So in a quick turnaround, I have to say, I’ve been convinced by folks like Jake, Stallion and EZ. The wisest play for this franchise is probably not to spend near max money on a shooting guard approaching the wrong side of 30. I’ve always maintained that the 2010 plan was a worthy endeavor even if the Knicks didn’t catch the big fish because of the flexibility that the cap space would provide.
So why waste it on Joe Johnson? I watched the playoffs this year and I was mortified. I didn’t want the Knicks to sign him. That got away from me a little bit. So did my disfavor for Amare. I’ve written at least three or four posts regarding how the Knicks should avoid him like the plague. Those guys played for D’Antoni in Phoenix and won 60 games but little else (though they were robbed once), with an MVP point guard. Will they fare better here with uh, someone, as their point guard?
It was probably the euphoria of the moment. After having my hopes of Bosh/LeBron consistently dimmed over the last several weeks, I was excited that the Knicks might get somebody.
Unless the Knicks can sign those two and also get Chris Paul without trading Gallinari, I don’t think it makes sense to squander the cap space Donnie has earned. There’s a smarter way.
Instead, the Knicks should focus on the multiple spendthrift organizations with serious money problems. The Hornets have two starting point guards and too many salary commitments. The Knicks should intervene in a way that preserves their hard earned cap flexibility by taking a short term yet expensive contract off the Hornets’ hands and extracting Darren Collison as the price. For example, the Knicks can absorb Darius Songalia or Peja, guys who both expire next summer, and save the Hornets anywhere from $5 to $11 million this year.
That would eat up some cap space, sure. But short term. The Knicks would get it all back for 2011.
Similarly the Knicks could take on TJ Ford, who has been relegated to the Eddy Curry spot on the Pacers’ bench, and save them $8.5 million. They would of course have to include Paul George. Would the Pacers consider it? They’re hemorrhaging cash and it’s common knowledge that they are in bad fiscal shape.
Would the Nuggets part with Ty Lawson if the Knicks took on Kenyon Martin as well?
I think the Warriors would probably like to erase Dan Gadzuric off their books. The Knicks should oblige if they are willing to throw in Stephen Curry Anthony Randolph.
There are doubtless other similar moves the Knicks can pull off and they have the flexibility to pull off more than one of them. None of them would damage the Knicks salary cap space for 2011. In fact the Knicks could pull off any or a combination of these types of moves and still have almost 3 max space for 2011.
I lost sight of the big picture and I have some of my commenters to thank for pointing out that there is a smarter way.
SAY NO TO JJ IN NYC!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The problem with this is that, beyond melo (who’s probably signing an extension with denver) and durant (who’s a restricted free agent anyway), there isn’t really anyone who’s a FA in 2011 who would be a marked improvement over either joe johnson and amare stoudemire. the fact that the best player the nba has seen in more than a decade is a free agent right now, the fact that literally anyone who signs him will instantly become title contenders, has skewed everyone’s perception of how impactful the “2nd tier” free agents will be.
Hungry
I think one potential problem with your analysis is that you may be overrating the positive impact that Amare would have.
Here’s a comparison of the top FA PFs (Lee Amare Bosh and Boozer). Look at their Per 36 minute numbers for last year.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&p1=leeda02&y1=2010&p2=stoudam01&y2=2010&p3=boshch01&y3=2010&p4=boozeca01&y4=2010
Bosh looks best, but after that Boozer and Lee are pretty close. Amare is more of an offensive weapon than Lee, but not the rebounder or playmaker that Lee is. Plus Amare benefited by having Nash. It’s not a huge difference if there’s any at all.
So let’s say we bring in Amare and let Lee go. IMHO, that might add a couple of extra wins “at best” and might not add anything at all. I just don’t see how adding Amare at the max vs. Lee at 10m-12m is very smart.
Adding JJ at the SG would add more wins because we haven’t had a good SG. But then you are talking about paying a 29 year old for 5 years that’s at the point in his career where he might start declining. If that happened he would become a totally unmovable contract for a few more years and we’d right back to square one.
So while I sort of like JJ as a player, I don’t think he’s really a max player and when you add in the age risk it’s really tough for me to like it.
I will admit that I look for perfection and maybe only adding either Lebron, Wade, or Bosh will satisfy a thickheaded guy like me. I also don’t see a lot of great options going forward, but I’d rather have space than overpay because opportunities do arise when teams are desperate for cap space.
Remarkable how similar all their numbers are. D Lee will come the cheapest but the Knicks would HAVE to address their issues at center.
IF JJ was 25 you would not hear any complaints from me. This guy is NOT worth the max! Allan Houston comes to mind immediately with this player ie approaching wrong side of 30 and getting big dollars. Donnie has a hard time selling me the fact that he would have essentially traded 3 first round picks for Joe Johnson. I’ll pass.
Pingback: The New York Knicks’ Plan B: “God, if you’re listening…” « Sports Casualties