Knicks preparing to buy success

[Dewey]

It's becoming pretty clear the Knicks will be back in contention within 3 years. NY is a big money market that the NBA "needs" back in the saddle - no question whatsoever. The salary cap is the same for everyone, but FA's will ironically find endorsements to good to pass up - if they come to New York. Top free agents will smell money all the way to the west coast.

Right or wrong, it will prove to be business as usual in the NBA. It's not like the Wolves haven't had their chances. Surely the media will crank things up as it's almost certain NY will be the next melting-pot for top NBA players to team up and make a run. "Money" will make it everything right.

Someone should create a poll:
First question: Which player will jump to take the money first? LeBron? Kobe?
Second question: Which player(s) will follow and jump on the wagon? Wade? Baron Davis?
Third question: Which player will be the first to says "winning is all that matters"? All?

It really doesn't bother me ... I'm actually suprised it has taken so long to get some roll. Few would hesitate to go to NY and see a Knicks game, but since it's highly likely that's ever going to happen in my world, may as well have some fun speculating on the next dominant team in the East.

[Calinks]

It was cold how Jalen Rose was telling Cleveland and Toronto fans to enjoy Lebron and Bosh now because they will be property of New York soon. It's also as if they fell that those markets don;'t deserved marquee players.

The Wolves are definitely screwed as far as getting a super star. We will have to settle for trying to land a very good player instead. The Lebrons, Bosh's, Amare's, etc. will have plenty of other options. New York is nearly guaranteed to land one or two superstar players.

[theGreatRC]

^
Joe Johnson

[DrSithMirth]

IMO, the Wolves are screwed until they get a GM that has a legitimate eye for talent and doesn't do favors for big-market teams.

You can build a team in a small market with intelligence at the helm. The Spurs play in a small market. The Pistons are in a market that wasn't always small, but, due to a bad economy in Michigan, are now.

Teams can contend in a small market. And frankly, Minneapolis is a great city, better than San Antonio and definitely better than Detroit. If the Wolves were winning, they'd attract good free agents and maybe even the expensive ones.

Nah, it's easy to assume that the Knicks have some kind of advantage, but it also has unique disadvantages, like an impatient fan base and too many bad press figures that always go for the negative frame. Poor management can take down any team. Good management can get you a good team over time, and that's what the Wolves need.

When's the Mayor taking over?

[4ho5ive]

I dont think we will be signing any big name FA's. But what i think will happen, and shrink has said this multiple times, we will be able to make a big trade and land a very good player that way.

[realfung]

Just like what the Yankees do, but I think the real success is not money can buy.

[TrentTuckerForever]

You can build a team in a small market with intelligence at the helm. The Spurs play in a small market. The Pistons are in a market that wasn't always small, but, due to a bad economy in Michigan, are now.

Yep. The immediate example that pops into my mind is Orlando - they spent years clearing cap room for the first "free agent bonanza" summer in recent years (Duncan, McGrady, Grant Hill and I believe Jason Kidd were all slated to be free.) Orlando whiffed on Duncan, but still got McGrady and Hill. What happened there?

I think it's very possible that LeBron will leave Cleveland, but he won't have team success (titles) unless the team he goes to has a plan beyond assembling a dream team. I think the Knicks do - Walsh and D'Antoni know their jobs - and that's the appeal of NY.

[revprodeji]

honestly. When is the last time a team cleared cap, then signed a big name, and then won with him? Even if NY does clear enough for Bosh and Lebron who are they going to have at the other spots?

Our best chance at winning comes from drafting and then buying low in trades/FA. Fitting proper players around each other.

[deeney0]

I keep coming back to Joe Johnson, too. He's going to get lost in the shuffle, and he may be exactly what this team needs, and the Atlanta organization is among the worst in the league - he may be easily lured away. Or not. We'll see. Foye-Johnson-Miller-Love-Jefferson? Bench including Brewer, Gomes, and Telfair? Sign me up.

[Worm Guts]

honestly. When is the last time a team cleared cap, then signed a big name, and then won with him? Even if NY does clear enough for Bosh and Lebron who are they going to have at the other spots?

The Lakers with Shaq, probably.

If the Knicks were to sign Lebron and Bosh, you have to consider them contenders. I think just LeBron being on your team puts you at 50 wins.

[Dewey]

Key: NYK get LeBron & Bosh (for example) ... veteran FA's will sign to fill necessary holes. Players would love that setting. I also agree that the NYK now have a quality GM and Coach to help the cause.

There's nothing wrong with MN until you look at Orlando (it's orlando) or NY (big stage) as comparisons.

[revprodeji]

Wasnt the cap a lot different with Shaq? Also they had decent pieces already and 3rd w/o Kobe they would not have been as amazing.

Lebron and Bosh is a bit of talent. Nice talent, but who fits with them? Who will be there?

[Worm Guts]

Wasnt the cap a lot different with Shaq? Also they had decent pieces already and 3rd w/o Kobe they would not have been as amazing.

Lebron and Bosh is a bit of talent. Nice talent, but who fits with them? Who will be there?

The cap was a lot different with Shaq, I'm not entirely sure how though.

It wasn't a free agent signing, but I think last years Celtics were in a comparable situation. Three stars surrounded by a bunch of 2nd round picks.

[theGreatRC]

Does anyone think we'll have to overpay a free agent to get them to go to MIN?

edit: That's the case with almost every team in the league, so nvm.

[PeeDee]

In 20 years, who's the best free agent we've lured from another team?

Mike James? Chancey Billups? Joe Smith? Kinda sad.
And remember, Billups' stock was way down when we signed him.

[TheFranchise21]

Joe Smith, since we didn't sign him for that 7 year $86 million contract and instead signed him for the MLE, can you say steal?

[shrink]

Lost in this discussion of what's fair for us has been .. what's fair for LeBron?

Sure, every team will offer him the max, but his bottom-line needs to be what his overall earnings are .. not just his nba paycheck. That big NBA paycheck would only be a fraction of LeBron's worth on Madison Avenue . He's a free agent, and he's given CLE a bargain, both on his rookie scale contract and the extra years he stayed with Cavs.

I also think that a team that can grab NBA superstars has a better chance to become a winner than those that don't. In the NBA, the talent is unfairly distributed, and its the superstars that have the best chance to make a league impact. Maybe the Knicks fail, but with LeBron playing on their team, they put a lot of talent on the floor, and get to add four more players. I suspect that they'd do just fine with LeBron and Bosh.

[Klomp]

In 20 years, who's the best free agent we've lured from another team?

Mike James? Chancey Billups? Joe Smith? Kinda sad.
And remember, Billups' stock was way down when we signed him.

Clearly its Mark Madsen

[deeney0]

In 20 years, who's the best free agent we've lured from another team?

Mike James? Chancey Billups? Joe Smith? Kinda sad.
And remember, Billups' stock was way down when we signed him.

Indeed. And none of those were close to the kind of money the Wolves may be able to offer in the coming years.