I like this thread, being an old time Knick Fan and recalling the ABA and CBA trades to the NBA (being considered 2nd string players) use to cause controversy to alot of NBA teams in the lockerroom when the ABA or CBA player playingtime kept increasing over drafted NBA players.
The Knicks Big Brass (Stock Holders) has always favored their high price player over coach, G.M., and lesser paid players.
Has things changed in this Knicks organization from then to now because of the hiring of Donnie Walsh and Dantoni? I doubt it.
The decision on whether Marbury start or come off the bench at the start of the regular season will be Marbury decision not Walsh or Dantoni.
There are $21 million reasons why the decision will be Marbury's.
If Q.Richardson come to play he will be a Starter, it does not matter if Chandler is a Super Star..... the Knicks Big Brass only see $8 mill. compared to $1 mill. in this case.
This is why Dantoni did not waste any time announcing publically that Jared Jefferies was used in the wrong position (SF) and should've been used as a center. So Chandler and Gallinari only have to worry about Q.Rich getting playingtime over them.
I only see the Knicks Big Brass being open minded about "Nate & Lee" this season because they became Big Fan Favorites in the Garden plus this season they are option players from $7 mill to $10 mill per season for the Knicks or the next team.
So Walsh & Dantoni could put Nate or Lee ahead of any player on the team who is making less than $10 mill per season. But not ahead of a $14 million player per season.
Donnie Walsh was given 6 months to make changes with any player on this roster, or save this organization some money by trading players and draft pick to teams under the salary cap to lower this season salary cap and luxury tax.
Donnie Walsh did neither so he is stuck with the players he refuse to move.
There was no way in hell the Knick Big Brass was going to throw a $21 million dollar product out the window for the next team to grab for nothing and make a profit off of, especially for a new President that did nothing to improve the organization or save any MONEY from last season losses.
So this season will be no different from any other Knick season.... the playingtime will go to the higher the paid-grade of a player, unless they are on the injured list like Jerome James.
For Rookie Balkman to get playingtime in his rookie season (and become the Tazman) Jared Jefferies had to be put on the injured list.
Coach Pat Riley quit for these reasons, Don Nelson was Fired for not abiding by these Knick rules. And the physical conflict between coach JVG & G.M. Ernie Grunfield which lead to Ewing demanding to be traded that offseason.
Names has been changed in management and coach but..... I see nothing has changed...
