Believe it or not, some Knicks fans think New York should keep Stephon Marbury and make him play out the final year of his contract.
Some of these people may have management’s ear, because there are NBA teams acting as if Stephon will suit up in orange and blue in 2008-2009.
Many have concluded that the arrival of career backup point guard Chris Duhon spelled the end of Stephon Marbury’s turbulent tenure in New York. The stellar coach of Team USA, the dominant “redeem team”, coach K, has even predicted Duhon would be a league leader in assists for the Knicks this upcoming year.
The possibility that Marbury will still be with the Knicks does not necessarily mean he will be used in a significant capacity by the Knicks, just ask Isiah Thomas–if you can find him.
Yet NBA players–especially nba players with motivational issues–seem to really rise to the occasion when they play in their contract year. It is hard for me to imagine Marbury turning his career around in New York, after the past three years as a Knick, but if he did, this would be the year.
The one wrench in the contract year train of thought is of course that Stephon has indicated on several occasions that he wants to play overseas in Italy. It is sad to hear any Knick talking about wanting to play for someone else while still playing for the Knicks.
By now, do the Knicks really know who is going to run the show in their back court in the 2008-2009 season?
It seems to me if the Knicks are going to improve on 23 pathetic wins, this question must be answered right away.
If I read one more place that Anthony Roberson is “point guard help,” I’ll go postal on a blog nearest you. Roberson is not a point guard, neither is Nate Robinson, neither is Jamal Crawford for that matter. Right now, we have Duhon and we have Marbury, and of course Mardy Collins, but who knows how much D’Anotoni and Walsh like Mardy at this point.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
KnicksD,
What do you think of this article from Hoopsworld?
Randolph to the Cavs?
“So here we go. The only team that’s really being talked about in terms of needing another deal to get serious about 2008-09 NBA season is the Cleveland Cavaliers. At the same time, we have the New York Knicks comnstantly in the rumor mill with talks about trading Zach Randolph. He was nearly traded to the Milwaukee Bucks at the trade deadline and is now the subject of many different discussions.
So let’s put a couple of stories together and see what we get.
The New York Knicks are going to make a move to lose Stephon Marbury in the near future. The Cavaliers are weighing their options with the now-superfluous Delonte West. Last season you could probably have sold the Knicks on Ben Wallace, but the new regime isn’t about to fall for that. So what if the Knicks and Cavs came to an agreement on a package deal that would send West to New York and Randolph to Cleveland?
The Cavs needs a scoring option at the four and Randolph can score with the best of them. The Knicks may or may not be ready to completely hand the team over to Chris Duhon, who hasn’t been a full time starter since his rookie season. Adding West would give them some options.
We’re going to hear a lot of speculation about the Cavaliers until they make a move that really helps them keep pace with the ever-improving East. Bringing in Randolph would be the kind of move that would end all speculation. The Cavaliers would be a force to be reckoned with.”-Hoopsworld
At NBA Gauntlet, there are some trade proposals that would help the Knicks short term and long term.
The Knicks can’t trade Randolph for West because the contracts don’t match. They can add Wally Szczerbiak or Ben Wallace to match it up.
Knicks in review from Hoopsworld.
@Harris
Yes,I understand the 2 salaries don’t match.Unless the Cavs sign-and-trade West to a 14 million contract.West does not have a contract at present.Adding Wally Szczerbiak’s 13.7 expiring contract,will get you closer,but only leaving 1 million/year for West.I would like to get Varejao in this trade.
Something like:
Zach,Lee,Collins and Rose(14.6,1.7,1.0,7.0=23.3 million)
for
Sczcerbaik,Varejao,West
(13.7,5.7 and 4-5 for West 24 million)will work.
great find with that link DLT, interesting to read the perspectives from around the US.
did you notice the third article spelled mike d as D’Antonio? I wonder if Walsh started a trend at that press conference announcing his hiring. I don’t remember anyone messing up his name when he was kicking ass with the suns.
btw, i bet zach is a knick until the all-star break.
just bloggin’
i got the gallinari pick right. i’m predicting steph and zach are knicks until the trade deadline, when their stock may be higher having played for mike d.
again just bloggin’
KnicksD
You have a point early on when D’antoni came in alot of the speculation was about who wouldn’t fit into “D’anotni’s System.” I put out the point that certain players would be rehabilitated under D’antoni and that the rehabilitation would increase their stock. It is clear that the Knicks management is not trading its two big contracts for pennies on the dollar. To that end I do suspect that Z-Bo and perhaps Marbury will see a significant amount of playing time. This will be a test for D’antoni, a juggling act if you will, b/c he has to incorporate the new talent on the team but while still working the talent whose stock has plummeted in order to revitalize those players all the while showing improvement and developing chemistry on a team whose biggest salaried players have contributed to a percieved and real chemistry imbalance on the team.
OBTW KnickdsD
I like the new layout of your blog!
thanks O&B, still perfecting the new look.
by the time november 1st comes, it will be ready.
i still think d’antoni/walsh will make another personnel change before the season starts. maybe malik or jerome if not someone of more significance.
yo harris, i voted for LeBron on your website.
Any truth to those Nets Sean Williams for Knicks Nate Robinson proposal, which the Nets are rumored to be interested in?
@KnicksD
I second that emotion!
I would like to see James,Rose and Marbury off the roster before the season.Marbury because of negative vibes.James because he is not producing.Rose,who is a good leader,because it frees up another roster spot.
If he could,Walsh should:
1)Do the N8 for Sean Williams trade.
2)Trade Z-bo to Cleveland for Szczerbiak(13.7 expiring contract)and West(sign-and-trade)and will need to add another player(Rose or James’ expiring contracts) for the numbers to match.West will probably want between 4-7 million.If possible add Lee to trade and try to get Mophead(Varejao).
3)Buyout/cut Marbury and James if they can’t be traded.Marbury is hard to trade and probably won’t happen.James,I think has a player option for another year after 2008-09 season.If he could medically retire that would really help.
Leaving us:
PG’s
Duhon
West
Collins
SG’s
Crawford
Szczerbiak
Roberson
SF
Q
Danilo
Chandler
PF
Lee or Varejao
Sean Willams
J Jefferies
Center
Curry
(Lee or Varejao can 5 spot also)
This team is build more for up tempo play.
We will need another back-up center.James won’t do.This will also open up 2 roster spots.AND Walsh will have more cap room after THIS season.
Totally do-able!
Try to trade James over Rose b/c Rose’s expiring K could net us a 4 with whose will expire by 2010 and fill the vacancy in depth at that position with Z-Bo’s departure.