^^^^^^
Aint that the truth. Landry Fields' dream year continues. Like the last man standing in the OK CORRAL. A whopping P-H-E-W, as he wipes the brow.
Looking at it in terms of this year's post season run:
Billups is more valuabe than Felton for the playoff run. He's the better, more clutch player. Better defensively. Has a ring. Felton is a warrior. His 6+ months as a Knick will be appereciated, but his play was declining ala Duhon, and that 2-week stretch he had seemed more like an anomaly than the norm. PLUS, Felton was not in the 2012 plans.
Sheldon Williams is better than Timofey Mozgov this year. Probably is the better player next year as well (and the year after that). Williams averages 5.3 reboudns per game, Mozgov about 3. Granted Mozgov is bigger, but Williams is more polished and has the pedigree.
Wilson Chandler is a great talent. Some nights he is fantastic. Other nights not so much. He's just not consistent enough to be reliable. He was not going to resign with the Knicks. He is seeking his 30-50 mil payday. We weren't going there. Corey Brewer take shis spot, and will do a lot of what we asked WC to do. If you look at their careers, they seem like the same player.
Danillo Gallinari. Where to begin right. I wanted Eric Gordon, see EC everytime I watch Gallo. I understood what scouts saw in DG. I rooted for him. Wanted him to do well. I feel in 3 years he will be a very, very good player. TRUTH IS though we couldn't risk STAT's present banking on Gallo's near future. We needed a star now. And fact is Carmelo is only 26, and will be the better player the next 5-7 years. Having both would have been great, but NO WAY should it be a dealbreaker.
Taking back Balkman's salary stinks. It's only 1.6 mil for the next 2 seasons. Hopefully we trade him. Still, Knicks shave about 2 mil off their cap hit for next year. That, along with added payroll space, plus possible exemptions will get you a Jamal Crawford or Big Baby.
Anthony Randolph was never playing as long as D'antoni is here. A shame really. The 2 second round picks and 3 mil in cash, along with EC's expiring contract pretty much exhaust all NYK had to offer. Doesn't leave us with much wiggle room to swing deals.
But NYK will find players on the scrap heep. A vet cut here, a Barron there. PLUS, Knicks still have a 1st round pick this year (so they do have options moving fwd).
Williams will be just fine, filling in that Gallo role. He's the much better 3-point sniper this season anyway. Walker still has a shot to be something. Douglas is hurting but he's still a nice scoring option off the bench.
Knicks need size, but the same was true even when MOZ was here. Save Turiaf for the post season. Turiaf-Balkman bring energy.
Knicks had to make this trade. BUilding around Amar'e-Carmelo much better than building around Amar'e-Gallo. Billups/Felton for 2011 a toss-up anyway. I'll take Sheldon over MOZ. Chandler was walking. Knicks basically give up Randolph, 2 second round picks, and EC's contract (which could have fetched a Dalembert or something).
Adding a CENTER to the current roster might have been OK; gambling on Melo. BUt had we missed out out then it would have been BAD moving fwd. I dont want to watch MIA dominate. To be relevant, NYK had to do this. We paid a lot, but it's still worth it.