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Larry Wanted Ratliff & Miles Instead
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Of all the mismatches Isiah Thomas has put together in his two-year makeover of the Knicks, pairing point guards Steve Francis with Stephon Marbury in a marriage of inconvenience is his most controversial move by far.
One day after admitting chemistry is a problem for his 15-38 team, the Knicks' president yesterday added another shoot-first point guard from Orlando for Penny Hardaway's expiring $15.75-million contract and second-year forward Trevor Ariza.
Although Thomas said he's satisfied with the team as it is, several NBA executives said it's likely Knicks shooting guard Jamal Crawford will be traded to Denver for backup point guard Earl Watson by today's 3 p.m. NBA trade deadline. The Nuggets need a shooting guard, the Knicks need a backup point guard who doesn't require shots, and the salaries fit NBA trade guidelines.
Thomas and coach Larry Brown put a unified, happy face on the deal for Francis, who makes $13.77 million this year and is under contract for another three seasons totaling $48.7 million. Brown went so far as to compare this deal to the one that added Earl Monroe to a backcourt that already included Walt Frazier and Dick Barnett before the Knicks won their last NBA title in 1973.
"Nobody thought Earl would fit in with the group here," Brown recalled. Including Crawford and Quentin Richardson in the equation, Brown said the Francis-Marbury combination will reduce pressure on their teammates. "The more experience and more quality people we have in the backcourt will make their development a lot easier."
But executives and personnel experts around the league questioned the odd coupling, said Brown was not in favor and suggested yesterday's deal was part of a risky long-term strategy by Thomas to trade for superstar Minnesota forward Kevin Garnett this summer.
One NBA general manager said Thomas sold Knicks owner James Dolan on a strategy to stockpile as many marketable assets as possible to make a play for Garnett, who has grown increasingly restless with the Timberwolves, who now might be ready to consider trading him.
Brown is said to have favored trading Hardaway's contract to Portland for center Theo Ratliff and small forward Darius Miles to fill the Knicks' need for more defense, rebounding and shot-blocking. But Thomas gambled on Francis, a strategy that could blow up in his face if Minnesota refuses to trade Garnett.
"Isiah has put a lot of talented players on their roster, but it remains to be seen if they fit together," the NBA GM said. "Chemistry is important. The Knicks have a lot of firepower, but Larry likes to play defense. Francis doesn't seem like his type. Larry wants hard-nosed players."</div>
Source
Man, this New York soap opera has just taken another twist for the worst. I tried to put a positive spin on this yesterday, because I thought Larry Brown actually pushed for this deal. But if this is just a gamble to land KG down the line, Isiah has reached a new level of stupid.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Of all the mismatches Isiah Thomas has put together in his two-year makeover of the Knicks, pairing point guards Steve Francis with Stephon Marbury in a marriage of inconvenience is his most controversial move by far.
One day after admitting chemistry is a problem for his 15-38 team, the Knicks' president yesterday added another shoot-first point guard from Orlando for Penny Hardaway's expiring $15.75-million contract and second-year forward Trevor Ariza.
Although Thomas said he's satisfied with the team as it is, several NBA executives said it's likely Knicks shooting guard Jamal Crawford will be traded to Denver for backup point guard Earl Watson by today's 3 p.m. NBA trade deadline. The Nuggets need a shooting guard, the Knicks need a backup point guard who doesn't require shots, and the salaries fit NBA trade guidelines.
Thomas and coach Larry Brown put a unified, happy face on the deal for Francis, who makes $13.77 million this year and is under contract for another three seasons totaling $48.7 million. Brown went so far as to compare this deal to the one that added Earl Monroe to a backcourt that already included Walt Frazier and Dick Barnett before the Knicks won their last NBA title in 1973.
"Nobody thought Earl would fit in with the group here," Brown recalled. Including Crawford and Quentin Richardson in the equation, Brown said the Francis-Marbury combination will reduce pressure on their teammates. "The more experience and more quality people we have in the backcourt will make their development a lot easier."
But executives and personnel experts around the league questioned the odd coupling, said Brown was not in favor and suggested yesterday's deal was part of a risky long-term strategy by Thomas to trade for superstar Minnesota forward Kevin Garnett this summer.
One NBA general manager said Thomas sold Knicks owner James Dolan on a strategy to stockpile as many marketable assets as possible to make a play for Garnett, who has grown increasingly restless with the Timberwolves, who now might be ready to consider trading him.
Brown is said to have favored trading Hardaway's contract to Portland for center Theo Ratliff and small forward Darius Miles to fill the Knicks' need for more defense, rebounding and shot-blocking. But Thomas gambled on Francis, a strategy that could blow up in his face if Minnesota refuses to trade Garnett.
"Isiah has put a lot of talented players on their roster, but it remains to be seen if they fit together," the NBA GM said. "Chemistry is important. The Knicks have a lot of firepower, but Larry likes to play defense. Francis doesn't seem like his type. Larry wants hard-nosed players."</div>
Source
Man, this New York soap opera has just taken another twist for the worst. I tried to put a positive spin on this yesterday, because I thought Larry Brown actually pushed for this deal. But if this is just a gamble to land KG down the line, Isiah has reached a new level of stupid.
