Ze Plan

[irish2u2]

Donnie Walsh has a plan. I hope he can change that plan because it looks like possible scenarios are changing almost daily.

For instance Brandon Roy was a Plan B target for next year only the Blazers pre-emptively look to be on the verge of signing him to an extension. Ditto for another Plan B guy, Joe Johnson of the Hawks, though his negotiations are nowhere near as finalized as Roy's.

So who are the fallback guys if LeBron or Wade don't jump ship?

Chris Bosh is said to be leaning towards re-upping with the Raptors. He wasn't looking to stay 4 months ago but now he is. The Raptors will look for an extension with him now as well they should.

I have a feeling part of Walsh's plan was he knew he would lose David Lee and now he has to find a way to fit in Lee into his plans because the market for David wasn't as high as thought.

I still think the Ramon Sessions soap opera is a lot more involved than just getting him for the right price. I am all for the signing but part of the song and dance with Ramon has to do with the song and dance with Ricky Rubio. That is why there is no sense of urgency in all this and that part of Walsh's Plan, the part where we "steal" this great, future Hall of Fame type PG is a long, long way from fruition and I'm not talking about Ricky being a HOF PG either. We have to get the guy first. ; )

So what is Walsh's Grand Plan? I have no earthly clue now though I wager it has changed a lot over the last few months. I bet it changes a lot more too. The good news is LeBron isn't signing an extension...yet...so technically he is still in play and we can all dream.

[ironman95]

Ze plan is Rubio...........It may be a pie in the sky plan, but I suspect that is the plan. All the rest is just delaying tactics. Welcome to the jungle. Or is it Bungle in the Jungle?

[irish2u2]

We all know the words to "Bungle in the Jungle" so let's hope it's a new song with a new ending. ; )

[kgooglog]

Interestingly enough, word out of Minnesota is that Ricky Rubio's "representatives" are feverishly working on lucrative product endorsement deals which would enable him to extricate himself from the DKV Joventut buyout, which The Pioneer Press reported as being $6.6 million dollars. The Wolves can only contribute $500,000 to assist Rubio in his buyout, and Ricky will definitely be needing some major salary to buy himself out of this extortion.

I mention this since I believe that it goes without saying that one sweet Madison Avenue advertisement deal would probably be the end of any difficulties the Ruby would have in this type of a buyout, and unless Minnesota has an untapped, well known market for dog sleds, I just don't see how the Wolves will be able to keep an already aggravated player happy where in a locale which probably has little international flavor and, most importantly, little environmental heat.

To that end, I can see David Kahn revisiting some sign and trade scenarios with Donnie Walsh which would reward Rubio with, at the very least, a first year salary which would enable him to pay-off the entire buyout. I can see Nate Robinson being inked to the previously mentioned rumored signing of a one year, $6,000,000 contract, which would accomplish eliminating Rubio's buyout situation and leave Ricky on a tight budget for the season.

There were also rumors that if the Knicks were to sign Jason Williams, he would be part of a trade. Again, this makes very little sense on surface value, unless the trade were for a coveted player and included a current Knicks player who is making a substantial salary--again, I'm going back to what I think may be a scenario in which Rubio does become a Knick sooner rather than later.

I do not think that Walsh is overly concerned with Ramon Sessions' situation at all, particularly since the bidding seems to involve Donnie Walsh versus Donnie Walsh. I did read Newsday's Alan Hahn's report or Twitter that essentially said that Sessions is a "done deal" insofar as being a Knick and what better scenario for Ricky Rubio can exist than for him to come into a situation in which there is an established PG system in which he can grow into assuming a vital role? Now, I am thinking Sessions, Rubio, Chris Duhon (for this year), and Toney Douglas. Duhon falls off the cap and team next season, and now you have a superb PG trio in Rubio, Sessions, and Douglas.

I think that David Lee will be accepting a one year contract from the Knicks, but will not be playing in the Garden until his new team, Chicago, comes to visit. I think that Lee's negative statements to the press have gone a long way in distancing himself from Donnie Walsh. Despite Dave's lunch-pail type of work ethic and wonderful reputation as a community-minded guy, I just don't think the Coach sees a whole lot more that David Lee could bring to the table as a basketball player. He can't shot an outside shot, is probably the least athletic Knick in the starting 5, and plays shoddy defense. The Bulls seem to want him, and David is a terrific guy to have on your team, if you don't depend on him for offense or defense. The Bulls have enough scoring, can use a solid citizen, and Lee does board. In return, Walsh gets the uber athletic Tyrus Thomas, who I think has the makings of a superstar in 2-3 years. Tyrus, like Wilson Chandler, was made for Mike's system, and having these two in the starting line-up, gives you athleticism which would be hard to match. Until LeBron James joins the squad.

I think Ricky Rubio and Ty Thomas, along with Ramon Sessions, are the new Knicks, and as Marc Stein reported, LeBron is not accepting any contract extension from Cleveland, since he wants to explore his "options" in free agency. Walsh has made sure that there is really only one option for LeBron and that is to don his #23 in 2010 and for the rest of his HOF career. Rubio is key to this plan.

The other "elite" FA will come the following year, and just because a few guys may talk about signing or actually sign contract extensions, only means to me that they are ensuring themselves of an economic windfall, no matter what happens to their current team or the economy. In 2011-12, when Jared Jeffries and Eddy Curry finally vanish, there is another $19,000,000 in cap space that opens up. And that's the worst case scenario, if we even entertain the idea of these two nimrods staying on the Knicks this season.

Ze plan is Ze key...

[irish2u2]

I do think Ricky Rubio is the center piece of Ze Plan. I keep hearing how he might sign with another Euro team and then suddenly he is looking for endorsement deals to pay off his current contract. I don't imagine he suddenly grew to love Minnesota either. ; )

I think Rubio's family and advisors have a plan and playing in NY is part of that plan. Walsh knows this as does Kahn. It's just a matter of time.

[axios]

I think Kahn's plan is to let Rubio sit over there get better and then he's got a hell of a trading chip. I dont think we ever get close to sniffing him. Minn got their point guard and will be happy enough to be back next year in the lottery. I can see Kahn trading jefferson for some future picks and garbage so they dont have to pay him.

[axios]

Ok- as far as plan b and c. I think the economy and the new CBA has turned everything upside down. Everyone we hoped for will probably lock up to protect themselves. Where does that leave us? No matter who is available we will have the flexibility we havent had in a decade. Perhaps, we sit tight, perhaps we look to 2011. We piece meal a competitive young team together till then. Im happy with this course of action. Layden and IT had no vision and no flexiblity. At least we will have an opportunity to make deals and sign good players, this is good news.

[irish2u2]

One thing about Minnesota. They don't rush things. ; ) It feels like a decade they have been looking for a coach so I fully expect the Rubio situation to be somehow worked out before the kid turns 30. ; ) Maybe. ; ) In the meantime our schedule (if we want Rubio) is their schedule. ; _