Suns Cash In a Lopsided Deal
By Greg Logan
STAFF WRITER
February 1, 2004
As great as the Knicks' trade for Stephon Marbury was from the standpoint of public relations and immediate impact, it has to rank among the most lopsided deals in NBA history in terms of the financial obligation the Knicks took on and what they gave up in the way of young players and draft picks.
Phoenix got out from under an extra $100 million in long-term debt, avoided another $5 million in luxury tax this season, pocketed $3 million in cash from the Knicks, gained the rights to young Europeans Maciej Lampe and Milos Vujanic, and picked off the Knicks' first-round draft choice this season and a conditional future first-round pick.
As one Eastern Conference general manager recently said of the deal crafted by new Knicks president Isiah Thomas, "They gave up too much. Phoenix saved a lot of money. The Knicks didn't have to give up the draft pick or so many young players, too."
Swapping the contracts of Marbury and Antonio McDyess was a great exchange for the Knicks because McDyess is on the injured list trying to strengthen his left leg after three operations in two seasons. But Lampe is on the Suns' active roster, and he predicted last night the deal will backfire when he and Vujanic blossom.
"I think it will," Lampe said. "It's just a matter of time."
When Thomas replaced Scott Layden as Knicks president, he immediately questioned Lampe's work ethic, but Suns coach Mike D'Antoni, who has coached in Europe, has taken a different approach to the Polish power forward.
"The coaches here are great," Lampe said. "I love it here, working with them. They talk to me a lot more. I feel like I'm more a part of this team than I was in New York.
"I talked a lot to coach D'Antoni, and he told me I'm going to keep playing little by little this season. I could start or play next year. I want to be in the rotation, so it's up to me to prove I can do it."
McDyess also said it was good for him to get away from the pressure he felt in New York to save the Knicks after missing all but 10 games the previous two seasons.
"I was kind of disappointed they gave up on me so soon," McDyess said. "I did enjoy the time I was here, but I think it was good for me to get away from the pressure."
He's working to strengthen his left leg in the hope of playing after the All-Star break. Looking back, McDyess felt his comeback with the Knicks was rushed when his playing time zoomed from 13 minutes in the first game to 31 in his seventh game, reaching a high of 37 in his 11th game.
"My minutes skyrocketed real quick," McDyess said.
Asked if Knicks officials such as Layden and coach Don Chaney panicked because of the need to start winning, McDyess said, "I could say that. Probably everyone did, even myself. I think Don was excited, and I was excited. You get overanxious."
http://www.newsday.com/sports/baske...,0,2727317.story?coll=ny-basketball-headlines
By Greg Logan
STAFF WRITER
February 1, 2004
As great as the Knicks' trade for Stephon Marbury was from the standpoint of public relations and immediate impact, it has to rank among the most lopsided deals in NBA history in terms of the financial obligation the Knicks took on and what they gave up in the way of young players and draft picks.
Phoenix got out from under an extra $100 million in long-term debt, avoided another $5 million in luxury tax this season, pocketed $3 million in cash from the Knicks, gained the rights to young Europeans Maciej Lampe and Milos Vujanic, and picked off the Knicks' first-round draft choice this season and a conditional future first-round pick.
As one Eastern Conference general manager recently said of the deal crafted by new Knicks president Isiah Thomas, "They gave up too much. Phoenix saved a lot of money. The Knicks didn't have to give up the draft pick or so many young players, too."
Swapping the contracts of Marbury and Antonio McDyess was a great exchange for the Knicks because McDyess is on the injured list trying to strengthen his left leg after three operations in two seasons. But Lampe is on the Suns' active roster, and he predicted last night the deal will backfire when he and Vujanic blossom.
"I think it will," Lampe said. "It's just a matter of time."
When Thomas replaced Scott Layden as Knicks president, he immediately questioned Lampe's work ethic, but Suns coach Mike D'Antoni, who has coached in Europe, has taken a different approach to the Polish power forward.
"The coaches here are great," Lampe said. "I love it here, working with them. They talk to me a lot more. I feel like I'm more a part of this team than I was in New York.
"I talked a lot to coach D'Antoni, and he told me I'm going to keep playing little by little this season. I could start or play next year. I want to be in the rotation, so it's up to me to prove I can do it."
McDyess also said it was good for him to get away from the pressure he felt in New York to save the Knicks after missing all but 10 games the previous two seasons.
"I was kind of disappointed they gave up on me so soon," McDyess said. "I did enjoy the time I was here, but I think it was good for me to get away from the pressure."
He's working to strengthen his left leg in the hope of playing after the All-Star break. Looking back, McDyess felt his comeback with the Knicks was rushed when his playing time zoomed from 13 minutes in the first game to 31 in his seventh game, reaching a high of 37 in his 11th game.
"My minutes skyrocketed real quick," McDyess said.
Asked if Knicks officials such as Layden and coach Don Chaney panicked because of the need to start winning, McDyess said, "I could say that. Probably everyone did, even myself. I think Don was excited, and I was excited. You get overanxious."
http://www.newsday.com/sports/baske...,0,2727317.story?coll=ny-basketball-headlines
