His agent mentioned Texas as one of the two warm weather states he'd like to play in. If he'll sign for the exception, would you want him? He could fill in while Ming is learning the position. http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/18137.htm KNICKS AIN'T DONE YET By MARC BERMAN -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 28, 2002 -- The dealing isn't done. Running a hot streak after stealing power forward Antonio McDyess on Draft Night, Knicks GM Scott Layden has turned his attention to acquiring another center, revisiting the Latrell Sprewell-for-Glenn Robinson/Ervin Johnson scenario while keeping tabs on star point guard Andre Miller's availability. The free-agency-period begins Monday. After losing Marcus Camby, the Knick brass know new starting center Kurt Thomas needs support, as does the point guard position. The eyecatcher would be either pulling off a sign-and-trade for Clippers free-agent center Michael Olowokandi or snaring Miller but both are longshots. Last week, the Knicks offered a Camby package for Olowokandi with an exchange of picks 7 and 12 but the Clippers backed off. Their most-sought-after asset, Latrell Sprewell, could be as good as gone. Sprewell could be dealt to Milwaukee in a package for Robinson and center Johnson - a deal the Knicks turned down recently but now makes a whole lot more sense with McDyess aboard. They'd get bigger at small forward and give Thomas a helping hand. The more likely scenario is the Knicks reeling in a free-agent center with the $4.7 million mid-level exception. The best candidate being the shotblocking 6-11 Raptor Sixth Man Keon Clark. Minnesota starting center Radoslav Nesterovic, a big body, is another possibility. Miller, whom Layden tried to acquire on Draft Night, along with Nick Van Exel, will be pursued. A Cavs source said the Knicks still have nothing Cleveland wants, though the Cavs had talks with Denver about McDyess. There's been rumblings Dallas offered Van Exel for Thomas and Charlie Ward. "We need more additions," Chaney said. "But it's a good start. We're still very small, especially at center. Hopefully, we're able to get a bigger guy. If Kurt Thomas goes down at 5, we're in a stressful situation." Meanwhile, Clark's agent, Jim Mourer, said all things being equal, Keon would choose a warm-climate club - Florida or Texas. The Knicks may have to offer Clark the maximum length for the exception - a six-year, $35 million pact to have a chance. The Raptors can match any offer but are within $1 million of the luxury-tax threshold. Mourer said the McDyess deal enhances Clark's interest in New York. They were friends when both played in Denver. McDyess, too, was concerned about playing in New York when he initially refused to waive his opt-out clause that would make him a free agent after this season. Denver GM Kiki Vandeweghe, an ex-Knick, sold McDyess on playing in the Garden. McDyess reworked his contract, with faxes flying into 2 Penn Plaza five minutes before the Knicks picked. The Nuggets did not trade McDyess because of injury concerns. His durability has been greatly exaggerated by panicky Knick fans who mistrust Layden. Last season was an aberration for McDyess, who tore the patellar tendon in his left knee and needed surgery. Doctors decided to scope his right knee for a routine cleaning in the process. The smooth low-post scorer played 10 games last season but missed only a combined 28 the prior six years. Alonzo Mourning had the same surgery early in his career. The Nuggets felt McDyess was bolting after the season. Nuggets assistant GM David Fredman said, "A healthy McDyess is a top talent and it's tough to give him up even if you are going in another direction." Said Layden, "It's about just making the right deal to help us win."
i like keon hes a very athletic big man. If in some way i could ship cato off to someone id pick him up.
What position would he play? We have too many power forwards and he in my opinion would not be as effective as Cato guarding Shaq.
I like Clark's offensive skills. But he's too skinny at 221 lbs. If we ship Cato and get him, we get more offense, but we lose defense. By the way, did anybody see that NBA countdown of this year's best dunks? They put that one by Keon at #1. Did anybody notice that he never touched the rim? It was a hook shot that was only 1 inch away from the basket. Just thought I'd point that out.
Don't forget he's a Restricted Free Agent so any team that gets him will have to pay him more than 4.5 mil a year since the Raps have the right to match any offer up to the exception. Is Clark worth almost 5 mil a year?
Clark is worth a lot more than 5mil a year. There's no way on Earth the Knicks will get him for the MCE. Calvin Booth and Todd Mc get 5mil per and they are not half as good as Clark. Clark will get at least 7mil per.
We really don't have room. I think one of the only ways we're going to be able to find enough minutes for our three PFs is to have them spend some time at center and even SF perhaps. Yao's going to get his minutes (he better). There isn't much time left over without getting rid of Cato or Collier, and I don't see that as worth the trouble at this point. Clark might be an upgrade over Cato, but not that significant of an upgrade to warrant stirring the roster, if you ask me.
Yao better get his minutes? Hey, if this team gels and starts heading towards the playoffs before Yao developes, he BETTER SIT ON THE BENCH. This season isn't just about Yao, it's about getting to where we were supposed to be last year and beyond that. I'm glad we have Ming, but if he struggles, I'm very comfortable with stunting his developement if it is stunting the whole team's chances at the playoffs.
Keon Clark is worth the exception in today's hyper-inflated market but hopefully he isn't under the illusion of a gi-normous payday. Does anyone know what San Antonio's caproom is like? Next year they're in good shape for free agents. I hope they don't somehow get Clark, moving Duncan to center, all this with an eye on Kidd next year. Maybe Keon is one of these players that Toronto might let go because of the tax. I think they're gonna match any offer (within "reason") so I don't see him as a Rocket. Of course it's late and my tired brain can't "Hottoddie" up a trade scenario. Smiley face:
I hope he goes to the Knicks! That sorry azz team could use another "stick" since Camby is gone. I'd hate it if he went to the Spurs though. He may be a "stick" but he's a stick that has game. Duncan and Clark would be a formidable duo.....
This guy would be an excellent addition to the team. We would just have to get rid of Kenny in a sign & trade somehow. This guy is 6'11" , athletic, can block shots, and can score in close around the basket. He we be good coming off the bench for the 4 and 5 postions. This will also spark more competitve fire in Cato to compete at a higher level. IF it don't the bench will be his warming spot. I have read from the posts on this board that Rudy was thinking about adding another forward because of some teams will have luxuary tax problems. This might be the guy and he did mention Texas as a possibe landing spot.
ROXTXIA, I agree with you, about them matching any reasonable offer. However, I believe they made him a qualifying offer, with the intent being, to do a sign & trade with him. The article stated that Toronto is about $1 mill below the point where they'll have to pay the Luxury Tax. So, they'll probably want to dump a bad contract or two. The first thing we have to establish is, what they want or need. They've got a veteran team that is running out of time to make a run at the Championship & I'm going to assume that they'll be looking for some quality veterans to fill need positions. Here's the players they have at each position & the backups, if they sign & trade Keon: C: Olajuwon/Montross/N'diaye/Stewart-Olajuwon would be a solid backup. PF: Davis/J.Williams/Bradley-solid starter & depth. SF: MoPete/Jeffries (rookie)-MoPete is erratic & no experienced depth. SG: Carter/Hunter/Curry-solid starter & depth. PG: A.Williams/Childs-average at best. They could use a solid starter at the Center, SF, & PG positions. What do we have to offer? C: Cato/Willis (S&T)/Collier SF: Rice/T-Mo?/Walt (S&T)/Torres (S&T) PG: Moochie Willis & Dream could platoon the center position very nicely. Cato would offer Toronto an athletic (when he wants to be), defensive, & younger option at center, while Collier would offer a young 7 footer that can hit from outside. Rice (if the reports of his good health are accurate) would give them a solid, veteran, starting SF with a contract that expires in two years. Walt could probably be resigned for a nominal contract & would offer a sweet outside shot (when he's on) & veteran experience. T-Mo & Torres would offer youth & an intriguing upside. If Kenny Smith were the GM of Toronto, Moochie would, without a doubt, be their starting PG. However, he would, imo, be an improvement to their current PG's. We've also got KT that could be included in some way, if necessary. They'll probably want to dump one or both of the contracts of Montross & Stewart. So, the million dollar question is, would you do this trade, if it netted you a young, athletic, up & coming PF/C like Clark? Houston sends Rice(2 years left)/Willis(resigned @ $3 mill) to Toronto. Toronto sends Clark(resigned @ $5 mill)/Montross(3 years left)/Stewart(3 years left). One other thought would be, that you could retrade Clark later in the year to a playoff team, when his value would be much higher, if you wanted to. That trade would give us a new lineup of: C: Cato/Ming/Clark PF: Taylor/Griffin/KT SF: Nachbar/T-Mo SG: Mobley/Torres PG: Francis/Moochie A multi-team trade would probably be more ageeable to everyone.
I do not feel the need for Clark, but I would take him over Cato anyday. He seems like more of a PF, which is the last thing we need. If we could package Cato and KT for Clark and a SG, I would do it in a second/
I wouldn't mind having Clark, but only if the the Raptors would agree to take Cato or Taylor in return, which they probably wouldn't.
Cato I can agree with but not Taylor. Taylor is one of the reasons why the Rockets won 45 games that year. If we didn't have Taylor that year the Rockets don't win 45 games. I know a lot of people says he's a poor rebounder and doesn't play good defense. But on a chemistry standpoint this team plays better with him lineup. He's another post up option they can go to. This past season the rockets didn't have that option. You will see the difference in this upcoming season. Question? IF Kenny was better in the starting lineup, then why did Rudy sign Taylor.
