Official Free Agency Thread

21 Shump Street

Benchwarmer
True, but I still think it's a higher risk than most people think. No real leaders in the front court to show him the way.

Plus I don't think Blatche understands he is on his last straw and needs to bring it, and will be pissed at the amount of time he gets.

Evans & KMART were feuding over playing time behind Griffin so how do you think him and Blatche are going to be behing Hump & Tele.

May amount to nothing but has the possibilty to blow up too.
 

MeloforMayor

BALL DON'T LIE
True, but I still think it's a higher risk than most people think. No real leaders in the front court to show him the way.

Plus I don't think Blatche understands he is on his last straw and needs to bring it, and will be pissed at the amount of time he gets.

Evans & KMART were feuding over playing time behind Griffin so how do you think him and Blatche are going to be behing Hump & Tele.

May amount to nothing but has the possibilty to blow up too.

Well I guess that's true.. the bright side is that the Nets should be out of the running for K-Mart. Let's hope Grunny is talking to him as we speak..err.. type. :crossfingers:
 

Oldtimer

Rotation player
Nets

I find it troubling that we sign Chris Smith and players with far more potential -- Greene (Donte) and Blatche -- apparently talk only with the Nets.
 

Kidd Karma

Benchwarmer
Blatche will probably get time at center as well. Plus ESPN is reporting it's unguaranteed. Some times the agents are leading the player to teams, making calls, etc. Players coming off fat deals with no contract in hand, is probably looking for opportunity to play and work their way into another contract.
 

finestrg

Rotation player
I find it troubling that we sign Chris Smith and players with far more potential -- Greene (Donte) and Blatche -- apparently talk only with the Nets.

So true. I don't get that either...It's a real head-scratcher. The only thing I can think of is that the Knicks agreed to do JR a favor in exchange for coming back at such as discount. Otherwise, taking Chris Smith on the eventual 15-man makes no sense. Zero...Dude's not even a true PG. He's another Toney Douglas type, probably not even as good. If it isn't to appease JR, I don't see how you justify taking this guy.

I still think we need another big (preferably one who can score) ahead of another guard..5 Guys I like for that final spot (assuming Copeland makes it and Smith doesn't):

1 - DJ White - Perfect fit behind Amar'e. Will he settle for a vet. minimum deal? That's the question. Up to now, he appears against it, but as training camp draws closer, maybe.

2 - Donte Greene - Looks like the Nets got cold feet after he hurt his ankle. This is where we should come in and pounce. Go get him now while he's hurt and agree to let him take his time and rehab (Brian Cashman of the Yankees makes moves like this every so often to great effect -- Jon Lieber, David Aardsma, etc). We should always be thinking a few steps ahead of the competition...When he's ready, it'd be like picking up a free 1st round pick out of nowhere. The man's got some real potent offensive skills. I know he's more of a SF but at 6'10 or so, he's got enough size to backup Amar'e and Melo.

3 - Marcus Cousin - I've been saying it for 2 yrs now at least -- this guy's the best big man out there no one seems to believe in or care about. Real solid all-around skills. At the very least , he's on par with fellow young centers Jerome Jordan & Keith Benson. I think this guy's actually much better and more NBA-ready than those two. One of the best jumpshooting big men I've ever seen. Dude's 6'11" 255, shoots like a guard, has good post moves, rebounds well, runs the floor and he's capable of blocking a shot. Better than half the bigs on NBA rosters right now imo. DraftExpress compared him to Earl Barron a couple of yrs ago in their writeup...Good comparison. To me he's a mixture of Al Horford/Jordan Hill/Channing Frye (Woody had Horford in Atlanta -- I think he would really like Cousin). All this kid needs is a chance. Without question he's good enough to be a rotation player in the NBA for some team.

4 - Sean Williams - I think he's matured from his days at BC/NJ with stints in the NBDL & in Israel where he played well. Hey, even if for that additional shot-blocking element alone. Chandler, Camby and then this guy -- that'd be an incredible defensive presence protecting the rim. Mobb deep with the shot-blocking.

5 - Michael Loyd Jr. - Former BYU/Midwestern State standout. I see we're set to bring in GW's Tony Taylor Jr. again for a 2nd workout. He looks good but I don't think he's as good as Loyd. This guy's the best under-the-radar PG out there if you ask me (Cousin & Loyd might be the 2 best under-the-radar players out there period). 6'1", lightning-quick, excellent penetator, tight handle, can distribute, quality shooter from deep and he can play D. Everything you could possibly want in a young PG. Tremendous talent. If they really want a young, talented understudy PG to groom and bring along slowly, this would be my choice. Youtube him and tell me he doesn't remind you of Darren Collison. Better I think...Remember the name -- whoever winds up giving this guy a shot in the NBA won't be sorry.
 
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bluechox2

Benchwarmer
chris smith signing was just for training camp, anything after that isnt guaranteed unless he turns some heads
 

CoolClyde

Moderator
I find it troubling that we sign Chris Smith and players with far more potential -- Greene (Donte) and Blatche -- apparently talk only with the Nets.

ain't that the Knicks' M.O.? how many players with potential have the Knicks
signed and kept, and how many have they let go or traded away to save cap
space or dealt for 1 big player?

lameness comes from the top, the silver-spoon fed Jimmy Dolan and his clueless peons.

Knicks F.O. would rather sign a Grant Hill than a young unproven player with potential.

whatevs. finestrong needs to take Grunwaldo's place.
 

Kidd Karma

Benchwarmer
ain't that the Knicks' M.O.? how many players with potential have the Knicks
signed and kept, and how many have they let go or traded away to save cap
space or dealt for 1 big player?

lameness comes from the top, the silver-spoon fed Jimmy Dolan and his clueless peons.

Knicks F.O. would rather sign a Grant Hill than a young unproven player with potential.

whatevs. finestrong needs to take Grunwaldo's place.

Agreed, even then you take it a step back, is there even a scouting department for the college level or is all money put into personnel payroll. What separates a Spurs team or even a Celtics team is their scouting, finding an Avery Bradley, or the Spurs plugging in quality role players around their core. There are players out there, you just have to be invested to find them. Lameness....laziness, use the cash to buy "proven" players, rather than mining a few gold chips. Baron Davis, Mike Bibby......your #12-#15 guys on the roster should be players you can develop and hopefully count on in a year or 2.
 

finestrg

Rotation player
Agreed, even then you take it a step back, is there even a scouting department for the college level or is all money put into personnel payroll. What separates a Spurs team or even a Celtics team is their scouting, finding an Avery Bradley, or the Spurs plugging in quality role players around their core. There are players out there, you just have to be invested to find them. Lameness....laziness, use the cash to buy "proven" players, rather than mining a few gold chips. Baron Davis, Mike Bibby......your #12-#15 guys on the roster should be players you can develop and hopefully count on in a year or 2.

BINGO! You hit the nail on the head. I feel like there's a lot of truth in what you're saying here, unfortunately. There's always the Landry Fields or Josh Harrellson pickups that give you a little pause (maybe with Chris Copeland too), but by in large I agree -- they seem to be sleeping at the wheel a lot when it comes to seeking out, signing and then plugging in young, cheap (and good) talent to fill holes. I don't get it. The FO is just not aggressive enough in this dept. I never get the feeling they're looking hard enough. These guys are out there!!!
 

21 Shump Street

Benchwarmer
Knicks sign training camp fodder:

Oscar Bellfield
Henry Sims
John Shurna
Mychel Thompson

No one strikes me as a big contributor, but then again Grunwald turned 2 waiver pick ups into Linsanity and the best 3pt shooter in the league and 2 second round picks into Fields & Harrellson
 

Kidd Karma

Benchwarmer
No one strikes me as a big contributor, but then again Grunwald turned 2 waiver pick ups into Linsanity and the best 3pt shooter in the league and 2 second round picks into Fields & Harrellson

Last cuts are usually the ones who just need opportunity in the league to make a name.
 

NYk_Reloaded718

★KNICKS-TAPE★
Matt Barnes has agreed upon a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Barnes spent the past two seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Barnes had been recruited to the Clippers by Chauncey Billups, Blake Griffin and Chris Paul.

Barnes also received interest from the Miami Heat

Via Sam Amick/Sports Illustrated (via Twitter)
 

NYk_Reloaded718

★KNICKS-TAPE★
45% on 3's, could be a fit at the wing spots.

T-Mac was one of my favorite players to watch in the past.

He lost his athleticism and he's getting up their in age but his passing skills and high IQ is always a positive thing. A second unit lineup of

Kidd
Jr
T-mac
Novak
Camby

would be very interesting, even at this stage of his career T-Mac can still spot you 10-12 mins and i feel we need an extra shooter/Player maker out on the perimeter since Shump wont be back until probably February. Jr is inconsistent, Brewer is a Slasher/Defensive specialist, Novak will probably see alot of time at Power Forward since we have Camby now to cover the paint with the second unit & i dont see white making any kind of impact

Signing T-mac wont hurt us, he knows his role and signing him as a 14/15th roster spot filler i'd role the dice on him.

K-mart seems to be out of the question, haven't heard much on him & the Free Agent market is pretty much dried up at this point the only thing well be signing is unproven talent that will most likely ride the bench and see garbage time mins anyway so whats their to lose.
 
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