A Closer Look at the Trade

In the last post we established that the PG position is at least three deep not counting Rautins.  And in capable hands.

At the two we started discussing Landry Fields who I did not count as one of the Knicks "Big Three" but who is rock solid at the two guard position and far above average for the league.  Backing Fields is Wild Bill Walker, an energy two who hits the three regularly.  Behind him line up Kelenna Azukuike and Roger Mason.

Kelenna two years ago was a rising star before he injured his knee.  Every indication is that he is recovering well and should get some light playing time soon.  He too can hit the three.

Mason thus far has not played very much but his track record indicates that he may be able to step in and surprise critics.  He played well with the Spurs and that speaks to some untapped quality that has yet to show itself.

At the two, based on what I can see we're at least three deep and maybe four.  It gets thin after that.


Let's move to the SF position that was once our strongest suit.  Melo is obvious.  The SF position is as good as it's been in decades.  Backing him is newly acquired Corey Brewer and Renaldo Balkman.  Brewer and Balkman both have lots to prove  I expect Walker to be the first off the bench at the three.

Here the critics may be right.  After Melo, we are not deep in quality at the SF position - a considerable change of situation.

We'l have to deal with the Center and Power Forward positions together since the front-court is rather ambiguous.  Here I'm projecting Shawne Williams at the PF slot and Amare at the Center.  Backing them are holdover Ronnie Turiaf, and newly acquired Sheldon Williams.   However, Jerome Jordan will be arriving next year to contend for the center position.  While Turaif and Sheldon are solid peformers, here again we are a bit thin for the immediate future.

Of the roster, Mason, Azu, Walker, Brewer, and Balkman are the most obvious dispensable trade assets.

Earl Barron, a former Knick, may very well get signed to shore up the front court.

Finally let's break down this roster by draft position and see how they stack up:


Anthony:  Round 1, Pick 3, Denver Nuggets

Billups:  Round 1, Pick 3, Boston Celtics

Shelden Williams: Round 1, Pick 5, Atlanta Hawks

Brewer:  Round 1, Pick 7, Minnesota Timberwolves

Amar'e: Round 1, Pick 9, Phoenix Suns

Shawne Williams:  Round 1, Pick 17, Indiana Pacers 

Balkman: Round 1, Pick 20, New York Knicks

Douglas:  Round 1, Pick 29, Los Angeles Lakers

Mason:  Round 2, Pick 2, Chicago Bulls

Turiaf:  Round 2, Pick 7, Los Angeles Lakers

Rautins;  Round 2, Pick 8, New York Knicks

Fields:  Round 2, Pick 9, New York Knicks 

James:   Round 2, Pick 14, Milwaukee Bucks

Walker:   Round 2, Pick 17, Washington Wizards

Kelenna:  2005 Early Entrant

Carter: Undrafted 


That amounts to eight first rounders, five of which were top ten picks.  Does this sound like the makings of a gutted team?