by Stop Mike Lupica on March 18 at 12:06AM
Strange turn of events over the last two games for the Knicks, if you haven't been paying attention (and really, who has?)... the Knicks just got younger. Very much so. And, as the fans have been demanding for years, much cheaper, too.
Yet the results are the same.
Let's back track a bit. The last two games have seen a lot of playing time for the younger Knicks. For example, against the Hawks on Sunday, the Knicks at one point sent out this lineup, which we will call the $5 million lineup:
Nate Robinson ($1.268 million), Renaldo Balkman ($1.234 million), Wilson Chandler ($1.091 million), David Lee ($990,000) and Randolph Morris ($810,000). That lineup did well against the Hawks, but.. well, how often can you point out that other team's lineup is almost 8 times more expensive than your team's lineup. Especially when you are talking about the Knicks. Against the Hawks! That's a team we called "Joe Johnson plus a bunch of rookie contracts" just five weeks ago!
The Hawks lineup, against those young Knicks (number 11 through 16 on the Knicks payroll scale) feature almost $40 million in salary, going to Joe Johnson, Mike Bibby, Josh Childress, Marvin Williams, and Zaza Pachulia. The young Knicks actually didn't do so bad in the game: Nate Robinson was +2 on the court, with a team-high 23 points and 5 assists (plus 2 steals and 2 turnovers). Wilson Chandler was +4, with an awful 4 points on 1-9 shooting (hey, we're used to that from our SFs), but with a nice 7 rebounds, 2 blocks and a steal. Randolph Morris was -2 in his time on the court, going 4-8 on FGs, but he missed all five FTAs, and had foul trouble, fouling out in 18 minutes. David Lee was -4, but had a solid game - 6/7 FGs, 9 rebounds in 25 minutes.
Renaldo Balkman was the lone "bad night", going an team low -18 in his time on the court, mainly because he couldn't hit a free throw, either. He went 3-10 FT.
The rest of the team went 12-13 on FTAs. The duo of Morris and Balkman have to work on their FTs, much like David Lee did after his rookie year.
The pattern continue again tonight against the Pacers. Morris only got six minutes, but the rest of the Baby Knicks got plenty of playing time: Wilson Chandler for the second straight game led the team in minutes with 32 (the only one to play 30+ minutes over the last two games); Zach Randolph was second with 28, then Balkman with 27. After that everyone of the other six Knick players to play had around 24 minutes of PT.
So what of those high priced Knicks? And will the dream of a Knick team so far below the salary cap every take place? From top to bottom:
1. Stephon Marbury. The highest paid Knick is done for the year, and probably for his career as a Knick. The Knicks may buy him out over the summer, and wait until his contract expires at the end of the 2008-2009 season. Oh dear lord, please let the Knicks just wait until his contract expires.
2. Zach Randolph. He's still playing, and dropping double-doubles in limited minutes. He will be a Knick until 2010-2011, at around $17 million by then. Remember: the Blazers had to practically give him away (they promptly brought out Steve Francis, and Channing Frye wasn't anything more than a salary throw-in to balance the deal) this past season to the Knicks. And that was when his trade value was much higher it is now. In other words: Randolph will be on this cap until 2011.
3. Eddy Curry. Done for the year. He has two options that could make his contract run until 2011, too. However, the Knicks might just be able to trade him, if they can convince someone that he's a potential star. And if they can convince them that he's healthy. They actually have much better odds of convincing Curry not to exercise his options, and becoming a free agent after next year. And yes, those odds are about 5%.
4. Quentin Richardson. Two straight DNP-CD. He's around until 2009-2010. He may opt out a year earlier, but like Curry, that seems highly unlikely. Maybe James Dolan can just pay these guys $9 million each, off the books, to become free agents? Wouldn't that also save him from paying the luxury tax, so it wouldn't even be a bad business decision? Sh*t, if I was Jimmy, I would give them a briefcase full of unmarked bills, totaling $9 million a piece, and tell them to sign the papers granting them freedom. Hell, someone will sign you for the middle exception, Q. You too, Curry. Do it.
5. Jamal Crawford. Like Randolph, he's the only other "starter" actually still starting. But after being #2 in minutes for the entire season (to Allen Iverson), Crawford is finally starting to get a rest. Unfortunately, him and Randolph are the only sources of offense other than Robinson on this team. And way too often, it's turned into the Nate Robinson show.
Oh, his contract runs until 2011, unless - that's right - he exercises his option in 2009. Jimmy, you got anymore briefcases of cash back there? Hit the stash, brown bags full of dirty cash.
6. Malik Rose. Another DNP-CD. Old Malik is the wily old veteran in exile for one season (barring trade), then his contract expires in 2009. No options!
7. Jerome James. He's a perma DNP-CD. He'll be at the end of the Knicks bench until 2010. Unless, of course... he opts-out in 2009. Would the greatest trick ever played on the world be if the Knicks' blue plan is to tank the next two years, draft another two young players, and somehow get everyone (except Randolph) to opt out in 2009? Wouldn't that be the most amazing story ever?
8. Jared Jeffries. He's been playing over the last two games, but he's not really very good. He's like a rookie, only one that is getting a middle level salary, and hasn't improved in the six years he's been in the league. Still hasn't developed a decent jumper, or any post moves. Defense is good, but not consistent enough to be great.
He'll be here until 2011, unless he exercises his option, which is, oddly, in 2010. Someone put the wrong language in the contract. I'm sure the Knicks will find a way to make 2009 the option year instead.
9 & 10. Fred Jones and Dan Dickau. The only two expiring contracts for this year. One is already off the team, while the other gets minutes, if for no other reason than because Isiah likes him, and wants him to get some offers over the summer.
***************
The only thing we'll add is that we enjoyed this story from the Daily News about James Dolan possibly holding meetings with Donnie Walsh (current president of the Pacers) about replacing Isiah Thomas. In a surprising act of transparency, writer Frank Isola tells us exactly how he came to find out about this these possible meetings - he "saw" a copy of James Dolan's private plane flight plans, which specify that a trip was made to Indiana last week, around the time Walsh skipped a day from work. Then the flight went back to South Florida (Dolan's home), but came back to Indiana a day later, before heading back to Florida again.
Not bad detective work, if true. As for our thoughts on Donnie Walsh taking over... we'll save that for the day Isiah Thomas is officially replaced.
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Yet the results are the same.
Let's back track a bit. The last two games have seen a lot of playing time for the younger Knicks. For example, against the Hawks on Sunday, the Knicks at one point sent out this lineup, which we will call the $5 million lineup:
Nate Robinson ($1.268 million), Renaldo Balkman ($1.234 million), Wilson Chandler ($1.091 million), David Lee ($990,000) and Randolph Morris ($810,000). That lineup did well against the Hawks, but.. well, how often can you point out that other team's lineup is almost 8 times more expensive than your team's lineup. Especially when you are talking about the Knicks. Against the Hawks! That's a team we called "Joe Johnson plus a bunch of rookie contracts" just five weeks ago!
The Hawks lineup, against those young Knicks (number 11 through 16 on the Knicks payroll scale) feature almost $40 million in salary, going to Joe Johnson, Mike Bibby, Josh Childress, Marvin Williams, and Zaza Pachulia. The young Knicks actually didn't do so bad in the game: Nate Robinson was +2 on the court, with a team-high 23 points and 5 assists (plus 2 steals and 2 turnovers). Wilson Chandler was +4, with an awful 4 points on 1-9 shooting (hey, we're used to that from our SFs), but with a nice 7 rebounds, 2 blocks and a steal. Randolph Morris was -2 in his time on the court, going 4-8 on FGs, but he missed all five FTAs, and had foul trouble, fouling out in 18 minutes. David Lee was -4, but had a solid game - 6/7 FGs, 9 rebounds in 25 minutes.
Renaldo Balkman was the lone "bad night", going an team low -18 in his time on the court, mainly because he couldn't hit a free throw, either. He went 3-10 FT.
The rest of the team went 12-13 on FTAs. The duo of Morris and Balkman have to work on their FTs, much like David Lee did after his rookie year.
The pattern continue again tonight against the Pacers. Morris only got six minutes, but the rest of the Baby Knicks got plenty of playing time: Wilson Chandler for the second straight game led the team in minutes with 32 (the only one to play 30+ minutes over the last two games); Zach Randolph was second with 28, then Balkman with 27. After that everyone of the other six Knick players to play had around 24 minutes of PT.
So what of those high priced Knicks? And will the dream of a Knick team so far below the salary cap every take place? From top to bottom:
1. Stephon Marbury. The highest paid Knick is done for the year, and probably for his career as a Knick. The Knicks may buy him out over the summer, and wait until his contract expires at the end of the 2008-2009 season. Oh dear lord, please let the Knicks just wait until his contract expires.
2. Zach Randolph. He's still playing, and dropping double-doubles in limited minutes. He will be a Knick until 2010-2011, at around $17 million by then. Remember: the Blazers had to practically give him away (they promptly brought out Steve Francis, and Channing Frye wasn't anything more than a salary throw-in to balance the deal) this past season to the Knicks. And that was when his trade value was much higher it is now. In other words: Randolph will be on this cap until 2011.
3. Eddy Curry. Done for the year. He has two options that could make his contract run until 2011, too. However, the Knicks might just be able to trade him, if they can convince someone that he's a potential star. And if they can convince them that he's healthy. They actually have much better odds of convincing Curry not to exercise his options, and becoming a free agent after next year. And yes, those odds are about 5%.
4. Quentin Richardson. Two straight DNP-CD. He's around until 2009-2010. He may opt out a year earlier, but like Curry, that seems highly unlikely. Maybe James Dolan can just pay these guys $9 million each, off the books, to become free agents? Wouldn't that also save him from paying the luxury tax, so it wouldn't even be a bad business decision? Sh*t, if I was Jimmy, I would give them a briefcase full of unmarked bills, totaling $9 million a piece, and tell them to sign the papers granting them freedom. Hell, someone will sign you for the middle exception, Q. You too, Curry. Do it.
5. Jamal Crawford. Like Randolph, he's the only other "starter" actually still starting. But after being #2 in minutes for the entire season (to Allen Iverson), Crawford is finally starting to get a rest. Unfortunately, him and Randolph are the only sources of offense other than Robinson on this team. And way too often, it's turned into the Nate Robinson show.
Oh, his contract runs until 2011, unless - that's right - he exercises his option in 2009. Jimmy, you got anymore briefcases of cash back there? Hit the stash, brown bags full of dirty cash.
6. Malik Rose. Another DNP-CD. Old Malik is the wily old veteran in exile for one season (barring trade), then his contract expires in 2009. No options!
7. Jerome James. He's a perma DNP-CD. He'll be at the end of the Knicks bench until 2010. Unless, of course... he opts-out in 2009. Would the greatest trick ever played on the world be if the Knicks' blue plan is to tank the next two years, draft another two young players, and somehow get everyone (except Randolph) to opt out in 2009? Wouldn't that be the most amazing story ever?
8. Jared Jeffries. He's been playing over the last two games, but he's not really very good. He's like a rookie, only one that is getting a middle level salary, and hasn't improved in the six years he's been in the league. Still hasn't developed a decent jumper, or any post moves. Defense is good, but not consistent enough to be great.
He'll be here until 2011, unless he exercises his option, which is, oddly, in 2010. Someone put the wrong language in the contract. I'm sure the Knicks will find a way to make 2009 the option year instead.
9 & 10. Fred Jones and Dan Dickau. The only two expiring contracts for this year. One is already off the team, while the other gets minutes, if for no other reason than because Isiah likes him, and wants him to get some offers over the summer.
***************
The only thing we'll add is that we enjoyed this story from the Daily News about James Dolan possibly holding meetings with Donnie Walsh (current president of the Pacers) about replacing Isiah Thomas. In a surprising act of transparency, writer Frank Isola tells us exactly how he came to find out about this these possible meetings - he "saw" a copy of James Dolan's private plane flight plans, which specify that a trip was made to Indiana last week, around the time Walsh skipped a day from work. Then the flight went back to South Florida (Dolan's home), but came back to Indiana a day later, before heading back to Florida again.
Not bad detective work, if true. As for our thoughts on Donnie Walsh taking over... we'll save that for the day Isiah Thomas is officially replaced.
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I think I would be going insane if I had to watch the Knicks sign and sign and sign these bad players.
I try to find a "bright spot" and there really isn't from what I see when it comes to this organization. It is the worst in professional sports right now.
Unless the plan is to shit the bed for 3 more years in order to obtain like 60 million in expiring contracts for 2011... I am confused why things have happened like this.
Knicks have no star, no one on the roster that could potentially become a star and have their hands tied with all these insane contracts. The product on the floor is horrible as well but not quite horrible enough to be one of the worst 3 teams in the league.