<font color="DarkOrange">Hunter is now on our Radar? Q to Washington for Brown? http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/k...ny-knicks-print <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Cap hinders big needs Isiah's desire for a shot-blocker will be difficult to fulfill with the current crop of free agents BY GREG LOGAN STAFF WRITER July 10, 2005 Isiah Thomas scored a draft- night coup when he took advantage of a contractual snag in the Kurt Thomas-for-Quentin Richardson trade to pick up Phoenix's first-round pick and add pocket rocket point guard Nate Robinson to promising big men Channing Frye and David Lee. But the team president's stated goal of adding a shot-blocking big man in the free-agent market might be difficult to achieve for the Knicks, whose $120.8-million payroll for next season is far beyond the projected salary cap of $48 million. They would have to do a sign-and-trade to offer more than the mid-level cap exception of $5.1 million to the top prospects, with the possible exception of unrestricted free agents Jerome James and Steven Hunter. Chicago's Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler, Philadelphia's Samuel Dalembert and Washington's Kwame Brown are restricted free agents whose teams have the right to match any offer. Of those, only Brown is on the trading block, but one Eastern Conference personnel expert said the Wizards want a starting shooting guard to replace Larry Hughes, who signed with Cleveland. In talking with the Knicks, they have made it clear they are interested in Richardson, not Jamal Crawford, <u>the starting two-guard last season. Although third-year power forward Mike Sweetney is available, the Wizards need more for the 6-11 Brown, who is only 23 and would project as the Knicks' starting center despite coming off an injury-plagued season. </u> Another possibility is Memphis power forward Stromile Swift, who is only 6-9 but is a leaper who averaged 1.53 blocks last season. He visited the Knicks but figures to get more than the mid-level from teams with more cap flexibility than the Knicks. If the Knicks go the sign-and-trade route for another power forward, Boston's Antoine Walker might be the top target. Celtics president Danny Ainge recently said it's unlikely he would trade Walker to a division rival, but agent Mark Bartelstein suggested Boston's youth movement could force Ainge's hand. </div> Notes"es: According to a report on Sports Illustrated's Web site, Detroit owner Bill Davidson is likely to fire Larry Brown, which would make him available to coach the Knicks if he resolves his health issues ... Isiah Thomas' recent denial of trade rumors involving point guard Stephon Marbury was much ado about nothing. "I don't see a big market for Steph," one Eastern Conference executive said. "There's no attraction because he hasn't had the results."</font> <font color="Blue">Hunter is extremely underrated, he would be a great pick, great defensive helper, good rebound, can really be productive on defense He's a 4 year NBA pro, and he was only born in 81', thats alot of upside, consider the fact he's already a productive bench player, he also gives us alot of size up front. Jerome James would be a decent pick up, but if Isiah gets Hunter, thats HUGE lol, notice that Hunter is from Chicago.......Isiah can't get enough of these Chicago guys, huh?</font> <font color="Red">Please only quote a portion of the articles from now on. Thanks. - K.A.</font>
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting N4S:</div><div class="quote_post">Will NY make up their friggin minds! Swift, James..............now Hunter? WTF.</div> NY wants anything or anybody that can play Center. I think that Jerome is currently the best center of those guys, if he decides to play hard and becomes motivated (contract year/playoffs seem to do it). If the Knicks get Jerome James from Seattle Playoffs they would be heading playoff bound, because the rest of their roster is good enough.
Sweetney + Q for Kwame Brown ... Foolish trade for the Knicks to even consider. You want to trade a young player willing to work hard and improve (Sweetney), for an immature bust? Not to mention including your most recent trade acquisition. I think Isiah's new nickname should be 'Square 1' because everytime he does a deal the team goes from improving from the previous season back to square one.
i say keep sweetney. if u guys want to use him and Q as trade bait, your best bet is to go for stro when he gets signed to another team.
Theres no way the Knicks gonna trade Quentin Richardson. The Knicks should just stop goin after Kwame Brown cause the Wizards dont want Jamal Crawford and Isiah aint gonna trade Quentin Richardson away to Washington. The Knicks need to focus on letting go of Allan Houston and trading Tim Thomas and Penny Hardaway for a big men. THey dont need nothing big cause Marbury, Richardson, and Crawford are gonna have the ball 90% of the time when they are out on the court. Steven Hunter is perfect, a shot blocker and rebounder.Maybe not the best big men for the Knicks but he will get the job done.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting N4S:</div><div class="quote_post">Will NY make up their friggin minds! Swift, James..............now Hunter? WTF.</div> Actually No We Will never make up our minds thats what differentiates us from the rest of hicksville
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting crazyrussianz:</div><div class="quote_post">Actually No We Will never make up our minds thats what differentiates us from the rest of hicksville</div>
I wish the Knicks had the resources to get Dalembert. HE is the one they need and the best of the lot mentioned above. He would meet a few needs.
I don't know why the Knicks would even consider this deal. Sweetney + Q can get you way more then an unproven, immature bust. The Knicks in my mind are one trade away (that involves Marbury) from being a contender in the East. Sign Steven Hunter, explore offers for Marbury and if the right offer comes along make the trade for the center, don't break apart your young core with Sweetney and Q to bring in a bust...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Waneko:</div><div class="quote_post">I wish the Knicks had the resources to get Dalembert. HE is the one they need and the best of the lot mentioned above. He would meet a few needs.</div> Actually Philadelphia is doing everything they can to keep Dalembert. If they lose em whos gonna be their Center? Philly aint that stupid. The Knicks have been talkin about Swift since last summer and they still havent got em. Forget him man, hes not that good anyway and dont got a polished offensive game. The Knicks should just get Steven Hunter and thats it. Start Sweetney at PF and hope he can deliver solid numbers at that position.The Knicks have enough fire power from 1-3 and getting Antoine Walker will totally mess up this team's chemistry. The Knicks really dont need much, just a shot blocker and Steven Hunter can very well do that. Marbury,Richardson, and Crawford will handle the scoring and i dont know wat to tell ya about Tim Thomas and Allan Houston because they look like they could be out of New York by the end of this summer. The Knicks are headed the right direction but Isiah is goin a little too far tryna sign Antoine Walker and Stromile Swift. THe Knicks are atheltic enough now.
I don?t see why we shouldn?t try our best to get Swift. Although he might be undersized, he?s perfectly capable of playing due to his athleticism and length and also this is the East we?re talking about. His offensive game isn?t polished, but with Marbury, Q, and Crawford, we will not be in need for anyone to really put points on the board. He?ll be used to run the floor, catch the alley-oop and block shots only. I would prefer Hunter though because he?s a much better shot blocker and he?s younger. We can also get him cheaper, too and he?ll fit perfectly in the direction we?re going in.
Swift is a 6"9 225 lb big man, his career high in PPG is 11.8 on 48% FG. He has zero fundamentals, interior or out terrior passing skills. He's an average rebound at best. Swift is a great athelete who moves well, jumps very high, and block shots. Swift size isn't really the answer to center, even though he's a good PF. Only reason why he played center in Memphis is because he had a 7"1 240 playing PF next to him. Steve Hunter is the guy I want, cause he's a legit 7 foot 240, shot blocking rebounding machine, very young guy born in 81, and can make things easier for Fyre, the rookie, doing dirty work, cleaning the glass with Sweetney, and making the Knicks a more fun team to watch on DEFENSE, which Isiah doesn't realize when he tries to brainwash us with this younger and more atheletic concept.
