The Knicks have agreed to trade SF Renaldo Balkman to the Denver Nuggets for SF Bobby Jones, PG Taurean Green, and a 2010 second round pick.
The deal is a great move for the Nuggets, as Balkman directly replaces Eduardo Najera. Green was going to get cut by the Nuggets after a poor Summer League showing, and Bobby Jones would have been at the end of the bench.
As far as the incoming talent is concerned, the best thing the Knicks received was the future pick. The Knicks already have PGs in Chris Duhon, Mardy Collins, Nate Robinson, and Anthony Roberson. Jones is also in a bad spot when you consider forwards Quentin Richardson, Wilson Chandler, David Lee, and Danilo Gallinari.
The most important thing in this deal has to do with guaranteed contracts. The Knicks had 16 guaranteed contracts when they signed Roberson, but the departure of Balkman fixes that. Neither Green nor Jones has a guaranteed contract, so if (and probably when) the Knicks waive them, the team will be at the cut line.
If this is indeed the plan, then it means the Knicks are not planning to buyout G Stephon Marbury or C Jerome James. They needed one spot to trim off the roster, and buying out either of them would have satisfied that goal.
Marbury is part of a convoluted picture at the point for the Knicks. If head coach Mike D’Antoni and General Manager Donnie Walsh plan to keep him, he won’t start at point guard.
The Knicks have a hole at SG if you look at the depth chart. Marbury could start at SG and Jamal Crawford could slide to the SF position. This would allow Quentin Richardson to backup the two of them at either position.
This would also take some pressure off Danilo Gallinari to contribute big minutes immediately. Since his durability has already become an issue, that isn’t a bad idea.
The Knicks could still move PF Zach Randolph, G/F Jared Jeffries, and/or F David Lee. But in the case of Jeffries and Randolph it would be difficult for the Knicks to work out a deal of value if they couldn’t bring back an equal number of players. Getting down to the 15 line gives the Knicks some more flexibility in trade talks.
Donnie Walsh and the Knicks are up to something. It might be a major deal.
It might also mean that Marbury will lace up his Starbury’s at the Garden again after all.
10 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
dwight tanner 11 months ago
I really think the Knicks need to get some good performances out of their players in the first part of the season, thereby increasing their trade value. Then Walsh can make some reasonable trades.
Basically, Walsh is betting that D'Antoni can coach better performances out of some of the Knick's players than Thomas did. Seems both prudent and achievable.
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David Cohen 11 months ago
In the case of Curry they don't have a choice, lol.
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A-Train 11 months ago
Dave--good read. I know D'Antoni's system would allow for someone like Jamal Crawford to play two-guard on the offensive side, but on the defensive side the Knicks would be killed. You can't play a 6-foot-5 190 pound guard at the 3 in today's game.
Without a doubt the Knicks are up to something. Check out my latest post. I think the Knicks could be targeting Allen Iverson. Both he and Marbury make exactly the same amount, and neither player will re-sign with his team at year's end.
The Nuggets need to move Iverson at some point, why not deal him now while his value is still high--the longer they wait the more his value drops; imagine if he gets hurt--for Marbury? Marbury is gone at the end of the year. He plays point, which is what the Nuggets need. He'll better compliment Carmelo as well. In the process the Nugs could get David Lee, Tim Thomas and some future draft picks. That would allow them to get deeper, give JR Smith his touches at the two-spot, a young forward in Lee who will be a fan favorite and who will step in certainly when Martin and Nene get hurt. Thomas is a veteran scoring punch off the bench, which is what they also need.
The Knicks get Camby and Iverson. Their starting five could be Camby, Curry, Richardson, Iverson and Duhon.
The Clippers get Zach Randolph and Jamal Crawford.
Possible. What do you think?
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David Cohen 11 months ago
There's no way this would all happen in one deal.
Crawford at the 3 is a defensive liability, but unless they start Chandler there, they're going to have that problem. The Knicks are going to be horrible defensively next year if the roster stands as it is.
Personally I think we need to rid Marbury, but I don't see any chance of George Karl and Marbury working together. The Nuggets have no reason to make that trade. If you're going to give up that big an expiring contract, you need to bring back some assets.
If the deal were to happen with Denver, they could've done it during the one today.
The Clippers deal is another matter. I think it's entirely possible, and makes sense for both teams, for a Randolph + Crawford for Mobley + Camby trade. Camby gives us an athletic forward and Mobley provides veteran leadership while giving the spot 3-pt shooter D'Antoni has always used in that spot. Both of their contracts expire in 2010. For the Clippers, a Baron Davis/Crawford backcourt is absolutely sick, and Gordon coming off the bench becomes a real nice option. Kaman, Randolph, and Thornton would be a very formidable frontcourt if Randolph asserts himself. Dunleavy has the type of discipline to perhaps get it out of him.
I don't buy that the Clippers or Knicks are done. The Clippers can't start 2 centers and the Knicks are clearly setting something up.
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David Cohen 11 months ago
Well we can cross off the Crawford to Clipper deal. They just signed Ricky Davis.
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David Cohen 11 months ago
Also, the Nuggets have enough scorers and the Knicks can't be the Clippers and start 2 centers. Camby and Curry together would throw D'Antoni's system haywire.
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A-Train 11 months ago
All good points, Dave.
Hmm... someone suggested to me the following deal:
Knicks get Kenyon Martin, Camby and cash
Clippers get Randolph, Balkman
Nuggets get Curry, Nate Robinson and Josh Powell.
Maybe something of a smaller magnitude could go down?
I think we can agree that if the Knicks are to play run-and-gun, they need to move Curry. So maybe that's what this is all about? I mean, Curry could be a decent fit in Denver.
I just have such a hard time believing the Nuggets gave away Camby for nothing without there being a bigger reason at play.
Hmmm... but now that they've signed Ricky Davis, I don't know. Something is up.
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Johnny Miller 11 months ago
Crawford was the hardest working Knick last year and has a great attitude. He has gotten better every year as well. Besides he is a natural fit for a D'Antoni offense, Crawford plays a lot like Barbosa.
Knicks need a center that is defensive minded and a good outside shooter. It was pathetic how few blocks the Knicks had last year. And if you are going to have good slashers like Crawford and Robinson you need someone who can sit on the 3 line and knock down open shots.
Richardson and Curry were just terrible last year - trade them for anything (including a box of light bulbs). Marbury needs to find himself and I hope D'Antoni can figure out wether or not he's worth keeping. Randolph and Lee are not a problem IMHO.
My 2 cents - Knicks should do whatever they can to get agent 0 or some other Tier 1 player - Knicks need an All-Star. Otherwise throw out another year and hope to win the Lebron James lottery in 2010.
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Anthony Pomponio 11 months ago
Basically you proposing sending off Lee, Crawford, and another 1st rounder for plenty of cap space in a year. For that we can just bring Zeke back.
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dfresh 11 months ago
trade Randolph,Jeffries,James,Collins,(Richardson)?weight problem bad back does not rebound nor does he go to the glass. Must keep Lee,Chandler,Robinson young high energy good for type of running game each one can play two positions and cause problems for th defense. Lee at the 3 position can over power sf chandler at the 2 can also do the same thing robinson can the long 3 at 1-2.
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