time to play the youngins?

I hope now that we are mathematically done from contention

D Ant sees to it that guys like Wilcox, Sims and Crawford get some

minutes.

Best to keep Lee & Nate healthy,

would be nice to see salient potential from the kids.

What? Me Worry?

I missed yesterday's Raptors/Knicks game, only because I thought the tip-off was at 7:35 PM. However, as I scanned the NY papers this morning, Mike D'Antoni reminded me that the circus was in town, referring to Nate Robinson's new 'doo, which looked much better than the continued media blitz on the Knicks "disappointing" season.

While I've been quite optimistic about the Knicks, the endless pessimism by the NY papers sans NY Newsday (owned by Dolan, of course), has my spirits down a bit. I like that Alan Hahn is convinced that an end of season trade, David Lee for Chris Bosh, is a done deal in July. Also, Pete Vescey NY Post) waxed on about LeBron James, yet James, once more, made absolutely no commitment about staying in Cleveland, even if the team wins a championship. The King also made reference to New York "Loving" him in comparison to the other 28 teams who boo his greatness. So, why does the NY Daily News (Isola) and Marc Berman focus on a player's hair color or Coach Mike's desire to have Eddy Curry play in the upcoming Las Vegas summer camp, when Beef cannot even sit on the team bench during his return to NY?

Perhaps Frank and Marc were so distraught over UConn's miserable loss to Michigan that they collectively dismissed the notion that 7'3 pivot Hasheem Thabeet's "stock" may drop him down to the soon-to-be number 7th pick/slot that the Knicks soon may occupy when the season ends? Or that the Knicks continued losing may actually result in more ping-pong balls and a better than 10% chance of landing a better college player? Or that Donnie Walsh is the best GM the Knicks have had since pre-Grunfeld? Or that an organization that has been decimated by the likes of Layden and Zeke, must be reconstructed via trading off useless players for cap-space and by scouring ways in which the Knicks can acquire the best college player avaliable for this year or next year, perhaps both seasons?

Chris Bosh is counting the days to his sit down with Toronto management, so he can plan his exit strategy to come to New York via a trade. The economy doesn't favor Bosh as an FA, for he played for another lousy team and had some struggles adjusting to the O'Neal addition. He wants to play here, based on what I gleen from his statements. Who wouldn't, besides Eddy Curry? The King has gone on record in not saying that he doesn't love NY. Where is that huge extension, Cav fans? C'mon, LeBron can make basketball history and more than make up the $20,000,000 or so he would not make by playing in New York just by being plastered over 10,000 billboards. There are a host of other NBA stars who have publically foamed at the mouth at the opportunity to play at MSG and will accept a vet's salary (Steve Nash) to share the court with our FAs to be.

Drinking Kool-Aid is fine with me, and is legal in NY. We'll get our free agents. We'll get a young player or two in the draft, albeit possibly one this year and one in 2010, or both in 2010, or whatever. I just don't understand why the NY Knick 'Beat' writers, for the most part, continue to beat up the Knicks on everything we already know.

Lebron and New York

Responding to a question about the boos Wizards' fans showered on him during Thursday night's loss in Washington, LeBron James had this comment:

"I'm hated in all 30 cities. Uh, 29. They love me in Cleveland. They hate me everyplace else. Uh, I forgot about New York. They love me there, too."

Knicks May Be Singing Hasheem?

The Knicks are currently in the 8th slot and have a 2.5% chance at landing Blake Griffin or my man Hasheem Thabeet. If the link does not work, read the NY Post blurb of today for Marc Berman's little 'scoop' on what he says about Walsh's and David Lee's hopes for a huge shot-blocking player...

Ken

Is Eddy Ready For New York?

Among the Knick items of yesterday was the fervent NY media blitz regarding the return of Eddy Curry tonight, which would mark his first home game since his knees "bailed" on him a few months ago. My concern has been what Coach D'Antoni has stated recently about Curry's mental state on facing the MSG crowd, which will surely stage a booing ovation for number 34. It seems to me that Coach may have been able to play him much earlier than now, and that Eddy's knee seemed to act up right before the team returned home.

I am not without sympathy for Eddy, despite my constant bashing of him. He is only 26 years old and has been made into a pariah by the NY media over the past 2 days. Isola from the NY Daily News actually pinpointed Curry as well as Iverson as the root cause of the oft-rumored NBA Lock-out in 2010-2011. Other sportswriters are focusing on what I mentioned. Can Curry stand up and take the anticipated beating by the fans, not to say what will be in the papers tomorrow?

Ken

Lee Wants To Stay

David Lee likes New York. He likes Mike D'Antoni. He likes which way the team is headed. Right now he is lobbying to stay in New York but the question is can New York afford him? An restricted free agent this summer he will get offers, maybe even close to or surpassing the 10 million a year figure that was leaked in the preseason. Can the Knicks keep David Lee, a very hot commodity in the NBA, and still sign an elite free agent in 2010?

The real question is do the Knicks look to trade him before July 1st before he gets his new deal.

Here is the RealGM link:

Lee Wants To Stay in NY

Mayo Sighting

Ken and I fially did hear from Mayo. He's had some technical difficulties (a misbehaving laptop) but as soon as they are resolved he will be back. Happy Days! I just heard from Gary and Mousebender and I expect them back soon too. Let's hear from all our posters like Kman, Ironman, Terror and Axios and let's get this board cooking!!

BTW, I'm looking into another format with a traditional message board set-up. More on that later.

Gallinari to have surgery on Tuesday

NEW YORK -- Knicks rookie Danilo Gallinari will have back surgery next week and is expected to make a full recovery in six to eight weeks.

Gallinari

The Knicks announced Friday that Gallinari will have surgery Tuesday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan, performed by an orthopedic spine specialist. The procedure, a laminotomy, shaves the bony plate surrounding a nerve root.

The Knicks have also invited a neurosurgeon from Gallinari's native Italy to observe.

Taken with the No. 6 pick in the draft, Gallinari missed most of the first 2½ months after experiencing back pain in summer league. He finished the season with an average of 6.1 points in 28 games.

Trade Talk

I think it almost certain that one of the following 3 players gets traded this summer.

David Lee
Nate Robinson
Al Harrington

Make your case for who you think will be traded, the reasons why and what we should get in return. If your intent is to trade one of these 3 to get rid of Eddy Curry and/or Jared Jefferies then include that in your response with your reasoning.

David Lee Almost Traded to Denver?

It seems the Knicks were a LOT closer to trading David Lee than anybody thought, so close the Nuggets players were told he was coming to Denver. No mention on who the trade involved other than Lee but it's interesting to say the least especially since some regulars liked Linas Kleiza a LOT and I would bet he was one of the main ingredients.

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/04/01/is-david-lee-on-the-block/

Pass on Thabeet in Draft?

Read the article then you decide if we need a warrior or another nice guy.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=4032725

D'Antoni on ESPN

Check out this story and watch the video.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=dantoni/090401

I think we may have the right guy though I wasn't such a fan of us hiring him in the beginning.

Harrington Wants To Stay?

It looks like Al believes he will be a Knick in 2010.

Thoughts? Comments?

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/58233/20090401/harrington_believes_he_will_be_in_new_york_beyond_2010/

Welcome

I am completely new to Blogging so bear with me while we iron out the kinks. This will not be like the old AOL Messageboard but it is something and it won't be disappearing or changing much. ; )

Give it a try and as always comments and suggestions are welcome.

Bill