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Wed May 19, 2010 3:20 pm
While I am a knick fan and would love to be biased and say Lebron is coming to the Knicks, in all reality no one knows where he is going. He himself doesn't even know where he's going. There is no favorite's when someone hasn't made a decision. All these things are speculation between fans of teams and all that junk. Personally, I think he goes back to Cleveland, but I really am praying everyday to see him where a Knicks uniform.
Now what can the Knicks bring for Lebron that other teams can't? They have room for 2 superstars and some money left over for some solid role players. Steve Blake, Travis Outlaw, Mike Miller, Kyle Korver, Tyrus Thomas, Raymond Felton, Ronnie Brewer, Luke Ridnour, Channing Frye just to name a few of them. The advantage in this is an endless amount of combinations the Knicks can put together. The knicks have the cap space for 2 max contracts and the potential of signing 2-3 solid role players for the right price. Not to mention they already have Bill Walker, Toney Douglas, Danilo Gallinari, and Wilson Chandler on the roster. They are most likely bringing back Earl Barron, and have the contract of Eddy Curry to possibly trade for a third star, or they can just let him expire and have even more cap space in 2011.
Why should Lebron come to New York? The Nets have a solid supporting cast to surround him, the Bulls also have a superb supporting cast to put around him, but neither of those teams can pair him with a solid number 2 option. They both have very good young PG's, with Derrick Rose being better then Devin Harris. That is something the Knicks do lack, but they can add a Chris Bosh or a Dwayne wade, which is something the Nets or Bulls do not have. I do admit that at this current state both the Nets and the bulls are a better option then New York, those two teams are slight upgrades over Clevelands current roster. The Knicks do have the chance to give him a fresh start and completely give him the talent he needs around him to win.
The knicks roster already consists of a deadly 6'11 sharp shooter in Gallo, and the scary thing about this is that he is still young and has plenty of time to develop. Bill Walker and Wilson Chandler are both atheletic and solid perimiter defenders, which would benefit Lebron James and another star on the team. Toney Douglas is a solid 3 point shooter as well, and rumor has it Lebron and Eddy Curry are going to work out together this summer. You also have two second round picks to add to this. We can possibly find a diamond in the rough. I forgot to mention the Knicks also have the bird rights to David Lee, what this means is that the Knicks can spend all there cap money this summer, and still be able to re-sign David Lee. This really is a very solid roster.
Heck, imagine Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady put there egos aside and signed for the veteran's minimum. If they learned to play team ball? I can wish for that but it really won't happen. More options include trading Curry and possibly Chandler for a bonafied player. Maybe the T'wolves might decide to trade Al Jefferson to focus on Kevin Love more? The Wizards might decide to trade Gilbert Arenas, that's always possible. Monta Ellis' name is always coming up in rumors, and all these names would be available for a combination of Eddy Curry and some youth.
So now I sit here and imagine the posibilities, Lebron and Wade, Wade and Bosh, Lebron and Bosh, Joe Johnson and Lebron? How about Ray Allen, Amar'e Stoudemire, and Lebron James? These can possibly all happen, and many more combinations. New York has one of the greatest market's in the league, if a free agent wants endorsments, this is the place to go, if free agents want a fresh start, once again the team will be completely built around them. So this is just my honest opionion and argument on the 2010 offseason, The Knicks should have 8 players on the roster going in to next year, that's counting the two second round picks they have. Add two max free agents, 2-3 role players, and invite some d-league players to training camp and it looks like you have yourself a solid team. The one thing lacking is a solid point guard. There are very few free agent point guards, but the ability of trading for one is always possible. This pretty much sumarizes my stance on this offseason, I'll just hope and pray for my franchise to turn around. The right way to turn around would be by drafting players and actually keeping the youth, but that'll never happen in New York.
Wed May 19, 2010 3:59 pm
Hehe... damn right, you are biased.
Wed May 19, 2010 3:59 pm
I honestly think you share the same feelings that every New Yorker has. LeBron in NY could be a great jolt to the NBA, but as you describe the team they would have, do you really think it would compete for a title right away?
I think LeBron's main goal right now is to win, ASAP. Bosh has stated that he's looking for winning as well this off-season, so them signing together wouldn't be too far out of the realm of possibility. The thing I worry about is the supporting cast. Chandler, Gallo, and Walker are all solid young players that can help a team in different ways, but they're all swing men like LeBron.
I know the Knicks would go out and sign free agents ala 2008 Celtics to fill the holes, but is there a Rajon Rondo-type player sitting in NY? I'd say Gallinari, but again, he's going to be playing behind LeBron and I'm not sure how well he'd be as a spot SG/PF (where you'd think he would get most of his playing time).
Hypothetically, say this is your 2010-11 NY Knicks:
C Bosh
PF Tyrus Thomas
SF LeBron James
SG Wilson Chandler/Toney Douglas
PG Steve Blake
Bench: Scraps and Pieces
I don't know if that team, especially that team playing D'Antoni's style of play, could compete. I want LeBron to leave Cleveland, and NY wouldn't be a bad spot from a basketball fan point of view, but from a realistic point of view that team looks more like a cluster fuck in the mold of a 2-3 seed in the East, not an NBA Champ.
Wed May 19, 2010 4:05 pm
You can get the two max contracts, and trade Curry/Chandler for a 3rd star like a mentioned earlier. Not sure how it would fit, but if the Wizards draft John Wall, Arenas may be available. I don't think they'd contend right away, but anything would be an improvement over what we have now. I am inclined to admit that New York may not be his best chance to win though.
Wed May 19, 2010 8:16 pm
Doobie wrote:The one thing lacking is a solid point guard
Shift LeBron to the point but at the expense of his scoring.
Doobie wrote:but they can add a Chris Bosh or a Dwayne wade, which is something the Nets or Bulls do not have
Miami can do that too, add two superstars to their team because of their cap space.
Doobie wrote:I really am praying everyday
Really? You and your god, silly believer.
Thu May 20, 2010 12:14 am
Doobie wrote:The one thing lacking is a solid point guard. There are very few free agent point guards, but the ability of trading for one is always possible. This pretty much sumarizes my stance on this offseason, I'll just hope and pray for my franchise to turn around. The right way to turn around would be by drafting players and actually keeping the youth, but that'll never happen in New York.
Knicks have shown you they can't draft for shit, no matter who's in charge. And they have a coach who wouldn't know defense if it bit him in the ass. Bottom line? This team ain't doing shit with Cablevision and the Dolans in charge.
When do NFL training camps start?