Why NY Made This Deal

[George O'Brien]

Why would a team trade its best rebounder and defender for wing man with a medicocre shooting percentage? I know we have a tendency to assume that Isaah Thomas is an idiot, but this deal has a certain logic to it.

1. The Knicks were/are overloaded with power forwards.

Michael Sweetney
New York Knicks
Position: F
Height: 6-8 Weight: 270
College : Georgetown '04
Player file | Team stats

2004-05 Statistics
PPG 8.4
RPG 5.4
APG .6
SPG .35
BPG .36
FG% .531
FT% .749
3P% .000
MPG 19.6

Maurice Taylor
New York Knicks
Position: F
Height: 6-9 Weight: 255
College : Michigan '97
Player file | Team stats

2004-05 Statistics
PPG 7.3
RPG 4.0
APG 1.0
SPG .42
BPG .31
FG% .455
FT% .612
3P% .333
MPG 20.6

Malik Rose
New York Knicks
Position: F
Height: 6-7 Weight: 245
College : Drexel '96
Player file | Team stats

2004-05 Statistics
PPG 7.0
RPG 4.5
APG .8
SPG .61
BPG .21
FG% .449
FT% .737
3P% .100
MPG 19.4

Tim Thomas
New York Knicks
Position: F
Height: 6-10 Weight: 240
College : Villanova '97
Player file | Team stats

2004-05 Statistics
PPG 12.0
RPG 3.3
APG 1.5
SPG .58
BPG .24
FG% .439
FT% .786
3P% .409
MPG 27.3

Taylor and Tim Thomas are much more expensive than Kurt (and thus much harder to trade) and Malik Rose is overpriced for what he brings to the table. Isaah had to make a move and this was probably the best he could get.

2. The Knicks need another shooter guard.

It is widely expected that the Knicks will cut Alan Houston and Hardaway is no longer effective: 7.3 ppg, 42.3% shooting, and 30% for three.

Crawford gave them 17.7 ppg, but he is also their main point guard. Crawford is not an better shooter than Q, but Q is a much better rebounder and physical enough to become a decent defender.

3. The Knicks are projected to draft Frye. This is a team that has to do a lot of retooling and perhaps it makes sense to do it by developing a young center than to go with a veteran.

Conclusion, the Knicks needed to move one of their power forwards and are stockpiling draft picks. Richardson fills a need and will help the Knicks become younger and more athletic on the wing.

 

[Dan H]

Crawford gave them 17.7 ppg, but he is also their main point guard.

Did Steph get traded when I wasn't paying attention?

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

As far as I see it, here are the Knicks shooting guards under contract next season:

Crawford
Q
Houston
Penny
Marbury (like crawford, he is a shoot first PG - making him a SG for this comparison)

They are still paying Anderson as well.


Total Payroll on SGs - $70,866,000


5 out of 10 players under contract (not including Anderson) are shooting guards.


Try to make some sense out of that.....

 

[George O'Brien]

Did Steph get traded when I wasn't paying attention?

Mistyped. I meant their main backup; although moving Marbury to SG is not a totally unreasonable idea with Crawford at the point.

In any case, I think Houston is all but gone and I would not be shocked if Penny's contract was bought out. Penny is on the last year of his deal and he is not part of the Knicks future (or anyone elses for that matter ).

 

[sunsfn]

Kurt Thomas also had a blow-up with Marbury who supposedy is Isiahs pet player on the team, and they have been trying to trade him for some time now.

The 4 players that George mentions, are not as good as Kurt Thomas is right now, but as George said KT was the one that was easier to trade.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

In any case, I think Houston is all but gone and I would not be shocked if Penny's contract was bought out. Penny is on the last year of his deal and he is not part of the Knicks future (or anyone elses for that matter ).

I agree that they are going to be gone, but that doesn't change the fact that they are going to be spending apprx. 70 million on SGs next year. I can understand trading Kurt Thomas, but why in the world would they trade it for a streaky shooting 2 guard? They already have one of those in Crawford.

 

[sunsfn]

I agree that they are going to be gone, but that doesn't change the fact that they are going to be spending apprx. 70 million on SGs next year. I can understand trading Kurt Thomas, but why in the world would they trade it for a streaky shooting 2 guard? They already have one of those in Crawford.

If I remember right, there were a couple other teams that wanted to sign Crawford.
Chances are, Isiah is not done with his trading.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

If I remember right, there were a couple other teams that wanted to sign Crawford.
Chances are, Isiah is not done with his trading.

Possibly, but it was pretty clear for over a month that he was going to NY or staying in Chicago.


I agree Isiah isn't done, he is never done

 

[hcsilla]

If I remember right, there were a couple other teams that wanted to sign Crawford.

I can't remember any of them.

 

[asudevil83]

the knicks are a team FULL of SG's and PF's, most of which are undersized.

Sweetney - 6'8
Rose - 6'7
Taylor - 6'9
Williams - 6'9

their TALLEST guy is Tim Thomas at 6'10, who is a HORRID rebounder for his size.

Marbury
Crawford
Hardaway
Richardson
Houston
Ariza

NY is hyping this team up to be decent next year.....and that Isiah is doing a good job now. they've got a $100mil payroll, and are hoping to be .500 next season.

they've stockpiled two first round draft picks in each draft for the next 3 years......but at a cost of MILLIONS of dollars in contracts and dissappointing seasons.

there is absolutely no reason for a $100mil team to not make the playoffs....but knicks fans are just happy that this team MIGHT do so next season.