Yet we gave up a 2016 first round pick for Bargnani. Lol.
To not even explore a package centering around Shump and that pick is pure insanity. This is also a problem we have with the NYK, the fans are so starved for....whatever...that we willingly clamor for a team that gets us a 1st or second round exit. I love to see 21-Shump Street out there on the court, but if you're offering me a player with the court vision & ability of a Rondo, I'm sending the limo to go pick Shump up and take him to the airport.
THIS is why so many says the Bargnani trade makes no sense. Then others will come back and say "ohhh but we didn't give much up for him." Yet our next moveable first round pick is in 2018...5 years from now...BECAUSE of the Bargs trade. Is he the player that changes the very core of this team and gives us hope to build
AROUND something when we clear cap space in the summer of '15? Andrea Bargnani is gonna be the reason Melo doesn't opt out and bolt next summer? Really?
It's like the Knicks FO don't realize that the Heat are still there, Bulls are still there and will be better if Rose is 75% of what he was 2 years ago, Pacers are still there, and the Nets just added KG, Paulina Pierce, and Terry, to Brooke, Deron, and Joe Johnson..
We added Andrea Bargnani and were trying to get Elton Brand, and now we're turning our attention to Ron Ron.
Now we're wishing and hoping on a prayer that Melo sticks around with the NYK, despite what looks like a 4-5th seed season and possible first round exit and "oh don't worry...we're gonna get a you some help NEXT summer...we got this."
That's Denver all over again, except with less talent. Some call is pessimistic, I call it realistic. I see no reason for him to stay and be incapable of getting past Indy, Chi, or Miami, with no real vision or plan for the future. A player on the roster.
Future cap space isn't tangible, and it's not a real plan because you're relying on players being 1) available and 2) willing to come to a team looking to burden them with enormous amounts of pressure because..."hey...we have the space to sign you, and...and...it's New York City
"
Remember, our "big" free agent that we got in 2010 only signed with us because we were the
ONLY team willing to guarantee a 5-year deal, that subsequently no insurance company would touch. We didn't persuade anyone with a clear vision and plan...we were scorned suckers that threw money at a dude out of desperation.
The writing isn't just on the wall, it's being hand delivered.