Isiah, A Wiser Trader?

Today, a Q&A session with a Sacramento Kings writer started a conversation on a number of blogs as to whether or not Isiah was turning down "fair" deals.

Question: Has there been conjecture about an Artest/Shareef (Abdur-Rahim)/(Kenny) Thomas trade to New York for Stephon Marbury with David Lee and/or a first round pick? This would free-up $21 million after next season.

A:...Numerous league sources have informed me that embattled Knicks coach Isiah Thomas has been turning down decent deals left and right, meanwhile driving those around him in Knicks Land batty and, according to the New York Daily News, possibly pushing owner Joe Dolan to fire him. They have been dangling Jamal Crawford in discussions, but I'm told they still won't give up David Lee. That much is bad news for the Kings, who have shown an interest in Lee in the past and would certainly want him in any Artest deal.

Knicks fans are often criticized for speculating on deals that seem unfair to the other team. These days the shoe is on the other foot.

Isiah is being very patient about making deals... downright cautious. Now this is maddening for those of us who would love to see some change for the better but what is interesting is watching so many teams choke on their bad contracts now that the Knicks aren't easy targets for their disposal. I get kind of a gleeful chuckle out of watching the bastards squirm after all the years the Knicks put up with getting hosed with bad contracts.

Sacto fans want a fire sale. So does Miami, Cleveland, Houston, Milwaukee, Memphis, and others. So much dreck, so few possible trades!

Everybody demands our youth and talent because they're entitled to dump their aging, overpaid star contracts here and Isiah is not playing nice, nice. I must say, I love it.

I hope when Isiah does deal, he gets us fair trade value or better. But Artest isn't worth trading Lee for. Sacto would have to be winning something for that to happen and they aren't going anywhere.

No, McGrady, Bibby, Artest, and a few others on the block are nice pieces but past their prime. Maybe worth a premium in the day but not these days - not for their age, health, or expense. The Knicks do have some youth to offer and some team will make out well. But nobody's taking us to the cleaners this year and I'm good with that.