We ain't gettin' Mo Williams for Fields and Douglas..Come on guys. He's better than both of those guys combined..They have no use for Toney Douglas at all -- that's team's guard heavy, so much so that they cut Willie Warren loose and I think that kid can really play (more on him in a sec).
Make no mistake though, even though he's not playing well, I think they'd be interested in Fields, as a backup for Caron Butler at the 3, Chauncey at the 2...The Clippers aren't idiots -- they know, along with every other team in the league, exactly what's up with the Knicks: that we're not getting adequate enough PG play right now. I think they remember what Fields looked like running with Felton early on last yr and I betcha they'd probably think he could regain that level of play, teaming up with an even better PG than Felton in CP3. I could see that logic -- that's why I continue to think Fields still has some value. TD on the other hand, this dude's value just isn't there at all -- he's showing what he's all about: a 6'1", marginally athletic guard who has ZERO PG skills, can't penetrate, can't dictate the pace of a game, can't get guys involved, has an ultra-low B-Ball IQ, is overrated defensively....The only thing he does well is shoot and he ain't even that great a shooter. Who needs a 6'1" SG?
I still think if we were gonna call up the Clippers, we should inquire about Ryan Gomes. That guy's talent's are just wasting away for that team right now. I remember a much better player for the Celtics and esp. for the T-Wolves when he was getting the proper PT going back a couple of years now. He's not getting it from Del Negro. Some games he barely plays and barely gets any touches at all. I get the feeling he's expendable out there -- if we got him and restored the same type of role he had at one time for Minnesota, he could really do some damage for us, backing up both Melo and STAT -- he's a hybrid F that has the skills and body to backup both positions.
Enough about trades though -- I still think that should be our plan B. Plan A should be to scout the Euro and D-Leagues and come up with the best available talent that fits our weaknesses -- move in that direction first. There's always so much talent in these leagues every damn year, yet we never show any interest. I can never understand it. I have to watch every yr teams call up players that are good and have an impact -- the Othyus Jeffers, the Chris Johnsons, the Reggie Williams, the CJ Watsons...Why can't we go get a guy like this for once?? Lord knows we have the holes to fill..
My two guys that fit the bill perfectly for us are Willie Warren and Manny Harris...I watched a replay of Warren's DL game from last night a little while ago -- he looked good to me considering this was only his 2nd game since signing with the RGV Vipers...Coming off the bench backing up Ben Uzoh, WW only went 1-5 from the field but went a whopping 15-16 from the FT line. The dude's got major talent -- he's a fantastic ball-handler that can get deep in the lane any damn time he feels like it, he's a great passer with real PG skills and he can really score in a variety of ways..Dude's a strong/quick 6'4" over 200 lb guard with major hops. Unlike a TD, this guy's a north to south guy all the way that can get right to the goal, whereas TD never penetrates the ball at all, just floats around on the perimeter looking to pop a jumper if it's there or to just hand the ball off to Melo or STAT (out high somewhere, never in great position) to go one-on-one. Warren gets deep in the lane and he's unselfish enough and skilled enough to get guys the ball in great position to do something with it once he gets that deep. Great passer out on the perimeter too -- I think he had 3 TOs and I swear, at least 2 of those were bullet passes that were right on the money that his teammates just weren't ready for -- instead of picking up the dime, Warren picked up the TO. I invite anyone out there to skim through a replay of this game and tell me if I'm wrong in my assessment of this kid's game (and he wasn't even going 100% in this game -- nobody in the DL really does---once he gets his legs and gets the rust off, we'll see an even better player eventually).
And Harris is a legit 6'5" 200 lb SG with great ability himself. I followed him at Michigan along with DeShawn Sims (another college fav of mine that we could also use right now btw--currently playing in Korea I believe--very similar skills to Ryan Gomes actually, only we wouldn't have to trade a thing to bring him in here, just sign him to a minimum-level contract) and knew he was a good player back then...Then he proved he belonged in the NBA last yr playing for the Cavs, where he actually looked improved from his Michigan days...Like Warren, he'd bring so much that we're lacking in the backcourt right now -- this guy's a 2 that can slash and get right to the tin much better than Fields and Walker and he's just as good an outside shooter imo..Not sure what the hell we're waiting for -- some team out there is gonna pick these guys up eventually..Just a matter of time. Why couldn't that team be the Knicks for a change?? Cut Lin and Walker and swap in these two upgrades right now. Then go from there.
