by Stop Mike Lupica on May 11 at 10:55PM
Changes. Not a lot on the way (the Knicks aren't really capable of revamping the entire team), but some more are on the way. First Donnie Walsh, now D'Antoni. The Knicks are putting together the management team that will put together the team. They still need a GM, and with a big name President with tons of experience, and a big name coach with a well regarded system, the GM can be a novice. Kiki Vandeweghe signed on to be Rod Thorn's GM, so look for one of the aforementioned head coach candidates - Mark Jackson, Kenny Smith, et al - to resurface as a possible GM candidate.
Personnel wise? The Knicks who would seem to benefit the most are Renaldo Balkman (someone whom the Suns were reportedly very interested in during the 2006 Draft), Wilson Chandler, Nate Robinson (someone whom the Suns drafted), David Lee, and perhaps Jared Jeffries.
Quentin Richardson and Stephon Marbury both played on the Suns under D'Antoni for a bit, but both may be too old or worn down to contribute heavily. In fact, the two things the Knicks will need in order to implement the D'Antoni system are: a point guard with court vision, and high percentage three-point shooting. If those two guys can turn it around, and provide those skills (skills they once possessed), then they might have a role on this team. If not, then the Knicks will go shopping.
If the Knicks get a top-2 pick, Derrick Rose will undoubtedly be drafted, and the first problem is solved. However, the likely reality is this: the Knicks may end up with a #5-7 pick. If that happens, Danilo Gallinari suddenly comes into play much more than anyone (including myself) might have anticipated.
Aside from the obvious Italian connection, Gallinari fits a lot of D'Antoni's Knicks pressing needs: he's international (as D'Antoni's system is), he's a SF (the Knicks were dead last in SF +/- last year), and he's deadly from downtown (40% shooter from behind the arc). No, I don't particularly like him that much, but he will become a very likely option if the Knicks end up with the #5 pick or worse.
If that happens, the point guard situation will likely be resolved via a trade with Toronto. The Raptors have a legitimate problem right now; Jose Calderon has stated, on his website, that he wants to be a starter:
Quiero ser titular y estar en un equipo que aspire a todo. Desde luego no estaré en un equipo en el que yo pueda ser importante pero no haya una estructura sólida o no haya opciones en los 'playoffs'. (poorly written translation, also from the site: "I want to be a starter and be on a team that aspires to everything. I will not be on a team in which I canoot be an important contributor nor if there is not a solid structure or if there are not options to be in the playoffs.")
TJ Ford has also said similar things. The Raptors will now have to choose, especially since Calderon is a restricted free agent. The Knicks can't really offer Calderon a deal (beyond the mid-level exemption, or about $6 million a year for 5 years). The Raptors aren't going to let Jose Calderon go, not when he's a much healthier point guard than TJ Ford, and has more upside (Jose's stats this season as a starter are positively amazing). Look for the Raptors to put Ford on the trading block; the Knicks could offer Jamal Crawford, an aggressive slasher/explosive scorer who would help fill one of the Raptors most pressing needs.
Jamal Crawford may be a decent uptempo player who excels at throwing alley-oops, but I doubt he will be anything more than a sixth man under D'Antoni. Crawford is just too low % for Mike's system.
Other players in danger of being traded: well, if D'Antoni didn't take much of a shining to Shaq, then you have to believe he won't have much patience for Eddy Curry. The Knicks might give him away to anyone who wants him. Possible candidates include the Heat or the Grizzles (with maybe famous draft bust Darko coming back this way). He is tradeable, but the Knicks will have to either rebuild his value by making him an option in the offense, or they will have to accept pennies on the dollars for him (Mark Blount).
Zach Randolph? He's a good fit for the pick and roll system (Isiah: "what's a pick and/or roll?") that will get him open looks from fifteen feet, where he is pretty solid. The problem will be can D'Antoni convince him to shoot without taking ten seconds of dribbling.
Donnie Walsh will check to see if the Bucks have changed their minds about the Michael Redd for Zach Randolph trade that was discussed, and dismissed, last season. Michael Redd's deadly three-point shooting would be ideal for the D'Antoni Knicks. Perhaps if the Knicks trade down a few spots with the Bucks in the draft (if Danilo is still available with the Bucks' pick), that might be enough to entice the Bucks to giving up Redd for Randolph.
Nate Robinson might get a larger role in the system. He's a tenacious defender capable of getting steals, gets up the court quickly, and shoots 40% from behind the arc. By definition he'll be a good fit for the system. Of course, once his value gets high enough, the Knicks might look to trade him.
Don't expect too many changes at first, though. The Knicks have some hard to move contracts, and D'Antoni has to evaluate the players, and how he wants them to implement his system, before he can make any decisions on who should go. These proposed moves will probably take place over the course of a year, maybe more.
Finally, to try to answer the question on most NBA fans' minds: Why did D'Antoni chose the Knicks (over the Bulls, among others)? Besides the money, which was probably reasons number one, two, three, and four:
-The Knicks have such low expectations D'Antoni has at least two to three "free" years before he can be criticized. In contrast, the Bulls, despite being just as bad as the Knicks last season, still have high expectations based on past performances.
-There are more players on the Knicks that D'Antoni is familar with. As mentioned, Q-Rich and Steph played on the Suns; Robinson was drafted, and Balkman was supposedly a draft target.
-The Knicks have unlimited cash. I can't emphasize this enough. The worst thing about those Suns teams was that they could have been even better, had their owner not been so cheap. Yeah, Bill Simmons wrote a nice article about this a few weeks back. But lest anyone accuse me of biting Simmons, I have been writing and complaining for years about the stinginess of the Suns owner. This is something that you have to figure must have eaten at D'Antoni. All that work, all that greatness... and to fall short, mostly because your owner was trying to squeeze every last penny out of the team? I can't imagine Mike would ever want to roll the dice with an owner that exhibited any kind of stinginess again.
So while James Dolan of the Knicks had no problems meeting D'Antoni's terms for being a head coach, the Bulls were trying to get him to sign with them on the cheap. Now, how easy do you think, did that approach make the choice for Mike D'Antoni? The Bulls might have just as well gift wrapped him to the Knicks....
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Personnel wise? The Knicks who would seem to benefit the most are Renaldo Balkman (someone whom the Suns were reportedly very interested in during the 2006 Draft), Wilson Chandler, Nate Robinson (someone whom the Suns drafted), David Lee, and perhaps Jared Jeffries.
Quentin Richardson and Stephon Marbury both played on the Suns under D'Antoni for a bit, but both may be too old or worn down to contribute heavily. In fact, the two things the Knicks will need in order to implement the D'Antoni system are: a point guard with court vision, and high percentage three-point shooting. If those two guys can turn it around, and provide those skills (skills they once possessed), then they might have a role on this team. If not, then the Knicks will go shopping.
If the Knicks get a top-2 pick, Derrick Rose will undoubtedly be drafted, and the first problem is solved. However, the likely reality is this: the Knicks may end up with a #5-7 pick. If that happens, Danilo Gallinari suddenly comes into play much more than anyone (including myself) might have anticipated.
Aside from the obvious Italian connection, Gallinari fits a lot of D'Antoni's Knicks pressing needs: he's international (as D'Antoni's system is), he's a SF (the Knicks were dead last in SF +/- last year), and he's deadly from downtown (40% shooter from behind the arc). No, I don't particularly like him that much, but he will become a very likely option if the Knicks end up with the #5 pick or worse.
If that happens, the point guard situation will likely be resolved via a trade with Toronto. The Raptors have a legitimate problem right now; Jose Calderon has stated, on his website, that he wants to be a starter:
Quiero ser titular y estar en un equipo que aspire a todo. Desde luego no estaré en un equipo en el que yo pueda ser importante pero no haya una estructura sólida o no haya opciones en los 'playoffs'. (poorly written translation, also from the site: "I want to be a starter and be on a team that aspires to everything. I will not be on a team in which I canoot be an important contributor nor if there is not a solid structure or if there are not options to be in the playoffs.")
TJ Ford has also said similar things. The Raptors will now have to choose, especially since Calderon is a restricted free agent. The Knicks can't really offer Calderon a deal (beyond the mid-level exemption, or about $6 million a year for 5 years). The Raptors aren't going to let Jose Calderon go, not when he's a much healthier point guard than TJ Ford, and has more upside (Jose's stats this season as a starter are positively amazing). Look for the Raptors to put Ford on the trading block; the Knicks could offer Jamal Crawford, an aggressive slasher/explosive scorer who would help fill one of the Raptors most pressing needs.
Jamal Crawford may be a decent uptempo player who excels at throwing alley-oops, but I doubt he will be anything more than a sixth man under D'Antoni. Crawford is just too low % for Mike's system.
Other players in danger of being traded: well, if D'Antoni didn't take much of a shining to Shaq, then you have to believe he won't have much patience for Eddy Curry. The Knicks might give him away to anyone who wants him. Possible candidates include the Heat or the Grizzles (with maybe famous draft bust Darko coming back this way). He is tradeable, but the Knicks will have to either rebuild his value by making him an option in the offense, or they will have to accept pennies on the dollars for him (Mark Blount).
Zach Randolph? He's a good fit for the pick and roll system (Isiah: "what's a pick and/or roll?") that will get him open looks from fifteen feet, where he is pretty solid. The problem will be can D'Antoni convince him to shoot without taking ten seconds of dribbling.
Donnie Walsh will check to see if the Bucks have changed their minds about the Michael Redd for Zach Randolph trade that was discussed, and dismissed, last season. Michael Redd's deadly three-point shooting would be ideal for the D'Antoni Knicks. Perhaps if the Knicks trade down a few spots with the Bucks in the draft (if Danilo is still available with the Bucks' pick), that might be enough to entice the Bucks to giving up Redd for Randolph.
Nate Robinson might get a larger role in the system. He's a tenacious defender capable of getting steals, gets up the court quickly, and shoots 40% from behind the arc. By definition he'll be a good fit for the system. Of course, once his value gets high enough, the Knicks might look to trade him.
Don't expect too many changes at first, though. The Knicks have some hard to move contracts, and D'Antoni has to evaluate the players, and how he wants them to implement his system, before he can make any decisions on who should go. These proposed moves will probably take place over the course of a year, maybe more.
Finally, to try to answer the question on most NBA fans' minds: Why did D'Antoni chose the Knicks (over the Bulls, among others)? Besides the money, which was probably reasons number one, two, three, and four:
-The Knicks have such low expectations D'Antoni has at least two to three "free" years before he can be criticized. In contrast, the Bulls, despite being just as bad as the Knicks last season, still have high expectations based on past performances.
-There are more players on the Knicks that D'Antoni is familar with. As mentioned, Q-Rich and Steph played on the Suns; Robinson was drafted, and Balkman was supposedly a draft target.
-The Knicks have unlimited cash. I can't emphasize this enough. The worst thing about those Suns teams was that they could have been even better, had their owner not been so cheap. Yeah, Bill Simmons wrote a nice article about this a few weeks back. But lest anyone accuse me of biting Simmons, I have been writing and complaining for years about the stinginess of the Suns owner. This is something that you have to figure must have eaten at D'Antoni. All that work, all that greatness... and to fall short, mostly because your owner was trying to squeeze every last penny out of the team? I can't imagine Mike would ever want to roll the dice with an owner that exhibited any kind of stinginess again.
So while James Dolan of the Knicks had no problems meeting D'Antoni's terms for being a head coach, the Bulls were trying to get him to sign with them on the cheap. Now, how easy do you think, did that approach make the choice for Mike D'Antoni? The Bulls might have just as well gift wrapped him to the Knicks....
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Free years? The clowns at the Daily News (Lawrence) and Vecsey are already ripping the move. I love the move. Hopefully he can brintg over the athletic trainers that got Shaq in shape and kept Grant Hill reasonably healthy most of the season!
So if the Knicks get Rose now, they're set. D'Anonti and Rose would just be unstoppable. You should be praying for that now.
As much as I hate to admit it, Lupica made a good point (and I really HATE admitting this). He said that if you told any Knicks fan in the middle of the season that Donnie Walsh and Mike D'Antoni would be running the show come June, we would have signed up!
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Free years? The clowns at the Daily News (Lawrence) and Vecsey are already ripping the move. I love the move. Hopefully he can brintg over the athletic trainers that got Shaq in shape and kept Grant Hill reasonably healthy most of the season!