<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Never mind that Isiah Thomas has changed the Knicks' roster completely in two years and hired Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown and the record still is 15-42. The way owner James Dolan sees it, wins are "not integral to the strategy right now." Dolan understands fans are unhappy and has heard the cries from commentators to fire the team president, but he believes Thomas and Brown ultimately can build a contender within four years and is determined to stay the course with them no matter how bad his $125-million roster looks now. "I can't say it to you any plainer than I've already said it: I'm not making a change," Dolan said in a 40-minute meeting yesterday with Knicks beat writers. "I believe in the plan; I believe in the strategy; I believe in the guys who are executing it. "Maybe some people think I'm brain-dead because of that and the record. But you know what? Time will tell ... I fully expect you'll all kill me in the papers [today] with this, but I'm going to stick with it until we stop making progress or until we achieve our goal." Dolan said the Knicks' goal is to become a regular playoff team with a chance to eventually contend for the NBA title that has eluded the franchise for the past 33 seasons. Asked how long that should take, Dolan said, "It's our hope three to four years. This being season one. When we look at the strategy, that's what we're estimating it's going to take us." The Cablevision CEO emphasized the word "strategy" again and again, but when asked to articulate it, he had difficulty describing how Thomas' chaotic approach to building a young, offensive-oriented team will meld with Brown's desire for an experienced team that plays defense first. "It's a strategy that revolves around building youth, about getting a team together that Larry Brown feels good about coaching that he can build and grow with," Dolan said. "Larry and Isiah working together are integral to this. It's youth combined with some maturity because, in order to have a team that contends, it can't be all youth. And a plan that takes us and keeps us contenders for a long period of time." Since Brown's arrival, Thomas has shifted gears in an attempt to bring in more players suitable to the coach's system, and Dolan said he expects more trades over the summer. "I will tell you there is no untouchable player," he said. "None. Those guys are going to make the moves. I'm trusting them." Because the Knicks have backed themselves into a corner under Thomas by accumulating lengthy, maximum-salary contracts that are hard to trade, Dolan admitted costly buyouts are among the possible ways to change the team. "That would be tough to swallow," Dolan said. "But if it really advanced the strategy, then I would do it. But it has to do that. And they know it. I think what the fans need to look for that I would point to is: Look for progress." When it was suggested the Knicks have become the NBA's repository for overpaid players who no longer are worth their contracts, Dolan laughed and said, "Well, first, I have to agree with you on that characterization." But then he proceeded to defend the acquisition of such high-priced players as Steve Francis, Jalen Rose and Stephon Marbury. The owner admitted to some regret that the Knicks gave up their unprotected No. 1 pick this season and the right to switch No. 1 picks next season to Chicago for Eddy Curry. But that would be mitigated if Curry develops into one of the league's top centers.</div> Source <font size=""5"">Owner says Knicks on course to contend for title in 3 or 4 years.</font>
Read between the lines of this article, and you can tell that the man doesn't believe what he's saying, or he doesn't know a basketball hoop from a sewer. Essentially, what Larry Dolan is saying, is that he doesn't see progress by the end of year two, there's going to be some real trouble. As for rebuilding with youth, you have to get it first. That's why he mentions this: "The owner admitted to some regret that the Knicks gave up their unprotected No. 1 pick this season and the right to switch No. 1 picks next season to Chicago for Eddy Curry. But that would be mitigated if Curry develops into one of the league's top centers." -So, they probably won't have a good first round pick for at least two years, which makes the rebuilding with youth angle hard to justify. Curry will never, ever play good defense, or rebound. Channing Frye will be good, but not great. Nate Robinson is fun to watch, but he's unlikely to learn point guard skills, so he'll most likely be a bench shooter. He's best suited to transition offense, which Larry Brown doesn't endorse. Ariza's gone, and he could play defense and was ok in transition. David Lee is a good player, I like his game, but he's no superstar. Jackie Butler's probably my favorite player on the team, and he's still too young to really read. -The guards are aging losers. Francis and Marbury have only ever made teams mediocre, and they aren't going to be young for long. Also, if they haven't matured yet, it's not going to happen. Coaches usually hate Jalen Rose, and he doesn't play defense either. There goes the youth combined with maturity angle. Q will only ever be a role player, and finding minutes for him will come at someone's expense (who will either be young or a complainer.) -As for buyouts, that's nice, but how do you get good, young players after you've made said buyout? -Good luck Knicks fans. Four more years!
i want some of what dolan's smoking. if he's living in a world where isaiah is doing a good job, i bet its a fun world.
Its going to take 3 or 4 years for the Knicks to reach the stage where they can finally start rebuilding the team. I'm assuming, of course, that Isiah will hold on to those expiring contracts, instead of trading them for longer ones.
