As I see it, the core of the team is Lee, Gallanari, Chandler, and Duhon. Since the desired 2010 additions - either DWade or Lebron - play in the SF/SG space, this is a good fit.
The clear missing pieces are a backup point guard and a shot-blocking rebounding monster center. Plan A is to draft Hasheem Thabeet which means the Knicks need to tank a bit and get lucky in the lottery (top 4???), or be willing to arrange a trade up in the lottery using their actual pick and any combination of non-core players. Plan B is to trade for Emeka Okafur (since we can assume that Andrew Bynum and Greg Oden will not be available).
Plan A for backup point is Steve Nash who has already indicated his love for D'Antoni. Can anyone imagine a better locker room presence and on-court teacher for a young talented core than Steve Nash during the declining years of his career? Plan B is to find a defensive-minded pass-first point out there somewhere (lacking in Nash's talent and know-how but Nash's defense is a liability). Carlos Delfino is my choice but this is the weakest part of my plan - so other suggestions are solicited (hint).
I would resign Ewing Jr (defensive stopper) and try to retain Al Harrington (off-the-bench offense with reasonable defense) if possible, but these are nice to have, not strictly mandatory considerations. This all does mean not pushing for the playoffs this year, and re-signing Lee (but not Nate - too expensive for a talented but low BB/IQ player) which some people seem to think is a cap killer (I do not agree - but I do blame Isiah for not starting Lee last year so that Donnie could have signed him to a cheaper extension last summer - it would have been irresponsible of Donnie to have done so without knowing how Lee would perform as a starter).
Obviously, if Isiah had drafted Bynum instead of going for Curry we would be in none of this mess, but the same goes for keeping Camby and Nene instead of trading for McDyess, and drafting Weis over Artest. Donnie cannot make up for a decade of mis-steps in half a season.
Comments?
The clear missing pieces are a backup point guard and a shot-blocking rebounding monster center. Plan A is to draft Hasheem Thabeet which means the Knicks need to tank a bit and get lucky in the lottery (top 4???), or be willing to arrange a trade up in the lottery using their actual pick and any combination of non-core players. Plan B is to trade for Emeka Okafur (since we can assume that Andrew Bynum and Greg Oden will not be available).
Plan A for backup point is Steve Nash who has already indicated his love for D'Antoni. Can anyone imagine a better locker room presence and on-court teacher for a young talented core than Steve Nash during the declining years of his career? Plan B is to find a defensive-minded pass-first point out there somewhere (lacking in Nash's talent and know-how but Nash's defense is a liability). Carlos Delfino is my choice but this is the weakest part of my plan - so other suggestions are solicited (hint).
I would resign Ewing Jr (defensive stopper) and try to retain Al Harrington (off-the-bench offense with reasonable defense) if possible, but these are nice to have, not strictly mandatory considerations. This all does mean not pushing for the playoffs this year, and re-signing Lee (but not Nate - too expensive for a talented but low BB/IQ player) which some people seem to think is a cap killer (I do not agree - but I do blame Isiah for not starting Lee last year so that Donnie could have signed him to a cheaper extension last summer - it would have been irresponsible of Donnie to have done so without knowing how Lee would perform as a starter).
Obviously, if Isiah had drafted Bynum instead of going for Curry we would be in none of this mess, but the same goes for keeping Camby and Nene instead of trading for McDyess, and drafting Weis over Artest. Donnie cannot make up for a decade of mis-steps in half a season.
Comments?
Last edited: