If Knicks could make this deal, they should. http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/105617585741700.xml Knicks: Spree offered for No. 4 pick Saturday, June 21, 2003 BY DAVE D'ALESSANDRO Star-Ledger Staff The process of eliminating Latrell Sprewell as the primary source of Knicks' migraines has begun in earnest (again), according to two NBA general managers familiar with Scott Layden's business, and this time the Knicks president is using the team's antihero as a tool to move up in next Thursday's college draft. Toward such an end, Layden has engaged in several talks with highly motivated Toronto general manager Glen Grunwald this week, in hopes of swapping the Knicks' No. 9 pick for the Raptors' No. 4 choice. Included in the proposed deal is Sprewell, who got along famously with new Raptors coach Kevin O'Neill when the latter was a Knicks assistant coach in the 2000 season. In return, the Knicks would get forward Jerome Williams and two other players that Grunwald would love to take off his payroll, forward Lamond Murray and center Eric Montross. The real payoff, as the Knicks apparently envision it, would be the No. 4 pick, where they would ostensibly select University of Texas pocket rocket T.J. Ford. Williams is a favorite of Knicks coach Don Chaney, and would solve many problems for one of the league's worst rebounding teams. Murray, who never suited up for a game last season after breaking a bone in his foot in preseason, could make the Knicks' rotation if he got back in shape, which is debatable. "It makes little sense, because of all the point guards they have, but Ford's the guy they want," an Eastern Conference GM said yesterday. And if this one doesn't go through, something else probably will -- Sprewell is out there strong. They're offering him everywhere, but mostly to teams that will enable them to move up."
If I am Toronto I seriously look at that deal. I am not sure there is a HUGE jump of talent between #4 and #9 in the Draft this year. So moving down 5 spots AND adding in Sprewell is pretty nice. It would be one thing if the Raptors had the #3 pick and could pick up Carmello, but I think from #4 down is somewhat a crap shoot. Also, Toronto is a veteran team. They need to win now. So adding some veteran talent and yet at the same time getting a decent pick at #9 is pretty good!
it's amazing how many sports writers think the knicks will be able to do any trade they want. Toronto isn't stupid enough to do this trade just like the rockets aren't either.
I think that would be a steal for the Raps and yet another dunderheaded move from the braintrust (I use that term very loosely) that brought you: 1. Picking Fredric Weis in 1999 over Ron Artest. Weis is only known for this little moment of infamy courtesy Vince Carter in the Olympics. 2. Giving uber-bucks to yet another undersized tweener forward (Clarence Weatherspoon) 3. Giving uber-bucks to a one-dimensional shooting guard 4. Trading for Howard Eisley ( big albatross contract), Luc Longley ( softest big man ever), Glen Rice, Othella Harrington, and countless other cast-offs and rejects. 5. Unfortunately for the Rocks, guess who signed off on all those moves? If you said JVG, give yourself a pat on the back.
Didn't know JVG had GM powers. Last I checked, that was Layden and his predecessor, Ernie Grunfeld. The coach doesn't have final say over the moves unless they also hold GM powers. Sure, they may have a say in things, but to place all of the blame on Van Gundy is ridiculous.
I didn't say he was GM, but he did sign off on all of those moves. His opinion on all of the aforementioned moves was sought out by the front office folks. All except the Camby for Oak trade. I'm not placing all the blame on him, but he did not have good working relationship with the front office stiffs in NYC.
If he signed off on all of those moves yet butted heads with NY mgmt., does it not make sense that they, the ones with the final say, would reject those moves? Does it not make sense that, after JVG left, their moves would improve and the team would subsequently improve? That hasn't happened, and I don't buy that JVG was necessarily involved with all of the moves.
Van Gundy didn't want Weis. I think that played a big part in him leaving...I'm sure others can find articles that go into a little more detail on the situation than I could... http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/knicks/ny-jeff103326971jun10,0,2614586.story?coll=ny-knicks-headlines
I'll give you the Weis thing, even though he was quoted at the time as saying the Knicks needed more height (I don't think he meant for them to draft Weis) On an unrelated subject, do y'all think that old McDyess will ever come back and be even a borderline contributor? Without him, the Knix are screwed seven ways from Sunday with all that dead money they have tied up in contracts for players (L.J. Longley) who are no longer in uniform and even more dead money tied up in players who might as well be in street clothes (Eisley, Weatherspoon, Shandon Anderson). I still say that besides the Weis thing, the trades and signings were with his blessings, especially the Weatherspoon signing (another undersized power player on the downslope of his career) and the Shandon Anderson trade.
For some reason I was thinking the Rockets would be in on a 3-way with the Knicks and the Raptors, considering our own possible recent contacts with the Knicks.
