I have questioned his ability to make moves in the past and said he needs to go, and I won't bring up the questionable decisions from ancient times, but he has swung 3 solid deals without giving up very much in the past few months. Good job.
I agree. He's done a good job adding pieces despite our bad contracts. However, we really need to strike gold with this year's draft and infuse some youth. The draft is a crapshoot, but given enough chances, most teams will find a sleeper.
I posted this in the Mike James Thread "CD has redeemed himself for all the flack he has caught over the past 5 or 6 seasons. I think its clear that he should have the last say in building the team. I think if it were up to him, Ward wouldn't even be sucking up what little cap space he is. Here's some advice to every sport frachise in every city, let general managers manage and coaches coach. In the famous or infamous words of Brian Billick That's why Players Play Coaches Coach and Writers Write. He should have added, and gms gm."
I heard that CD was ready to retire when JVG came in, but JVG convinced CD to stay around a couple of more years. Probably so he would have a goat if things didnt work out. I dont really know if CD is still as involved in the process as he used to be. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.
It just seems that all these moves have been influenced by Van Gundy, the types of players Van Gundy likes are the players coming in. Coincidence? Maybe he's making these decisions on his own without any influence from the coach like pgabriel suggests? I don't know but since Van Gundy got here his moves have made a lot of sense, too much sense for CD.
Come on guys we dont know anything for sure on who is really making the deals, so let just assume that CD does his job still and even with all the crazy things he has done in the past lets give him his credit... GREAT JOB CD!!!!
Looks good recently! • Tmac/Howard trade • Mutombo trade • Sura FA • Wesley trade • Barry trade • James trade And we STILL have our 1st round picks. The only minus is the Ward acqusition but luckly it is a very small contract/years.
Why not? CD deserves his credit for these moves but one would have to imagine JVG had some say in these transactions considering the fact that the tenure of his predecessor was characterized by such drastically contrasting moves as: 1. signing Matt Maloney to a 7 yr deal 2. signing Kelvin Cato to a $42mill deal after a preseason game 3. signing Maurice freaking Taylor to a $48mill deal 4. trading a 1st rounder for Terrence Morris to appease Steve Francis 5. the infamous Glen Rice - Manboobs affair 6. i can't even remember what other blunders Gumby comes in and the club almost immediately sets on a trend of acquiring low key, cheaper veterans on short deals. Piatkowski, Griffin, Wesley, Barry, James.... CD deserves major credit but I don't think it's a coincidence.
While I believe that JVG does deserve some credit, to be fair the Glen Rice deal was while JVG was our coach.
who's to blame for bringing in all the old crappy Knicks? Mark Jackson Charlie Ward Clearance Spoon Charles Oakley Hot Rod Strickland ABarret? hes from NY isnt he? I'll lump him in that group. oh well this year has gotten much better but I wonder why we cant find or develop any young talent. Are choosing the wrong guys or are we not developing them. J
Last night I was watching the game on ESPN, and Leigler was saying that we have to get a good pg by tomorrow, but we'd have to give up an important piece to get one. Today, I am dumbfounded that all we gave up was our TE and a couple of 2nd round picks. My hat's off to CD; however, his track record has been unsatisfactory prior to the JVG era.
6. Moochie Norris' ridiculous contract 7. Passing on Rahard Lewis 8. Drafting Eddie Griffin 9. Drafting Boki Nachbar If you blame Rudy for 7,8, and 9, then substitute "Rudy's yes man" in its place..... ....However, as bad as those moves have been, we're now in a pretty good position.
All those guys were signed on either 10 days or veteran minimum contracts. They didn't hurt us, they were cheap pickups. They unloaded Norris' joke of a contract and got a guy with less years in Spoon. Basically my point is that I'm not too convinced that CD is pulling the strings when the moves of the two administrations are so different in character. Either Rudy was one of the worst GM's in basketball and CD is finally getting a chance to make his own decisions or JVG is calling the shots.
Just FYI, CD is one of a number of people involved in trades, free agency and the draft. It is a group that consists of personnel people, scouts, coaches, CD, JVG and Les. When there are smaller deals like this one, Les is consulted, but there isn't a major input from him. When it is a big deal, Les is the final say-so - big contracts, big trades, draft day trades, etc. I remember Feigen on the radio a year or two back talking about how CD and the coach had to sell deals to Les if they were anything more than role players and that Les had to be on board for it to work, but that he really did trust his staff, coaches and GM. So, it isn't like these deals are one person making a deal in a vaccuum. It is the same reason why when everyone was clamouring for CD to be fired, I told everyone that there is a lot more to it than just CD on the phone making deals. These things are talked about among a pretty big circle of people.
