The Knicks Thread....

[stereoxide]

They wore the orange jerseys tonight. They can't win with those.

[Andrew]

That'd be a fun stat to track, win-loss record in games wearing ill-advised/unpopular alternate jerseys. The Bulls' black alternates seem like they've been bad luck over the years, though I'm not sure if the win-loss record actually backs me up on that.

[homicide1550]

Another close one against the Bulls, good thing they were able to hold on. NYK has a bad habit of letting teams come back after getting a large lead. The offense just turns stagnant.

[Andrew]

The Bulls frankly had no business being in the game at the end of that one. That would've been a pretty shameful loss had they not pulled that one out.

[maksie]

phpBB [video]

[shadowgrin]

Why did they film Jeffx raging?

[NovU]

Still better than ESPN first take.

In the meantime, the Knicks are after Kyle Lowry?

Latest trade scuttle: Raptors trying to construct deal with Knicks that would send Kyle Lowry to New York.

If talks progress and no other teams jump in, trade would likely have to feature Ray Felton going to Toronto with at least one more.

[Andrew]

Felton, World Peace and a pick in 2018 is the offer, apparently.

[_Steve_]

Well that would have been a long stint for MWP in NY. I do not think he'll like to play in Toronto...

[NovU]

James Dolan blocks Kyle Lowry deal

According to several reports, the Knicks were prepared to trade Raymond Felton and Metta World Peace plus Iman Shumpert or Tim Hardaway Jr. or a 2018 first-round pick. The Raptors preferred the first-round pick, but Dolan — who negotiated the Carmelo Anthony trade with Raptors GM Masai Ujiri when Ujiri was with the Denver Nuggets — got cold feet about trading a future asset. That could open the door for the Brooklyn Nets to acquire Lowry instead.

“Dolan didn’t want to get fleeced again by Masai,” was how one Knicks source put it. “They had a deal ready.”

Knicks brass met following Wednesday’s win over Chicago and had decided to move forward with the deal, but by early Thursday afternoon, Dolan suddenly had second thoughts.

“There are two problems,” the source said. “Dolan didn’t like that someone from his group leaked it to the media, and the other problem is the Knicks seem to have too many (people) involved with making decisions.”

Since any deal involving World Peace can’t be made until Sunday, there is still a chance the Knicks may reconsider, especially if Toronto and Brooklyn get close to a deal. When Ujiri was in charge of the Anthony negotiations, he was dealing with both the Knicks and Nets and got Dolan to blink first.

I should consider becoming a Knicks fan. That sounds fun!

[_Steve_]

I agree it's a fun bunch of guys to watch... off the court... I can see the Nets finally getting (back) on track. Can't say the same about the Knicks. Poor Jeffx...

[benji]

[_Steve_]

Amar'e looks as mobile as my 88 year old Grandpa...
How many games until Woodsen get's fired? 5? 10? 15?

[Andrew]

And that's why you never give up on a play.

[formx]

James Dolan blocks Kyle Lowry deal

According to several reports, the Knicks were prepared to trade Raymond Felton and Metta World Peace plus Iman Shumpert or Tim Hardaway Jr. or a 2018 first-round pick. The Raptors preferred the first-round pick, but Dolan — who negotiated the Carmelo Anthony trade with Raptors GM Masai Ujiri when Ujiri was with the Denver Nuggets — got cold feet about trading a future asset. That could open the door for the Brooklyn Nets to acquire Lowry instead.

“Dolan didn’t want to get fleeced again by Masai,” was how one Knicks source put it. “They had a deal ready.”

Knicks brass met following Wednesday’s win over Chicago and had decided to move forward with the deal, but by early Thursday afternoon, Dolan suddenly had second thoughts.

“There are two problems,” the source said. “Dolan didn’t like that someone from his group leaked it to the media, and the other problem is the Knicks seem to have too many (people) involved with making decisions.”

Since any deal involving World Peace can’t be made until Sunday, there is still a chance the Knicks may reconsider, especially if Toronto and Brooklyn get close to a deal. When Ujiri was in charge of the Anthony negotiations, he was dealing with both the Knicks and Nets and got Dolan to blink first.

I should consider becoming a Knicks fan. That sounds fun!

Dolan pls

[Jeffx]

So now Dolan decides to get smart. Wish he felt like this a few years ago. He just had to get Carmelo Anthony a few months earlier, instead of sticking to Donnie Walsh's plan. This is going to be one of the deepest drafts in years, but NY gets nothing. I HATE the way this frachise does business - always going for the quick fix, instead of building smart like the Spurs and Pacers. This went on way before Dolan and it's the main reason the Knicks haven't won in 40 years.

As I said long ago, I'll be dead before the Knicks win another title. But at least I saw the first two.

[_Steve_]

When it happened, I liked the 'Melo trade. I thought the Knicks would go into the win-it-all-now-mode, despite the Amar'e trade. The Amar'e, Bargniani & MWP trades shouldn't have happened...

[NovU]

The Knicks are different from those small market teams though. They're a franchise based on the biggest market in the world. They're expected to sign all the big FAs they want and trade for superstars whenever they need to. I don't mind teams like the Knicks trading their picks up to year 2024.

[_Steve_]

You should mind. Under the current CBA teams that repeatedly pay the tax are handcuffed when it comes to signing players...

[Jeffx]

The Knicks are different from those small market teams though. They're a franchise based on the biggest market in the world. They're expected to sign all the big FAs they want and trade for superstars whenever they need to. I don't mind teams like the Knicks trading their picks up to year 2024.

That kind of short-sighted thinking is why the Knicks haven't won jack shit since 1973. I've seen all the big-time 'saviours' that were going to lead us to the championship - Bob McAdoo, Spencer Heywood, Marvin Webster, etc., etc. Plus the Knicks don't draft smart or develop young players like other teams do.

[NovU]

Probably. But it's true, teams like the Lakers and Knicks got ability to get those developed players while others small market teams develop players for them.

It's just another way to build a successful team like the Lakers's been doing for last couple decades. They hardly draft a first rounder. Heck even Kobe was acquired via trade. They just prefer acquiring developed players more as they got the ability to do so. Once they developed Bynum(top 10 pick, not anything special like top 3), they didn't care a bit about him leaving anyway. The Knicks however have been signing the wrong players, some with healthy issues, or overrated players like Melo/Marbury/Francis.

Flexibility and betting on the wrong player have been a bigger issue for the Knicks imo. I personally think they need that John Hollinger type of GM/approach, it'd be a heaven for people like him, who can evaluate players bit more sane way than regulars like Dolan. The city has natural ability to attract players, Hollinger wouldn't have to be a beggar like with the Grizzlies but sign what makes best sense for the team at his will.

[shadowgrin]

Bernard King, Patrick Ewing, JOHN STARKS!, Allan Houston, Marcus Camby, Latrell Sprewell, Starbury, Eddy Curry, Chris Duhon. Fun list.

[stereoxide]

I think they could have won at least one championship in the 90's, but of course Jordan was there.

[Jeffx]

Jordan wasn't there in '94 and the Knicks still didn't get it done. Grunfeld admitted his biggest regret was not getting Patrick a number two guy, like Jordan had with Pippen.

Right now, the Knicks biggest problem is James Dolan, one of the worst owners in pro sports. He let his buddy Isiah Thomas wreck this team for years, but fired competent GMs like Donnie Walsh and Glen Grunwald after short stints. Dolan will never give a GM total control. That's why he hired Steve Mills, a corporate yes-man with no knowledge of basketball.

Face it, Knicks are fucked.

[Stress Fracture]

I just wonder if Bargnani, Amar'e, and Melo would all opt out of their deals after this season. Knicks would suddenly have a lot of cap space to spend.