Post by kgooglog on Jul 4, 2009 9:10:38 GMT -5
Perhaps it is the depressed economy, but a couple of NY Newspaper Knicks writers, namely Mark Berman and now, Frank Isola, a writer who I once truly respected, are writing such drool that I have now come to rely on the salient reporting of Howard Beck of The New York Times when it comes to the state of the Knicks and the NBA in general. Where is Greg Logan of Newsday when we need a reality check?
Today's New York Post legend in his own mind, Mark Berman writes that "David May Lee-Ve for Portland" without so much as an understanding of capanomics or the fact that the Knicks can match any offer that the Blazers could possibly make. I had to go to the NY Times where Mr. Beck notes that Portland has approximately $8,000,000 in cap space left. That's it. David Lee is a base-year compensation player and any deal with Portland, would have to include this little factoid in order for a sign and trade to be pulled off or David simply leaving to sign with a forward-laden team, who was reportedly close to signing Hedo Turkoglu.
Listen, as Bill says, even a blind squirrel can find a nut once in a while, but Berman's ridiculous anti-Knick rhetoric is ludicrous when it comes to who and what are coming or going to the Knicks. Why would NY even consider a sign and trade with Portland, if it involves taking back a tertiary player with an obscene, pornographic multi-year contract for a player who they already know and love? Berman doesn't infuse his articles with common sense, but most of us know that already.
Frank Isola of The NY Daily News had the audacity to write that the Knicks should pursue Allen Iverson if Jason Kidd spurns the Knicks three year MLE offer. Why on Earth would Donnie Walsh take on Iverson when D'Antoni and the team president cannot and will not tolerate Nate Robinson's rather tame on-court behavior? Frank Isola was once a writer, unlike Mark Berman, who I actually respected. Obviously, Isola has lost his mind if he is actually insinuating that NY should take Iverson's attitude and deteriorating game on, even if it is for one year. Nate can be had for half the MLE and wants to be on the Knicks. He is better than Iverson is now. Plus, what leadership does Iverson bring to any team? Here is a guy who won't even sit on a bench with his team mates, and Isola is extolling virtues that simply do not apply with regards to this nut job player.
Howard Beck of the Times, instead, writes about the dwindling opportunities that 2009 free agents are experiencing, to the point where some players are simply praying for teams with an MLE to sign them. If you want to see Beck's professionalism and concise breakdown of who has what and where that is going, simply check out today's New York Times. I am not pouring accolades on Beck. I am simply distraught that only he as well as Alan Hahn of Newsday, seem to understand that there is a salary cap situation that exists in the NBA, understand that the Knicks and company have a vision which extends beyond signing every FA out there, and that the priorities are to preserve and create cap space for 2010. In sum, Beck cannot see David Lee commanding more than $8,000,000 per year, simply because teams who have cap space will not spend this type of money on a player who is a superb rebounder, a player who is a hustler and a workhorse, but a player who cannot hit a jumper or defend the low post. This is not to put down Lee. I want him on the Knicks, and in my heart of hearts, I believe he will be back. But not for $10,000,000 a year.
As an example of what we read in New York, let me share with you the following. I was relying on the misinformation of Berman and, to a degree, Isola, when it came to the J-Kidd situation. The difference between the Dallas offer and the NY offer to Kidd is in actuality, $7,000,000, which, while a considerable amount of money, is not the $12,000,000 difference which the Post initially reported. Cuban is the type of owner who will overpay for a player simply because Dallas is his personal toy, which is not a criticism of the man. However, Kidd has his family in NY as well as business interests, and frankly, it may very well be worth more to him to be in NY, where endorsements will more than make up for the salary discrepancy. Perhaps this is why Kidd has not immediately bit on the Dallas bait, as widely speculated...speculatation which is now turning into NY having a more than good chance at landing Jason for 3 years, $18,000,000.
Alan Hahn, although I question his "sources", had an interesting "twitter" which seemed to indicate that the rumored Curry for T-Mac package is not as far-fetched as it may sound to NY Knick fans who cannot "stomach" Eddy as a Knick anymore. I can only hope that Hahn does have an ear that knows...
Today's New York Post legend in his own mind, Mark Berman writes that "David May Lee-Ve for Portland" without so much as an understanding of capanomics or the fact that the Knicks can match any offer that the Blazers could possibly make. I had to go to the NY Times where Mr. Beck notes that Portland has approximately $8,000,000 in cap space left. That's it. David Lee is a base-year compensation player and any deal with Portland, would have to include this little factoid in order for a sign and trade to be pulled off or David simply leaving to sign with a forward-laden team, who was reportedly close to signing Hedo Turkoglu.
Listen, as Bill says, even a blind squirrel can find a nut once in a while, but Berman's ridiculous anti-Knick rhetoric is ludicrous when it comes to who and what are coming or going to the Knicks. Why would NY even consider a sign and trade with Portland, if it involves taking back a tertiary player with an obscene, pornographic multi-year contract for a player who they already know and love? Berman doesn't infuse his articles with common sense, but most of us know that already.
Frank Isola of The NY Daily News had the audacity to write that the Knicks should pursue Allen Iverson if Jason Kidd spurns the Knicks three year MLE offer. Why on Earth would Donnie Walsh take on Iverson when D'Antoni and the team president cannot and will not tolerate Nate Robinson's rather tame on-court behavior? Frank Isola was once a writer, unlike Mark Berman, who I actually respected. Obviously, Isola has lost his mind if he is actually insinuating that NY should take Iverson's attitude and deteriorating game on, even if it is for one year. Nate can be had for half the MLE and wants to be on the Knicks. He is better than Iverson is now. Plus, what leadership does Iverson bring to any team? Here is a guy who won't even sit on a bench with his team mates, and Isola is extolling virtues that simply do not apply with regards to this nut job player.
Howard Beck of the Times, instead, writes about the dwindling opportunities that 2009 free agents are experiencing, to the point where some players are simply praying for teams with an MLE to sign them. If you want to see Beck's professionalism and concise breakdown of who has what and where that is going, simply check out today's New York Times. I am not pouring accolades on Beck. I am simply distraught that only he as well as Alan Hahn of Newsday, seem to understand that there is a salary cap situation that exists in the NBA, understand that the Knicks and company have a vision which extends beyond signing every FA out there, and that the priorities are to preserve and create cap space for 2010. In sum, Beck cannot see David Lee commanding more than $8,000,000 per year, simply because teams who have cap space will not spend this type of money on a player who is a superb rebounder, a player who is a hustler and a workhorse, but a player who cannot hit a jumper or defend the low post. This is not to put down Lee. I want him on the Knicks, and in my heart of hearts, I believe he will be back. But not for $10,000,000 a year.
As an example of what we read in New York, let me share with you the following. I was relying on the misinformation of Berman and, to a degree, Isola, when it came to the J-Kidd situation. The difference between the Dallas offer and the NY offer to Kidd is in actuality, $7,000,000, which, while a considerable amount of money, is not the $12,000,000 difference which the Post initially reported. Cuban is the type of owner who will overpay for a player simply because Dallas is his personal toy, which is not a criticism of the man. However, Kidd has his family in NY as well as business interests, and frankly, it may very well be worth more to him to be in NY, where endorsements will more than make up for the salary discrepancy. Perhaps this is why Kidd has not immediately bit on the Dallas bait, as widely speculated...speculatation which is now turning into NY having a more than good chance at landing Jason for 3 years, $18,000,000.
Alan Hahn, although I question his "sources", had an interesting "twitter" which seemed to indicate that the rumored Curry for T-Mac package is not as far-fetched as it may sound to NY Knick fans who cannot "stomach" Eddy as a Knick anymore. I can only hope that Hahn does have an ear that knows...
