www.KnicksDefense.com

To continue from the other post.I think Heinrich could do a wonderful Steve Nash.Heinrich came from Kansas and was always a great team guy.He’s bigger than T.J.not as creative, but always makes the play.He’s also durable and a winner, and he plays D.I have no problem with T.J.but he has a narrowing in the spinal canal of some sort that makes playing at his size and with his history a very dangerous situation.I wouldn’t take that bet.It’s hard to give up something you love, but he needs to get into another aspect of the game before he gets really hurt.But that’s his choice.I just would not employ him.I’m not saying Heinrich is the only guy for us, but he could do it.Duhon is also available, but Heinrich is better.

By Tman on Jun 20, 2008 at 3:40 pm

I think we NEED a big man’s coach to teach Z-bo and especially EC how to block some shots……..or act like they are trying to. Ask Boston…DEFENSE wins championships!!!

By D L T Knicks on Jun 20, 2008 at 5:11 pm

@KnicksD

If it is Herb,then he needs to go also.Based on the lack of defense from EC last year,he did a bad job. I know Mark Aquirre was working with him on the “fat man post moves”,but he need defensive work.You would think at this stage in his “Professional” career he should know how to block shots and clog the paint.

By D L T Knicks on Jun 20, 2008 at 7:53 pm

ny post
There are continued reports out of Arizona that the Suns are shopping D’Antoni favorite Leandro Barbosa to the Knicks as part of a draft-night deal. The problem is, Barbosa’s contract extends past 2010, and the Knicks are trying to slide under the cap.

That makes a lot of sense if they can rework Barbosa’s contract or get Phoenix to take back other contracts to offset his increase.LGK

By Tman on Jun 21, 2008 at 7:12 pm

Phoenix is definitely shopping Barbosa. And Portland, according to Hahn, wants him. (And they definitely don’t want another rookie on a VERY young roster – 10 out of 14 roster spots are players 25 and younger.) What do you guys think of this trade:

Portland gets Barbosa. Phoenix gets the #6 pick.

New York gets the Phoenix #15 pick, the Portland #13 pick . . . AND our own second round pick back from Portland that we sent them for Nichols last year.

It means Portland pays a #13 and a second round pick for Barbosa. Feels fair. Phoenix pays Barbosa and a #15 pick for the #6. That feels like a really good deal.

And for the #6 pick, we trade down for two top first-round prospects at #13 and #15 in a deep draft and a high second round pick.

Whaddaya think?

By Trane on Jun 21, 2008 at 10:07 pm

Hell no, we want Barbossa and some cap relief.We give them the 6 and a contract that makes sense, possibly through a third party.We can take back a less expensive player to either cut, or expire in 2008 or 2009.Any of the big three are also very negotiable Zbo, Curry, who if he hasn’t started working out is expendable,or Steph(last resort, unless we get back a point)Trading down makes sense for a player we need right now.The 6 is worth more than the 13 & 15 together, look at the projections.The 6 is a player, 13 is a good guess, and so on.Very few rooks can help us now,They are not NBA ready,Beasley,Gordon,Love may be able to help right away because of what they already are capable of doing.Most other guys need time to develop, including Rose.All points need some time going back to Frazier.Monroe didn’t because he was firing from day one.If we don’t get a qualiy guy, Barbossa, Heinrich we may as well hold on to the 6.lgk

By Tman on Jun 21, 2008 at 11:35 pm

Pre Draft Special @ 1050 ESPN

From 11:00AM-1:00PM

By Orange and Blue on Jun 22, 2008 at 10:30 am

It may be worth mentioning that Barbossa and Marbury had a very close friendship when Steph was there.If Mike D wanted to go the way of a “Steph must make good this final year to resurrect his career”year it might make a lot of sense to pursue Barbossa.Steph in the middle and Jamal and Leandro on the wings could be entertaining in a Russian roulette kind of way.If you’re running and playing no D, your big man is expendable.We can go with Lee.

By the way Love’s draft number, and Alexander’s keep rising.

By Tman on Jun 22, 2008 at 2:34 pm

Good PM Defenders!

@Tman, I concur and co-sign post #1. Heinrich is all of those things you described. He played for Roy Williams who runs the collegiate version of the 7 second offense. The one quality you omitted in your post Tman is Heinrich’s size at the PG position. He is a big PG and willing to play D. I would prefer him to TJ too for all of the factors stated.

Thursday evening should be quite interesting and I’m looking forward to witnessing how all of this unfolds. Transformation takes time, but I am hopeful we are headed in the right direction. BAYLESS or WESTBROOK or ALEXANDER or LOVE or RANDOLPH…Hopefully we can get Ewing Jr. via Free-Agency. He is a smarter more polished and gifted offensive version of Balkman. Still raw by NBA standards, but it makes Balkman another chip on the trading block…Just Blogging

Peace!

Keep it POPPIN!

By Cooleyhigh on Jun 22, 2008 at 3:02 pm

Tom Thibodeau would have been a better coach then Mike D’Antoni. Thibodeau helped Doc Rivers turn the Celtics into a highly efficient team. The problem with Mike D’Antoni is that his teams never played defense. The Knicks last year didn’t play defense, so why would they hire a coach who has had teams that couldn’t play defense?

By ed drossman on Jun 22, 2008 at 4:37 pm

I don’t want to see another Chi-NY trade. I think we’ve been down that road enough.

I don’t understand all the PG play. We have NO REAL DEFENDERS. I’d like to see the 6-11 kid from LSU. He is a little light-in-the-ass, but we need a shotblocker. He’d also matchup better with our Centers. If we can’t get Beasley or Mayo, I’d go for the defensive big.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/06232008/sports/knicks/marbury_speaks_116753.htm

I know we’ve heard enough from Mr. Marbury, but his money is about to run out. Something about playing for a $20 mil makes a player rediscover his game.

I agree; we should have waited for Thibodeau(sp), but our media would never allow a 2 month wait to name the coach.

By HarleminMD on Jun 23, 2008 at 12:04 pm

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/gallery/featured/GAL1000269/1/index.htm

Something to look forward to. Can our management make this list for the first time in our history? Kobe-like pick @#6? Let’s dream!

By HarleminMD on Jun 23, 2008 at 12:11 pm

Tom Thibodeau would have been a better coach then Mike D’Antoni. Thibodeau helped Doc Rivers turn the Celtics into a highly efficient team. The problem with Mike D’Antoni is that his teams never played defense. The Knicks last year didn’t play defense, so why would they hire a coach who has had teams that couldn’t play defense?

By ed drossman on Jun 23, 2008 at 12:41 pm

Rest in peace Mr. Carlin.

KnicksD

Heard the word that the U.S. Supreme Court Ruled in Favor of the Nets Moving to Brooklyn?

The New London Supreme Court Decisions which extended the whole “public use” term in the 4th Amendment to the Constitution to mean “public purpose” is going to work like a legal wrecking ball against lower income communities.

By Orange and Blue on Jun 23, 2008 at 1:20 pm

Chad Ford’s latest BSPN Mock Draft offers the Knicks both good news and bad news

Bad News First!

The Knicks Pick Danilo Gallinari with their 6th pick in the draft.

Good News! (Depends on your point of view really)

The Knicks Trade David Lee and Malik Rose’s expiring contract for Brain Cardinal ( who has a large contract at 2 years and 13 million dollars left- still Cardinal would not adversely effect the Knicks 2010 plan).

Here’s the link!

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=MockDraft-080623

By Orange and Blue on Jun 23, 2008 at 1:45 pm

Here is the boxscore for our lowest moment:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=271129002

WE NEED DEFENSE!!!

By HarleminMD on Jun 23, 2008 at 2:52 pm

Defenders

Matt B

I believe the reasoning in the Lee and Rose for Cardinal (his bad contract and all) and the 5th pick is that Cardinal’s terrible contract runsout before 2010. For the Grizzlies that terrible unproductive player and contract hurts the team, the Knicks can absorb the bad contract long enough for it to dissapear and for the Knicks to pursue the 2010 free agent sweepstake.

Hence, the trade is not a misguided Isiah Thomas acquisition of a bad contract just to obtain a player, (in this instance a top 5 lottery pick), with potential. Rather the scenario is to do the following:

1. Exit and or avoid the possibility of overpaying for Lee’s services to the detriment of the 2010 objective.

2. Obtain another lottery pick thereby increasing the possibility that one of the two top six picks get will pan out into a star calibur player.

3. Reduce the salary pool by playing young inexpensive cheap players who will not encumber the 2010 objective- as one blogger noted.

4. Absorb one bad contract as the sour that comes with the sweet but that won’t have a post 2010 aftertaste.

If the deal is for real then I also say

DO IT!

By Orange and Blue on Jun 23, 2008 at 5:07 pm

Pre Draft Special @ 8:00PM on NBA TV

Check out http://www.nba.com for more details

By Orange and Blue on Jun 23, 2008 at 6:02 pm

Here is another article about the Lee propose trade.

By D L T Knicks on Jun 23, 2008 at 7:49 pm

KnicksD

Damon is aight with me but Boston is full of poser bandwagon fans now a days.

Here in NY with the internet and all we know who the die hards are from the fair wheather weasals

By Orange and Blue on Jun 23, 2008 at 8:08 pm

KnicksD

With regards to Asswhola…

Karma’s hit him and his two bit DailySleauth Opinion, Conjecture, and Guessework that he tries to pass off as news and a respectable blog right in the proverbal nads.

I’m exited I hope some good comes out of this Knicksdraft.

Sorry about inadvertantly jynxing the Knicks during the draft lottery.

I got a self imposed gag order imposed on myself for Thursday’s draft.

Not a peep from me that night!

By Orange and Blue on Jun 23, 2008 at 10:39 pm

Giving Lee up for a “maybe” at five for cap relief is crazy.Lee has his limits but he can play.I would trade him for a deal at 1, 2, or 3 because I know exactly what I’m getting for him.Otherwise I only trade him for another proven player I want (please not T.J. the Broken) or as part of a deal to get rid of one of the big three money anchors around my neck.There is a market for Lee so I can sign and trade him to a team that’s hungry for him.There should be many.Rookies, even great ones, exempting Odenesque guys, are overvalued.How many played for the really good teams this year?The two best rooks played for Seattle and Atlanta, what did those teams do?Boston, a team built with veterans, lucked up with Rondo, a 2nd yr man,because they had a bench.What difference did Durant, a very good player, really make?You have to build a team.It’s interesting to see the confusion and wild rumors about which GM is trying to get which player.The trick is to get ANY player who will be a solid pro.The fans see every draftee as a potential superstar.The GM’s will be happy with someone who can make a contribution next year and be solid the years after that.Most of these guys will be busts and forgotten except in trivia games in a few years.Open your eyes and see what’s in front of you,That’s pretty much what your gonna get.Trade, trade down or pick, but come away with something real,(Barbossa, Heinrich) not a “maybe he can play in the NBA” guy.LGK Love could still be the answer!

By Tman on Jun 24, 2008 at 11:38 am

Oh yeah, the Bayless dunkfest looked like the lay up line at Rucker.Nothing special there.He reminds me of Agent Zero.If that’s the way you want to go…personally, I’d like to see a highlight tape of great assists he’s made.lgk

By Tman on Jun 24, 2008 at 11:45 am

The Knicks should do three things this year (summer or during season):

1. draft a defensive star with some offensive potential;
2. Sign a deadly spot-up deep shooting guard for cheap (a defensive liability is fine);
3. get rid of 2 players with big contracts; anybody marketable (Randolph, Lee, Marbury, Crawford)

By HarleminMD on Jun 24, 2008 at 12:21 pm

The Grizz taking back Lee with a contract about to expire isn’t as bad as people here make it sound.

Lee is coveted in this league, and he is Chip in play for many a team thinking it can take the next step with a rugged rebounding 4 such as Lee in their mits. Also should the Grizz use Lee as a trade chip the team getting Lee (for a pick most likely) will know exactly what their getting.

Every year Lee has played in NY he focused on improving some aspect of his game. That work ethic and his disposition to be a strong rebounder with an improving mid range jumper will lure many a trade proposal which Memphis can use to dump another albatross contract down the road.

So I don’t buy this whole lop sided for the Grizzlies take on the Memphis New York trade rumor.

By Orange and Blue on Jun 24, 2008 at 2:05 pm

Harlem,

Good to see ya bruh!!

Your first comment is why I’m hoping the Knicks draft Westbrook. We should be able to obtain an assassin pretty easily thru free agency.

The last thing will prove to be difficult. Randolph looks to be the one we’ll be able to move; the others we’ll probably have to wait for them to expire.

Who do you think we should pick?

By BronxboyinMd on Jun 24, 2008 at 2:53 pm

There is a lot of spec about how financially conscious Memphis is.If that is true why would they take on Lee’s new contract-to-be and a giant takeaway like one of the Marbury-Zbo-Curry contacts that need to go before 2010.Why would we give up Lee unless there is a clear advantage to us?We can always shop Lee.It’s those other dudes that are the problem.I like the 2010 plan.Let it sit out there and marinate in LeBron’s and other star’s brains.This is where they want to be if they want the big moey and exposure.If we don’t get LeBron, which by the way makes huge financial sense for the NBA at large, and LeBron personally,we’ll get the next best thing.The precedents are there.Jabbar and Shaq forced trades to LA and the championships in L.A. translate to huge dollars.Championships in NY and LA make everyone richer no matter how much they may complain.Not true of Boston and San Antonio.At some point LeBron will leave Cleveland.It’s just business.Why not come here.lgk

By Tman on Jun 24, 2008 at 2:55 pm

Bronx,

What’s up? It’s good to dream again about the possibilities of a developing team.

I’m not sure, but the top 10 picks have about 7 combo guards and we’re loaded with those. Augustin looks like the only pure point, but he has to have a dominant shotblocker to keep the offense honest or he will get abused. I don’t know Anthony Randolph (6′11″ shotblocker), but that’s the prototype that we need.

What’s that guard that played in the summer leagues last year? He had a killer jumpshot. We need him, not Fred Jones, as the fifth guard. Designated killer jumpshooter.

I also like the idea of Cardinal/___ for #5. Load up with the youngins and mix in a little veteran players.

Time to dream. We’ll see on Thursday!

By HarleminMD on Jun 24, 2008 at 4:33 pm

from NY Times;

The N.B.A. holds its draft in a Manhattan theater, a setting that evokes drama, colorful characters and wily plot twists. It is, in the best of years, a night of exultation and exclamation marks. This is not one of those years.

The Bulls are expected to pick Derrick Rose at No. 1.
N.B.A.

Most experts are calling Thursday’s event a two-man draft. One Western Conference general manager called it a one-man draft. An Eastern Conference player personnel director called it “a great draft for solid N.B.A. players,” which was a bit of a backhanded compliment.

Derrick Rose, the Memphis point guard, is a near lock to be taken No. 1 by the Chicago Bulls. Michael Beasley, the Kansas State power forward, will probably be taken second by the Miami Heat. They are, by nearly all accounts, the only players who will make an immediate impact or become future All-Stars.

After those two, the night will belong to players who are too short, too thin or too raw, one-dimensional, immature or simply untested. Many will become useful players, but few are likely to be starters.

So the usual draft-night exclamation points will be replaced by another form of punctuation.

“Every one of these guys has a question mark,” said Jay Bilas, an ESPN analyst. “Every one of them.”

As he ran down the list of prospects in a conference call Monday, Bilas frequently referred to prospects with great “tools” who may or may not have “the key to the toolbox.” That description may fit every player from No. 3 through No. 60.

“For anybody really after 2, I don’t see a guy that’s necessarily going to help put 10 more wins on your board, like some of the guys that have gone 1 through 12 the last couple years,” said the Eastern Conference player personnel director, who, like other team executives, asked to remain anonymous because he did not want to be seen as denigrating future N.B.A. players.

It is a good year to be drafting in the second round, and a bad year to be drafting low in the first round, where the players get two-year guaranteed deals but may not be any better than those taken 15 spots later. The stars of draft night will be Rose and Beasley, freshmen with short résumés but considerable gifts.

“For me, it’s a one-man draft,” said the Western Conference general manager, who called Rose “far and away your best bet.” He said that Beasley was the type of forward who came along once every two years, whereas someone like Rose came along once every five.

At least eight lottery teams — including the Knicks, at No. 6 — are searching for a starting point guard, but they will come away with imperfect alternatives. After Rose, the next best options are all combo guards, or undersize shooting guards, including O. J. Mayo of Southern California, Jerryd Bayless of Arizona and Russell Westbrook of U.C.L.A. The next best true point guard is the Texas sophomore D. J. Augustin, but his height — listed at 5-11 — is a concern.

The strength of the draft is actually in the frontcourt. Ten 7-footers could be drafted, four in the first round, led by Stanford center Brook Lopez; his twin, Robin (also of Stanford); DeAndre Jordan of Texas A&M; and JaVale McGee of Nevada.

“I don’t love the quality of the bigs,” said the Western Conference general manager, who said that there were no Greg Odens or even a Chris Kaman in the bunch. But a team may find a Kendrick Perkins.

Scouts and draft watchers seem to be in agreement on the top 11 players, if not necessarily the order. The group is expected to include Rose, Beasley, Brook Lopez, Westbrook, Mayo, Augustin, U.C.L.A. forward Kevin Love, Indiana shooting guard Eric Gordon, West Virginia forward Joe Alexander, forward Danilo Gallinari from Italy and L.S.U. forward Anthony Randolph.

The real suspense may not be about who gets drafted and when, but where each player ends up by the end of the night. For a variety of reasons — mainly the dearth of elite talent — league executives expect an active trade market. It could be similar to 2006, when five of the top eight picks were traded in a generally weak draft.

The Knicks, the Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Clippers are among the lottery teams who could try to trade down because they need proven veterans more than they need prospects.

“But it’s a tough call,” the Eastern Conference player personnel director said. “You don’t want to get caught passing up a Randolph or Gordon because they could take three or four years to develop. It’s easier to write about doing it and say a team could do it than it is for a team to actually do it.”

That’s about it!Trade the pick for somebody who can play now!Still like Love.

By Tman on Jun 24, 2008 at 4:57 pm

I would not be surprised if Walsh took this opportunity to gut-out Isiah’s young talent.Which would include trading Lee,Balkman,N8,Chandler,Collins and Morris.Only Lee,Balk and N8 have real trade value.But,to trade one or two of these guys to get a shot at young superstar is a chance we need to take.We got lucky with Lee,but he is no superstar,Mayo could be…….

No one knew *DWade picked 5th would be a star.

Others: *Branden Roy picked 6th
*Chris Paul picked 4th
*Deron Williams picked 3th
Andrew Bynum picked 10th
Ben Gordon picked 3th
Luol Deng picked 7th
Andre Iguodala picked 9th
Kevin Martin picked 26th
*Chris Bosh picked 4th
T.J.Ford picked 8th
*David West picked 18th
Leandro Barbosa picked 28th
*Amare Stoudemire picked 9th
*Caron Bulter picked 10th
*Tayshaun Prince picked 23th
*Josh Howard picked 29th
*denotes all-star player

These are player to build a team around…this what we need to look for.

By D L T Knicks on Jun 24, 2008 at 7:05 pm

Defenders

@ 1050 ESPN on THE BRANDON TIERNEY SHOW

JOE ALEXANDER!

By Orange and Blue on Jun 24, 2008 at 8:21 pm

@ 9:25PM

By Orange and Blue on Jun 24, 2008 at 8:22 pm

KD,

Thanks. Hopefully the Knicks (and KnicksDefense) can get going again.

The guy was Brian Greene. 6′7″ with a good jumpshot. Nichols would be nice too. It was a mistake to keep Fred Jones last year and dump Nichols.

That New York Times writer said Beasley’s type of talent comes around every two years. That’s wrong. Beasley’s combination of size, shooting and rebounding is rare. A true power foward with a deft touch? If Beasley is serious about being a major star, he will be a major one.

I also don’t know if I agree that there are no true bigs in the draft. Look at KG. He (along with Rasheed) has changed the profile of the PF/C. These college players resemble KG. Jordan, Lopez twins, Anthony Randolph: long, lean and finesse-types.

Love is a throwback. I like his game. But can he guard the perimeter? We already have Lee who also likes to bang and rebound, but cannot guard the perimeter.

If Mayo is available, we should take him. Otherwise, we need a big.

By HarleminMD on Jun 25, 2008 at 9:26 am

@KnicksD

The summer league idea would be a GREAT idea,especially for Curry coming off an injury.I would try to get Q,JJeferies,JJames and even Steph to show up for 1 or 2 games.There needs to be a bigger committment from the players to get in shape and ready for the season.The coaches need to understand what they have to work with in the players.The IS a new era in New York Knicks basketball and it starts Thursday at 7:00pm.

By D L T Knicks on Jun 25, 2008 at 12:14 pm

This would be a dump move for Knicks.
Unloading Marbury good,taking big contracts of Marion and Blount,and losing the #6 pick,bad.

Unless Miami is adding the #2 pick.

By D L T Knicks on Jun 25, 2008 at 4:56 pm

Possible cap relief deals

By D L T Knicks on Jun 25, 2008 at 5:12 pm

O’Neal for Ford

By D L T Knicks on Jun 25, 2008 at 8:37 pm

Jermain Oneal traded to the Raptors in exchange for Ford and the Raptors 17 pick in the first round. I think Nesterovic is also a throw in.

This is the 3rd trade that has gone down prior to the draft.

All I can do is hope that the Knicks land a trade that will get the organization the 3rd slot or the 5th pick.

Let’s hope the Knicks have some mojo in this draft week wheeling and dealing!

By Orange and Blue on Jun 25, 2008 at 8:49 pm

KnicksD

Nice work on the updates bruh!

Lets hope that whatever happens tonight the Knicks are that much better for it.

Also check ESPN Chad Ford’s latest Mock draft (I believe it is version 7.0) in which he notes that David Lee’s agent contacted Memphis to inform them that he would not resign with them if he were traded there.

Lee snafued the trade. I can’t say I blame him. But the Knicks will have to do a sign and trade if he request to much money from the Knicks. Don’t get me wrong I love the kid but seems like Walsh has hamstrung himself with the whole 2010 the year we make contract bunk!

By Orange and Blue on Jun 26, 2008 at 10:55 am