The Knicks should have went after Scott Skiles when he was available. We need that type of gritty, in your face, defensive coach. We have to get back to the Riley, JVG years and focus on defense and the intangibles. Our perimeter defense is awful with Marbury and Crawford and we have no shot blocker. Our next coach has got to preach defense and get the guys to buy into the system.

I would look to trade Marbury but only for a superstar. I would love to package Marbury with TT or KT to Phili for Iverson. A backcourt of Craw and Iverson would be explosive offensively but our perimeter defense would improve dramatically. I would be willing to trade Marbury for Artest, a throw in, and their first rounder this year. We will not win games unless we bring guys in who can play defense and both Iverson and Artest can do that.

I would look to ship Penny or TT to Portland. We'll give them the cap relief but we could take back Ratliff, DMiles, and possibly Ruben Patterson.

In the draft, I would take the best player available. If Felton or Deron Williams drops to 8, I don't know how we can pass them up. Both are great on both ends of the court, were big time college players, and most importantly they won. Look at other college players that stayed in school, played good at both ends, and won -- Duhon, Hinrich, Wade, Gordon just to name a few. If Green or Webster are still available at 8 we should look at them as well. I just don't see any of the bigs aside from Marvin and Bogut making as much of an impact as the guards. This draft is the deepest it's been since I have been following basketball -- we should stockpile picks, especially second rounders as a bunch of great college guys will still be available. I would love to pick up Nate Robinson, Julius Hodge, Daniel Ewing -- guys that stayed in school, played at a very high level, and won.

We also need to go after big men like Tyson Chandler, Chris Wilcox, and Steven Hunter. Both can play defense, block shots, and run in the open court. I would offer Sweets for Wilcox but that would probably be turned down. We also need a backup point who plays defense (especially if we keep Marbury). I would love Earl Watson.



If I were Isiah I would make call up the Pacers and offer Marbury, pick 54 for Artest, pick 17, and either Bender or Croshere.

I would draft either Felton or Deron Williams at 8 or wait until pick 30 to grab a pg because this draft is filled with solid ones (Ronbinson, Jack, Gilchrist, Daniel Ewing). I would take Green or Webster if both Felton and D Williams are gone.

At 17 I would take Channing Frye or a projected lotto pick that slips due to the depth of this draft. At 30 I would take Hodge. I would look to buy a mid second rounder and take Daniel Ewing

Sign Steven Hunter to Full MLE. Cut or buy out both Houston and Penny.

Felton, Ewing
Crawford, Hodge
Artest, Ariza, JYD, TT
KT, Sweetney, Malik Rose, Mo Taylor, Croshere
Hunter, Frye, Jackie Butler

Start Ewing, Croshere, Butler on injured reserve and hopefully by seasons end Ewing ends up being like this years Duhon.

Trading Marbury for Artest and a pick... I'll leave that one alone. You don't want your franchise center piece to be a headcase.

We share the same idealogy mining this years college crop.
Daniel Ewing really caught my eye during the tourney, and if he's there at #30.. he would make sense. Can defend, has good size at 6'3.. and is very athletic. He makes good decisions.. and moves the ball. A solid pick.. good character.

i agree w/rain...unless that pick was a high lottery pick, it would be crazy to trade Marbury for a guy like Artest who could blow up on you at anytime.

as for Marbury with TT or KT to Phili for Iverson, that offer wouldn't even get you into the door in those discussions...you'd have to throw in the lottery pick & take back a bad contract from the other side at the bare minimum to get PHI to even consider it.

[Edited by - TMS on 05/01/2005 09:00:25]