On Tuesday, Tommy Dee from The Knicks Blog asked this question in regards to a Hoopsworld article discussing the possibility of moving Jared Jeffries before the trade deadline (2/19):
"Do the Knicks give up a young player in order to deal Jeffries for the chance to land two big free agents? That’s the million dollar question, if in fact, there are takers for Jeffries."
I entertained this possibility earlier in the season and stated that it was important for the Knicks to hold on to the younger players on this squad (in order to get rid of Jeffries, they will have to unload one of the younger talents on the team). The more stability the team had, the better the chances of attracting a marquee free agents to New York during the upcoming offseason.
During last night’s win against the Wizards, the Knicks displayed the passion and enthusiasm that had been absent in the last two games (two dreadful losses to Minnesota and Washington, who have a combined record of 27-70). On their way to a 106-85 victory, the team shot over 50 percent from the field, and dominated the boards 47-31.
A game like last night’s shows that the Knicks have the ability to shoot, rebound, defend and closeout opponents. David Lee, Nate Robinson, Al Harrington, Wilson Chandler––they are all solid players, particularly Lee who will likely see a huge increase in salary when he becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year. But the one obvious piece missing from the Knicks a superstar player that can push them over the threshold to compete night in and night out.
Right now, the team is full of talented role players. On their best night, they are a playoff-caliber squad. Now, only 4.5 games out of the final playoff spot, should the Knicks trade away key pieces that have helped in making them semi-competitive for the first time in years, at a potential shot of landing not only one, but possibly two superstars? With only nine days left before the deadline, Donnie Walsh has some extremely difficult decisions to make.
The obvious positive of trading away Jeffries for an expiring contract is it gives the Knicks greater flexibility to maneuver in the offseason. Since the salary cap for next year will likely be on the lower end (due to the bad economy), it makes securing cap space that much more essential. But, as stated in the Hoopsworld article:
"What team would be willing to pay Jefferies exorbitant 2010-2011 salary [$6.9 million] in order to obtain him? Would Walsh have to include rookie Toney Douglas, or even Jordan Hill, in a package with JJ in order to seal the deal?…"
Trading away one of the talented young players on the Knicks along with their best defensive player would be crippling to the team's playoff hopes. While the Knicks might not be playing as well as they were in December, this team still has a legitimate shot at making it into the postseason (particularly due to D’Antoni’s move to bench Chris Duhon for Nate Robinson). With only four players under contract for next season (not including Eddy Curry and Jared Jeffries, who both have player options on their contracts), getting rid of one them means the Knicks are going to have to go after another player to fill out the roster (a team must have a minimum of ten NBA players).
So, let's say the Knicks do trade away Jeffries and a younger player for an expiring contract. That leaves a guaranteed three players under contract for the Knicks next season, meaning the team will have to go after at least seven players to fill out the rest of the roster. With an estimated $30 million in cap space, the team could still go after a LeBron James and fill up the remaining spots with quality role players. While this sounds like a great idea, it presents two enormous problems.
Would someone like LeBron leave Cleveland to go somewhere like the Knicks, a team who are still in the process of filling out their squad with newly acquired talent (in otherwords, would New York present a better opportunity for LeBron to win a championship than Cleveland)? Obviously, if the Knicks were lucky enough to land LeBron, free agents would come flocking to New York. But therein lies the problem. There is going to be a mad scramble in the upcoming offseason for the marquee free agents. So what if it takes longer than expected to sign a LeBron or a Chris Bosh? Teams who are only interested in mid-level talent aren’t going to be waiting for the top-tier players to sign with other teams. Sure, Donnie Walsh doesn’t have to sign one player at a time. But one thing he can’t promise the mid-level players he needs to fill out this roster is a superstar coming to New York before he is able to sign them. This could leave the role players the Knicks are looking to fill out the squad hesitant on coming to a team with nobody on it to begin with. Why should they wait to see what the Knicks are going to do when they could go sign another contract with a more talented, or promising squad?
This team has an exceptional coach, and plenty of solid role players who can get this team into the playoffs this season. Walsh is already going to have a good chunk of cap space to work with this summer. With only two weeks left until the trade deadline (and only four players under contract next season), the Knicks should stand their ground, and keep what little talent they will have next season.
Comments
Is there any way the Knicks can get rid of Curry?
Curry just had knee surgery so the possibility of finding someone to take Curry off their hands is unlikely. Even without the surgery, they would have had to include a player like Gallinari or Chandler, neither of which Walsh is likely going to part with.
I say no way the Knicks should give up a young player to get rid of jefferies. First of all, as the author says, they need Jefferies defense if they are to have a chance at a playoff spot--and they will need as many homegrown young talents in place to attract free agents. The knicks have to show at least a little stability and a core. Also, they don't have to trade Jefferies now anyway. They can just wait until the seasons over when Jefferies expiring contract--as well as Curry's--will be more attractive, and the situations for prospective trade partners will be clearer and different than they are right now. So, te Knicks shouldn't make any trades right now, unless its to bring in a youngish superstar of some sort--and that's unlikely
You can't just say, 'a young player'. Do you mean douglas? Hill? Chandler or Gallinari? I'd have to let douglas go with jefferies to get a dead guy with an expiring contract, but if Hill is in it, I need to get back something better, and if chandler or gallo were in it, something better.
Anyone who has watched Jefferies this year can appreciate his talents, and also might appreciate that he would be even more effective on a team with more talent. He is tradeable, and I think straight up for a dead guy like Mike James, or Brian Cardinal.
Jeffries averages less than 5 points and 5 rebounds a game. He can't shoot, misses lay-ups and almost half his foul shots. It's like playing 4 on 5 on offense. His defense is also extremely overrated. I've seen people blow by him quite often and I don't consider his ability to draw charges a very desirable asset. Mike Breen and Clyde are partially responsible for propagating this nonsense. They can hype him all they want but the fact is that he doesn't even have the talent or skill level to play in the NBA. I'd gladly say "good riddance".
to get some good young players the knicks gotta trade some1 good along with a expiring contract...... i say they should trade darko along with douglas... ppl would want darko especially the rockets because just like the knicks the rockets have to use their pf as their C...... darko has pretty good defense and so does douglas...... i still think the knicks should have used darko as the starting C so david lee can play his real position.. knicks are always crying how small they r against the lakers and other teams... they had their chance and they lost it... all mikes fault!!!!!!!
do not trade the young talent along with jeffries. How about this hot shots?? TD, Chandler, Gallo, Lebron, Hill start if you have to, then you have curry and jeffries coming off the books and have the money for a top free agent in 2011. Chris Paul, Kevin Durant, NY's own Carmelo Anthony??? We've been patient for this long, wait a little longer. LBJ will be a knick next year regardless of who is in town. That means at least first round of the playoffs, most likely further depending on the young gun's development. You do not build a championship team in a year, unless you are Boston and want to suck 4.0 years later.
If you are not willing to package JJ with a bottom feeder such as Hill or a life time backup like Douglas will be plz don't call yourself a knicks fan bcuz a trade like that would be a nobrainer.. Hill is a joke we should have Brandon Jennings right now .. Donnie Walsh isn't a good GM so we prob won't make any pre-deadline moves anyway.. It should not be this hard to form a good NBA team in NY ..
Isiah continues to kill us. He used the Allan Houston Rule on Jerome Williams when we should be able to use it right now on Curry and we wouldnt have to worry about next years cap.
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