December, hooray!)

I don't really disagree with the analysis, and it would be a refreshing change if in fact Sweetney starts, Brewer edges out Norris, and Ariza supplants Shandon.

During the Layden era, contracts rather than talent dictated minutes on the floor. I hope those days are over for good.

The unanswered question is: Does Wilkens last the season?

head coach Lenny Wilkens said he plans to move Tim Thomas to power forward at times to use his longest and most athletic player in different offensive sets.

that's the most interesting part of that article for me...we could see a rotation like this in short spurts:

C - Nazr, Sweetney or JYD
PF - TT
SF - Ariza
SG - Crawford
PG - Marbury

that would be 1 athletic & fast rotation.