Do you people really think that Sweetney is our future? He is not athetlic. Name one big man who is not athletic who produces good numbers. Ben Wallace, Kevein Garnett, Jermaine O'Neal - those are all guys who are good athletes. Do you honestly see Sweetney ever turning into any of them? I don't. He's too short at only 6'8 to be a dominating PF in this league. That's the truth. Maybe if he had great speed, vertical hops, or incredible strength, he could, but really he's just a big (somewhat fat) guy who can get some rebounds because thats what any big guy can and should be able to do. He's never going to run in transtition like Kenyon Martin or block shots like Ben Wallace. Its just not going to happen.
Ariza has more potential, but its probably another 3-4 years before he averages more than 15 points a game. And that is only IF he works hard at his game - lost of guys have the talent but never live up to expectations. We're talking about Ariza as if he's going to be an All Star. They were saying the same thing about Tim Thomas in Milwaukee a few years ago.
Crawford can average 20 points a game, but thats about all he does. He doesn't play good defense, doesn't rebound, isn't the greatest "point guard", and takes really bad shots to maitain his scoring average. Is he going to be a star? I'd say he's got the most potential on this team to be one, but he's too skinny, and everyone always says "you can bulk up and learn to play the game better", but really, nobody every does. If you're not a good player by your 5th year in the league, you probably never will be. All the superstars became really good players by their 5th year, even the ones that came out of high school. Look at Lebron...he's a star in only his second year.
So basically, our team is going nowhere. We really hae to admit that to ourselves, or else we will be destined for mediocrity not just this year, but in the next several years to come. Who actually thinks the Knicks will do any damage in the playoffs this year? You'd be crazy to think so.
We need to unload this roster and move in a different direction. Its hard to admit to yourself that your team sucks, but really its the smart thing to do. Isiah needs to swallow his pride and admit he hasn't done much to improve this team since he got here. I doubt he will ever unload, because his ego is too enormous, so I guess my proposed trades will be useless...but anyway, here they go:
Marbury, Houston, Hardaway
for
Rahim, Stoudamire, Patterson, Telfair, Outlaw
We get about 35 million comming off the books with the expiring contracts, along with two young players who could develop into something.
K. Thomas and T. Thomas
for
U. Haslem, E. Jones and a 1st Rd. Pick
Miami gets an upgrade at PF and I'd say about a wash at SF, we get younger, an expiring contract in Jones, and a draft pick.
This will give more time to Sweetney and Ariza this season. Hopefully Sweetney can put up 13 and 7 and we can use him as trade bait at the end of the season.
With all the expiring contracts, we can sign free agents such as K. Brown, S. Swift or E. Curry - who are younger, have some experience in the league, and can really turn into All Stars someday. I think Ray Allen will be a free agent this year - how about signing him? What about getting Michael Redd? With expiring contracts, draft picks, we could make trades to get these players.
I know its never going to happen, but its what I would do if I was the GM.