Though Thomas will try to make a move by Feb. 24's trading deadline, he realizes he'll be in better position to do sign-and-trades during this summer's free agency when he has a host of expiring contracts as pawns, most notably Tim Thomas and Penny Hardaway.
Interesting big men free-agent targets will likely include, Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Antoine Walker and centers Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Stromile Swift.
"We're positioned for the future," Isiah said. "We got young players, assets we could probably use in the summer if we wanted to do. But we do know we have a ways to go."
The Knick president knows more than anyone that trades are made nowadays based on contracts, not talent. That's how he got Jamal Crawford last August in a sign-and-trade, giving up four players with expiring contracts.
Moochie Norris', Vin Baker's and Nazr Mahammed's pacts also expire after next season.
reef and toine are scary and definitely what this team doesn't need. Z is good but:
1. he would be a MAX player
2. would cle let him go
3. is he the right fit
swift - i like swift but what is he worth? $8 mil is alot but you may have to do it. does he start at PF? if so, what about sweetney? what would memphis want in return.
it looks like we'll have to offer curry/dalembert/kwame a MAX $80mil deal in a sign and trade for tim or penny. then use nazr+vin+moochie in another sign+trade for someone else.
our offseason move potential looks good. the question is, can we all be patient enough?
12/23/2004 12:25 PM