Its an insider article... http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insi.../story?columnist=ford_chad&page=Knicks-100525
I don't think the Knicks will get any of the three. I hope they utterly fail and fall flat on their face this summer.
That would be awesome. I have to believe they won't offer Rudy Gay a stupid contract. It's plain as day he's a 3rd option type of player, nothing more.
New York signs Amar'e, who can't play w/o Steve Nash at the point and overpay a Rudy Gay/Joe Johnson type player. foolishly thinking they can get one of the big 3, David Lee leaves
[rquoter]ESPN's Chad Ford interviewed a "well-placed source with knowledge of the Knicks' thinking" who revealed key elements of the team's plan for approaching this summer's marquee free-agents. Not surprisingly, the Knicks' leading pitch to LeBron James is that he would be able to play with another superstar in New York. The Knicks will hold enough cap room to offer two maximum-salary contracts. The Knicks' first choice is to sign Chris Bosh to play with James, which the club believes would form the most dominant pair from among this free-agent class. The team does not believe that Dwyane Wade and James complement each other best. But the Knicks are just as interested in pairing Wade with Bosh if James declines their offer. "I'm sure LeBron and Wade would figure out a way to play together, but it's not an ideal fit," the source said. "Bosh would be a perfect complement to both of those guys because of his ability to stretch the floor." Mike D'Antoni will lead the Knicks' recruiting efforts by showing James and Wade how he would maximize their talents. D'Antoni envisions using James or Wade in the role that Magic Johnson played in Los Angeles. The team will also pitch its facilities and staff. Donnie Walsh has invested in state-of-the-art equipment and a world-class group of trainers. And the team will sell James, Bosh and Wade on the greatness of the opportunity in New York City. "Whoever can come in and win a championship in New York will own the city," the source said. "No one can replace Michael Jordan in Chicago, no matter how many titles you win. The Heat are coming off a recent championship and the city is far from the most rabid when it comes to basketball. I think there are more Knicks fans in Miami than Heat fans. "If someone can come in here and do what no one has been able to do for decades, their legacy is complete. That matters to players and [the Knicks] are going to make sure they know it."[/rquoter] Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wi...reveals_new_yorks_summer_plan/##ixzz0oykHz6ha My apologies for sourcing RealGM. Closest thing to the actual insider article.
They already stated they won´t sign 2nd options just to get free agents, if they can´t land two superstars, they will wait for 2011 when guys like Melo will be on the market.
While the Knicks will target LeBron James first, they are no less interested in Dwyane Wade, a source tells ESPN's Chad Ford. According to the source, the Knicks' Plan A is to pair James and Chris Bosh. Plan B is Wade and Bosh. Plan C is James and Wade and Plan D is to pair James or Wade with Dirk Nowitzki. The Knicks are treating this summer like a fantasy draft. While LeBron is the most talked about free agent, Wade's decision will likely have the biggest domino effect.
Their problem with outright signing any of those players is that it leaves, what, $30 million on the table. Add in the extra tax burden, and that's a lot of marketing they have to do to close the gap (marketing which Lebron and Wade already have a fair share of). In regards to owning the city...yes and no. Any leader of any major sports team winning a championship becomes idolized - be it in NYC, Chicago or Charlotte, for that matter. As there are more people in NY, there become more fans to idolize the winners...BUT, we all know NYC is a baseball town first, second and third. It's probably a football town next, and then a basketball town. Still, hard to dispute that Lebron going to NYC and winning a championship (or multiple) wouldn't add to a legacy. Anyways, the Knicks have literally nothing to offer in a sign and trade (maybe David Lee sign and traded back...but he has to want to go to Toronto, Cleveland or Miami, those teams have to want him back, and at the right salary). As we've seen historically, typically teams are content to take back young players, solid draft choices and salary relief through an expiring contract. New York basically only has the third of those....unless they are willing to part with Chandler or Gallinari, and they aren't. All that said, I think it is a possibility that Lebron/Wade + Bosh end up in NYC, but I would handicap it at less than 50%, for sure.
I wonder what the Knicks line-up would look like if they got LeBron and Bosh... PG Tony Douglas SG LeBron James? SF Danilo Gallinari? PF Chris Bosh C Eddy Curry?? I suppose they'd play Wilson Chandler over Eddy Curry and slide Bosh to the center position... seems like a guard and a bunch of forwards. Either way, the line-up doesn't really scare me -- the overall talent isn't really better than Cleveland this year. James+Bosh does not a winner make.
Are the Knicks going to get a fine. because they are talking about other FAs? Does the fine its going to be x3, because they were talking about 3 players not in their team?
I don't feel the same way. I mean, a poor performance means a better draft pick for us if we don't trade it away this offseason, but it would be great to see the Knicks rise to prominence in the east again.
Knicks... LOL... 2 max players with scrubs. That's it. If one max player goes down... Seeeee Yaaa! They won't be able to afford decent role players.
