Setting The Record Straight: It's Not About LeBron

[Mr. J]

I'm becoming increasingly annoyed by this, "we're only after LeBron" notion.

2010 is not about LeBron. It's not about Wade. It's not about Bosh. It's about cap space. This is the first time in about 10 years that the Knicks have cap space. It's funny; people were scorning us to death when we had Allan Houston, Weatherspoon, Eisley, Shandon Anderson, and all those other signed to long term deals. Now, in just two years, we're positioned to have the most cap space we've had in over a decade. Yet, some people are actually criticizing Walsh saying he's putting all his eggs in one basket. But what do we have? We haven't cracked 40 wins since 2001. We were going to suck regardless of whether we wait for 2010 or not.

The Knicks have an unbelievable amount of leverage next year. If we don't sign any superstars, at the end of the day, we have over $20M in cap room and $18M more coming off the books the very next year. Assuming we sign no superstars, all it means is that the Knicks will have $30M+ to spend next offseason. New York is actually an attractive destination and I'm sure players would be more inclined to sign here than they would another team, say, Utah.

 

[Chutney]

I think you're right.

But at the same time, I believe the Knicks openly invited the Lebron speculation or at the very least remained deliberately ambiguous on the topic. New York's probably the most demanding market in the NBA, with an impatient, frustrated fanbase. After a decade of incompetence with Dolan and Isiah, it was clear that Walsh had to devote all his energies to shedding salaries. That necessarily implies some very crappy hopeless seasons for a while, and I think that's a tough sell. If people start thinking about big FA signings though, they can swallow the tough medicine a lot easier.

 

[Shapecity]

It's about cap flexibility and positioning themselves for the opportunity to sign a superstar free agent, whether that be LeBron, Wade or some other players. The true test will be how the Knicks utilize this cap space. We've seen in the past that teams with a lot of capspace often mismanage it and end up overpaying for mediocre players. Every agent is going to call the Knicks next summer to drive up the price of their free agents and create a buzz for their client.

What's unclear is who NY intends to surround a superstar player with and are their sacrifices going to pay off?

 

[Chutney]

If they don't land a max-contract worthy player, they'll more than likely be overpaying someone. It'll create a lot of backlash, but the Knicks should go into the 2010 offseason with a list of players they think are worth throwing money at and not be afraid to save that space if they don't get any of them.

 

[J_Ray]

If they don't land a max-contract worthy player, they'll more than likely be overpaying someone. It'll create a lot of backlash, but the Knicks should go into the 2010 offseason with a list of players they think are worth throwing money at and not be afraid to save that space if they don't get any of them.

What do you think the fan reaction would be like seeing them hold onto that cap space though? I don't see that going over too well, and more mayhem in the media would follow most definitely. Really I see Walsh & Co. folding under the pressure if they miss out on the big names, and dishing out all that money instead of holding onto it.

 

[Chutney]

What do you think the fan reaction would be like seeing them hold onto that cap space though? I don't see that going over too well, and more mayhem in the media would follow most definitely. Really I see Walsh & Co. folding under the pressure if they miss out on the big names, and dishing out all that money instead of holding onto it.

That's definitely the big question. I don't think you can consider yourself a successful GM in a big market unless you don't allow outside factors to sway your decision-making process. Even if they end up as the wrong decisions.

 

[Shapecity]

Here's the latest rumor ..

For the longest time, the New York Knicks have been clearing salary space to make room for the summer of 2010 in the hopes of bringing in LeBron James(notes) and Dwyane Wade(notes) to save the franchise. The problem is that there isn't much to the team right now and Wade and James have perfectly good support systems where they are right now. Plus, you don't have to live in New York City anymore to be a media powerhouse.

So the Knicks are apparently adjusting their expectations for next summer. There is no doubt the team will make an initial run at James and Wade but the word is that the Knicks are feeling like it is much more likely they'll end up with Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh(notes) and Atlanta Hawks guard Joe Johnson(notes), who are also both free agents next summer, according to the New York Daily News.

This is still a good combo and a far sight better than what the Knicks have been putting on the floor recently.

Johnson at least has a long-time relationship with Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni, who he played for years ago. "More than anything he gave me a chance, he gave me a chance to play and just play free - and kind of blossom from there. He's a great coach," Johnson said.

Source: NY Daily News

 

[Chutney]

Meh. I don't see how Chris Bosh is anymore plausible than Lebron or DWade. If he leaves the Raptors, it'll be because he no longer has faith in their ability to build a winning team around him. He'll leave them for a team with a more successful track record, not somewhere where he has to endure the unpredictability of building up a team.

 

[Mr. J]

The fans I talk to seem to be okay with rebuilding. The only thing we fans ask for is to play hard every game. If we lose, we lose. But not losing and not playing hard is what we can't tolerate. In the very likely event that LeBron, Wade, etc. don't sign with us, I don't think Walsh will be necessarily overpaying someone (or at least drastically - mostly everyone is overpaid in the NBA). I think he and Knick fans will be in favor for waiting out for next season, especially when Curry and Jeffries both expire. Besides, overpaying mediocre and downright bad players is what got us into that 9-year quagmire we're just getting out of now. I don't think fans will be for the wait.

 

[Shapecity]

Too bad New York didn't draft Brandon Jennings.

 

[Mr. J]

Apparently he was too similar to Marbury, many contend.

Hill has shown flashes but overall he's looked like a bust thus far.