I think if you look at the Kings, they have some great team chemistry. Webber is a big part of their chemistry. Trading him destroys that chemistry.

I think the Kings are far more likely to trade Peja for a young stud. The Odom trade makes sense. There will be other options for them like that.

I definitely think the Kings would NOT trade Webber to NYK by the trade deadline. A time I could see this trade happening would be at the draft, where the Knicks trade the sixth pick and TT and Sweets for Webber or something like that. That trade would probably be just as bad as the Dyess trade, if not worse. But I have a little faith in Isiah, so we'll see.

Just for the record Webber is 31 and his contract is 3 more years so it will expire when he's 34

It all comes down to the deal, plain and simple.

KT + Penny I have to strongly consider that. If the Kings want any of our players under 30 or future picks I say no thanks.

Houston for Webber straight up or add a 2nd rounder from us (JVG Pick) or a KT/JYD/Moochie for Webber. Anything else would be foolish on our part.

Just something I'd like to add:



Isaih Thomas has made it clear that he doesn't feel that trying to get under the cap is a good philosphy. He has said that he will rebuild through trades and the draft, because you have much more control over what happens.

If you think about it, really....Wasting 2, 3 or 4 years trying to get under the cap in some specific year in the future, so that you can sign one really good player...then be over the cap again...well...It really doesn't sound particularly attractive to me.

cap space is only valuable if you have at least 2 high level players still in their rookie contracts. Pho had JJ and Amare. Den had Carmello and Nene. Even the Spurs with the best 1 player in the league still had Tony Parker in his rookie contract when they used their space to sign Nesterovich.

Cap space is a great goal if you know your going to be bad for a couple years. You can draft a couple impact rookies, maybe add a nice veteran player like a Dre Miller, and in 2-3 years you have a solid young core with $20mm to spend.

The Knicks dont have that situation, even before the Marbury trade. Guys like KT/KVH/Deke/Houston/Eisley/Shandon/Spoon... as bad as they were they played hard and were still good enough to win you 35 games or so. Thats not how you draft impact rookies.

My thoughts on Webber is that he's having a great year, him and J-Kidd were 2 of the guys that were truely snubbed for the all-star game. I know C-Webb gets hurt and you can usually mark down him missing about 20 games a year before the season even starts but the guy flat out plays. I would welcome a trade of him to the Knicks becuase
1. He is the big man that the Knicks are lacking
2. The Knicks will never be under the cap, between now and the time H20s contract ends, the Knicks will add about 2-3 more bad contracts that will make it impossible to be under the cap.

Now say the Knicks do send off KT and whoever else it is involved in this deal(presumebly Tim Thomas and Penny.) That means we'd have a starting lineup of Nazr and Webber up front with Sweetney being our first big man off the bench. Nazrs #s would skyrocket with Cwebb commanding double teams in the post every time down and if Cwebb did get hurt the Knicks would have Sweetney to fill in and anyone else that Isiah drafts or signs in future years. I'd take a chance on CWebb any day of the week, him marbury and Crawford would be absolutely lethal.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/story/283676p-243053c.html

Webber trade talk
starts to heat up

BY DARREN EVERSON
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

AUBURN HILLS - As tomorrow's trade deadline approaches, there is no conceivable deal that can do for the Knicks what Rasheed Wallace did for the Pistons last season. There are still deals being conceived, however.

Rumors abound that the Knicks are in the running for a number of players, including Sacramento's Chris Webber. The Knicks are also said to be interested in Atlanta's Antoine Walker and Toronto's Donyell Marshall, who continues to draw interest because of his friendly, soon-to-expire contract.

Webber's pact is anything like that. His injury problems make him a huge risk for any team that might acquire him - especially the the Knicks, who would have $110 million tied up in two aging stars coming off microfracture knee surgery.

Webber (averaging 21 points and 10 rebounds) has recovered better thus far than Allan Houston. Still, trading for him would be a major departure from comments Isiah Thomas has made about being wary of acquiring injury-plagued veterans with big contracts.

A deal would also be difficult to work, since the Knicks don't have much the Kings would want. Kurt Thomas, who will ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange this morning, is a trade candidate as always because of his skills and reasonable contract, but the Knicks might have to get a third team involved to make the numbers match up.

As for Marshall, a straight-up deal would be tough because his salary is so relatively low ($5 million). Making a larger deal would likely involve taking on Jalen Rose, something the Knicks are somewhat reluctant to do.

Flashes

HILL CLIMB: Back in Detroit, and reflecting on ex-Piston teammate Grant Hill's successful comeback from injury, Allan Houston said he is convinced that he'll return to prominence as well. "I saw an interview with Grant, and he said a quote that I have in my head all the time," Houston said. "And that is, 'I always believed that I can get better.' I know a lot of people are questioning me and doubting me and criticizing me, but there will be a day - I know it - that I'll be saying the same thing."

Originally published on February 23, 2005