Some finds on Ian O' Connor (CNNSI.com) twitter: http://twitter.com/ian_oconnor Not normal to feel sorry for $100 million dollar athlete, but Amare could have it rough w/ #Knicks fans simply for not being #LeBron 31 minutes ago via web #Knicks know they need 2 big names to take back to fan base. Amare & Tony Parker (via 3way trade) on pick & roll, then spend again next yr 38 minutes ago via web NBA source: "#Knicks fully aware Tony Parker wants to play for them."..As GM, I'd gladly give @EvaLongoria a max deal to make it work about 1 hour ago via web As reported a while back by ESPNNewYork.com, LeBron did get word to #Knicks that he'd like Joe Johnson as a sidekick (surprisingly).... about 9 hours ago via web #Knicks Plan B -- Amare, Joe J this year, Carmelo next year..Plan C- Amare and trade for Tony Parker...Plan D -- take up tennis. about 9 hours ago via web
Heard some rumors of Mike Miller to LAL. Apparently he hesitated, so they signed Steve Blake. They could still work out a Sign and Trade for Blke on July 8th and sign Miller to the MLE if he so chooses. I doubt it happens but Miller standing out on the three point line with Kobe penetrating would be...unfair.
-Miller supposedly wants more then the MLE. -Amare recruiting melo, lebron, Joe Johnson and parker for new York...hopes at least two would come with him. Then taking visit to nj and Chicago on tuesday but may cancel if his situation with nyk gets finalized on Monday.
Maverick carter and lebron visiting the knicks Wednesday - Frank Isola of ny daily news Edit...this is after meeting with the knicks today in Cleveland. Also Joe Johnson has verbally accepted hawks offer per arm tellem ( his agent)
LBJ = Knicks Amare = Knicks Wade = Bulls Boozer = Bulls Bosh = Rockets And I think the Knicks will acquire either Tony Parker or Monta Ellis. My final predictions before all of this begin to unfold.
you are right except about wade and boozer. I really hate the bulls more then the heat after all these years. Always have, always will. Plus wade is legend in miami so I don't wanna see you guys lose him. I don't believe the hype on wade leaving, I think he's just checking out his options. And bosh to Houston could very well happen. S&T with scola heading to Toronto has been mentioned.
Forcing myself to be negative to the max will help me from jumping off a bridge if he leaves. I could just lie to myself.... "I knew he'd leave" and feel maybe a quarter of an inch better.
Rumors of a possible three way deal with al jefferson, David lee, and monta Ellis involved. I'm guessing that something like this wouldn't go down until some of the bigger names fall
High Definition: You really think the Heat are going to get stonewalled like your predictions suggest? Boik: I heard the same thing about Mike Miller. Supposedly the Lakers were set to sign him and re-sign Fisher and call it an offseason, but Miller hesitated, so they signed Steve Blake and are still putting out feelers for Miller, who wants more money.
He's been pessimistic for the last few days and forewarned us not to take his opinions seriously in the interim.
Gotcha. If I was a Heat/Cavs fan, I would probably be freaking out just the same. As it is, I am trying to get excited about Steve Blake and possibly Raja Bell.
So this gives us all an idication of where the others are going then, isn't it? Bosh clearly isn't going to go to Chicago at this point, and I doubt he signs anywhere where he can't play with LeBron or Dwayne. So if this precludes Bosh and at least ONE other marquee guy from signing with Chicago, it bodes will for Miami and Cleveland. Even so, I still can't imagine LeBron staying in Cleveland since he will pretty much setting himself up to fail. Does he go to New York and try to play next to Amar'e?
That means Bosh to Miami or Houston. But also means that if Bosh ends up in Houston, Wade joins Boozer in Chicago because he's not playing with David Lee.
I'll never understand how the team with the best record the last two years, an owner that is completely willing to spend in the luxury tax and a few decent expirings is considered such a horrible place for Bron - and the Knicks and Nets rosters get so much love.
Because I don't think Cleveland is really going to contend with LeBron and a bunch of scrubs, and yes, they are scrubs. New York's roster is pretty bad, as is New Jersey's current roster. But the bigger stage of New York and the opportunity to add more than just LeBron (Amar'e, Parker, etc.) makes that situation better than Cleveland's. Cleveland is willing to spend the money, but they haven't spent it wisely. Is some of that on LeBron? Most certainly, but he probably doesn't see it that way and in this case, perception is reality. I honestly think that Chicago is setting themselves up to be a huge contender if they can land any of the three. They have a ton of talent to build around and getting an established superstar would put them over the top. Especially with the Celtics looking to be on the down swing, Orlando seemingly plateauing and Cleveland/Miami looking like they may be taking giant steps backwards unless something drastic happens (even if Miami does sign Wade and Bosh, their talent behind them doesn't appear to be very good, or deep). So a team like the Bulls are in a perfect position if you ask me. And this is coming from a total Bulls hater.
LOL. the last time that was said...the Heat won 59 games and had the #1 seed. (Oh, they got Shaq but have nothing else...Shaq and Wade alone with scrubs like Eddie Jones and Damon Jones, Rasaul Butler are barely a playoff team...blah blah...) Sam..the Heat gets those two..they are not going to play 2 on 5. Heat still has damn near 15 million more to spend.
I can't speak for anyone else, but I never said the above about Shaq/Wade. I was a huge Eddie Jones fan and knew they would be good for a couple of years with that group. When they got Shaq, they also had more people on their roster. Right now, they have, what, three? Bosh is very very good, but I wouldn't bet on his defense. Wade, is, well, we all know what Wade is, that isn't to be debated. All indiciations look like Beasley is on his way out, or if not, he is going to have to be set back into a proper mindset. Which seems to be easier said than down as he comes off as a little bit of a headcase. If they grab those two, who do you spend the 15 million on? I have heard rumors of Derek Fisher beinf linked ot Miami, but he is A: old B: looking for 5 million a year and C: old. Ridnour? Farmar (might be a good fit except that he wants to be a leader somewhere) Earl Watkins? And what about the 5? The big men scrubs are getting big deals (Darko comes to mind), so if you are planning on getting any type of decent big, for the middle, they have to be defensive minded and probably someone you will have to overpay. Bosh/Wade make the Heat a playoff team for sure. I just don't know if that topples a LeBron led Chicago team or an Orlando team that still has a lot of talent even if tey aren't as good as previously thought. And beyond that, if the Heat are the cream of the crop of the East with the above set up, I don't think it is enough to knock out the Lakers/Thunder/Nuggets out west (those are the three teams my early money is on for 2010-2011). I am content to see how it all shakes out. Believe it or not, as a kid, I would root for the Heat (after my Lakers of course). I was a big Harold Minor and Glen Rice fan (as well as an Alonzo Mourning fan from the day he stepped on the court with the Hornets). So I don't actively root against the Heat unless its against my Lakers. Section: What are your official predictions for the players in question and where they end up?
Wade/Bosh will be fine in Miami as long as Riley can put together the right pieces with the $12 million that would be remaining to fill out, unless he can include Beasley in a sign-and-trade for Bosh.... that would give Miami around $16-17 million to fill the roster. We've already shown our interest in Haywood, Miller, Allen, Fisher, and Felton. You get two or three of those guys and you're in very good shape.
Just thought you should all see this...amare has officially given a verbal committment to NYK 5years/100M http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4765014685_18cfda9694.jpg
http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nba/news/story?id=5356502 ESPN has it now too. Good signing for the Knicks, provided they can find a facilitator (Parker) or a true number one (Wade/LeBron). Amar'e's knees still concern me, but he is a talented big who, going East helps my Lakers so huzzah to that. The league is better when the Knicks are better. And this makes them better.
When the Heat got Shaq..they traded all their good players for him. The Heat was left with this on the roster: Wade Rasul Butler Eddie Jones Udonis Haslem At the time..that was Wade and three scrubs (Eddie Jones was in serious decline) Every publication everywhere said that the Heat was a mid pack team. Well..they won 59 games. The following year they broke down the team and added Antoine Walker, J-Will, adn Posey. Then they won it all. While winning less games (52) As for the #5 spot..they are talking to Haywood. If they end up with: Me at Point Guard. (Likely Ridnour, Chalmers, or felton) Wade Mike Miller or Josh Howard or combo of Que and Dorrell Bosh Haywood They will compete for the East title and are right there with the lakers. The Lakers have Kobe and Gasol ..then they have a cripple at Center, Odom who is a decent piece off the bench, and somebody who calls himself Ron Artest but plays no better than Quentin Richardson. The rest is pedestrian. The teams are very comparable. They all end up like this: LBJ=CLE, Bosh/Wade = MIA, Boozer = CHI, Amare is going to NYC...so they will trade for Parker and then compete with Miami for Mike Miller.
I know the Knicks view a twin towers scenario as option 2 after getting Lebron or Wade and have been in talks with toronto about a possible S&T involving Lee/Bosh if they fail on Lebron. My guess for Bosh is its NYK, Heat or Houston. And dont count out Houston as Bosh has said he prefers not to play center.... Its not that your team isnt willing to spend. Its that the NBA is driven by stars and you need at least 2 great ones or three all stars to win a title and you really dont have either past Lebron. Mo is a third option on a championship team and Im not sure Jamison even belongs on a championship team. He's never played a lick of defense. With the Knicks Lebron gets to bring another all star with him and have a guy who has all star potential (Gallinari) already in place. Plus with Curry and Chandler expiring at the end of the year with a minor move or two we have room for a third max next year when Paul, Deron Williams, Melo, and Howard are all free agents. So theoretically you could be looking at: PG: Toney Douglas SG: Lebron SF: Gallinari PF: Amare C: Howard or PG: Paul or Williams SG: Lebron SF: Gallinari PF: Amare C: whoever... Its a similar situation with NJ. All star already in place in Lopez, room for 1 max and 1 JR max this or they can carry over the cap space in to next year and get a 2nd max when Kris Humpheries expires. They also own 8 draft picks over the next two years so theyre in good position to fill out a roster with good young talent. Its not that cleveland is a bad city; its more that theyve made terrible roster decisions. You dont listen to the player when he says go get that guy. Get a GM with a spine not a freakin dukie failure in the NBA like Ferry. You guys should have pounced on Pritchard or see if you can beg Jerry west to come back.
The Knicks are nowhere near as interested in Mike Miller as is being reported. Thats from Donnie Walsh today (which is good since I never wanted him anyway) Also, Sloan has asked the Jazz to keep Boozer. What Sloan wants, he usually gets from Larry Miller. Could be a S&T there for a true C or a packing of milsap + to upgrade that roster..
They are not shipping Milsap. Boozer is gone. Sloan can ask for whatever he wants. I don;t think it's legal for Larry Miller to pull a gun on Boozer and threaten him to stay in Utah. Utah won;t give him anywhere near a max deal. I hope the knicks don't go after Mike Miller. Their mistake.
I'll help you...You are not getting Wade or Bosh...so it is Lebron that you hope for. it is not only Bosh that does not want to play center. Amare has played in a 1-4 offense his entire career and is going to another 1-4 offense. The Center in that offense is an afterthought offensively.
Dont count on that regarding Boozer. They listen to sloan on almost anything basketball related. We'll see what happens but I think the harder part will be getting Boozer to sign rather then getting Miller to commit the dollars. And committing the 6-8M per that Miller wants is the mistake...We have a taller, cheaper, better version named Gallinari I always said we werent getting Wade in NY. If you scroll back a page or two I said just yesterday he was returning to Miami imo but that wont stop the Knicks from trying. I tend to agree its Lebron for us or wait til next year for Paul. I do believe that Bosh is more in play for the Knicks then you think. Walsh loves talented bigs and has said in numerous interviews that going with multiple bigs would be an option. I know its a 1-4 offense but its a different world when youre looking at bringing a player as talented as Bosh in to the equation.
Anyway...my dream scenario for the Knicks has always been the same. Add a Big this year (Amare..) trade for a PG (Parker), and add Melo outright as a free agent in 2011.
yep... After years of losing I couldnt complain with a team that probably would land in the 50-55 win range but Im not sure how much I like that scenario even though Melo is my favorite player simply because it necessitates trading Gallinari who is strictly a 3 and probably would get pushed to a 4 and amare gets pushed to the 5.
As a Knicks fan Im not overly excited about Amare.....Were not gaining THAT much offensively when you take away David Lee, and quite frankly Amare is never going to win defensive player of the year. But he can run in this offense so we just need to land Parker in the worst way and were already a playoff team in the East.
Amare is MUCH better then David Lee. Amare is a dominant offensive player who from 10 feet in is going to impose his will and be virtually unstoppable. Granted he needs someone to get him the ball but the same can be said for Lee.
It has nothing to do with that. Ive said for months now that if Lee was back in a Knicks uniform at the start of the year Id be steamed unless he was a 3rd or 4th wheel to the equation because hes a product of D'Antoni's system. D'Antoni helped him become a much better fundamental and half court player but make no mistake that in any other system he's probably a 13-15PPG player who gets 8-9 rebounds a game and still plays zero defense. he is not a 20 and 12 guy. Ive watched Karl Malone and Charles Barkley and Patrick Ewing and Shaq among others..I know a 20 and 12 player when I see one. Not that Amare is a great defensive player but he does block shots and hes a much stronger player. These are just facts plain and simple. If you believe the stats on Lee holding up in say a Spurs style half court system I have oceanfront property in Iowa for you. Lee is a nice complimentary piece, nothing more. Hes fundamentally sound and can usually be relied upon to play smart but he is nothing like Amare in the talent department. It also doesnt change that Lee gave up almost 60% FGA the last two season. I know he was playing out of position but really? 60%? A player with his leaping ability should also have more blocks. And if you dont think the physical aspects of what Amare brings being a much more imposing player are important think again. Basketball is a game of opposing your will on your opponent it is almost all about the physical aspects.
In other news Derrick Rose is an idiot...he wanted Joe Johnson more then Lebron. I cant make this stuff up:http: //www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/67865/20100705/rose_preferred_johnson_over_lebron/ Donnie Walsh on why he went with Amare over Bosh: No link, I got this through the Newsday website which is pay only: Alan Hahn wrote: The Knicks went with Stoudemire over Bosh, who remains unsigned, because, Walsh said, "I think, to a degree, the fact that Amar'e really wanted to come here, stepped up to the front and it got to the point where we had to acknowledge that." Bosh is believed to have been less inclined with playing in New York compared to Chicago, Miami or, perhaps, Houston in a sign-and-trade Knicks have reached out to Kurt Thomas, one of two active payers from their 99 finals team. Wouldnt be bad for the vet minimum.
And yet your post just reinforces the pedestal you're now placing Amare on. Amare is a very good player and I preferred him just ever so slightly to Bosh, but for intangible reasons. He's not the monster you're describing him as. Yeah, when he signs that contract he'll be your best player in a long time, but that isn't saying a whole lot.
In no way does my post reinforce that. It just demonstrates the weaknesses of David Lee's game. Nowhere did I say that Amare was a top 5 player (he's not) or that he is the cure-all for the Knicks woes. But he does make them much better. He does make them more appealing to a Lebron or some of the players next year and he does significantly upgrade the talent on their roster. If you choose to continue your normal anti-NY bias I cant help you. But I've had to be honest with myself as a Knicks fan the last few years....if David Lee were that good the Knicks would be better.
