....because it's the Brooklyn way. Happening stuff on the internet:
-PostingandToasting is up to #9 on the Lowpost rankings, in some small part due to our love (and in larger part due to the talent over there). Still, if our love keeps lifting P&T a little higher and higher (shoutout to Jackie Wilson), then he's hoping they can Beat The Skeets. Besides, once we have installed them as the head of Knicks bloggers the coup d'etat will be that much easier. Assassination day is coming, young'ems.
-We already told ya'll about TheStartingFive, a new website that combines D-Wil, TheSportsMediaReview, and three others talented cats who come together like Voltran to bring you the realness in sports. Well, guess they had room for a racist Latino after all. SML (acting as The Sixth Man) will be contributing a piece a week to TSF. We feel honored they asked; we hope our work can positively contribute to the good work they already have.
-TheBigLead is back up after the assault from the herbs over at ESPN. We are glad to have them back and operating, as they have spread love (including to SML) to sportsbloggers everywhere.
-With the strong possibility that the Knicks will not be in the NBA playoffs, we will turn our attention to the Nets as the local team in the playoffs (therefore more readily accessible to cover). We'll probably cover them a bit come playoff time, along with giving our thoughts on whatever other NBA playoff action there is. And we will try to get The Hotness to contribute some thoughts on the Nets playoff games, if she can find the time.
-Check out SonofDippin's guide to improve jumpers for some of the Knicks who need to improve their range. He might want to amend the Curry entry after that picture-perfect three the other night. That's still our Like Whoa moment of the season. We'll be at the game tonight (against the Pistons), hoping to see some similar excitement tonight. Tell Nate to leave the layups in Milwaukee and bring the dunk action.
-Random last thought on what the Knicks should do with Channing Frye: We've avocated trading him in the offseason the last few weeks (because he still has value, despite his falling stats), but what can we get back? I'll be satisfied with a draft pick in the '08 draft (though a mid-range pick in the '07 draft would be a great deal), any pick. If not, then maybe we can dump some salary with him (unlikely, but possible). The most likely dump would be either Malik Rose or Jerome James. Rose because his contract is shorter, but James has less of a salary cap impact (6 million a year), plus his potential as a viable center might trick some team into taking the Knicks' pizza-monster. If not, maybe Frye can be used to get a sign and trade for a free agent. The best free agent the Knicks would want (if they could actually make a play in free agency, which they can't) would have to be Rashard Lewis, who could provide reliability on offense that Q-Rich can't, namely spreading the opposing team's defense by hitting threes and mid-range jumpers.
He would be a great addition to the team, but only if the Knicks can get rid of Q-Richardson, as they already have a backup SF in the rotation for next season (Balkman). Maybe Seattle will hook up the Knicks with a sign and trade for Lewis, in exchange for Frye and Richardson? Probably not enough for Seattle (they might not even want Richardson at all, given his injury history), but worth keeping an eye on. Also note that both Crawford and Robinson played their games in the Northwest, and have lots of love in the Seattle community; they might be intriguing to the Sonics. Again, we put the possibility of acquiring Lewis at about 20%, tops, but we who knows?
The other key free agents are Vince Carter (if he opts out), who is out of the Knicks' league unless he forces a sign and trade; Gerald Wallace, who should command about $10 million a year (especially with his recent explosion), and who we love, but he's even more unlikely than Carter or Lewis; and Mo Williams of the Bucks, who will be the best point available, meaning the Lakers will be trying to get him, but we don't see how Milwaukee can let him go. They have to keep him, even if it means overpaying him, to team him with Bogut (they are beautiful when they run the pick and roll), Redd (deadly from deep), Villanueva, and whatever they do with their top-5 pick. Our suggestion? Trade the pick (if it is #2, a.k.a. Durant) to the Suns for Marion and their three #1's. That would give the Bucks a fearsome starting five in the Eastern Conference: Williams, Redd, Marion, Charlie V., Bogut, plus three rookies to add to the rotation.
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Absolutely. Marion is making too much for the Suns ($17 million/yr); the Suns would love to team up Durant with Amare for the next decade (plus Nash for another 3-5 years). Their pick isn't top-5... the Hawks' pick is top-3 protected, so that's a different topic. The Hawks are in a worst case scenerio right now, in which they currently possess the 4th worst record. If they don't win the lottery, they will end up having to give the 4th or 5th pick to the Suns.
The Suns have been shopping Marion for a while. Here is Nate Jones article that explains the Suns interest in Durant:
http://nba.aolsportsblog.com/2007/04/03/the-phoenix-suns-could-get-kevin-durant/
Also note that Chad Ford and Bill Simmons both agree that this deal makes sense for the Suns.
For the Bucks, it makes even more sense. They are currently #2 worst record, and they have no need for either a center (Oden) or a SG (Durant) as they possess Bogut and Redd (signed for the next four years). What they could use is a Shawn Marion type player, and lots of assets (like draft picks). And maybe to shed some salary cap weight (like Bobby Simmons).
I don't know, that seems like an awfully steep price to pay to move up two slots. Milwaukee has the third-worst record right now, and they probably aren't going to catch the Celts for the 2nd-worst, so this could be a moot point. Personally, I wish nothing less than Joekim Noah on them.
If Bill Simmons lips were any closer to Kevin Durant's cock...well you get the picture. I'm not so crazy about Durant.
If the Bucks wind up in the top two, I think they'd be much better served by trading the pick to the Sixers for their 3 first rounders and Willie Green. Just my two cents.
The form on Curry's J was beautiful too. That moment was Like Woahx2. The scary thing is that a lot of people I talked to about it today hadn't seen it, some of them Knicks fans. I think the Knicks season has fallen far enough that anything could happen and people wouldn't hear. I wouldn't be surprised if Malik sprouted wings tonight and it was still like page 3 of the sports section.
We will trade the pizza-monster... but then Zeke will sign an actual pizza-monster to play the 2 guard for 3 years and 12 mill. And Marion, as you said, is too expensive to keep, but he's too expensive for the teams trying to pick him up as well. I'd rather have Durant than picks and the Matrix.
I appreciate the linkage, man. Somehow I'm back down to 14. Whatever.
#14? What the hell is Blazer's Edge? Your damn SB Nation sites are keeping us independent blogs down!
I don't know, Barnesgasm. I think as much as they would want Durant (that boy is nice), he has no place on that Bucks team. Redd is not easily tradeable, and better equipped to play at SG than SF; bring in Marion, and you got a badass team. Durant, well, he's a younger Redd with a higher ceiling. They don't compliment each other very well. It would be like having Crawford, Richardson, Robinson, Francis and Marbury on the same team. Oh, wait....
Malik pulling an Angel from the X-Men might make these tickets to tonight's game actually worth the price.
Do you really think the Suns would trade Marion, a top five pick, and two other first round picks to move up for Durant? Doesn't seem like a smart move to me.