Seventeen to Go

Knicks beat the cHeat.

Knicks Lose to Cavs

WTF?

Eighteen to Go

Knicks beat Bucks.  Melo debut.  Awesome.

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?

Carmelo Finally a Knick

The trade details got tweaked along the way.  We lost Mozgov and gained Cory Brewer.

The Nuggets made out well.  Compare their haul to what Cleveland got for LeBron and there's no comparison.  The former Knicks will represent well in Denver and surprise that fan base.  The Knicks traded a lot of heart, talent, and good citizenship in this deal.  While none of these players are superstars of the Carmelo Anthony variety, Denver  fans need only examine the heated and frantic pleas of New York fans NOT to do the deal to realize they have acquired a core set of players who will compete at high levels for a long time.

Critics like to point out that the Knicks were *only* two games above .500 at the time of the trade.  Lost in the analysis are 6-8 games lost either early in the season due to unfamiliarity with Felton and STAT or during these trade talk times when the team lost focus.  Denver will rock in the West.  Book it.

On our end we all know Anthony is a perennial All-Star and a scoring machine.  And his availabilty in trade became a necessity for the Knicks.  You can't compete with Miami or Boston with what we had and expect a long playoff run.

But aside from Anthony the Knicks acquired a handful of talent hardened by George Karl and a number of valiant Denver playoff campaigns of recent years.  First that means that New York has bulked up for a playoff run.  Gone are half of the kiddie crew we nurtured and incoming are some hardened talents.

Let's break it down:

In Billups, the Knicks upgrade the most important position on the court.  While Felton's heart and energy will not be forgotten, in Billups the Knicks have a third All-Star who is a deadly three-point threat, floor-general, and someone who will get the ball to the right place at the right time.  He's a step or two older as well.

The insurance backup point guard the Knicks have been seeking was also part of this deal, Anthony Carter.  Carter is a pro who was buried on the bench in Denver but who maintains a professional composure to keep himself in shape and ready to play.  He's also a vet who will stabilizes  the bench.

And let's not forget Toney Douglas was kept out of the Denver trade.  He's will back up Billups and he's a defensive force to be dealt with.  He disspells all myths that the Knicks don't play defense.

So the point guard position is locked down.  If Boston considers Ray Allen and Miami considers Chris Bosch part of their "Big Three" then NY can credibly claim Billups as part of their "Big Three" as well.

At shooting guard what needs to be said about Landry Fields?  He's a throwback to the seventies Knicks - unselfish, gifted, and plays within his game.  Another youth who wasn't included in the Denver trade.

(to be continued)

Once the deal is done...

The Carmelo deal is all but done.

Denver will do it because George Karl is on a mission and Gallo, Chandler, and Felton reload the Nuggets nicely.  The Nets offer is a pocket full of sand.  They know it, we know it.  Do the math.

Okay, Moz/Turiaf, Stoudamire/Williams, Melo/Walker, Fields/Mason/Kelenna, Billups/Douglas/Carter.

The backup point issue is resolved with Anthony Carter who I think will be a steal come playoff time.  We sign Earl Barron and the center spot has 15 fouls to give.

Kelenna and Mason are very tradeable.  looks like we need a PF who can rebound and bang.

I'm also a Grant Hill fan... Kelenna for Hill?  Works for me.

Nineteen to Go

Knicks beat Atlanta

Twenty to Go

Knicks Beat Nets

Knicks Lose to Lakers

The Lakers need not be proud.  They suck too.

Knicks lose to Clippers

Silly, lazy loss.

Twenty-One to Go

Knicks beat Philly.  Carmelo rumors heating up.

Knicks Lose to Sixers

Crazy to lose games like this.

Knicks Lose to Mavs

Oh well.