Interesting article on Knick's long-time "strategy" (HA!) (
Linkage)
Knicks Clicks
Friday, February 03, 2006
Where to go from here
Well, as I mentioned yesterday, Jalen Rose doesn't entirely ruin the Knicks' chances for youth and flexibility by 2007, as many dailies are claiming. In fact, as long as James Dolan is willing to pay for it, he doesn't change anything at all except how awful the Knicks will be on the defensive end until he leaves the team.
The key for this is now the summer of 2007. Unfortunately, building an NBA team is primarily about numbers: contracts, money, and years. The Knicks, who currently have a total salary of $126mil, could see that reduced by as much as $58 to $95 in two years if they're gutsy and smart. Both of those extremes are unlikely; the only way the Knicks will only take off $63mil is if they can't move any of their big-name players, including Marburyand Crawford; the only way thay they'll take off al $95mil is if they can move all of their big-salary players, including Jerome James and QRich. Count on them moving about The Knicks aren't going anywhere this year, and without their early lottery draft pick (which they sent to Chicago for Curry), they're not likely to be too much better next year. As 2007 is still two years away, it's best to look at things either player by player or by groups of players in similar circumstances.
Malik Rose, Jerome James, QRich, Jamal Crawford: Trade them to a contender at the deadline next year for expiring contracts, or to teams that really need one of their services. Indiana, for example, has $18mil in contracts for Austin Croshere and Jonathan Bender that will expire in '07[Ed: Bender just retired this morning - oops!]; they may be willing to take Crawford and another guy, as the Pacers' strategy is to always get younger. Send one of either Rose, QRich, or JJ along with Crawford, and send the other two to whomever will take them.
Cap relief: As much as the team can possibly get, up to -$27mil.
Penny Hardaway: The Knicks have two options here. He could either stay with the team and have his $15mil come off the books this year, or the team could do a similar trade that they did with Toronto, where they would acquire a player whose contract expires in '07 (and maybe land another draft pick). BUT - if he is moved for anyone other than a player whose contract expires in '07, this entire strategy is doomed for another year.
Cap relief: -$15mil.
Jalen Rose: It will be tempting for the Knicks to move him for a washed-up former star again, but they need to resist that urge! Let his contract expire in '07.
Cap Relief: -$15mil.
Shandon Anderson, Jerome Williams, and Maurice Taylor: Anderson was waived, Williams retired, and Taylor is slowly becoming a gritty role player. The only thing they all have in common is that their contracts come off the books in '07. Let them.
Cap relief: -$23.5mil.
Allan Houston: His contract will likely come off the cap this year (actually, it would be given to the Knicks as a one-year exception for half his salary, or $10mil), as he has been retired due to injury. If the league decides not to give the Knicks the exception, he will still come off in '07. Save any exception for that year anyway, as the exception will last 365 days.
Cap relief: -$20mil in '07, possibly a $10mil exception.
Trevor Ariza: The Knicks can use their Larry Bird rights on Ariza, and he would probably be willing to sign for a reasonable amount. He is the closest thing the Knicks have to a shut-down perimeter defender, and would at least be valuable as part of a bigger trade.
Addition to Cap: About $1mil.
2006's Mid-Level Exception: The Knicks will get an exception to sign any player or players, up to the amount of the average NBA salary. If they're smart, they won't blow it all on one player this time, like they did with Jerome James and Vin Baker. They should sign some plucky young guys who have so far flown under the radar, and they should get some input from Larry Brown this time. Qyntel Woods may deserve a raise; this is where it should come from.
Addition to Cap: About $5mil.
Stephon Marbury: It's tough to tell what to do with Marbury. His loyalty to a losing team is to be commended, and I believe he truly wants to learn how to play the "right way," as Larry Brown puts it. But (and with Marbury there's usually a but...), his contract will be $20mil by '07. The Knicks should keep him around, at least until that summer. If his game has improved to the point where he's a leader in all facets of the game, keep him longer. If not, he's still good enough to be worked into a major sign-and-trade for either Wade, LeBron, or 'Melo. If he really starts to slide, he can always be traded for expiring contracts.
Cap relief: None.
Eddy Curry, David Lee, Channing Frye, Nate Robinson, Jackie Butler, Qyntel Woods: Keep them together. They're a good core, and have either good or at least average contracts in relation to their talents.
Cap relief: None, but these are the kind of players/contracts you want.