Signing Gortat Would Prove There's Something in the Water

(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

During Isiah Thomas’ tenure as the Knicks’ President of Basketball Operations, he certainly made some questionable choices. Instead of using New York’s big market to attract the stars, he overpaid second-rate players from other teams, hoping that increased minutes on the Knicks would improve each one’s productivity.

That strategy failed multiple times, as injuries (and lack of skills) have prevented Jerome James (now a Chicago Bull) and Jared Jeffries, both of whom received contracts worth the full Mid level Exception, from living up to their contracts.

Thomas also had to rally just to acquire Eddy Curry, who at the time had a serious heart condition, in a sign and trade deal worth $60 million through six years. Although Curry at one time showed promise, he is now out of shape and has been shown the end of the Knicks’ bench.

Now, Thomas is long gone and the Knicks (and new President Donnie Walsh) can finally focus on being financially responsible, signing the right players to the right contracts.

However, the most recent rumors are starting to make me think there must be something in the water in New York City.

This week’s latest rumor states that the Knicks, who want to use their Mid level Exception once again, this time to sign a shot blocker, are interested in Marcin Gortat...wait a minute…who?

Originally a 2005 second round draft pick of Mike D’Antoni’s Suns (the Suns traded away his draft rights), Gortat has spent the last two seasons as a reserve with the Magic. While he was sparingly used during his rookie year, this past season he averaged 3.8 points per game (on 57 percent from the field) and 4.6 rebounds per game in 12.6 minutes as Dwight Howard’s primary backup.

Given D’Antoni’s European basketball past, the Knicks’ interest in Gortat has D’Antoni’s name written all over it. Being able to play the European style of basketball would help Gortat in D’Antoni’s run and gun system, without a doubt.

With the front court being filled out by Wilson Chandler and Al Harrington, focusing on Gortat would also signal that the Knicks are giving up on retaining David Lee, who after an all-star worthy season could demand up to $10 million a year.

Lee happens to represent the best big man the Knicks have had since Patrick Ewing, while acquiring Gortat would just add to the list of career backup players the Knicks have overpaid. While he has impressive numbers for a reserve, the 25 year old Gortat is a raw prospect who does not warrant a MLE contract, let alone a starting job. Sometimes backups are meant to stay backups.

Choosing Gortat over Lee would be an absolute travesty to the team’s future success. Keeping in mind that the Knicks are building for 2010, maybe simply clearing up cap room is the sole solution right now. One would highly doubt that LeBron/Wade and Stoudemire/Bosh would want to compete for a championship side by side with Marcin Gortat.

Getting Gortat would prove that Madison Square Garden will always be haunted by the ghost of Isaiah Thomas.

If Walsh and D’Antoni feel like this is the right move, something must really be in the water in New York City.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?