Knicks next trading partner?

[madape]

ISIAH MULLS SWAPPING ONLY PICK

By MARC BERMAN
New York Post


June 24, 2004 -- Isiah Thomas traded his way out of the first round in January. Now there's a chance he's going to get out of the draft altogether tonight and trade his second-round pick. According to a league source, Thomas has fielded phone calls from other teams looking to acquire the pick. The Suns are trying to unload salary to get more cap room for Kobe Bryant, and Isiah wants a proven commodity to help now — not a second-round project.

Thomas had a lot of interest in several unprotected players in the expansion draft and he's wildly shopping contract-friendly Othella Harrington and Dikembe Mutombo.

"We're going to get a great player," Thomas cracked about his 43rd selection. He admits that if he uses his second-rounder, he'll be drafting a prospect who is a longshot to make the team.

The Knicks desperately need shooting guards/swingmen and there's a handful who will be around but none is a definite to make the roster. On Isiah's list are Florida State's Tim Pickett, Morehead State's Ricky Minard, USC's Desmon Farmer, JUCO swingman Donta Smith and Xavier's Romain Sato, a defensive specialist. Thomas worked out all but Sato, who is unable to create his own shot and the Knicks need shooters.

Thomas and Lenny Wilkens were deeply disturbed in how swingman Shandon Anderson, starting in place of injured Allan Houston at shooting guard, and Penny Hardaway produced offensively in the four-game Nets' sweep. With Houston's knees making him less than a sure thing, the Knicks need a perimeter scorer.

"Around that late in the draft, you're looking at perimeter people, guards," Thomas said. "All the quality bigs and even the average big men will be gone. You're looking for guys who've flown under the radar and have a chance at making the team. But the odds are stacked against those guys."

With nearly 28 Europeans pulling out last week, second-round fare is abysmal compared to other years.

"The second round is a shot in the dark this year," said Bobcats director of international scouting Tim Shea, who formerly worked for the Knicks during the Ernie Grunfeld Era.

The first round is no bargain either, which is why teams are trying to get out rather than be forced to extend a three-year guaranteed contract. For a mid-to-late first-round pick, that's in the $3 million range.

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Maybe the Knicks haven't been picked clean. A deal of Stackhouse for Harrington, Mutombo, draft pick #44 works under the cap. Those expiring contracts would come in handy in pulling off a trade for some big names (Shaq, McGrady).

[dalmations202]

Makes sense. NY takes Stackhouse for Othello and Mutombo.

That gives Dallas 2 more expiring contracts to send to LA in 60 days.

[madape]

Almost $30M in expiring contracts, a high lottery pick, two second rounders, and Josh Howard.

That's one hell of a poker hand.

[ddh33]

I don't think so. A New York deal doesn't make sense to me from either side.

[dalmations202]

Originally posted by: ddh33
I don't think so. A New York deal doesn't make sense to me from either side.

It does, if Dallas is looking to get more expiring contracts to send to LA for Shaq.

I read it before that LA wanted expiring contracts and draft picks so they could rebuild around Kobe. It makes sense, if LA has decided that they can't get Nash/Nowitzki from Dallas, and the only way to get all that free'd up space is to get expiring contracts from Dallas.

Yes, it will take 60 days to work, but it is just a theory anyway..

And from a NY perspective, they get a proven scorer to put with Marbury and Houston. At least they will have some scoring options then.

[LRB]

I'm far from excited about trading for anything on the Knicks. LA, Orlando, GS, Cleveland, Chicago, and a host of other teams come to mind way before the Knicks.

[madape]

There is no question at all that the Knicks would do this deal if offered. The only question is whether it makes sense for the Mavs to do it. Of course, it only makes sense if they can package all those expiring contracts to a team looking to rebuild by shedding long term deals and rebuilding through youth. I would think Orlando certainly qualifies as a candidate. In my opinion, the Magic would eagerly send us McGrady, Hill, and Juwan Howard for $30Mil in expiring contracts and the #5 pick.

The question is whether the Lakers would do the same. Kupchak has repeated his insistence that he wants a premier player in return for Shaq. That may just be posturing. They Lakers may be just as interested in rebuilding as Orlando is. I know that if I was the GM, I'd be tempted to flush that rotten toilet bowl of bad karma and start all over again with young, impressionable guys to support Kobe. It would be much harder to try to get an established superstar to co-exist with the ego-maniacle Bryant than it would to assemble a bunch of young guys looking for a niche. If the Lakers really want to build the team around Kobe, they'll need to tear down the walls he's built with his teammates and start anew. You do that with expiring contracts and draft picks. Enter the Mavericks.

[harsh euro barge]

Apparently the Stackhouse/THomas trade is going down today...

filler wiil also be involved

[ocelot_ark]

Maybe the Lakers like Thomas...if not....vomit.

[Blinkfan182]

i dont think that would work..

[Dooby]

LMF poster says Knicks message board poster says there is a deal for Walker for Thomas and Frank Williams, but is probably confused and means Stackhouse for Thomas and Frank Williams. It works suposedly.

[FilthyFinMavs]

Originally posted by: Dooby
LMF poster says Knicks message board poster says there is a deal for Walker for Thomas and Frank Williams, but is probably confused and means Stackhouse for Thomas and Frank Williams. It works suposedly.

Maybe it was the ticket I heard that proposed that deall for Walker but I could've sworn Kurt was still on that 4.9 million dollar contract he had. It might be up to 5 million now. The Stack for Thomas and Frank makes alot more of sense.

[ddh33]

Could it be Walker (not Stack) and TimThomas (not Kurt)? Didn't Tim Thomas and Kobe grow up together in Philly?

[Dooby]

Originally posted by: ddh33
Could it be Walker (not Stack) and TimThomas (not Kurt)? Didn't Tim Thomas and Kobe grow up together in Philly?

That's been brought up as well over at LMF.

[ddh33]

Originally posted by: Dooby

That's been brought up as well over at LMF.

Was I the one who brought it up?

[Blonde Bomber]

I won't be to happy if we end up with Thomas & L8R for Jamison. I guess my only hope is we turn all this crap into something usefull.

[Bayliss]

I guess my only hope is we turn all this crap into something usefull.

Knd of like a garage sale, eh? You turn crap you haven't used in years for some cash.

[Day1MavsFan]

What is the link for LMF?

[Bayliss]

http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/mb/lmf