Post your 1-2 year plan!

[sol537]

I think first of all, we have to make a decision about this season and whether or not we want to continue to tank it or try to turn it around enough to lower our chances at a higher pick. The plus side of trying to turn it around is that, hopefully, the winning brings confidence and a winning attitude to our young guys instead of the constant losing atmosphere becoming ingrained in their psyches. We have to continue to tank it like Cleveland, Boston, San Antonio and so many other contending teams have done before us. We can achieve that by keeping Isiah on board for the remainder of the season because he's already lost his players and he's a horrible coach or we could fire him soon and let Herb run the show since he hasn't proven much, either.

Secondly, we have to realize that we have weaknesses in nearly every position and we need to address as many of these as possible with higher IQ, 2-way players, preferably. Shooting, defense, unselfishness, and leadership are the kinds of qualities we should look for when bringing in new talent. Our shorter contracts and young players should **only** be used in trades when bringing in these kinds of players; otherwise contracts should be allowed to expire period. For example, the Bucks seem to be looking to get into the lottery again and dump so fat contracts to get under the cap along the way, so a guy like Redd could be available. Since he's a great shooter and a hard-worker, he's someone to consider. Potential trade #1 at the deadline:

NY Trades: Marbury (1yr), Malik (1yr), Jones (exp), Nate (1yr), Balkman (2yr)
MIL Trades: Redd (3yr), Simmons (2yr), Gadzuric (3yr)

Crawford left at PG? That's perfect for a tanking team! Now we have to try to explore trade possibilities for Curry, Q, Randolph, and Crawford though it'll be a hard sell even in the offseason. Curry and Crawford have the most value of the bunch. We also have to decide if we want to part ways with Lee before the deadline to snag Artest or if we want to wait for the offseason to try to sign him to the MLE outright or do a sign-and-trade (low chances) Is he even someone we want in NY? Yes, I think Artest and NY are destined for each other and he's crazy talented enough to give it a try, especially since he's at his lowest "value" point right now. Since we're tanking the season anyway, it's worth it to wait until the offseason to try to explore an Artest acquisition, preferably without losing Lee in the process.

Now you hope for some luck with the lottery balls so you can land Rose to be NY's PG of the future and you surround him with shooters, rebounders, shot-blockers and defenders and let the team grow together with a smart coach. If you can't get Rose, you try for Beasley or another sure-fire talent. If you drop to pick 5 or lower, you strongly consider dealing the pick on draft day for a proven commodity like Boston did to get Garnett, otherwise you ride with Rose, Beasley, Jordan, Gordon, Mayo, etc. and build around him! Now, we know either Curry or Randolph or both have to be dealt before next season. We can try to move Randolph for a guy like Ben Wallace who has a shorter contract by 1 year or we can try to move Curry to NJ for Magloire, Collins and a 1st or something to that effect. Sure, we might be giving those two teams pieces that will help them make some noise in the playoffs, but we should only think of what we're getting in return. I would not be averse to trading both, but if I had to keep one of them, I'd try to keep Curry because with good shooters, defenders, and a quality PG, he can be much more effective. Trades #2 and #3:

NY Trades: Curry (3yr)
NY Receives: Magloire (exp), Collins (1yr), 1st Rounder

NY Trades: Randolph (3yr)
NY Receives: Wallace (2yr)

In the offseason, you bring in a qualified coach like Carlisle or Van Gundy and a proven GM like a Jerry West or a Colangelo. Start fresh from the top and watch the winning atmosphere result. You lock up Magloire and you dump Collins and Q if you need roster spots and then you look something like this:

GM: West
Coach: Carlisle
C: Magloire, Gadzuric, Morris
PF: Wallace, Jeffries, (#20 Pick via NJ)
SF: Artest (or Lee), Chandler, Simmons
SG: Redd, Crawford
PG: Rose, Collins
Record: 57-25

Basketball is back in NY!

[duetta]

Allow Marbury to expire.
Trade Randolph for expiring deals, if possible.
If he refuses to step it up, encourage Eddy to opt-out at the end of next season.
Acquire no more cancers, nutcases or career losers.
Hire a coach with the patience to work with young players but a commitment to defense (Billy Donovan).

[DoubtingThomas]

I think you have to start by firing Isiah and possibly Steve Mills. I would like to see Greg Anthony, or Colangelo brought in to be the GM. I think Mark Jackson would be a great head coach if he is available. I also always thought that Tom Thibodeau would be a good throwback to the Van Gundy era. Roster moves would also need to be made. I think Eddy and Zach have to be split up. If you could trade Zach for a strong, defensive minded power forward who rebounds and blocks shots or start Malik next to Eddy. I think that more trades would need to be made to make the roster more functional. I think focusing in on the character of a player as much or more than talent would be important. (An example of this might be trading a guy like Randolph for a guy like Battier). I think the most important thing would be that the new management/coaching staff have a vision for how they want to build the team, and have them play. I miss the days when guys who got traded to NYK would say, "I am in shape but not Knick shape."