Kurt Thomas -- too old, too small and too expensive. If you are unhappy with Mo Taylor, please find another horse.
superjazzfan - thanks for the info. I wasn't 100%, but I based that correction off an article found during a search at a fan site (www.nykbasketball.com). However, I've read articles on the NY Post and NY Daily News about Thomas being unhappy and possibly opting out and they made no mention of a possible restricted free agency, so I would bet you are correct and he will be unrestricted. If that is indeed the case, I would bet a trade involving Thomas is more likely. http://www.allsports.com/nba/knicks/102603.html Kurt Thomas said he would definitely consider opting out of his contract at the end of the upcoming season if he had another good year. As opposed to having Kurt for two more years, allowing us to build more team solidarity amongst the new players and maybe even make the playoffs, the Knicks are now put in a very precarious situation. If indeed Thomas does decide to opt out of his contract, he will become a restricted free agent, which would allow the Knicks to match any offer he receives. That makes it seem as if the Knicks are safe if Thomas opts out of his contract because all they have to do is match any offer sheet he signs. However, in order for Thomas to be a restricted free agent the Knicks would also have to extend him a qualifying offer. If he were to accept that offer, he would play one more year for the Knicks before becoming an unrestricted free agent; thus allowing him to sign anywhere he would want without having to worry about the Knicks intervening. Given that Thomas has on more than one occasion said that he would like to return home to Dallas, the chances of that qualifying offer being signed would become all the more likely.
McDyess would be a major gamble. Some factors I would look at... * What players would have to be traded? Cato for sure and probably Mobley. * If you gambled incorrectly, you clear $13.5m off of your cap. Worth it? Could Spoon (2 yrs /$12m) be moved to Charlotte for a pick? If so, you have major cap room in 2004 (but the TE goes away). * If he is genuinely on the downhill, would he be a good backup as a full MLE FA or re-signed to a salary commensurate with current skills? A reasonably priced re-signed Dice still leaves the full TE. Bottomline for me...too risky.
I think we should trade for McDyess too. I also think we should trade for Grant Hill and Alonzo Mourning. And Reggie Lewis. Do the Celtics still have the rights to him?
According to Patricia's site McDyess's contract runs through 2005 so he would still have another year left on his contract. I think he would be a great risk if not for the salary he makes. I hate to use that as an excuse but it is way up there and we would have to pay it regardless of if his knees hold up.
Of course I just checked the USA Today and it shows that his contract only runs through 2004. So of course I should have checked there first.
Clutch, I got my info from Larry Coon's CBA site. Link I usually trust that. Patricia likes to assume a player will opt for his player option unless he is vastly underpaid. There are quite a few player options that she doesn't list, but has just added a year to the contract
