Donnie Walsh
Most headlines read "Knicks Accquire Tracy McGrady," but what they should read is "Knicks Clear an Additional $9.5 Million in Cap Space for 2010." What a day. One of the most influential days in Knicks history might not be July 1st, 2010 anymore, it may now have turned to February 18th, 2010, the day the Knicks cleared enough cap room to sign two max players. As Marc Berman put it: "Donnie Walsh is “all in” for this summer. Walsh opened up another $9.3 million of salary-cap space — giving the Knicks a projected total of $32 million to play with — in acquiring former superstar Tracy McGrady and Kings backup point guard Sergio Rodriguez yesterday in a three-team blockbuster with the Rockets and Kings." Mike Vaccaro writes: 1. Blow up the foundation. This was done by jettisoning Isiah once and forever, by hiring D’Antoni, and by serving early notice that two full seasons would be set aside to sacrifice for what was necessary. 2. Clear out the decks. In other words, do precisely what he did yesterday. Make sure every nickel is available by the stroke of midnight July 1. 3. Sign two max-contract players. Which really means this: Get LeBron James’ name on a contract, and a sidekick to be named later. And that, of course, is the part that, starting at 12:01:01 on July 1, will make what happened this week seem like a vacation. It is a very clear, crystal thing to be a Knicks fan now. Forget this year. Forget the draft, because there’s no first-round pick this year and there may be none in 2011 or 2012, too, after yesterday’s transactions. Focus on one thing. Focus on July 1, 2010. The day the Knicks are either reborn or given a blindfold, a cigarette, and a shove into the abyss." Oh and a side note- he was able to move nuisance Nate Robinson to Boston, perhaps disrupting the chemistry in Boston for a second time (see Marbury 2009). The countdown continues... 131 Days.
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If Donnie Walsh is able to pull the trigger on this move, he becomes Isiah, but in a good way (if that is even possible?). The Isiah era has scarred us all so badly; it made the team we know and love just putrid over the past few years while also hurting our future. Right now we would be looking at this "lost" 19-32 season saying we possibly have a long-shot at Wall, but instead, Utah does. Unfortunately, Isiah believed so much in his moves, he assumed that 2011 pick would be in the 20s - or at least late teens. Never in his mind did he think we could be lottery bound again. If that was the case, it wouldn't be the worst thing to lose it. What Donnie is doing if he does give up the 2012 pick is the same type of strategy. He is saying that in 2010 we will pick up at least one proven all-star caliber player, and in 2011, we will pick up one more when Curry comes off the books. If this trade goes down, Donnie is saying that there is no chance that the Knicks are not a playoff team in 2011. If you look at it that way, you shouldn't mind making the move and getting rid of the #20-30 pick two years from now to make this deal work and allow us to sign two max players, or at least one max and some great role players. Yes, we should keep the picks if it is at all possible, but if they're a deal breaker, then you have to include them and get the trade done. Walsh's plan is not based on Marbury, Crawford, Curry or ZBo, its based on any of the many established all-star team players that will be available in the next two years.
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Marc Berman wrote an article in the NY Post talking about Walsh's options and plans for the Knicks over the summer and into 2010- here are some of the important pieces to note/highlights: *The potential 2010 starting lineup if they sign King James: *"Walsh is unwilling to take on contracts past 2010, unless the player is All-Star material." *Walsh wants the team in playoff position next season to help entice a free agent. *Trade possibilities? (slim chance... but out there): I can honestly say I trust and think Donnie really knows what he's doing there and how to get it done. Haven't been able to say that for years, it may continue to hurt next season, but I see light at the end of the tunnel, at the worst, I see the team as back on track in 2010 Oh... and did you see the show LeBron put on the other night?- he is going to carry that team on his back (again) through the playoffs
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Great Day for the Knicks- Unloaded multiple bad pieces from the Isiah Era and picked up 2 pieces that can help for a 2009 playoff push and have no effect on 2010. Donnie just continues to show he got what it takes to make the right moves and still get where you want to go. Cavs GM Danny Ferry might want to start taking notes if he wants to keep LeBron (or add a big piece to his roster in the next 30 minutes) update: 2:05 The Knicks have swung two deals. No. 1: Tim Thomas, Jerome James and Anthony Roberson to Chicago for Larry Hughes. No. 2: Malik Rose and cash to Oklahoma City for Chris Wilcox. Just over an hour to go before the trade buzzer sounds . . ." update: 1:55 pm "A source with knowledge of the trade disclosed it to ESPN.com, saying it was agreed to early Thursday afternoon. It was unclear whether there were any additional parts involved in the trade." Link to the release: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3918993 update: 1:37 pm Chad Ford: The Chicago Bulls made their second big trade in two days on Thursday agreeing to send Larry Hughes to the Knicks for Jerome James and Tim Thomas, two league sources told ESPN.com. 1:25pm: It is not immediately clear if this would be two separate trades or a three-way exchange, but I'm hearing that Oklahoma City's Chris Wilcox -- who went back to the Thunder on Wednesday night when the Tyson Chandler trade was rescinded -- and Chicago's Larry Hughes are New York-bound. To complete the transaction(s), Oklahoma City would get Malik Rose and Chicago would receive Tim Thomas, Jerome James and Anthony Roberson. Trying to nail it all down for you.
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A very good article by ESPN’s Chris Sheridan here: The supposed “bombshell” he refers to is actually not a bombshell it all – Stern simply stated that the salary cap will probably decreases a bit over the next few seasons. It is all hypothetical at this point. But either way – it only means a few million plus-or-minus towards the 2010 cap-number. As we have known for a while, there is no way the Knicks can keep both Lee and Nate Rob, regardless if the cap is at 60 or 57 million. But the article does a great job of breaking down the Knicks 2010 cap-commitments; including the phantom cap holds that all too often gets overlooked.
First and foremost, let’s get this out of the way – there is NO way the Knicks commit any 2010 money to Nate Robinson. For reasons to numerous to list here; Nate is not part of the long-term plans for a championship franchise. He is simply too much of a gamble. So Walsh’s main goal for the next few days (and then next summer) is to try and pawn off Nate with Jefferies expiring contract. If they have to lose Nate for nothing in 2010, so be it – but Walsh and company will not let him eat into their Twenty-Ten plans. As for D Lee – that is a whole different story…
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