It's a weird roster, for sure. It's like Thomas is putting together a roster by trading bubble gum cards---the players all seem like they are individually skilled players (though most are overrated), but they don't fit together and don't complement each others' skills.
They have a decent rebounder in David Lee, but acquiring Randolph makes it impossible to get Lee into the starting lineup. He will get exposed defensively if they try to put him at small forward, and he really doesn't seem to have any kind of offensive game other than offensive rebounds and garbage points. Maybe he can develop a passable jumpshot, but he looks like a tough player to plug into their mix.
The Randolph trade also semi-exposes another myth about Thomas--that he has a good eye for talent. Frye was supposed to be a sure-fire starter two years ago, but fizzled under Larry Brown, then flamed out under Thomas. He was supposed to be a trade "untouchable", but then Thomas hustles him off for a fire-sale Randolph.
The NYKs are a huge black eye for the NBA--mismanagement, malfeasance, incompetence, illegal behavior--all in a major media market, with a huge basketball fan base. Thomas is a problem, but he isn't the major problem--it's team ownership as constituted by that Dolan dufus. Replace hm (somehow) and problems like Thomas don't even get a chance to materialize.
Last edited by Jack.Kerr; 10-01-2007 at 06:02 PM.
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