TI--MIL/NY

[raferfenix]

I made this under the assumption that the Knicks still feel like the Bucks' offer for Randolph could help their team, despite Randolph not being involved:

Bucks trade: Charlie Villanueva, Bobby Simmons, Dan Gadzuric
Knicks trade: David Lee, Jared Jeffries, Malik Rose

Now this is definitely a worse deal for the Knicks than the deal Herb Kohl nixed a few months ago. However, the Knicks (and Isiah Thomas especially) are in a lot more hot water at this point than they were then, as this is Zeke's make or break year essentially. In this deal Isiah takes a big risk on Villaneuva while taking on two players in Simmons and that could help them a whole lot more than the dead weight contracts they are giving up. Losing Lee would hurt a lot, but if Isiah thinks the bright lights of New York could help rejuvinate Bobby Simmons' career, this trade could be a major boon for them. Plus, Villaneuva playing in his home town just might provide the sort of motivation boost he needs to make good on his potential. Taking on Gadzuric would be tough though, despite his hustle and energy being helpful there. I can see the Knicks not doing this deal unless Malik Rose is swapped out for Jefome James, if only for the added year James has on his contract.

I think this is a deal the Bucks would need to do as well, since both Rose and Jeffries could help more than Simmons or Gadzuric have been there too. Jeffries is a smart athletic defender, and the Bucks wouldn't expect him to do anythign on offense except pass (which he does pretty well I think). Rose may not have anythign left in the tank, but if he can provide some veteran influence and ahrd nosed play it would be huge for the Bucks extremely young Bogut Yi tandem in the front court. However, I'm less sure we do this deal if it means we have to take on Jerome Jame's cancerous attitdue. It is possilbe that we think hsi physicality could help and if he wouldn't hrut the lockerroom, but that is a real long shot.

[wichmae]

NYK would never do this.

[nuttinbutta Big Dog party]

Here is how this memo would look:

Dear Knicks,

How would you like to trade for our two worst contracts and the biggest underacheiver on our team? I hear your team is absolutely stupid and ready to sign off on terrible trades. Let me know if you've lost your marbles.

Love,
Larry Harris

[raferfenix]

If we take on Jerome James the contract situation is the same pretty much----eitehr way though, besdies david lee they are dumping guys they are getting 0 from this year. The key to this deal is Isiah thinking Simmons could be big for them, and they have a desperate need at SF.

CV has been good enough the last few weeks where the contrast between him and David Lee has lessened. There also shouldn't be any doubt that Isiah could get more out of Simmons than Jared Jeffries and Malik Rose/Jerome James. Wehther they can get enough out of Simmons to justify that trade off though is a reallllly big question though, one which i admittedly am probably being overly hopeful about.