<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Jeff Van Gundy had ventured headlong into the path of a hulking, headstrong center once before, and perhaps he should have known the futility of such gestures when he tried to reroute Patrick Ewing's course five summers ago. Ewing, one of the greatest players in Knicks history, wanted to leave New York after 15 years as the face of the franchise. Team executives, despite great reservations, were trying to oblige him with a trade. But after a four-team deal fell through in early September 2000, Van Gundy was given one last chance to change Ewing's mind. He set out for suburban Maryland to throw himself in Ewing's way - much as he once threw himself at the leg of Miami's Alonzo Mourning during an on-court fight. The results were similarly disappointing. "I tried to talk to him," Van Gundy recalled, "to tell him this was fate, that it didn't go through; should we think about moving on?" But as Van Gundy learned once again, there was no stopping a determined 7-footer moving with purpose, certainly not one as willful as Ewing. "He was set," Van Gundy said. Shortly after, the four-team deal was reconstituted, and on Sept. 20, 2000, Ewing got his wish. He was sent to Seattle, ending a long and mostly glorious association with New York. In many respects, the Knicks have still not recovered. In the wake of that fateful transaction, they have endured four straight losing seasons - their worst stretch in 17 years. They have never replaced Ewing's production, his leadership or his star power. Their payroll is the N.B.A.'s highest, and growing every year, but the results have not matched the dollars spent.</div> Source
It's ironic because I think they have some great talent in NY...Q-Rich, Marbury, TT, Crawford, surrounded by contributors like Jerome James, Maurice Taylor, the rookies...but I dont feel Brown is the right coach for this particualr squad thats been assembled...It's an odd mix...It's gonna be an interesting season because the Knicks have talent; their strengths just arent what the coach's strengths are...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Houston:</div><div class="quote_post">...surrounded by contributors like Jerome James</div>
Stated everything I know, but most don't Nothing is going to work out if Isiah doesn't gain flexbility in his cap.
larry brown is more of a coach for half court sets. In NY he has no one in the middle to take that set. he has way to many gaurds and channing frye cant post up with his foul troubles
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting j0se:</div><div class="quote_post">Stated everything I know, but most don't Nothing is going to work out if Isiah doesn't gain flexbility in his cap.</div> I think even Zeke, sees the cap as a loss cause, his objective is to try & work around it, until it works its self out in a couple of years...there is no real way to get rid of Hardaway, Thomas, Houston without taking back a contract as bad or even worst. I think his job is just not to add any ridiculous contracts that cripple the cap more in the long term...has he done a great job at that, some probably say no cause of the James and Crawford deal...while I dont like those players personally and wouldnt have made those moves, I understand why he did it, this in NY, you got to find ways to keep fans interested and adding a somewhat high profile FA the last to offseasons gives Knicks fans a glimpes of hope for some
jerome james is not a high profile player at all. He is being way overpayed and the knicks practically secured a championship to the spurs by sending nazr mohammed to them for an aging malik rose. knicks have the talent they just need everything else to click
I don't think Isiah or any GM that lands in NY could bring in a plan that'll only work in the long term and start building from there. It's big time pressure in NYC as far as the Knicks and Yankees are concerned, so if Isiah doesn't try to bring in a solid player or two each offseason and try to win now, he'll get kicked out. For some reason, Knick fans/media are too impatient for a long term rebulding plan that may be benefitial for their team than overpaying for I'm-gonna-play-out-of-my-mind-in-my-contract-year type of players and then pile up the dollars on their payroll and it gets worse every year.
About the article, Henacy basically took the words right out of my mouth. So I'll leave that alone. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting TmacGarnett:</div><div class="quote_post">jerome james is not a high profile player at all. He is being way overpayed</div> Isiah bases "potential" on many of his signings/trades/drafts etc. If this is the Jerome James of the regular season than you're right, but if this is playoff James, than we'd be under paying him. Most likely it'll be the regular season one though, but we'll just have to wait and see. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">and the knicks practically secured a championship to the spurs by sending nazr mohammed to them for an aging malik rose. knicks have the talent they just need everything else to click</div> I really don't get it when people say that. I think the Spurs would have won regardless of whether or not they traded Mohammed. His stats are so overrated in my opinion. Mohammed is a terrible defender, and was terrible during the Finals. Malik Rose is aging, but Rose is a better player than him overall. We also got two first round draft picks. One of them happened to be David Lee who looks like he alone will be better than Mohammed. Even if the Spurs pick might be in the last round of the draft, wasn't Mohammed the last player drafted in the first round, too? It was a great trade for the Knicks.
hm is jerome james really worth that much? lol look at his history--only ONE good playoff game thats it and this guys gets a bigg offer?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting PlaTsanity:</div><div class="quote_post">hm is jerome james really worth that much? lol look at his history--only ONE good playoff game thats it and this guys gets a bigg offer?</div> Well, when Isiah is control, he'll probably offer you a 10 year deal just to be the towel boy on the team.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting PlaTsanity:</div><div class="quote_post">hm is jerome james really worth that much? lol look at his history--only ONE good playoff game thats it and this guys gets a bigg offer?</div> Well, according to him (James), he's more mature and more motivated. Obviously Isiah believed that, but I bet he just said that because of his contract year. When James is trying, he's one of the better centers in the league and Isiah knows it. Isiah's just hoping he tries here in New York.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MrJ:</div><div class="quote_post">When James is trying, he's one of the better centers in the league and Isiah knows it. </div> You guys kill me. Who wants to take bets? I have a crisp $20 that JJ is done before his contract is.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TmacGarnett:</div><div class="quote_post">jerome james is not a high profile player at all. He is being way overpayed and the knicks practically secured a championship to the spurs by sending nazr mohammed to them for an aging malik rose. knicks have the talent they just need everything else to click</div> He is not high profile in the sense of Shaq or TD, but coming off his playoff 05' his name became mentioned alot more around basketball circles and even with some casual fans...as far as Centers go, he was one of the more well known on this years free agent market...that is why I put the word "somewhat" before I said high profile.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting JackAxe:</div><div class="quote_post">You guys kill me. Who wants to take bets? I have a crisp $20 that JJ is done before his contract is.</div> Did you read my bet? I actually agree with you and said James just did all that stuff because of his contract year.
