If the best news from the Knicks is that they re-signed Ron Baker, we are in for another woeful season.
At this point in Carmelo's career, even with (perhaps especially with) the Knicks, he would be the ultimate sixth man. You know, the sort who comes off the bench for his firepower, averages over 20 points a game while playing no more than 25 minutes a game.
Physically, less stress playing fewer minutes, so his career could last longer. Longer...could be useful in convincing Anthony to take on the sixth man role.
Physically, less stress playing fewer minutes, so his career could last longer. Longer...could be useful in convincing Anthony to take on the sixth man role.
I think a coach tayloring a system to the players available can be successful for the Knicks, at least now that Phil Jackson is gone as a would-be coach who was not actually coaching and seemed to resent players who could not be what he wanted them to be.
Here is an absurd set of notions for the Knicks.
1. Knicks trade Carmelo Anthony ($24m/yr) to the Rockets for Ryan Anderson ($19m/yr)
2. Knicks trade Courtney Lee ($11m/yr), Kyle O’Quinn ($4m/yr), and Joakim Noah ($13m/yr) to the Orlando Magic for Elfrid Payton ($3.3m/yr) and Bismack Biyombo ($17m/yr). I realize this would never happen, but it's nice to imagine it.
3. Knicks sign Ramon Sessions, Tyreke Evans, and Rudy Gay. Again, highly unlikely.
4. The starting lineup for the Knicks would be as follows:
PG: Elfrid Payton
SG: Tyreke Evans
SF: Rudy Gay
PF: Kristaps Porzingis
C: Willy Hernangomez
Bench would include Sessions, Anderson, and Biyombo. It would be a poor defensive team, but with Jeff Hornacek coaching this group, the team would be explosive on offense, run wild, and fun to watch.
1. Knicks trade Carmelo Anthony ($24m/yr) to the Rockets for Ryan Anderson ($19m/yr)
2. Knicks trade Courtney Lee ($11m/yr), Kyle O’Quinn ($4m/yr), and Joakim Noah ($13m/yr) to the Orlando Magic for Elfrid Payton ($3.3m/yr) and Bismack Biyombo ($17m/yr). I realize this would never happen, but it's nice to imagine it.
3. Knicks sign Ramon Sessions, Tyreke Evans, and Rudy Gay. Again, highly unlikely.
4. The starting lineup for the Knicks would be as follows:
PG: Elfrid Payton
SG: Tyreke Evans
SF: Rudy Gay
PF: Kristaps Porzingis
C: Willy Hernangomez
Bench would include Sessions, Anderson, and Biyombo. It would be a poor defensive team, but with Jeff Hornacek coaching this group, the team would be explosive on offense, run wild, and fun to watch.
Dolan firing Jackson was akin to Trump firing Comey...a stupid decision made by out of touch, trust fund babies that have no clue.
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hiring Jackson was stupid, firing him was inevitable. But hey, the next time dolan does something smart will be the first time dolan does something smart.
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Curry at 40 million a year? Salary cap must be getting higher, otherwise that's 40% of the cap space and the owner has already commented about not wanting to pay too much luxury tax. I imagine with all the money in the Bay Area ticket prices and everything else (parking, concessions) are through the roof. Do teams get more $$$ when they're on national TV regularly, or is that revenue divided equally among all NBA teams?
Seems like a different lifetime when Jerry Buss famously signed Magic Johnson to a 25 year 25 million dollar contract. Used to be baseball was the crazy money sport, now the NBA is clearly on top. I'm reading about 3rd point guards possibly getting 7 million per year, 3rd stringers see the court unless there's an injury or it's garbage time.
I have a hard time understanding these salaries when there have been articles written about how the model of cable TV stations paying exorbitant sums for the broadcasting rights is in serious jeopardy. That's where the $$$ are more than ticket sales, especially for smaller market teams.
Note to Republican congressfolk and their supporters: the free market works in sports, billion dollar stadiums partially funded by local taxpayers aside. One chooses whether to go to the games, buy the apparel, watch on the telly. Health care, not so much though, for too many obvious reasons to list.
Seems like a different lifetime when Jerry Buss famously signed Magic Johnson to a 25 year 25 million dollar contract. Used to be baseball was the crazy money sport, now the NBA is clearly on top. I'm reading about 3rd point guards possibly getting 7 million per year, 3rd stringers see the court unless there's an injury or it's garbage time.
I have a hard time understanding these salaries when there have been articles written about how the model of cable TV stations paying exorbitant sums for the broadcasting rights is in serious jeopardy. That's where the $$$ are more than ticket sales, especially for smaller market teams.
Note to Republican congressfolk and their supporters: the free market works in sports, billion dollar stadiums partially funded by local taxpayers aside. One chooses whether to go to the games, buy the apparel, watch on the telly. Health care, not so much though, for too many obvious reasons to list.
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Basketball has the smallest rosters, hence the highest salaries.
Two hundred million for shooting basketballs. No wonder this country is in deep trouble!
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When when the knicks start drafting physically tough, team-first defensive oriented players like Charles Oakley and Jerry Sloan, wake up the New York basketball fans.
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As a serious NBA fan for more than 50 years I have never rooted for the Knicks, (I've been a Blazers diehard since 1979) but I remember when they were relevant. The league would be far more exciting if New York had a competitive team, but given how miserable the Knicks and Nets are, (in the 2016-2017 season 8 NBA teams won as many or more games as the two NY teams combined) and how they cap-crippled themselves, it's going to be a few years before that can happen.
Hang in there, Knicks fans. My Detroit Lions haven't sniffed a title in 60 years.
Hang in there, Knicks fans. My Detroit Lions haven't sniffed a title in 60 years.
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They have Holiday who can work as point guard. They have Baker. They have Lance Thomas who is a good ball handler. And they have the new draft pick, Ntilikina. They really should try and keep Rose and give him another season. Without having to worry about Jackson's triangle he may be able to get back to All Star form.... Anthony at one forward and Porzingis at the other, Herman-Gomez at center and a very good bench, they should easily make the playoffs in the East. With Jackson's ridiculous triangle and his childish tweeting gone, it will be like a big yoke gone from around this team's neck. I think they will be alright, esp if this draft pick turns out to be somebody who can play.
Orange, NJ
Orange, NJ
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The way this article is framed makes it seem like having over 15 million in cap room is a bad thing.
In Phil's defense:
The Knicks were over the cap with no picks when he arrived. Whatever you think of his decisions, the team now has flexibility to sign a free agent this summer because of Phil.
Remember, even with the Noah signing (it should be noted Noah averaged an impressive 8 rebounds in a paltry 22 minutes per game -- not bad considering he was playing through injuries; imagine if he can finally get healthy and play 24-30 minutes?), Phil went young, or younger:
The jury is out on his record as an exec because he acquired youth with potential that hasn't been realized yet-- in 5 years his reputation may he redeemed as an exec if Porzingis and Willy become perennial allstars and remain with the team for 7 years and the team succeeds in the playoffs largely because of them, and if Ntilikina becomes an allstar too the Garden may be chanting Phils name in gratitude.
Unlikely? Yes.
Possible? Yes.
Phil would admit he deserved criticism because the Rose trade backfired and the Melo no trade clause backfired, and Noah got hurt (for one year), but the jury is and will be out for Phil's draft picks for at least 2 years. If the team keeps these players and they fulfill their potential his legacy as an exec may be a lot different than it is at this moment.
In Phil's defense:
The Knicks were over the cap with no picks when he arrived. Whatever you think of his decisions, the team now has flexibility to sign a free agent this summer because of Phil.
Remember, even with the Noah signing (it should be noted Noah averaged an impressive 8 rebounds in a paltry 22 minutes per game -- not bad considering he was playing through injuries; imagine if he can finally get healthy and play 24-30 minutes?), Phil went young, or younger:
The jury is out on his record as an exec because he acquired youth with potential that hasn't been realized yet-- in 5 years his reputation may he redeemed as an exec if Porzingis and Willy become perennial allstars and remain with the team for 7 years and the team succeeds in the playoffs largely because of them, and if Ntilikina becomes an allstar too the Garden may be chanting Phils name in gratitude.
Unlikely? Yes.
Possible? Yes.
Phil would admit he deserved criticism because the Rose trade backfired and the Melo no trade clause backfired, and Noah got hurt (for one year), but the jury is and will be out for Phil's draft picks for at least 2 years. If the team keeps these players and they fulfill their potential his legacy as an exec may be a lot different than it is at this moment.
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Phil did not accomplish anything in three years. He stubbornly insisted on the triangle offense, even though he was not the coach. He did not travel to scout new players like other GMs in the league. He is not a zen master.
The main problem that has arose with the New York Knicks has been the owners, not the players. Carmelo Anthony has been consistantaly put in the dirt despite the fact that he is the main source of hope for this team. If they put in a new coach that doesn't trade away all their assets for virtually nothing, maybe this team could see some wins.
if that diva is your main source of hope, you belong in the dirt. Unless you think all teams should have a ball hogging, coach killing, me first chucker as the face of the franchise.
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If the public interest in the team wanes then perhaps Dolan sells the team. This will help.
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With or without Jackson, nothing will fix this pathetic franchise as long as Dolan is the owner. He was in the right place at the right time by inheriting Cable Vision and MSG from daddy. He has turned The Garden into a modern day version of the Roman Coliseum- great at one time, but now in ruins.
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