He also had workout scheduled with Minnesota, and canceled it. http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/knicks/ny-spknix0613,0,1682393.story
I wonder if he is just really, really hoping to be a Knick, or if he got a promise from another team. It's interesting that he woudl work out at 5 for Washington, but not at 6 for Minnesota, when the Knicks pick 8th. I would think, if the Knicks gave him a guarantee at 8, and that was where he really wanted to be, he would cancel his Washington workout. Probably looking too far into it, but I wonder if he has a guarantee at 5, but from a team other tan Washington, perhaps, in a trade?
I can already see Don Nelson taking him at 7 and holding him hostage, forcing the Knicks to give up the 8 and some extras to get him.
Would be a pretty good move by Nelson. Not too sure what NY might want, but if he's there at 7, you know NY probably gave him a promise at 8. What's it going to hurt? Worst comes to worse, you keep him, and get a decent young player.
That's what I'm thinking. Washington's top concern has to be payroll. Assuming Etan Thomas and Mike James pick up their options, which they will because they're not certifiable, Washington is dishing out $78M in salary next season. $78M! If the luxury tax number comes down to what people have predicted - $65M. They're in deep shit. That's an additional $13M in tax. Not good for a bad team. I've got to think that they're working those phones to see which of the teams with non-guaranteed contracts or cap space would take the Jamison contract off their hands if packaged with the #5 pick. Come to think of it. Memphis makes a lot of sense. They could use Jamison at the 4 and have the space to absorb his contract. Not sure what they'd be willing to give up to get Jamison and whether they'd like Curry or another player at the spot in the draft. The same could be said of Detroit. The could use Jamison and Curry. I suppose Oklahoma is another option for them, but I don't think Jamison makes as much sense. Who knows.
He likely sees Washington as a team that could be good with Arenas, Butler, and Jamison. Knicks with their 2010 fantasy (even though they can only afford one max free agent...so their team won't be too good, at least coming out of 2010, maybe 2011 they will be better). Going to Golden State is like going to the Clippers, maybe worse since Don Nelson is there. Minnesota, they could be good, or be stuck in eternal mediocrity.
How do you figure Curry was at the center of the Sergio to the Knicks rumor? There was no mention of Curry in the rumor. And most speculation seems to focus on Sergio for a TPE, to clear an additional 1.5 million of cap space this summer.
Who is Lebron going to play with there? They have enough money for Lebron. Drafting his little buddy Curry would help a lot more than getting rid of Jeffries' contract.
This just set up teams like Minnesota, Golden State, and Washington to take Curry and squeeze talent from the Knicks. It's not like they have that much but who knows...
The same Knicks who drafted Gallinari over Gordon, Augustin, B. Lopez and Bayless? New York is a joke and is setting itself for a big disappointment in '10 I think..
Especially because as is, they will only have capspace to sign one big free agent in 2010. Basically you will have 2010 free agent, 2009 draft pick, 2010 draft pick, and Wilson Chandler as their core. Maybe Eddy Curry if he gets back on track. They will have more capspace in 2011 when Curry and some others come off the cap. So they can add another big name free agent then...but that's it. Then they'd just be two max free agents and most likely, a bunch of crappy role players. They would have their exceptions then in 2012 to help fill out the roster. Because of this being New York's building route, unless one of their guys wins the ROY and looks like a future star, I think big names are going to pass up New York, and the Knicks will end up with a second, third tier free agent. Knicks 2010 = Bulls 2000. Bulls were supposed to get two of Tim Duncan, Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, and Eddie Jones. Tim Duncan and McGrady were the popular combination. I believe Duncan had just got swept out of the playoffs by the Lakers, or something of that nature. McGrady was a LOCK. Bulls were supposed to be PG-Jamal Crawford SG-Tracy McGrady SF-Ron Artest PF-Elton Brand/Marcus Fizer C- Tim Duncan and right there, competing for a championship. Rebuilt with only two down seasons. Instead, the Bulls ended up with PG-Jamal Crawford SG-Ron Artest SF-Marcus Fizer PF-Elton Brand C- Brad Miller They continued to suck. I see the same thing happening to the Knicks.
They have one player a team like Minnesota could use - Wilson Chandler. But other than him, I agree, their roster is depressing.
