Renaldo Balkman has left the building...

[BakersDozen]

so Balkman just got traded,and half the knick board is on life support. I know alot of us here overrated the youth on this team in the past but I have never seen a more overrated player by a teams fanbase then Balkman.

[Bad-Thoma]

I had to go read the thread, then I had to stop because I was laughing too hard... to be fair though they are probably the only board out there as contentious as we are, but still that **** is funny.

[ParticleMan]

The first 5 pages of that thread are pure comedy gold. Cooler heads prevailed later... except when one of our posters mentioned Danny Ainge, that really touched a nerve LMAO...

[cisco]

I never troll, but I couldn't resist going over there and asking why they picked Balkman over Rondo in the first place. I mean, Balkman was clearly 2nd round talent and they needed a real point guard bad. That pick made absolutely no sense to me. Their loss is our gain though!

[campybatman]

Would've been interesting if Boston could've gotten in on this. But, New York did this trade strictly as a player/salary dump.

A person familiar with the situation said Green and Jones both expect to be waived by the Knicks, which would put a damper on parlaying this into a bigger deal. Both players have non-guaranteed contracts, which means it's simple accounting to waive them and get back to the 15-player limit. If the Knicks can shed another body, they wouldn't mind bringing Green to training camp to have a look-see. So it appears that this is simply a move designed to get rid of Balkman and save $1.32 million in cap space next season. Newsday

[Taget]

I liked Balkman as a rookie. Had a lot of hustle. Type of role player I wouldnt mind the Celtics getting cheaply.

That said his salary is too small just to get rid of on a pure salary dump. Must've been something in his attitude which has been understanding detiorating in the Knicks zoo. What the Celtics did right in rebuilding is we took care and nurtured our youth and kept the very worst influences away. Unfortunately for the Knicks they had the opposite. As I said the only veteran I'd keep on the Knicks is Crawford. Not because he's a great player or a great talent. But he is the only one with his screwed on straight who can provide leadership to their younger players.

[GuyClinch]

I am not sure it's an attitude problem. I read when Mike D. was hired that both Lee and Balkman could be on the way out because they are not offensively skilled enough for Mike. He likes the more well rounded complete player on O.

Pete

[15th overall]

Wasn't Balkman a sticking point on a lot of potential trades within the past year (like for Artest)?

Donnie Walsh basically just paid a million dollars for a second rounder while losing an asset at the same time. What a stupid trade.

[BakersDozen]

...and the not so complete player on D

[Celtic Esquire]

I'm trying to resist posting on the Knicks board, but some of their reactions are hilarious. It's like they traded Patrick Ewing.

And now that they have like 7 PGs on their roster!

[Collinto]

I am not sure it's an attitude problem. I read when Mike D. was hired that both Lee and Balkman could be on the way out because they are not offensively skilled enough for Mike. He likes the more well rounded complete player on O.

Pete

I am sure that offensive skill level had something to do with it, but I read that it was specifically lack of BBIQ. The article I read specifically noted that in SL they where introducing the new offensive schemes and Balkman was lost and couldn't learn it. They specifically said he trained hard and had a good attitude and work ethic, but evidently he has the BBIQ of Gerald Green***! I found it interesting since D'Antoni's style seems so wide open and 'undesigned', but I guess according to the article there are alot of reads and decisions made in the open court.

*** Does anyone remenber a couple of summers ago (I think) when there was a poster on here who was trying to argue that since Gerald Green could shoot a jumpshot it meant he had a high basketball IQ?? I remember that being one of the most amusing threads, as other posters tried to understand the logic...good times.

[francishsu]

Isiah brainwashed the fan base, and some of them still have not recovered. This is a classic case of cult worship. After years of misery under Layden and Isiah, it's now Walsh that should be a messiah to them as Isiah was after Layden.

The trade is a reasonable. Trade second round talent for a second round pick and get some cap space.

[campybatman]

That said his salary is too small just to get rid of on a pure salary dump. Must've been something in his attitude which has been understanding detiorating in the Knicks zoo.

It's being said that Balkman didn't fit into their new system. I believe I'd read that that was being said of David Lee as well. Conflicting reports state that New York will try to move Lee and then it said they won't.

Here's my take: Though he's athletic, it's become clear that Balkman doesn't fit Mike D'Antoni's system, which requires quick decision making and a lot of savvy. Green and Jones are just roster fodder, although Green is a ball-moving point guard who could compete for a spot in training camp.

As Alan Hahn has written several times, the Knicks were high on Green coming out of Florida, and would've taken him with Portland's second-round pick last year. But the pick never ended up being included in the Zach Randolph trade, and the Blazers ended up taking Green -- a player they didn't need -- and trading him to Denver.

The real significance here -- unless you're all torn up about Balkman being traded -- is the fact that the Knicks would have 17 players under contract. That's two over the limit and a clear sign that they're gearing up for one or more significant trades.

[campybatman]

This is funny...

Danny Tanner Was Behind The Balkman Trade

Corn and I were musing on the Balkman for Taurean Green and Bobby Jones trade, when Corn had an epiphany. His epiphany is now brought to life via my Photoshop skills. Ladies and Gentlemen, coming this fall, a new sitcom about getting high... on life!

Join Birdman and Ronaldo for all their wacky adventures! The fun starts 8EST this fall on ABC...

http://hardwoodparoxysm.blogspot.com/20 ... trade.html

[Taget]

I'm trying to resist posting on the Knicks board, but some of their reactions are hilarious. It's like they traded Patrick Ewing.

And now that they have like 7 PGs on their roster!

Not like Boston fans are beyond being reactionary. Remember the utter outrage when we traded Ron Mercer?

[Prophet_C]

I actually thought he was decent. I loved the hustle. I did laugh when they originally drafted him in the first round and the Knicks fan were about ready to jump. heh

[Tricky Ricky]

I think Knicks fans were more upset with the fact that they got absolutly nothing in return for a fan favorite who had some potential. Still though they are overreacting.

[Athanacropolis]

The more that things change, I guess.

Man, I love not being a Knicks fan. I really feel sorry for their fans. They deserve better.

[Prophet_C]

The more that things change, I guess.

Man, I love not being a Knicks fan. I really feel sorry for their fans. They deserve better.

No they don't. They're Knicks fans.

[Al n' Perk No Layups!]

Good move for the Knicks, Balk was massively overrated. Jones may be more than filler, he can defend and shoot the three. He can fit in D'Antoni's system.