Our Franchise Is In Great Position For Contention

[Retired Jersey]

Let me start out by saying we have an owner who has the financial resources and willingness to pay the luxury tax as long as it leads to the seats of MSG being filled to capacity with corporate sponsors paying top dollar to view a premium product. With that said, the major problem of this franchise DOES NOT LIE WITH JIM DOLAN. It is rather the fault of the people with whom he has entrusted to run this organization from a basketball operations perspective. Dolan has admitted on numerous occasions that he has a very limited knowlege of basketball management and the executive decision-making process. The main caveat is his ineptitude in hiring qualified personnel possessing the skillsets to maximize his resources, resulting in presenting a winning product to display on the "World's Most Famous Arena's" hardwood floor. Provided Dolan swallows his pride, concedes to failure and hires a basketball mind (grey-hair) who is not a "yes-man" while giving full-autonomy to right his ship, I believe our franchise is in great position for contention.

President of Basketball Operations
With Isiah Thomas fast running out of excuses his firing is ultimately inevitable. Having been lead astray by providing blind faith in Isiah, Dolan's next hire will be someone he screens diligently who has a successful track-record as an executive with winning credentials. If Dolan is to offer up the keys to the franchise, you better believe it will be to someone he is convinced is capable of turning this thing around while spending his money wisely and utilizing a bit more fiscal restraint and accountibility than in times past. There are candidates out there who have done more with less, in charge of franchises in smaller markets with less financial margin for error. For an executive, the head basketball decision-making title for the NBA's flagship franchise with an owner willing to spend is a *dream job* make no mistake about it. Combine with that the fact that they'd be working in the number one media market, meaning orchestrating a turn-around would result in establishing a legacy of legendary proportions, with credit for making the NY Knicks relevant again. This is a position that starts at the top with the changing of a culture and the restructuring of an organization...only the confident and capable need apply.

CANDIDATES: Jerry Colangelo, Jerry West, Donnie Walsh, etc.

General Manager
The hiring of a heavily credentialed "grey-hair" running the organization will most-likely result in the executive bringing in a man of his own to handle the day-to-day operations under the new management structure model. Since most senior tenured executives are over-qualified for the more research-driven, administrative and daily duties of a present-day GM, those responsibilities fall on a younger more hungry executive. Think an Ernie Grunfield to Dave Checketts type of scenario. In this capacity we will need someone who places a premium on scouting (since we're rebuilding through the draft), is creative (being that our cap situation is not ideal), and most importantly...someone who has a good rapport and is in good standing with respective GM's throughout the league (Isiah had way too many enemies on the other end of the horn when talking trade).

CANDIDATES: Bryan Colangelo, Kiki Vandeweghe, Allan Houston, Greg Anthony, etc.

Head Coach
In the best interest of hiring the right man to lead this team from the sidelines, I don't think we necessarily need to target a big-name with an even bigger ego as the next head coach of the NY Knicks. Rather, it may make more sense to go "young & hungry" and look for a budding bright mind who preaches defense and rebounding while getting back to the Knicks philosophy of old, placing value on conditioning, toughness, hustle, and blue collar work ethic. Preferably someone with Knicks ties, who can identify with the pride it took to put on a NY Knicks uniform and leave it all out on the court day-in & day-out. Someone who is not afraid to get in today's players' faces. Someone who demands sacrifice, commitment, dedication, accountability and leadership from his best players. A good motivator of men, who even if he isn't the best at X's & O's (assistant coaching staff can provide that aspect) can inspire the willingness of his players to run through walls for him. A guy who won't distribute minutes to *contracts* but rather to *players*

CANDIDATES: Patrick Ewing (w/ Herb as top assistant), Mark Jackson, John Starks, Larry Johnson, Charles Oakley, etc.

2008 Draft
We currently are slotted in the 1st round as the #5 pick. We need help at every position and as a team with no evident star at any position we must select using the *BPA* philosphy eschewing the thought of drafting by need. With a little luck even if we don't finish in the worst 3 record-wise in the standing we can still end up with a top-3 pick or winning the lottery altogether.

CANDIDATES: Derrick Rose, Micheal Beasley, OJ Mayo, Jerryd Bayless, Brook Lopez, Eric Gordon, Donte Greene, Hasheem Thabeet, etc.


Trade Market
Contrary to popular belief, I believe we are in great position for trade possibilities to propel us from mediocrity to contention provided we hire a new President, GM and Head Coach. The general consensus throughout the league is that we currently have a very talented (albeit flawed) roster. However, as the flurry of trade activity at this season's deadline indicated, rival GM's were more than happy to leave us out in the cold in mid-February. Reason being, most are relishing the act of "beating a dead horse"..."kicking a dog while it's down"..."keeping their foot on our neck" so-to-speak. Besides, who wants to be the exec who risks making the dreaded trade that Isiah finally wins and becoming the NBA's new resident executive idiot? Bottomline, if we hire competent management who are on good terms with the majority of the league the trade offers will come pouring in. This is a league based on reputation and perspective. Once the new hires are made and the media starts singing positive songs again we'll be back in trade business. We have a max expiring (Marbury) for teams looking to get under the cap for the 2010 free agent class. We have another expiring (Rose) for teams looking to ensure they stay under the luxury tax threshold. We will also have an offensive-minded, back-to-basket scoring option with range on his jumper (Randolph) who's a legit double-double threat to offer up for teams looking for a post presence who already have an interior defender in place to pair with him to cover up his defensive shortcomings. My source (Scott Templeton) tells me that Curry is the less likely to be traded. Due to his subpar season he has far less trade value. He's the inferior rebounder and defender with the worst motor out of the two, whole possessng the more fragile psyche. However, to the incoming Pres/GM Curry has the more reasonable contract, which bodes well for a rebuilding situation trying to get the cap in order. The thinking goes along the lines of by acquiring a shotblocking/rebounding big to play alongside Curry he will return to effectiveness in game, mind and body.

TRADE BAIT: Stephon Marbury (~$20mm expiring), Malik Rose (~$7mm expiring), Zach Randolph

CANDIDATES: Ron Arest (elite 2-way player...sign & trade), Jermaine O'Neal (shotblocker/rebounder), etc.

$$$
Since we are over the cap for the next two season we will only have the mid level exception (MLE) and the lower level exception (LLE) to offer potential free agents. In this current predicament, new management will need to be creative while taking calculated risks in free agent targeted signings. One player whom I find quite intriguiging is former 2004 lottery selection (#4 overall) Shaun Livingston. As a 6'7" pass-1st PG with excellent court-vision, good perimeter defense and the length to guard SG's he's the perfect compliment to our undersized scoring combo guards (Crawford & Robinson). Sure he has injury issues and concerns but if he didn't he'd arguably be looking at a max contract offer right now. The guy's rookie deal is paying him $4.4mm this season so it's really not a stretch to offer him the full MLE across 5 years hoping that Clippers owner Sterlin and his penny-penching ways balks at matching the offer sheet due a to conservative approach on paying that many guaranteed years for a player with an injury history. You take the risk because Livingston has the best combination of size & court vision for a PG since Magic Johnson. His knee woes are not as much of a detriment to his development, provided he can stay on the court for a full year because his game is not predicated on athleticism...rather it's based on high BB-IQ and silky-smooth change of deceptive mis-direction moves, getting the defender to commit his hips one way then going the other. Passing is contagious and he'd hopefully rub off on our squad while allowing Crawford and Robinson to not look so bad on defense by sticking to guarding solely PG's (remember how Marbury would always have to defend SG's allowing Crawford to guard the opposition's PG). Also, acquiring Livingston would make it easier to draft a guy like Derrick Rose and allow him to play spot minutes as the backup PG learning how to run an NBA team while Livingston starts. Best case scenario, ff they both develop as planned there's your starting backcourt of the future (Rose 6'4" and Livingston 6'7") two PG's with excellent court-vision, unselfishness and size with Crawford and Robinson off the bench as shooters. Collins would be good injury insurance if Livingston goes down.

CANDIDATES: Shaun Livingston (Full MLE), Mickael Pietrus (MLE), JR Smith (MLE), Gerald Green (Portion of MLE)

ALTERNATIVE: Acquiring expirings to get under the cap for the 2010 free agent class (Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, Okafor, etc.)

[rdtx2005]

how is Bryan Colangelo a candidate when he is still under contract for the next few years?

[Retired Jersey]

how is Bryan Colangelo a candidate when he is still under contract for the next few years?

To be quite frank, the NYK job is a better job career-wise than working in a city/country where the vast majority of citizens value hockey over than the sport you run. If Bryan's dad comes over and offers him GM job with Dolan offering a compensation package out of respect Raptor ownership would at least have to grant him an interview.

[Scalabrine]

This is a good post, I agree with it, pretty much all of it, I think Mark Jackson is the best option with Ewing as the assistant coach. Another plus to having Jackson as a coach would be that I wouldnt have to listen to his annoying/terrible announcing.

[Scalabrine]

I dont know about giving Livngston 5 years but I guess we are the team that could afford it while making it the lowest risk and highest reward situation since the lux tax isnt that big of a deal to Dolan and the Knicks.

If we can get Beasley somehow someway he would be great, he has range and can score within the offense, the other night Kstate wasnt getting him involved at all and he still put up 30 and 15. I agree that Rose is the second option too.

[sol537]

great post, agree 100%. If we could land Livingston, Mayo, and trade for Artest, we'll be well on our way to improvement. Maybe we could even buy another 1st rounder and stock up that way. We could let guys like Malik and James walk early to make room.

[Pinot love]

-= original quote snipped =-



To be quite frank, the NYK job is a better job career-wise than working in a city/country where the vast majority of citizens value hockey over than the sport you run. If Bryan's dad comes over and offers him GM job with Dolan offering a compensation package out of respect Raptor ownership would at least have to grant him an interview.

Only the Knicks have a larger fan base and most of those Raptor fans value basketball over hockey.... most Knick fans probably value football or baseball over basketball compared to ratio of Raps fans who like Hockey more. Conceited New Yorkers, not everyone wants to be apart of your city or your basketball team's mess. What a pipe dream OP. You guys are screwed like Jailblazers were (worse?). It'll take a revamp of practically your entire roster, amazing draft skills and maybe even the luck of a 5% chance to get a player like Oden before you have a chance. It's going to be three to five years before the Knicks can (even start to?) recover. You'll have to get Isiah and Randolph out of there. That'll be tough. Why does anyone thing Livingston has nearly the potential he once did. I watched inverted knee cap game, did you?

[nykman]

Sorry...I didn't read the whole post......but I just wanted to add my 2 cents real quick.......




F*CK MARK JACKSON!


I don't understand how anyone could want him as coach!


What has he proven?

What makes you think he can coach?

Have you heard him as an analyst or an announcer?? He's just stupid....not to mention a HUGE hater.....


Sorry...this isn't a personal attack.....I've just seen this posted several times now.....

[adjacent2bench]

Sorry...I didn't read the whole post......but I just wanted to add my 2 cents real quick.......




F*CK MARK JACKSON!


I don't understand how anyone could want him as coach!


What has he proven?

What makes you think he can coach?

Have you heard him as an analyst or an announcer?? He's just stupid....not to mention a HUGE hater.....


Sorry...this isn't a personal attack.....I've just seen this posted several times now.....

MJ knows the game of basketball. He's from NY, we drafted him, but that'as not the point. When he makes points during announcing, for example last time I watched the Nets he said "this should happen, this screen should happen, etc," and it happened. I don't know if you get me, but MJ knows his stuff.

[Capn'O]

Solid post. I think you've come up with some good ways of selling the position and are thinking the right way about how the team should be rebuilt.

We have some differences in teambuilding philosophies. I don't think that we have to be looking for the right complementary players (O'Neal, Artest) for our young star right away. In fact, I would discourage it. Artest, to me, comes with too much baggage and O'Neal may never get healthy again. Dangerous moves for a team that needs a culture transplant FIRST though O'Neal is certainly a competitor. Instead I'd look to obtain assets and character guys and evaluate just how good the young star will be and what kinds of players would fit in best around him. I'd like to see a traditional rebuild happen here (finally) but don't rule out that the right candidate could do an "on the fly" type.

I like your FA targets... can they be fetched for less than the full MLE? I would think so... at least not the full 6 years of it.

However, I strongly disagree with most of your head coach choices. Especially Ewing/Oak. I haven't seen anybody evaluate them as solid candidates for HC just yet. And bringing them here without the proper experience for those jobs will likely result in monumental disappointment for NYC to have their icons fail them. It won't be fair to them and it won't be fair to the city. Mark Jackson, perhaps. He seems like he could relate to today's player while instilling a good work ethic and philosophy (even if his philosophy isn't the best one). The guy I think we should aim for is Sam Cassell when he retires. His teams were always better than the sum of their parts and I think he'd be able to communicate that as HC.

[adjacent2bench]

-= original quote snipped =-



Only the Knicks have a larger fan base and most of those Raptor fans value basketball over hockey.... most Knick fans probably value football or baseball over basketball compared to ratio of Raps fans who like Hockey more. Conceited New Yorkers, not everyone wants to be apart of your city or your basketball team's mess. What a pipe dream OP. You guys are screwed like Jailblazers were (worse?). It'll take a revamp of practically your entire roster, amazing draft skills and maybe even the luck of a 5% chance to get a player like Oden before you have a chance. It's going to be three to five years before the Knicks can (even start to?) recover. You'll have to get Isiah and Randolph out of there. That'll be tough. Why does anyone thing Livingston has nearly the potential he once did. I watched inverted knee cap game, did you?

I think you're seriously scared. First off, NY is a basketball town. And you say not everyone wants to be a part of the mess...did you read the OP? If all these things happen, we won't be a mess. We may still suck but it's Isiah who is the root of the mess. If we're screwed like the Jailblazers, then that's a start. Look where they are now. What a dumb post. You're scared.

[nykman]

Is anyone here old enough to remember when Willis Reed was coach of the Knicks??

I don't recall that was too successful....correct?

I assume it was much like the situation we face today....


I'd love to bring in Ewing as an assistant....and Yao and Dwight both had breakout seasons with him as their coach....so he's somewhat proven.....and regardless.......bringing him back is a must...


and if we're gonna bring in a new head coach.......it shouldn't be Herb.....it's gotta be a whole new mentality...

[TwelvePac]

I like to throw a name out there who use to be the quintessential team player and a true winner: Mario Ellie

I would like him as coach as he seems to be a guy who can motivate others to think tem first and bring it everynight while also understanding (and actually living ) what it takes to be a champion and instill that in others.

[NoLayupRule]

Our Franchise Is In Great Position For Contention

I agree. But at the same time we are in prime position for seasons of further disappointment unless we make some ideological chances, like some you listed.

this team needs to commit to team play, defense and BBIQ and release their obsession with athleticism at the expense of the others

[Scalabrine]

Mario Elli is going to be a good coach for a team, it would deffinitly make some sense to give him a shot at this job if we arent looking for a prove coach which may not be a good idea.

[O Poutsokleftis]

-= original quote snipped =-



Only the Knicks have a larger fan base and most of those Raptor fans value basketball over hockey.... most Knick fans probably value football or baseball over basketball compared to ratio of Raps fans who like Hockey more. Conceited New Yorkers, not everyone wants to be apart of your city or your basketball team's mess. What a pipe dream OP. You guys are screwed like Jailblazers were (worse?). It'll take a revamp of practically your entire roster, amazing draft skills and maybe even the luck of a 5% chance to get a player like Oden before you have a chance. It's going to be three to five years before the Knicks can (even start to?) recover. You'll have to get Isiah and Randolph out of there. That'll be tough. Why does anyone thing Livingston has nearly the potential he once did. I watched inverted knee cap game, did you?

First off, I would like to say that there are a lot of Raptor fans. When I went to MSG last week to see the game, there were a crap load of Raptor fans. That is not what he is saying.

When you become the president of basketball operations of the NY Knickerbockers, you inherit a job that is scrutinized more than possibly any other job in sports. In Toronto, your GM's goal is to make the team competitive and spark interest in the sport. In New York, your GM's goal is to make the team a perennial title contending team- granted that hasn't happened since 1999, but that's still the goal of the franchise.

I think New York in all honesty is a basketball town. The Knickerbockers are the city's only franchise in the sport (NFL- Jets/Giants, MLB- Mets/Yankees, NHL- Islanders/Rangers). Because the Knicks have sucked so much the past 9 years, the media has now made them a non-issue. But once a competitive team surfaces again, you shall see how not only the local media but the national media will cover them.

My ultimate point is that Toronto Raptor basketball will never be as important as New York Knickerbocker basketball. That is because New York is the mecca of all basketball activities, Madison Square Garden has such a wonderful history....its a shame that our team is 18-41.

And please do not cite example of players who haven't played a game at the professional level and mark them as the only way to save our franchise. Worry about how Toronto will be able to acquire enough pieces to keep Bosh in Toronto past 2010.

[Jemini80]

New York is a baseball town, anyone who can't realize that has some serious issues.

[DDV]

New York is a baseball town, anyone who can't realize that has some serious issues.

by far a baseball town

its a religion here

[Retired Jersey]

I also wish to add that we need to stay away from the Chris Mullin types, who whisper behind the scenes of how running a team in his hometown may screw up his legacy. We do not need candidates who are worried about how failure may ruin their good-standing in their hometown. If the Isiah era has taught us anything, it's that failure is a disease which is quite contagious. Mullin is a guy, much like Isiah, who has no track-record of taking on such a job, therefore he's afraid he can't implement a successful plan so he *freestyles* and changes direction in his gameplan since he has no rigid, structured model to refer to on his resume.

We need men who are confident with a fool-proof plan that aren't concerned with failure because they know their plan will succeed. I'm talking men who have faith in their own blueprint to rebuild/retool and have a business model to refer to historically on their resume having successfully undergone such a task and done more with less in a smaller market with less margin for error.

Candidates like Mullin make me think Dolan is still not willing to swallow his pride and offer up full-autonomy and is merely looking for another "yes-man" ex-star player with a big name (and in Mullin's case, NYC roots). The thought of Mullin makes me feel like when you regurgitate the last remnants of a meal and then accidently swallow it back down due to the amount of vomit not even amounting to enough to be qualified as a full-on puke!

[Pinot love]

"My ultimate point is that Toronto Raptor basketball will never be as important as New York Knickerbocker basketball. That is because New York is the mecca of all basketball activities, Madison Square Garden has such a wonderful history....its a shame that our team is 18-41."

I would argue that to the NBA Toronto is more important the Knicks. The NBA knows that essentially there will always be Knick fans and therefore revenue from them, but with Toronto they are expanding in to an untapped and needed market.