this is why i questioned the signing of kurt in the first place. lets think of basic economics--if you don't like something--don't buy it. not only did we buy it, we paid A LOT fo it! now his contract is not unreasonable[its a little high--should be 5mm per max] but the thing i dont get is why didnt we NOT sign him--and if KT found a spot on a different club--THEN we couldve potentially signed and traded him for an asset. you dont spend 30mm$ just so you have the right to hold on to something--especially if you dont really want it! if KT walked for NOTHING would this club really be worse off right now? maybe a little

Posted by BRIGGS:

this is why i questioned the signing of kurt in the first place. lets think of basic economics--if you don't like something--don't buy it. not only did we buy it, we paid A LOT fo it! now his contract is not unreasonable[its a little high--should be 5mm per max] but the thing i dont get is why didnt we NOT sign him--and if KT found a spot on a different club--THEN we couldve potentially signed and traded him for an asset. you dont spend 30mm$ just so you have the right to hold on to something--especially if you dont really want it! if KT walked for NOTHING would this club really be worse off right now? maybe a little

Yes, it's always worse to lose a player (esp. one who can still contribute) for nothing than to keep him and let him contribute

The problem with trading is as simple as this, IT is trying to create a package of Kurt and either Anderson or MOochie. No team around the league is crazy enough to do this deal, unless if they have a highprice player that they are trying to get rid off. However, as hard as it looks right now, things will definitely be much better as the season goes along. Teams will endure injuries and specially at the PF position. All Isiah has to do is be patient, he needs to let teams come at him instead of him trying to look for a deal. There are a lot of teams around the league who wants Kurt, they may not want to offer a deal for him right now, but by mid-season they will all show their faces. If Popeyes Jones can find a home in this league, Kurt can also.

It seems like we should've kept McDyese and got rid of Thomas.....

JYD & Baker are fully capable of handling the backup PG duties...

I am sure opposing teams and their fans would be highly entertained while watching Jerome Williams and Vin Baker split the backup point guard duties.

Seriously though, none of us truely know if Sweetney can handle the starting PF spot yet. He may still be prone to immediate foul trouble like he was that one game against Denver last season. It's not just about your physical attributes and your skills. It's all about the mentality, and Sweets may not be ready. If that's the case, then I am perfectly fine with dirty Kurty and Nazr or Baker starting at c and PF, with sweetney, jyd and co. on the bench.

If Sweetney is ready though, then by all means, throw him into the starting rotation. He probably still needs to be eased into it though.

lol...spell checks are not my thing.

A-fan, the problem is (one that i have been trying to point out for the longest), there are some Knicks fans who think we can get a top young prospect or high draft pick for him in a trade...that's dreaming of things that just won't happen...the Knicks would be lucky to be able to trade him for an expiring contract at this point & even a late 1st round pick, if not a 2nd rounder...i've said that time & time again only to be told of KT's overwhelming value to this team.

i'm not denying that KT is a solid role player & a good player to have if you need a stopgap solution at PF...but Mike Sweetney is the PF of the future, or so he is hyped up to be...i'd like to see him get the chance to start & see what he's made of...having KT here only delays that imho...i know all about Isiah's willingness to play younger players, but it would be alot easier for him to make that move if he had to choose between Sweetney & JYD or Baker than Sweetney & KT...as it is, Baker could quite possibly become the starting PF if the Knicks traded KT, which makes Sweetney the primary backup...but if you have KT here, you then have a logjam at the backup PF position & everyone has to jockey for limited minutes...

this is how i want to see the rotation going next year if a KT/Moochie trade is made:

C - Nazr / Baker / Bateer
PF - Sweetney / Baker / JYD
SF - TT / Penny / Ariza
SG - Houston / Crawford / Ariza
PG - Marbury / Crawford / Bremer
IR - Shandon / Barrett / Sundov or whoever comes over in the KT trade

i don't see how adding KT to that rotation makes them a significantly better team...but on the other hand, that rotation looks younger & more athletic, 2 things that Isiah has been saying all along that he wanted to achieve ever since he got here.


[Edited by - TMS on 09/29/2004 12:25:27]

One thing a noticed about Kurt last year... there was a stretch where he was really playing at a high level and it was because nothing was expected out of him. He was the 4th or even 5th scoring option. He had no responsibility except to play hard D, hustle after loose balls and hit an occasional 15 footer which he would be wide open for. I remember his #s being very modest during this stretch but the team player very well.

I think people got caught up over Kurt's production at center the last couple years. I think the less productive he is the better.. what we really need from him is the intangibles and if he's playing with 3 athletic wing players in TT/Marb/Craw and an active body like Nazr he's going to be very effective.

That being said I still think moving him and giving Sweetney the minutes is the best move going forward and in the long term. In the short term I think KT can and will be valueable to this team, but he's also the type of player we just need to move away from.

If KT isnt traded at least we know that he should be easier to move next season in a package including one or more of the expiring contracts.Its not like we have another shandon anderson who is just taking up cap space and bench space.At least KT contributes.

There is going to be alot of competition for the starting PF position which should bring out the best in all of them.