Knicks - Nets Draft Night Swap

[Kiki4KnicksGM]

While you usually don't see division rivals making big trades, Thorn and Walsh are professional NBA lifers who are apt to do "good" business with each other. Hence, I like the chances of a deal going down between the Hudson River sneaker squeakers.

If the Knicks can't get the starting PG of their future with a top 5 pick - Rose or Bayless - they might as well trade down and get a 2 for 1 in the draft.

After the afrorementioned PG's, plus Michael Beasley and OJ Mayo, there is arguably a huge dropoff in this draft.

Brook Lopez should be an adequate NBA player but not superstar. Kevin Love could be an All-Star if he gets in the right system and gets his touches nightly. He reminds me of Carlos Boozer in the offensive post.

Anthony Randolph is a major sleeper. Great length and athletecism, but a gamble to take with a lotto pick.

I think Eric Gordon is rated higher than he should be since this draft is the weakest draft SG's I've ever seen. DeAndre Jordan is all hype right now, but Andre Bynum's success with the Lakers makes Jordan a lotto pick.

With two picks the Knicks can reach with one and stay "safe" with the other. They can reach for a "potential" star like Donte Greene or DeAndre Jordan at #10 and go for a rotation player with upside at #21.

If Jordan is on the board at #10 Walsh has to take him to make up for Zeke's blunder of passing on Bynum with Frye, and then trading for Curry three months later.

At #21 I like Courtney Lee (SG - W Kentucky). He's a very underrated SG with possibly the best jumper in the draft. The Knicks haven't had a good shooter to bring off the bench since Hubert Davis. I'd be shocked if Lee wasn't still on the board at #21.

I also like Roy Hibbert at #21, but only if the Knicks haven't already picked DeAndre Jordan at #10. I think Hibbert is an NBA backup, but will be a very competent one.

If Hibbert is gone and the Knicks still want to go big with their second pick I'd take a stab at Robin Lopez, who might play better away from his brother's shadow.

The best part about dealing with the Nets on draft night is the Knicks could likely pickup Marucs Williams (another Zeke draft blunder) in the same breath if the Knicks were willing to compensate properly.

I'm guessing Thorn probably takes Kevin Love if the Nets get #5 (best post player on the board) so Curry and Randolph are out of the picture, since Love will would be getting the lion's share of low post touches on the Nets.

If Walsh is willing to eat Van Horn and Hassell's contracts (1 yr guaranteed for KVH and 2 for Hassell) for a combo of Malik Rose's expiring and Renaldo Balkman, I think the Knicks can definitely net Marcus Williams.

Trade Review -

To the Nets

PF Malik Rose (expiring)
SF Renaldo Balkman
2008 Lottery Pick (assumed #5)

To the Knicks

F Keith Van Horn (expiring -buyout)
SG/SF Trenton Hassell
PG Marcus Williams
2008 Lottery Pick (#10)
2008 1st Round Pick (#21 via Dallas)

Sum up.

New Jersey:

Nets get the low post presence they've needed since 1998 in Love.

Net get an expiring in Malik Rose to pair with Stromile Swift's expiring that could land them a very good player for a 2008-09 playoff run (13.7 million combined salaries for Rose and Swift) or free up room for 2009-10 free agents.

Nets get an energy/defensive player in Balkman to bring off the bench. Balkman and Sean Williams could create a terror on the second unit. The Nets could bolster this defensive line by resigning Desanga Diop.

New York:

Knicks miss out in the draft on their prize PG in D Rose or Bayless, but pick up Marcus Williams as a consolation prize. Williams allows Walsh to put Jamal Crawford at SG, or look to trade him while his value is high.

In addition to Williams (PG) the Knicks pick up two players to help them in their rebuilding process. They would be best suited to draft a SG and C to add to David Lee (PF), Nate Robinson (G) and Wilson Chandler (SF).

With contracts lasting two years or less in Van Horn and Hassell, Walsh does not interfere with his plan of adding salary beyond 2009.

[moocow007]

The question really is who the Nets would want to move up to to get. Unless they plan to (and find a taker for) Vince Carter, don't really see a need for them to want Eric Gordon (who might be an interesting combo next to Devin Harris in the backcourt). I would think Brook Lopez might be the guy for them but that depends on what they do with Nenad Kristic. They might be interested in Anthony Randolph who has the versatility to allow them to look to deal Richard Jefferson and who might make a very dynamic combo in the frontcourt with Sean Williams. Or maybe Thorn sees pass the trees and feels that DeAndre Jordan can really be all that? For the Knicks, the reason you'd trade down I'd imagine is to land a PG (that is projected to be mid-1st round) and then maybe a high upside project (like Serge Ibaka). DJ Augustin and Serge Ibaka would give them possibly the best "traditional PG" in the draft (even if he has his drawbacks) and a high flyer "super-freak" that Walsh has mentioned as the type of player that the NBA is moving towards.

[bigballa3jj]

the nets might be able to get kevin love with the #10 pick........

[longfellow44]

Thats not really good value for the nets.

It should just be a pick swap.

5
for
10 & 21