Knicks falling out in the first round was fun and all, but could be bad news for the Rockets' pursuit of Webber. They had to gut their team to get him -- now they're probably willing to. Allan Houston now is expendable in a sign and trade.... Camby may be as well. Sacramento could maybe go for that one. Look at this NY Post article on the final Knicks game. This is the recap of the game.... not some offseason preview or anything. <a href="http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/26254.htm" target="_blank">Meek Knicks See Season End Early</a> On the poor rebounding by the Knicks in Game 5... "Chris Webber, the structurally flawed Knicks need you, and Sprewell is going to push for you." The closing line of the recap "Now the Knicks have two months before they can court Webber." ------------------ NOTHING BUT .NET CLUTCHCITY.NET [This message has been edited by Clutch (edited May 05, 2001).]
Clutch - I got the exact same feeling right after that game. I'm under the impression that Alan Houston (like Shandon Anderson) is an unrestricted free agent (player option) and does not have to help the Knicks at all. If this is true, I don't see one other Knick player that the Kings would want. Also, I have some serious doubts about how good this team actually would be: 1) Jackson /Ward 2) Sprewell 3) Rice 4) Webber 5) Camby If this really is where Webber wants to go, and since the Rockets have cap space, let's facilate the deal - for a price!!! ------------------ Raef to Rocks 2001-2002! [This message has been edited by GATER (edited May 05, 2001).]
If he signs with us, cool, and if he goes to the Knicks, that's alright too. I, for one, do not think we will get Webber, but I'm looking forward to an awesome draft and an improved Maurice Taylor. ------------------ "They couldn't shoot, rebound, or pass, but other than that, they played great!" -Bill Walton
Now the Rockets need to just get their hands in both pots... offer Houston a FA signing for the SF spot (I know I know, he's not a prototypical SF type) and screw over the Knicks chances. ------------------ women love me, fish fear me.
...or tell him Steve will hook him up with Destiny's Chile if he refuses to cooperate with NY in a sign-and-trade. ------------------
Yeah, Gater, I was thinking the same thing. I have been hoping for a Kings breakdown against the Lakers---very plausible---but if the Kings falter fast, Webber and Sprewell and their respective agents will have more time to sit down and work something out. But as you point out, Gater, if I were Allan Houston, I'd see the writing on the wall. If I knew the team would try to send me to Sacramento, I'd say, "Well, did I ever tell you how much I miss Detroit? Big-cap-space-Detroit-Pistons?" Achebe, we could make Allan an offer, or why not f###k over the Knicks by facilitating a deal elsewhere? Trade for Van Horn with Walt, Cato, our draft picks, and send him to Detroit, where no free agent dares to tread. Take the #9 draft pick. Open up cap space for the Rox. That might be better than Detroit getting Glen Rice and Othella my Fella. And Detroit has not only 16 million potential cap space but a 3.9 million exception as well. Honestly, Webber must love New York if he wants to play with such an old bunch of players. The Knicks would have some serious flaws and would be out of contention (as is) in a couple years. And honestly, if we really want Webber, it would be nice if Detroit or Chicago would take some of what we have. Free agents won't willingly sign at either place, so maybe, just maybe, we could make it work. Otherwise, we'll get Webber but have no real center to speak of, cause Hakeem's new agent is a sign of the apocalypse...Hakeem playing elsewhere. ------------------
<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/2001-05-06/Metro_Sports/Basketball/a-110103.asp" target="_blank">Latrell Goes on Shopping Spree</a> Wish list starts with 'W' as in Webber, Wallace ------------------ NOTHING BUT .NET CLUTCHCITY.NET
I dislike Peter Vescey as much as the next guy, so, for what its worth, he did mention on NBC pregame this morning that he thinks that New York will not be able to trade for size. Houston will probably opt out and they obviously dont want to trade Sprewell. Will they trade Camby? Who could they get for him? What about salary implications? I really dont even know enough of this information about the Rockets, much less the Knicks. Assuming Houston opts out and Latrell stays, who could the Knicks trade for a Webber or Wallace that would make sense salary-wise? ------------------ I hope, when they die, cartoon characters have to answer for their sins.
I said months ago that Webber would probably go to New York. I see one way out: a replay of the Maurice Taylor situation. Namely, Webber wants to go to New York, and New York wants him, and they put together a deal with Sacramento, and the deal falls apart very late for any number of plausible reasons. If that happens -- and I do think there's a decent chance of it happening -- the fact that the deal is at that point already public makes it much more difficult for Webber to reconcile with the Kings and stay in Sacramento. All of which leaves us in the catbird seat. But if it goes down this way, we're going to be biting our nails and cursing our bad luck and making our peace with lesser alternatives until the pleasant surprise at the bitter end. We waited for Mo. We waited for Francis. I'm willing to wait and see what happens with Webber and the Knicks. ------------------ Scottie, disappearing is your game.
The Knicks can only get him in a 'sign and trade' and they probably don't have enough. Allan Houston will NOT be part of any trade to Sacramento. I have read a few interviews with him...and he is opting out of his contract. It seems that tactic has more to do with him making it VERY clear he won't be part of a trade he doesn't like, than it does him really wanting to be a free agent... That leaves Camby and Rice as the most likely pair... I guess the real key thing is that, if Webber looks like leaving as a F/A to Houston, will he use that as a 'gun to the head' of Sacramneto...thus forcing them to accept a Camby / Rice type package. If Webber really wants to be a Knick...look for him to use us as a f/a...and then force a sign and trade. Given the way Shaq just destroyed his team...40 and 20...!!...Webber may prefer to go for the ring in another conferenece... ------------------
If Webber forces a S&T between the Kings and Knicks, and Houston opts out because he does not want to go to SACtown, then I agree with SRJ - Camby + Rice appears to be all that works $ wise. Here's the powerhouse lineup the Knicks will field: 1) Jackson / Ward / Bogues 2) Sprewell / Brunson 3) LJ 4) Webber / Harrington 5) Travis Knight / Kurt Thomas / Felton Spencer Will may be 100% correct that Webber will go to the Knicks, but pardon my sarcasm - this lineup will be lucky to make the playoffs much less win the East. ------------------ GATER
I think Webber has another recruiter in McGrady now. Tracy was at the Lakers/Sac game today, and though he could have been there because he's good friends with Kobe, it's more likely he was there on a Webber recruiting trip. I'm not sure if Orlando could even be a player in the Webber sweepstakes unless the there was a 3 team trade though. ------------------
Sounds kinda like Spree wants to get rid of Allan Houston so he can take all the shots. ------------------ "Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored."- (Aldous Huxley)
Hey Gater, what makes you think Houston won't re-sign with NY? He can't be traded in a sign-and-trade without agreeing to it. In my opinion, if Sacramento's willing to go for a Camby/Rice deal for Webber, there's no reason why Allan wouldn't be back with the Knicks, unless he were just really embittered. ------------------
Relativist - Good point. I'm sure the Knicks WILL make an offer to Alan Houston. However, with the Knicks $34M over the cap (+ the extra to land Webber) there may not be enough left over to land him. Especially if they are thinking at all about the luxury tax which will kick in this season. Also, Webber took 1,635 shots to Rice's 980 in 2000-2001. Allan Houston has a legitimate concern whether there's enough ball to go around. ------------------ GATER [This message has been edited by GATER (edited May 07, 2001).]
Anyone know where Allan Houston might sign otherwise? Didn't he want to stay in Detroit but couldn't turn down the $$$ the Knicks offered? Detroit has the cap; but the Pistons also have shoot-it-shoot-it-shoot-it Jerry Stackhouse. ------------------
In yesterday's NY Daily News, Frank Isola puts the Knicks odds at getting Webber at 4 on a scale of 10. In the article, he writes that Webber is "just as eager to join forces with Steve Francis as he is with Sprewell." I have no idea how a NY sportswriter knows this, but.. Here's the link: http://nydailynews.com/2001-05-07/Metro_Sports/Basketball/a-110224.asp ------------------ [This message has been edited by grummett (edited May 08, 2001).]
If that's true---and, as you say, how the hell does this guy know? although I hope he's right---then Webber would be Houston-bound, period. NY has to give up too much to get Chris. ------------------
