Knicks Looking To Dump A 2010 Contract

[kgooglog]

Just about 2 hours ago, it was reported by Alan Hahn via Twitter that the Knicks pursuit of Jerry Stackhouse is tied into Donnie Walsh's ability to shed one of the team's non-rookie 2010 contracts.

The names mentioned by Hahn were Jared Jeffries and Eddy Curry, with the statement that New York was looking to get rid of one of these contracts before acquiring any player e.g. Ramon Sessions.

If there is an NBA God, please have an ESPN report that Eddy Curry was traded for Brad Miller's expiring contract.

Comrades, join me in prayer as we imagine Curry back in Chicago and Nate being signed and traded with Jared Jeffries to Sacramento for Kenny Thomas and the Kings 2010 first round draft pick without any conditions...Also, David Lee goes to Utah for Carlos Boozer.

[mercury]

Hopefully Walsh can trade Curry or Jefferies, and in the best case scenario both of them. I hope iam wrong, but teams wont trade for Curry until he plays some games. This could include the preseason if he looks to be fit. However, Walsh is probally telling other teams that they are willing to sign and trade Lee and Robinson if either Curry and Jefferies is involved in the deal.
If the Knicks offer Lee, Curry, and the insured contract of Mobley for McGrady they might be able to get a deal done. However, the Rockets should add their 1st round pick for next year. This way the Rockets get a very good young player in Lee, about 7 million in savings, and a decent when in shape bigman to man the pivot until next year. The Knicks recieve a expiring contract and a former star player making a comeback and playing for a new deal. Many fans would hate this deal because of Lee being included, but I personally would like it.
I believe Jefferies will be traded by years end. Maybe he can be pakaged with Nate for K Thomas of the Kings this could work because I believe the Kings new coach likes to play uptempo and Natre would be perfect, and he helps the smalltown team bring in fans. It would be great to go into next year free agency with only our young core players under contract.

[kgooglog]

I think you're right, Merc. Once a team actually sees if Curry can play, he can be traded. Jeffries is a known entity. You sort of know what you're getting, but he can be packaged with Nate, to the Sacramento Kings, providing Nate is signed to the qualifying offer. In this time of economic trouble, Nate would be a box office draw--which is why I think he will be used in a deal to move one of these contracts. Also, Wizards guard Mike James makes the exact salary as Jeffries and the two can be traded even up. James is useless to Washington, but Jeffries would actually have a role as a key reserve on their team. Plus, Grunfeld's Knick connection and habit for making asinine trades is on our side! I would include Nate for the Wizards first round pick 2010--I can see that deal happening as well if and when Nates signs the qualifying offer. NY is looking at old man Stackhouse, but if we are looking at 2 guards, let's trade Jared Jeffries for one who is available like James. Insert Nate for the original qualifying offer and let's get the Wizards first rounder for 2010 or 2011.

I'm sure Walsh is scouring the NBA for expiring contracts like T-Macs, and honestly, if Eddy could actually play, I think Chicago may take a chance on him for Brad Miller's expiring deal. I don't think NY or Chicago has any use for Miller, other than cap relief for next year, and Chicago knows Curry. I wouldn't even ask for a draft pick if the Bulls would be willing to do a Brad Miller for Curry swap, since the benefits of the deal are clearly outlined.

Unfortunately, Philly has Elton Brand for 2 or 3 more years, and that is also another type of player Walsh would go after IF Brand only had another year left on his mammouth contract. I think that Curry plus another player for Brand would be sweet, but brand is locked up for another three years, I believe.

I am not worried that much about Jared Jeffries being put in a package with Nate. Eddy's big-ass contract is the one that givs me fits, but I do like that T-Mac deal, and if it takes David Lee to move Curry, than it is a necessary move.

I do think Houston is keeping a close watch on Eddy Curry. The Rockets GM purposely requested permission to see Curry in Vegas and this T-Mac for Curry/Mobley or adding Lee, which I also like and may be worth what would raise the hackles of many Knick fans who don't want to think about the master plan. I will be honest, Merc, and tell you that I wouldn't even care about Houston's first rounder next year, alhough Walsh would. If the ends justify the means, sending Curry, Lee, and the Mobley contract for T-Mac and the Rockets first round pick would be absolutely perfect, IMHO. It would also make Lee's departure worth it.

Despite McGrady's public statement about returning this year, I think one has to take T-Mac's words as a plea of some sort. This guy has to bust it out in physical rehab to either boost his trade value or to remain with Houston on a new contract, which he definitely won't be paid $20,000,000 a year. Mac is the highest paid NBA player in the NBA and NY's offering of Eddy Curry provides insurance for Yao Ming, Mobley's contract of $9.5 million dollars is 80% insured, and if Walsh sweetens the deal with David Lee signed to the one year qualifying deal of $2.7 million, I think the trade still wors under the CBA guidelines.

We must have as much cap space as necessary. I think Walsh will make it happen. Eddy needs to exhibit the ability to still be an effective pivot and if he accomplishes that, I think the Rockets would take a chance. This may also be tied into NY going after Stackhouse, for the Rockets may want Wilson Chandler and his cap friendly deal, too.

I'd hate to part with Chandler, but if NY can remove $12,000,000 in Curry's deal and $7,000,000 in Jeffries contract, Walsh will be able to get Lebron plus another elite FA in the summer of 2010.

I'm with you in terms of going into next season with Wilson, Gallo, J-Hill, Toney Douglas, Ramon Sessions, and possibly Darko Milicic (an FA after this season), if he shows that he can be a serviceable pivot or PF. Add the possibility of a former all-star player who certainly has an uphill battle ahead of him and a 2010 draft pick, and I like the notion of what NY would be doing. LeBron can step into just about any position on NY and if the Knicks can secure an additional elite FA to fill one of the power positions, we are talking of a contending team, IMHO.

[irish2u2]

Call me a contrarian but I sort of want to see what Eddy has got after losing weight and maybe gaining some much needed focus on his game and career. I'm not in such a hurry to shed contracts just to get Jerry Stackhouse. My personal belief is that Curry is more tradeable than Jefferies so if we can deal Jared at some point that is great.

BTW, I can swear I heard the Kings GM saying how much he did NOT want Nate at some juncture. The problem with trading Nate is that the market for him is diminutive. ; ) Like him. ; )

[kgooglog]

Aug 6, 2009 9:00:45 GMT -5 irish2u2 said:

Call me a contrarian but I sort of want to see what Eddy has got after losing weight and maybe gaining some much needed focus on his game and career. I'm not in such a hurry to shed contracts just to get Jerry Stackhouse. My personal belief is that Curry is more tradeable than Jefferies so if we can deal Jared at some point that is great.

BTW, I can swear I heard the Kings GM saying how much he did NOT want Nate at some juncture. The problem with trading Nate is that the market for him is diminutive. ; ) Like him. ; )

Bill...

Okay, you are a contrarian<smile>! I just finished reading a Post article about Walsh wanting to trade Jared Jeffries (who Berman feel can be moved) so that NY can offer the MLE deal to Ramon Sessions. I think that Jerry Stackhouse as well as my man, Von Wafer, are being auditioned as cheap one year reserve 2 guards who can spell Wilson Chandler. I do not believe Nate Robinson will even be inked to a contract, unless he is needed to complete a sign and trade with Jeffries. Walsh seems hell-bent at cutting all costs and Jeffries name does keep popping up.

While I want Eddy shipped off somewhere for cap reasons, I, too, am very interested in what he can bring to the table (no burgers or fries, please). I think that having a true pivot is a definite need for many teams, including NY. I think it was interesting that Saer Sene was cut--perhaps Eddy is showing that he may, in fact, be able to be an NBA player again.

If Curry can return to his pre-NY Knick days of offensive domination, than we have a center. If I had wings, I'd be a bird, or worse, a Charlotte Hornet, or whatever.

Nevertheless, the reality is that Eddy Curry has skills. Jared Jeffries doesn't. In fact, Walsh seems to like Curry and has mentioned him as being a contributing member of the team...