Why have the Knicks buried the Bargnani trade?

[JYD31]

Just a simple question -- why have the Knicks completely ignored the trade they made for Andrea Bargnani? You can have an opinion on whether he's a good player/fit for this team, but regardless of that I have never seen a trade where we acquired a player of this magnitude (or comparable) go unmentioned by the team.

I am aware that Grunwald held a short phone conference to announce the deal, but no live presser/photo-op/Q&A -- not even any mention on the team's official website! He is listed on the active roster, but there is not even a link to an article or anything. It's really not anything necessary I suppose, but it just struck me as very strange how under-the-radar this deal went.

Thoughts?

[Tron Carter]

because we cant have nice things.

[AmazingJason]

I have no idea. Personally, I think Bargnani should have a huge role here, but I have a feeling he may end up being a backup like Cope. In some ways, it comes down to Bargnani vs. JR. We need a PG out there to run the show, Shump to play D, Melo to score, Tyson to guard the interior. Is Woodson really going to cut down JR's minutes to play Bargnani?

[suicidedeuce]

Its called managing expectations.

Its is very common for entities such as sports teams or movie studios to attempt to manage expectations.

Like when Man of Steel came out - the studio (in this case, Warners Bros.) will always leak to the press a low-ball prediction for the opening weekend box office. They want to be able to say if the numbers come back lower than what the press and box officer trackers are predicting that they're happy with the results and the movie is a success.

I'll give you another example.

Stoudemire being on a 20 mpg limit and may not play the back-to-backs.

This is CLASSIC managing expectations. They are trying to lower the bar in the eyes of fans and the media so if Stat is able to go out there and play 25+ mins a night and play some back-to-backs, it looks like he exceeded expectations.

There is NO way the KNicks REALLY believe he'll be on those restrictions and are sharing it with the public NOW. They're trying to lower the bar.

I suspect they don't want to try to set bargnani up as the big new addition that will come and take the team to a new level. I suspect they want him going into the year free of the expectations that plagued him in Toronto and are simply going low profile to help that along.

[Thorn]

Its called managing expectations.

Its is very common for entities such as sports teams or movie studios to attempt to manage expectations.

Like when Man of Steel came out - the studio (in this case, Warners Bros.) will always leak to the press a low-ball prediction for the opening weekend box office. They want to be able to say if the numbers come back lower than what the press and box officer trackers are predicting that they're happy with the results and the movie is a success.

I'll give you another example.

Stoudemire being on a 20 mpg limit and may not play the back-to-backs.

This is CLASSIC managing expectations. They are trying to lower the bar in the eyes of fans and the media so if Stat is able to go out there and play 25+ mins a night and play some back-to-backs, it looks like he exceeded expectations.

There is NO way the KNicks REALLY believe he'll be on those restrictions and are sharing it with the public NOW. They're trying to lower the bar.

I suspect they don't want to try to set bargnani up as the big new addition that will come and take the team to a new level. I suspect they want him going into the year free of the expectations that plagued him in Toronto and are simply going low profile to help that along.

Words of wisdom.

[Fat]

Bargnani's to sexy for the Camera

[H20FAN]

Maybe there is a second deal in place and Knicks are waiting to do the pressor when both deals are done. C'MON LET IT BE RONDO!!!

[Wildcat]

I assume a press conference will be held later in the off-season when all the pieces fall. If that's not the case, like someone said, maybe we're cribbing expectations. Doesn't matter to me, though.

[BowlRips]

dont want to put that my pressure on him

[Brickz7]

because its bargnani ..lmao

[Knicks_Fan2]

Its called managing expectations.

Its is very common for entities such as sports teams or movie studios to attempt to manage expectations.

Like when Man of Steel came out - the studio (in this case, Warners Bros.) will always leak to the press a low-ball prediction for the opening weekend box office. They want to be able to say if the numbers come back lower than what the press and box officer trackers are predicting that they're happy with the results and the movie is a success.

I'll give you another example.

Stoudemire being on a 20 mpg limit and may not play the back-to-backs.

This is CLASSIC managing expectations. They are trying to lower the bar in the eyes of fans and the media so if Stat is able to go out there and play 25+ mins a night and play some back-to-backs, it looks like he exceeded expectations.

There is NO way the KNicks REALLY believe he'll be on those restrictions and are sharing it with the public NOW. They're trying to lower the bar.

I suspect they don't want to try to set bargnani up as the big new addition that will come and take the team to a new level. I suspect they want him going into the year free of the expectations that plagued him in Toronto and are simply going low profile to help that along.

Excellent post.

[j4remi]

I just saw something about Woody saying Bargs might move into the starting line-up...I think it was on ESPN New York.

[Cliff Levingston]

Does anyone know how they plan to use Bargnani? Not to be an **** but he was pretty terrible on the Raptors, and just about all he has going for him is that he's paid $10+ mil per year and was once a 1st overall pick. But, we've seen plenty of 1st overall picks bust out and bust out hard, like Kwame Brown who settled into a role as a decent back-up center for a little while. Raptors fans seem to think Bargnani was getting as much PT as he was because Colangelo was trying to justify him as the pick, then later, to try to show him off for a trade.

So, do they see him as a starting 4 playing 25-30+ minutes per game, or just a situational player who can pose some match up problems with his shooting ability? Considering the Knicks led the league in 3 point attempts, it seems they could use some more rebounding or a post player more than a big man who's proven he can do little else than shoot the 3 during his disappointing career.

[goldenbrandon]

Does anyone know how they plan to use Bargnani? Not to be an **** but he was pretty terrible on the Raptors, and just about all he has going for him is that he's paid $10+ mil per year and was once a 1st overall pick. But, we've seen plenty of 1st overall picks bust out and bust out hard, like Kwame Brown who settled into a role as a decent back-up center for a little while. Raptors fans seem to think Bargnani was getting as much PT as he was because Colangelo was trying to justify him as the pick, then later, to try to show him off for a trade.

So, do they see him as a starting 4 playing 25-30+ minutes per game, or just a situational player who can pose some match up problems with his shooting ability? Considering the Knicks led the league in 3 point attempts, it seems they could use some more rebounding or a post player more than a big man who's proven he can do little else than shoot the 3 during his disappointing career.

Well he won't be first option here so he'll do better. As the number one option he was bad but as 3rd option he's just what the doctor ordered

[TwentyOne920]

Cause the Knicks don't wanna admit they got fleeced by Ujiri AGAIN?

[thebuzzardman]

So a ballboy could start a useless thread.

[cgmw]

Its called managing expectations.

Its is very common for entities such as sports teams or movie studios to attempt to manage expectations.

Like when Man of Steel came out - the studio (in this case, Warners Bros.) will always leak to the press a low-ball prediction for the opening weekend box office. They want to be able to say if the numbers come back lower than what the press and box officer trackers are predicting that they're happy with the results and the movie is a success.

I'll give you another example.

Stoudemire being on a 20 mpg limit and may not play the back-to-backs.

This is CLASSIC managing expectations. They are trying to lower the bar in the eyes of fans and the media so if Stat is able to go out there and play 25+ mins a night and play some back-to-backs, it looks like he exceeded expectations.

There is NO way the KNicks REALLY believe he'll be on those restrictions and are sharing it with the public NOW. They're trying to lower the bar.

I suspect they don't want to try to set bargnani up as the big new addition that will come and take the team to a new level. I suspect they want him going into the year free of the expectations that plagued him in Toronto and are simply going low profile to help that along.

I agree with all of this. However, the simplest explanation could be that Bargnani is currently playing for the Italians in Italy, isn't he? Seems awfully harsh to make the guy fly back for a presser.

[nyk4L7_21]

A part of me feels like one of the major reasons Grunnie did this trade was as insurance for Stoudemire when he inevitably misses a few games (generous, ik) with an injury.

This team as currently constructed is supposed to be based around having two high scoring forwards carry the offensive load, and Bargs fits that bill as he can possibly compliment Melo very well in the starting lineup with Bargs on the perimeter and Melo posting up.

With Stoudemire healthy and playing though it gets iffy. It's easy to say that he'd just take Novak's minutes but Bargnani I feel isn't properly utilized as a 15 mpg spot up shooter off the bench; that hasn't ever been his game/role since he's been in the league.

[Deeeez Knicks]

Another Illuminati coverup. They got to Grunnie.

[makeitstop]

It was covered on all sports media, in every major newspaper. Bargs did a conference call to talk to reporters.

I'm at a loss as to how you conclude the story was 'buried.'