Keep Wilson Chandler

[kgooglog]

I don't put much stock into draft rumors, but if I read one more article on how the Knicks are discussing a "blockbuster deal with the Washington Wizards concerning trading Jared Jeffries, Larry Hughes, AND Wilson Chandler for Etan Thomas, Mike James, and the Wizards #5 draft pick" I will wretch.

This always has to happen two days before my favorite night of television. I am hereby imploring Donnie Walsh to forget this obsession with the Wiz' pick, and simply focus on Etan Thomas and Mike James for Jeffries and Hughes. If Washington doesn't give us their pick, who really cares? We lop off almost $7.5 million in caps space for the summer of 2010 if Jared packs his bags and heads back to Washington.

The Knicks must keep WC and forget about skinny, defense deficient PGs, who Walsh admittedly never watched work out "live". Marc Berman has no clue as to what he is saying, and Frank Isola is a close second. Unless New York moves up to the second slot, I am fine with the players who will be there at #8.

Wilson Chandler, and I will say it again, will be an all-star, if not a superstar player in this league. This kid, who just turned 22 years of age, has a career trajectory which is on par with many great NBA players.

To even part with Chandler for anyone not named Blake, is folly and the Knicks would pay for this transgression. There is no Michael Jordan in this draft, and after Griffin, I wouldn't trade Chandler for Thabeet, Rubio, Jonny Flynn, Stephen Curry, Dell Curry, or Eddy Curry. Tyreke Evans or Ty Lawson or this fellow, Hill, will be here for us and each is a fine pick for us.

Just do the Wizards deal, without Wilson, and NY would have had a successful evening.

[will1682]

I agree Ken. If Donnie can get Jared off the cap it would be a success period, draft picks or not.

[irish2u2]

I differ but with an all important caveat.

I would trade Larry Hughes, Jared Jefferies and Wilson Chandler for the Wizards Etan Thomas, Mike James and their #5 pick IF they include JaVale McGee.

This deal makes sense on a lot of different levels but before I go into that a simple reminder that the BEST trades always hurt. I love Wilson Chandler's game and he will only improve but we have to give up something besides players we don't really need in order to get what we want. Note my deal keeps our #8 pick which is a key reason for doing this trade.

POSITIVES

Cap relief. One of the keys to this trade is that we jettison the 2010 obligations to Jared Jefferies. That leaves us more money to fine tune that 2010 team.

Defense. In JaVale McGee and Etan Thomas we get two defensive centers. One is wildly athletic and a shotblocker and the other is tough, relentless and a lane plugger. One of our biggest issues last year was the freeway to our basket. With this trade we make that freeway a toll road.

Getting the #5 pick means we get Stephen Curry who is a perfect fit for this offense. If Curry is unavailable then maybe somebody else has slipped down be it Thabeet, Hill or even James Harden. We can then use our #8 pick to either get a PG we like, and several good ones will be available at #8, or fill another position of need. We all know the names of who might be at #8 but I'll toss them out anyways. Holiday, Flynn, Lawson, Jennings, DeRozan and maybe a surprise guy who slips from the upper reaches of the draft like maybe Tyreke Evans.

There is a chance maybe we parlay that #5 pick plus the Mobley contract (and hopefully not the #8 pick) into the #2 pick owned by Memphis. Take your pick here depending upon your perception but that gives us Thabeet, Harden, Hill or my favorite Ricky Rubio.

Other factors. Al Harrington and Quentin Richardson are adequate for our needs next year. If we are banking on LeBron then the small forward slot is his anyway and all we need is a swingman backup which is why I am hoping we get multiple picks in the draft and a shot at DeRozan who is the perfect type to play SG/SF.

There is also David Lee to consider. Perhaps trading Jefferies means we can keep Lee. Maybe it just means Lee is still in play but we are going to get value back for him and Nate (hopefully) which only adds to haul.

Our goal should be maximum expiring contracts in 2010 (both Thomas and James fit this criteria) along with a number of young, relatively cheap young players with promise.