Right Back Where We Started... Still NEED a BIG

Red

TYPE-A
http://www.knicksonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6105

This Thread Named "We Need A Big More Than Anything" was started March 1, 2009.

And, like in an episode of the Twilight Zone, where right back here.

Curry
Z. Randolph
Jerome James
Jared Jeffries
Darko
Hill
Rose
A. Randolph
Mozgov
Turiaf

Excuses, reasons, explanations aside...

I don't give a f*ck how it happens; trade up, buy a pick, go over the cap, mid-level, trade someone, whatever!!!!!

WE STILL NEED A BIG MAN MORE THAN ANYTHING.

If a player ISN'T 6'11", he need NOT apply.

It's both amazing and ashame how many moves we made, and how many assets we had, and still find ourselves in the same exact place... simply amazing.

If this sounds familiar to you:

"We are targeting the free-agent summer of _______, when _________ becomes available"

"Wait til' next year"

"We need a big"

then I'll assume you understand when I say, "I told you so".

As much as things have changed, they have stayed the same. Even with a Melo, Stat, and sh*t I'll throw in a CP3-

We will have NO chance without a big. We will continually look like fools with a bloated payroll full of hopefuls unable to realize our potential because we are incomplete. And that's a thought I refuse to entertain.

Donnie, do whatever is necessary, get us a big! F*ck D'Antoni, **** loyalty, f*ck James Dolan's money... get it done, or EVERYTHING we have done is for NOTHING!

What do OKC, LAL, CHI, MEM, DAL, BOS and MIA all have in common?

MotherF*cking BIG MEN!

At the least we have the 17th pick as an asset, get it done! If I have to suffer through another season of some 6'9" guy masquerading as a center,

I'm out!
 

RunningJumper

Super Moderator
NeNe, McGee, and Dalambert is on my list. DeAndre Jordan is too, but I don't think we'd be able to afford him if we want to have a well-rounded team.

Camby I'd also love to get.

Elite PGs are for team with one other star or no stars. If we can't win a championship with STAT and Melo with a good defensive center and other good players, then we need a coaching change.
 

Red

TYPE-A
Forgot about:

Harrington and...
Wilcox

Go back and read what we spoke about from that original thread...

Its both funny and sad, like a Greek tragedy.
 
NeNe, McGee, and Dalambert is on my list. DeAndre Jordan is too, but I don't think we'd be able to afford him if we want to have a well-rounded team.

Camby I'd also love to get.

Elite PGs are for team with one other star or no stars. If we can't win a championship with STAT and Melo with a good defensive center and other good players, then we need a coaching change.
I don't want NeNe, he won't help our rebounding and he's too overpaid.
 

Red

TYPE-A
Walsh better work his magic!

If that means trading T Douglas or Fields with the 17th pick to move up, then DO IT!

And if your thinking "great, then we'll be complaining and looking for a SG" then that's fine...

Because as we see they are more available.

Add Baron to the list of Bigs we had.
 

Red

TYPE-A
By mentioning CP3, again you fabricate MORE EXCUSES for this regime and D'Antoni specifically.

And while you are stuck in the 'wait til' mentality, I'm concerned with what we NEED and the more likelihood of getting it, and I'm concerned with making more excuses while squandering opportunities and settling for pipe-dream scenarios.

We can safely conclude IF this organization doesn't acquire us a quality big man by the start of next season (extended summer in mind), they

1. Don't know what they're doing
2. Have been brain-washed by D'Antoni
3. Care more about selling tickets than winning

Over the last two NBA seasons, essentially the last 16 months, Amar'e Stoudemire has played 180 games ? including payoff contests. He played all 82 regular season games for the Suns in 2009-2010, and tacked on another 16 in the postseason. Then he played 78 of the Knicks' 82 in 2010-2011, plus four more in the first round. Moreover, during his debut season in New York, Stoudemire averaged a career-high 36.5 minutes per game. In addition, those 180 games where played on two of the NBA's more up-tempo offenses.

I start here to highlight the fact that the Knicks desperately need to add a starting center this summer. Yes, the Knicks want to find a long-term answer at point guard as well, but that is not NY's most glaring need. Obtaining a big man is the number one priority. The wear-and-tear on Amar'e was undeniable. In the end, should we have been shocked when Stoudemire's back gave out against Boston? Going forward, this is something the Knicks have to address. Not only does Head Coach Mike D'Antoni need to reduce Stoudemire's minutes, he also needs to lessen the load on STAT's shoulders when he is on the floor. Amar'e should spend less time at the '5' and more time at his natural power forward spot.

In order to make this happen, New York obviously needs to import a legit starting center. However, it's obviously not quite that simple?

The Knicks will have nearly $51 million dollars committed to just the trio of Amar'e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, and Chauncey Billups next season. And with the lockout looming, the threat of a hard cap (at worst), or a reduced cap threshold at the very least, it a reality that must be faced. In the past, teams over the cap still had the option of bringing in a good player via the mid-level exception. There are rumors that the new CBA may not include that provision.

Also, one of the Knicks clear objectives has been maintaining ample cap space for the 2012 class of free agents ? which may include Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Dwight Howard. The ideal scenario would be adding one of those superstars to a core including Melo and Amar'e.

The bottom line is that the Knicks will likely have to get creative.

While there will be a handful of talented centers on the market this summer, they are not realistic options for NY. Nene has an ETO he can exercise, but he'll be offered major money from every team with cap space. Marc Gasol will be a restricted FA, but expect the Grizz to do everything in their power to lock him up long-term. Young up-and-comer DeAndre Jordan will also be restricted, and the Clippers would likely match any reasonable offer he receives. Tyson Chandler will be unrestricted this off season, but if Mark Cuban has been so willing to vastly overpay for bad centers, imagine how much he'll pony up to keep Chandler in Dallas.

After those four, there is a drop-off to the next tier of available big men.

One name which has generated considerable buzz in the New York tabloids has been Samuel Dalembert. Dalembert has some tri-state-area connections, having attended high school and college in New Jersey. The New York Post reported last month that Dalembert may be inclined to accept a comparable offer from New York, all other things being considered equal. The post speculates that Donnie Walsh might offer Dalembert the full-mid-level exception (approximately $6 million per season) via a multi-year deal.

On the surface, this seems like a decent fit. Slammin' Sammy is a legit seven-footer that can board and block some shots. However, an in-depth look at the numbers leads me to a different conclusion. Dalembert would improve the Knicks next season, that isn't debatable. However, would it the pros outweigh the cons in the long run?

At this stage of the game, you pretty much know what you are going to get. Last season in Sacramento, Dalembert averaged 8.1 points per game and 8.2 rebounds. For his career, he has averaged 8.1 points and 8.3 boards. Considering the dearth of quality centers in today's NBA (and currently on the Knicks roster), those numbers are obviously nothing to sneeze at. Still, Dalembert doesn't quite fit New York's needs. The Knicks obviously don't have to add a stud scorer; they already have that covered. But, ideally, they would add a bruiser that would board and protect the tin. A defensive-minded center willing to set screens and do the dirty work - that is a prescription for what ails New York down low. Dalembert just isn't that player.

Dalembert isn't a guy looking to mix it up inside or intimidate in the paint. He's far too comfortable floating around the perimeter, settling for long jumpers. Take a look at these stats: Per Hoopdata.com, last season Dalembert attempted just 2.9 shots "at the rim" per game. In contrast, he averaged 2.7 field goal attempts from 10-23 feet away from the basket. Also, consider this: The Philadelphia 76ers won 27 games in 2009-2010 with Dalembert as their starting center. After trading him last summer, Philly was 41 games without him in 2010-2011.

Again, Dalembert would certainly be an upgrade for New York next season, but I think offering him a long-term contract would be a regretful decision.
If he wants to settle for a one-year deal (he won't), then by all means, bring him in. But that's not going to happen, so the Knicks will likely have to keep searching.

Some other (less appealing?) free-agent centers that will be on the Knicks radar this summer include: Spencer Hawes, Jeff Foster, Nenad Krstic, Joel Przybilla, Erick Dampier, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Nazr Mohammed, Kurt Thomas, Aaron Gray, Dan Gadzuric, Ryan Hollins, Kwame Brown, and Jason Collins.

For the risk takers out there, Greg Oden will be a restricted free-agent, although the Blazers have indicated they plan to tender him an $8.8 million dollar qualifying offer. Yao Ming will be an unrestricted free agent, but it is unknown if he has recovered from his injuries and is ready return to NBA action.

The Knicks do have the #17th overall pick in the upcoming 2011 draft, so they could look to add some front court depth if a talented big man fell into their lap. But the odds of them landing a difference-maker ready to contribute right away are highly unlikely. Another internal option could be Jerome Jordan, whom the Knicks acquired on draft night last year. Jordan spent last season in Serbia, playing for KK Hemofarm. Here's a link to his Euro League stats. Jordan will be given an opportunity to earn a roster spot during summer league play (if there is any) as well as training camp, if both sides decide to go that route.

However, there is one last avenue the Knicks could explore in their search for a starting center; if they don't have the requisite cap space to sign a center, and can't rely on the draft, New York could check out the trade market. Unfortunately for the Knicks, they don't have many assets that other teams would clamor for in trade discussions. Still, if New York finds the right partner, there are some feasible options. One team Walsh may want to call is the Clippers. Chris Kaman is the highest paid player on the L.A. roster (a franchise with a notoriously stingy owner). Assuming the Clippers ink DeAndre Jordan to a long term deal this summer, they may look to part ways with the oft-injured Kaman. Kaman's contract fits the Knicks' plans perfectly, as he has just one season ($12.2 million) left on his current pact. Finding a package that would interest the Clipper is difficult, but would L.A. be interested in an offer of: Billups, Turiaf, a future pick, and cash for Kaman and Randy Foye?

Yet, after searching through NBA rosters, I think a great fit for the Knicks may rotting away on the bench in Phoenix. Robin Lopez ? remember thy name Knick fans.

During Stoudemire's last season in Phoenix, Lopez and Amar'e developed a solid chemistry and worked well together. Lopez is not a guy you will run plays for, but he is a big body that is content doing the little things. He's not a great athlete, but he will bang, board, and hustle. Lopez would be a great fit alongside Melo and Stoudemire on an NY front line. Better yet, it shouldn't be too difficult to pry him from Phoenix.

The Suns owe Marcin Gortat $21.8 million over the next three seasons. Channing Frye is set to earn $18 million through 2014, with a player option worth $6.8 million for the 2014-2015 season. That is nearly $40 million dollars worth of center over the next three years. They also owe Hakim Warrick nearly $14 million thru 2014 as well.

Considering Suns owner (Robert Sarver) purportedly finds himself in financial difficulty, it is not inconceivable to assume Phoenix may be looking to lighten future salary commitments.

Lopez was buried on Phoenix's bench last season. In the 27 post-All-Star break games he played in, Lopez averaged just 4.6 points and 2.4 boards in 11 minutes of action.

Lopez experienced his best success as pro when he was teamed up alongside Amar'e. Lopez started 31 games at center (with Stoudemire as his PF) in 2009-2010. In those 31 contests, Lopez averaged 11.3 points and 6.2 boards, while shooting 59.7% from the floor and over 74% from the free-throw line.

Lopez will make $2.9 million next season, and his qualifying offer in 2012-2013 will be $4 million. Certainly seems worth a gamble from the Knicks perspective. If New York could play Lopez 25-30 minutes a night, and then bring Turiaf off the pine for some added defense and energy, it might be recipe for success.

As far as what the Knicks could offer Phoenix, the key part to any deal might the $3 million in cash James Dolan could send to Sarver (assuming that is still allowed under the new CBA). If the Knicks have a small amount of cap space, how about Bill Walker (Phoenix will be losing starting SG Vince Carter) and cash to the Suns in exchange for Lopez? It might make sense for both teams.


Whatever direction the Knicks head in this summer, it needs to end with a starting center on the roster before the next season starts?



Read more NBA news and insight: http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=19784#ixzz1MQPEAcjQ

If you support keeping D'Antoni after this, considering all the other mitigating factors concerning who and what we need going forward...

YOU CAN NEVER SAY YOU ARE A FAN OF THE KNICKS AND WINNING...

and be taken seriously.
 

Blumatic

Rotation player
This is why building a champion is so difficult and why only 6 teams in 20 years have won.

Not only do you have to compete on the court but you have to go against the current trends in the player market.

The way I see it. We gotta scour the earth for option. And honestly we gotta improve the team the best we can and play the cards we are dealt with.

We got this Jerome Jordan guy. We gotta coach the hell out of him. He gotta develop him into a solid rebounding defensive big man. But the team has to pick it up defensively to make his job easier (MDA will make that very difficult). We gotta plug in the wholes until we find that gem. Lets not over pay right now.

Overpaying may be the way to go. But WHEN we over pay is key. I am in the get CP3 boat. (there are good arguments why not to get him) but If we get him its most likely Hornets would want to dump Okafur. I say get him if we gonna get CP3. Tough pill to swallow but who says all the decisions in building a championship team would be easy and textbook.
 

Wargames

Starter
I was reviewing Dalembert and not for nothing I would love for him to come here but when I was looking at his Stats and figuring in what he makes now. I just can see him going for another big longterm contract due to this probably being the last one he would be able to get. Taking the MLE for him would be more realistic if he was a few years older and still competitive at the 5.

Robin Lopez.... Not bad it makes sense. Dolan would definitely send them the money to make the deals work if we traded Walker. Walker could also make a run at being a back-up SG for Vince. Also the Suns have more Centers than they can use and if they traded Robin he would probably be nothing more than garnish.

As for the Knicks. Robin may not be the best center but dammit he would get playing time under D'antoni...... Anyhow a Center rotation of Lopez, Turiaf, and Jordan may not be what we want but it may be what we need since we have to find Bigs that our head coach will actually play.
 

RunningJumper

Super Moderator
I was reviewing Dalembert and not for nothing I would love for him to come here but when I was looking at his Stats and figuring in what he makes now. I just can see him going for another big longterm contract due to this probably being the last one he would be able to get. Taking the MLE for him would be more realistic if he was a few years older and still competitive at the 5.

Robin Lopez.... Not bad it makes sense. Dolan would definitely send them the money to make the deals work if we traded Walker. Walker could also make a run at being a back-up SG for Vince. Also the Suns have more Centers than they can use and if they traded Robin he would probably be nothing more than garnish.

As for the Knicks. Robin may not be the best center but dammit he would get playing time under D'antoni...... Anyhow a Center rotation of Lopez, Turiaf, and Jordan may not be what we want but it may be what we need since we have to find Bigs that our head coach will actually play.
Robin Lopez hasn't been good. Only reason Gortat wasn't starting I'm guessing maybe because he would have been worse off coming off the bench without Nash and to try to keep his confidence up.

Carter is likely to be bought out or whatever.
 

RunningJumper

Super Moderator
Sean Williams is instant defense. Always liked him. Even if he fouls quickly and a lot at least he doesn't let that easy lay-ups shit happen.
 

Red

TYPE-A
I think it begins with D'Antoni.

By that I mean we have manifested this culture of "wait til'" so and so becomes available

That there is this "perfect" mix of talents NEEDED in order to succeed

And in a way- we have already manufactured the excuses for D'Antoni going forward.

Say for instance we DO get a big. And IF we struggle, for whatever reason, it has been manufatured that WE (D'Antoni) NEED A PG to be successful

OR if we DO get a PG, and struggle, some will say WE (D'antoni) NEED A center to be successful

The brainwashing that has taken over and replaced our underachieving reputation, has been to the tune of HOPE

But really it's a shell game that we need to realize we can't win. That "perfect" roster for D'Antoni is UNACHIEVABLE! Specifically in regards to D'Antoni, its impossible.

We need a coach, who looks at our roster and says "I can work with that". That recognizes talent and is flexible enough to work with less than desireable parts. One that gets more than we bargained for out of players.

I'll show you how this brainwashing has taken place.

We just read about the select few players available. AND WHAT WAS THE FIRST THOUGHT?

1. I wonder if he would work with D'Antoni?
2. I wonder if D'Antoni would play him?
3. What if D'Antoni doesn't play him?
4. Ho can we get him and still ge CP3?

These questions illustrate how the brainwashing has affected your rational thought. Because the answer to "who this mystery perfect fit for D'Antoni's system is" is...

NO ONE.

That answers why he dnp'd and jettsoned players, skipped them in the draft, and why no center has flourished under him. Its too logical. There is no center for him.

And instead of realizing this, realizing he hasplayed this shell game buying time by in a not so obvious way creating this built-in excuse for himself "that his system is so good, we just need the right players"

Is bullsh!t.

Before we can decide who fits best and who to get, who to pass on, how to effectively us our assets (some he squandered just like Isaiah just wasn't as responsible for the bad contracts)

We need to get out from under him before we do more damage. While we still can.

That's why I think its futile to target any players for now. He has to go. A coach with an attainable vision and plan is what will help us deermine who's best. Without D'Antoni, those decisions use to be easy- like Melo.

With D'Antoni, some actually had the nerve to question his acquisition. That's what thinking and seeing things thru the D'Antoni glasses will do to you. It'll have you drafting a SF over a center even though

We had sf's on the roster
A center is a rare commodity
And we haven't been in a good draft position in years.

I'm not sure I will ever forget that mistake.
 

RunningJumper

Super Moderator
I think it begins with D'Antoni.

By that I mean we have manifested this culture of "wait til'" so and so becomes available

That there is this "perfect" mix of talents NEEDED in order to succeed

And in a way- we have already manufactured the excuses for D'Antoni going forward.

Say for instance we DO get a big. And IF we struggle, for whatever reason, it has been manufatured that WE (D'Antoni) NEED A PG to be successful

OR if we DO get a PG, and struggle, some will say WE (D'antoni) NEED A center to be successful

The brainwashing that has taken over and replaced our underachieving reputation, has been to the tune of HOPE

But really it's a shell game that we need to realize we can't win. That "perfect" roster for D'Antoni is UNACHIEVABLE! Specifically in regards to D'Antoni, its impossible.

We need a coach, who looks at our roster and says "I can work with that". That recognizes talent and is flexible enough to work with less than desireable parts. One that gets more than we bargained for out of players.

I'll show you how this brainwashing has taken place.

We just read about the select few players available. AND WHAT WAS THE FIRST THOUGHT?

1. I wonder if he would work with D'Antoni?
2. I wonder if D'Antoni would play him?
3. What if D'Antoni doesn't play him?
4. Ho can we get him and still ge CP3?

These questions illustrate how the brainwashing has affected your rational thought. Because the answer to "who this mystery perfect fit for D'Antoni's system is" is...

NO ONE.

That answers why he dnp'd and jettsoned players, skipped them in the draft, and why no center has flourished under him. Its too logical. There is no center for him.

And instead of realizing this, realizing he hasplayed this shell game buying time by in a not so obvious way creating this built-in excuse for himself "that his system is so good, we just need the right players"

Is bullsh!t.

Before we can decide who fits best and who to get, who to pass on, how to effectively us our assets (some he squandered just like Isaiah just wasn't as responsible for the bad contracts)

We need to get out from under him before we do more damage. While we still can.

That's why I think its futile to target any players for now. He has to go. A coach with an attainable vision and plan is what will help us deermine who's best. Without D'Antoni, those decisions use to be easy- like Melo.

With D'Antoni, some actually had the nerve to question his acquisition. That's what thinking and seeing things thru the D'Antoni glasses will do to you. It'll have you drafting a SF over a center even though

We had sf's on the roster
A center is a rare commodity
And we haven't been in a good draft position in years.

I'm not sure I will ever forget that mistake.
Excellent post.

Also, we know D'Antoni isn't a good defensive coach, but I don't think he's even a good OFFENSIVE coach. You know who is? Steve Nash. I don't see any other explanation. The guy is also STUBBORN. Marbury was no angel, but I wouldn't put it past D'Antoni that he was just trying to make his mark there right away. We saw stupid benchings of Nate, Douglas, Jordan Hill, etc., all guys who could have been VERY useful with the roster we had. He had to start Duhon though, because he thought any pass-first PG under his genius mentoring would make him as good as Nash.

Also, I'm glad we drafted Gallo, but would it surprise anyone if we passed up on PGs and Cs because of D'Antoni being his godfather?

I don't want to give him the boot, but I do want him to be an assistant and have a good head coach take over. No more of him making big decisions.

Who knows WHAT would have became of our roster with Jrue Holiday, DeAndre Jordan, etc. plus cap space.
 
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knicksman20

Benchwarmer
I want DA gone just as much as most here; preferably before the start of next season. But we have a glaring need for a big man or two; especially someone to relieve Amare & keep him from breaking down by the end of the season. Sean Williams is low risk high reward since he'd be coming from the D-League & he'd get signed to a low contract. Big men like him are hard to come by. We all know DA's days are numbered, so I'd rather scoop Sean Williams up before another contender does.
 

STAT1

Starter
Just judging from MDA's rotation patterns, he doesn't seem to favor playing guys with a low basketball IQ. Sean Williams, while he would be a big upgrade defensively as a shotblocker, seems like a pretty dim bulb when it comes to basketball smarts. I don't think he's the type of player that would get any playing time under this head coach. Robin Lopez is an interesting option though. He already knows the SSOL system from his days in Phoenix & already has experience playing with STAT. If the Knicks could get him for Bill Walker + cash like the article suggests, I think it's a worthwhile gamble to take. His contract won't hurt the Knicks flexibility wise either in 2012. Seems like a natural fit. Other than that, I think Jeff Foster seems like a natural fit option having ties to Donnie Walsh during his days in Indy. Seems like the type of savvy vet that would get playing time under this head coach too for that matter.
 
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