Rafer Alston wants to play for New York

[jbnewyork162]

www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/61779/20090926/source_alston_wants_to_play_for_heat_knicks/



Apparently, he doesnt see himself even playing for the Nets THIS season as he has to come up behind Harris and Dooling in the depth chart.

He has a 5.25 mil expiring contract which is basically dollar for dollar what Duhon has. Orlando played better with Alston while he was starter and he has better range than Duhon does in speed and court vision.

If New Jersey doesnt want a problem player on their hands I'd say it wouldnt hurt to look at a Duhon for Alston swap for expiring contracts and our bid to make the playoffs enhanced. The Nets want the highest lotto anyway so downgrading to Duhon might solve some woes anyway.

I'd do it but as Sephen Jackson realizes teams dont respond well to trade demands. So we'll see.

-Jason

[kgooglog]

I'd do this deal in a heartbeat. Acquiring Rafer Alston and letting him be Rafer Alston, as the article says, would be an enormous upgrade to our team, and Chris Duhon would be a perfect third-string PG for the Nets. I am certain that Donnie Walsh is in touch with the Secaucas office, on this possibility. Hey, if you have an unhappy player, let him go. Too bad the Pets don't want Jared Jeffries, or maybe they do?

"Skip to my Lou" is 10 times better than Duhon. NY would make the playoffs if Donnie can dangle a carrot...

[greatgates]

I like Skip alot; (a whole whole lot) but I don't see him as being that much better than Duhon. What am I missing?

[jbnewyork162]

Gates he is quicker, a good passer sorta like Duhon is, he is more proficient than Duhon with three point range and has also a better 2pt range avg.

The Magic played better with Rafer than Nelson coming back and ruining the chemistry in the finals, and he played very well with Houston as well.

He was on a miami Heat playoff team in the past and he is a NY native without any baggage and is durable .

Duhon is not that quick nor is he a floor general and doesnt show much verbal leadership as a point guard unlike Skip to my lou who led the Magic and got D Howard and Turk the ball where Jameer hogged the ball and didnt lead, at least in the finals, to anywhere close to the title.

Though we dont always like to trade with New Jersey I dont see why we wouldn't look at this if the Nets were not willing to have a disgruntled player on their hands. Rafer is more a D'antoni player than Duhon is IMO. Just like Rafer better.

-Jason

[ironman95]

Now the Warriors say they will try and accomodate Stephen Jackson, so theoretically we could have Jackson and Alston, boy would that change the team.

[jbnewyork162]

See though Iron, any Golden state deal would require we offer players that the Warriors wouldnt want. Jackson makes what Curry does so unless they took Curry I wouldnt see why we'd do a deal.

But Jerz only has to take Duhon who makes equal what Rafer does and get someone who would be content to be behind Harris and Dooling in the process.

So only if Thorn and Kiki dont try to ask for our core and just want Duhon and maybe one of the camp invites, then thats the most likely deal to be made.


-Jason

[neilverson]

Duhon wasn't happy playing small minutes in Chicago. Why would he be happy 3rd string in the arm pit of America? Also, I think Duhon is better than Dooling. Keyon is more explosive, they're about even on Defense and ball handling. Dooling never lived up to his potential when he got drafted by the Clips. I'd rather have Duhon. Better passer, less turnovers.

[kgooglog]

I want Rafer for the exact reasons Jason outlines. This is a deal that, if presented, Donnie would do in a heartbeat. I don't think Walsh or Mike D'Antoni are so enamored with Chris Duhon, although he can suffice until LeBron comes here in July. Plus, the contracts are expiring so there is no real downside to acquiring Alston, who is play-off tested and is frankly, better than anyone we have at PG, IMHO.

That's another reason why I believe that Walsh didn't add any PGs this year, except for Toney Douglas, who will see a lot of minutes, unless Mike elects to try Nate out in the 1 position. If our offense is going to go through King James, the glaring need for a solid PG becomes less of a problem. I am "okay" with Duhon/Douglas/Nate right now, but we all know that this is a band-aid line-up. Yet, as Iron pointed out in another post, Nate is really a 5'8 SF, which is pretty exciting but not as conducive to a winning team...

Duhon had better be in better condition so he can play as he did during the first half of last season. He does have the ability, but if he doesn't stop partying so much, I see Nate and Douglas eventually playing the prime-time minutes. Like last year, and that really hurt the Knicks in those games lost by 3 points or less.