I like who you would chose to keep and let go Metro...Seems you are a fan of players that are not a bunch of premadonna bitches, but Oakley/Mason-esque types which we need in order to build a solid foundation of Knicks basketball for years to come.
Thanks, we're a .500 team(if healthy), but other teams in the NBA improving each season, and Isiah is not keeping up. Isiah is like trapted in 2003, where he thinks Francis is still an all star.
Robinson, Frye are cheap, so they could stay, but we can't forget they're replaceable, there are alot of young players in this draft that can fill our gaps these two guys can't.
As for Crawful...we need a defensive SG with consistant 3pt range, (like Raja Bell). If Collins develops a jumpshot, he could be our guy.
We're good at PG, Marbury can score, shoot, pass, and play defense. We need a PG to mold in the future, and PGs in the NBA take a while to be very productive, unless they're Deron Williams or Chris Paul. I'm not sure if Robinson can be the starting PG of this team for the future. I see Robinson potentially someone like Bobby Jackson or Earl Boykins, a scoring option off the bench that can contribute on a consistant base. When Robinson becames consistant, he'll reach that level.
Even though this is controversal...if we could get Telfair for CHEAP, and not alot, then it'll be good move. He's a LOST young talent at PG. With the proper coaching, he could be something in this league. Telfair obviously doesn't have to be the first option, but this organization needs something.
We should run an 8 man rotation...nothing more, nothing less.
Marbury
Collins
Richardson
Lee
Curry
Balkman
Frye
Robinson
We have a solid starting 5 there as you see. I just want Balkman, Collins, and Lee get as MANY minutes together, because those three guys are the type of guys that show up in the playoffs. They do the little things and change the flow of the game. Look at Anderson Varejao on the Cavs and Sasha Palvovic's defense on Vince Carter. We need MORE players like that. We need to drop Crawford and Francis, due to the fact, Marbury, Richardson, Robinson and Collins can all score from the perimeter, and make less mistakes. Lets subtract the players who make the most MISTAKES. Francis needs to go. Crawford is an extremely talented NBA player, but also comits alot of errors. But I'm only willing to trade Crawford for an expiring contract or a good draft pick. Knowing Isiah, if Crawford gets traded, it'll be a player of the same caliber...same contract value. So, a 9 man rotation I guess?
You said something really important...a SOLID foundation. The Knicks in the 90s had a direction, they had their goals and standards. Their standards was playoffs, and their goal was the championship. Even though they never got one in the 90s...it still felt good as a fan that we had a CHANCE ever year.
Unfortunately, this isn't the case with Dolan/Isiah's foundation of the Knicks. The standards are so low, fans today are settling for guys like Curry and Crawford to be the franchise players. The goal is playoffs, regardless if we make it shamelessly with a record under .500 in a weak divison. Should we settle for standards in the future? I hope not, and we shouldn't. I'm not saying its possible for us to change every all together in the mess we're already in, but come on Isiah/Dolan lets strive for EXCELLENE instead of medicority.
I'm gonna look more into the draft, I've been busy with college/work/life, but Knicks will always be my main concern in sports, hopefully we'll have a good summer for a change to make up for the painful season.