I do not mean to spam, I think this can actually make for good discussion.
Here's the article I wrote on my blog (feel free to check that out too) any feedback on that article itself would be great thanks
myrandomsportsblog.blogspot.com
"Although the New York Knicks have been a disaster since they traded Patrick Ewing in 2000-2001, I see a glimmer of hope. Now that Isiah Thomas is fired and Donnie Walsh is hired, I can see the Knicks contending for the playoffs in a few seasons.
Here are the top 10 things that I think the Knicks must do to have long term success:
10. Trade Zach Randolph and/or Eddy Curry this year.
Although both have to go, one must go this year. Both characterize what’s been wrong the past few years under the Isiah Thomas regime: laziness, no defense, overpaid athletes, selfishness, and a non-winning mentality. These two players do not compliment each other in the post and are toxic in the locker room. One must go either before the season or at the deadline for a shorter contract so that we can begin to rebuild. We cannot successfully rebuild with one of these players on our roster this year or next. One of their holes can be filled through this draft.
9. Do not trade Stephon Marbury for very long contracts.
Marbury has been a disaster in New York. But there will be teams looking for that 20 mill expiring, and we must capitalize on that. Although I wouldn’t do a deal with a player going past 2010, if we can get a talented younger player and contract with one more year, we have to do it. Stephon cannot be on the starting roster next year under any circumstances, and if a buy-out is the only option, it must be done.
8. Get good value for Jamal Crawford.
Crawford is someone who will be traded. I can guarantee that. He has the most talent and leadership on this Knicks’ roster, and has spurts where he looks like an all-star. But for the Knicks the main problem is his contract. Since his contract does not expire until 2010/11, he must pack his bags. For Jamal, I’d like to get a shorter contract, but at the same time someone talented. Maybe someone like a Chris Wilcox (expires 2008/2009), Long Island’s Wally Szczerbiak (expires 2008/2009) who would also come with a pick, or even Josh Howard (team option 2010/2011).
7. Stay committed to rebuilding.
We must resist trading for a talented player with a long contract. We have to be dedicated to rebuilding and nothing more. The sooner the contracts run out and the young players develop the better. This means no trades for Michael Redd, Vince Carter, Tayshaun Prince, Ron Artest, Chuncey Billups, or Jermaine O’Neal. We must think like a small-market team in baseball: focus on developing homegrown talent for a few years, and once they develop, sign or trade for a player to go over the top.
6. Create a new culture in the locker room.
The culture in the locker room right now accepts failure, laziness, and selfishness. This must stop as soon as possible. Walsh must root out the bad seeds and go after players in the draft and free agents (veterans with short contracts) who only accept winning and an energetic “team first, me last†mentality. Once this gets to be routine and the younger players have a standard to look up to, then they will be able to continue and develop the same type of play. Right now, outside of David Lee, Jamal Crawford, and Nate Robinson, no one else has that mentality.
5. Don’t draft a point guard in this year’s draft/trade for a stop-gap.
Outside of Derrick Rose, I am completely unimpressed with the point guards in this draft. D.J. Augustin is undersized and streaky, along with average defense and a questionable shot selection. Jerryd Bayless is a tweener, who cannot make his teammates better, too ball dominant, and a question defensively. To neither of these guys do I want to give the keys to the franchise. They do not have star potential, and are simply not that good. Russell Westbrook did not even start consistently at UCLA at the point guard position. Although a beast defensively with some talent unscratched during his college career, I don’t think he’s worth the risk. He gives me the “Rajon Rondo†type vibe; I’m a fan of Rondo, but not a “Top 10 pick†fan of Rajon Rondo.
On the other hand, next year’s point guard class is astonishing: Ricky Rubio, Brandon Jennings, Nick Calathes, and even Ty Lawson. There’s no point in handcuffing ourselves, when we can do much better. The first three guys can be the engine D’ntoni needs for the fast break offense as soon as they step foot on the court.
For next year, I still don’t want to see Stephon Marbury/Jamal Crawford/Nate Robinson as our starting point guard. I believe we should swing a deal with Memphis to get Kyle Lowry. I would not deal Wilson Chandler, David Lee, or Nate Robinson or any first round picks, but everyone else is expendable.
4. Establish a core/Give them playing time.
The New York coaching staff and front office must be on the same page and determine the potential core of the Knicks. This means that the coaching staff and front offices will not be involved in outside politics, and they would be willing to start their rookie, 2nd year player Wilson Chandler, and have no hesitance in giving major minutes to both David Lee and Nate Robinson. Now, I’m not saying this should be our core, but if it will be, they need minutes. This means no more huge minutes for Quentin Richardson and Zach Randolph.
3. Get another first round pick in 2008/Draft a star in the 2009 draft.
The 2008 draft is below average. Outside of Michael Beasley, Derrick Rose, and Kevin Love, it is a crapshoot. There are a lot of high potential young big men, and a lot of future busts at the guard position. This means unless one of them drops, we should trade down. Then we should pick one player who fits the high potential mold, and someone who is somewhat of a sure thing. A deal with New Jersey would be ideal (#6 for #10 and #21) or the rumored deal with the Grizzles (Lee, and Rose for #5 and Cardinal) is even better (if NYK can somehow include Balkman, and we get Lowry it’d be even better).
With all this said, the star we build around must come from the 2009 draft. The 2009 draft is absolutely loaded and we must capitalize. Some of the stars in this draft will be Demar DeRozan, Brandon Jennings, BJ Mullin (the jokes will be galore), Ricky Rubio, and Blake Griffin. After that, there are also very good prospects like Tyreke Evans, Hasheem Thabeet, James Harden, Patrick Patterson, and Al-Farouq Aminu. If we miss in that draft, we are in major trouble.
2. Trade Quentin Richardson/Jared Jefferies/Eddy Curry/Zach Randolph for shorter contracts.
Shedding the disastrous contracts the Knicks possess is a must. It will be tough, but I do think it is doable. Eddy Curry is still a young center that does have skill, but no desire. Throughout the NBA, there are coaches who think they can bring out his potential. Zach Randolph is a legitimate 20/10 guy, but he doesn’t do it the right way. He chucks his way to 20 points, and although he may average 10 rebounds, his defense is flat out disgraceful. I am confident, however, that a team will be desperate for a 2nd option on offense and trade for him. Maybe the rumored deal between the Knicks and Pistons happens: Zach Randolph, 6th pick for Rasheed Wallace, Jason Maxiell, and the 29th pick. I’d like this deal, but I’d be a lot more satisfied if the Memphis deal falls through first.
Jared Jefferies’s contract will be the 2nd toughest to trade, but because of his versatility and desire to play defense, he can be seen as a valuable role player on a winning team. Quentin Richardson will be the toughest to deal. He is fragile, horrible on offense, and only ok on defense. I feel we are stuck with Quentin and Jerome (I can’t even write about him, he never plays), but the rest can be dealt in the future. We cannot expect this all to happen at once, only gradually.
1. Accept losing.
This is somewhat of a contraction. While I say above that we need a culture change where winning is demanded, at the same time I am saying we should accept losing. Trust me, this does make sense. I want our team to hustle, and our young players to play, but at the same time I want us to lose. The worst part of this season was the mini-winning streak in the middle of April. If we had won just one out of three, instead of the three games we would have been a lock for a Top 4 pick. Instead, we are at number six, a slot where no impact player can be guaranteed.
There are two types of losing: an inconsistent team that quits during the game, or an energetic young up-and-coming team that simply does not have it yet. Last year, we were a mix of both; next year I want to be the second type of losing team. I want our guys to hustle hard and learn D’ntoni’s system; I want to see spurts of all-star-like play and see improvement in the young guys. We should not be a team with a winning percentage, or a little below .500, or even above .275. This season should be viewed as a learning lesson for our young guys. Teach them the game and we will help the team for the future. We cannot insist on winning games, and being stuck with a pick around 7-10, we must be in the Top 5, preferably Top 3, no matter at what cost.
I hope you enjoyed, and have some hope after reading this.
Dylan"