Read this Knick fans....Take that Alan Hahn...

The Knicks are headed in the right direction. Although I think Donnie Walsh is old school, I love the consistency the teams he control has. He seems like the type of President willing to listen to well thought out ideas.  Mike D’Antoni was a great hiring, and Mark Jackson or Patrick Ewing would have been a nice story to write, but Coach D’Antoni has won 60 games before. I am glad that we were unable to get J-Kidd.  He is a great player, but we don’t want the Knicks to stay an old team. We also don’t need New Jersey’s traded player. He showed Marbury who the better point guard was, after Marbury claimed he was, back in 2005. That’s a side point. I believe in Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, and even David Lee. We just need to surround these guys with players willing to do the thinking on the court, and be the leader. Sounds a lot like J-Kidd, it’s just that some players don’t need to be a Knick. Much like Penny Hardaway, or Glen Rice, a former great that was just a few years late. I like how the free agency market has opened up for the organization now and I the future.  

David Lee might just take the Qualifying Offer, and play in D’Antoni system again. With Jordan Hill on the court now, Lee will be able to guard players like Horford, Glen Davis, and Beasley on the block and u to 15ft out. Not Shaq, D-Howard, or even Brook Lopez, who play closer and bang a bit harder.  At the very least, he will have more help. Hill is not a defensive savior, but he makes the team substantially athletic down low.  It will be interesting to see if he can take his game up another step from last year. Although I think he has peaked, 19ppg and 10rebs are not out of reality. I was called delusional by Newsday, Knicks beat writer, Alan Hahn for suggesting that LaMarcus Aldridge could be a Knick. Portland can be convinced to do something with them. There have been rumblings of Travis Outlaw and Steve Blake. I would imagine that it would take more than that to trade for Lee, although the money seems about right. And Alan Hahn thinks the same way also. D-Lee seems to be stuck with the Knicks, just because of the economic climate, teams don’t want to be outbid by the Knicks and not one team has offered him a contract, and there are only a few teams that can.  

I look at Grant Hill as the professional leader the Knicks need. He can be the coach on the floor. D’Antoni system needs this. Steve Nash was so crucial for the Suns success and Grant Hill is no Steve Nash, but just as intelligent basketball wise. The need for Grant Hill is glaring, trading Q-Rich freed up minutes at the 2 and 3 spot. More importantly the two spot. Toney Douglass, Chandler, and Nate stand to benefit the most of course, and Gallo, assuming he’s healthy. The team is coming off a full season off a quick set, style offense of Mike D’Antoni, and they’ll be able to get defensive minded. Coach D’Antoni will want Nate to compete with J.R. Smith, Jason Terry, and Ben Gordon for 6^th Man in the league. They have paid attention to their lack of big men, the way The Mets addressed their bullpen issues. So, who do they rely on to score? Jared Jefferies, no, he’ll be moved soon. A top tier team will realized a need for all of his intangibles. 1^st round Draft pick in ’10 here we come. I need Eddy Curry to be resolved. Eddy Curry!!! He is still their, and we as outsiders aren’t sure if he even loves the game anymore. But Houston, I know you run a D’Antoni like offense, but Ariza does not score like Artest, and Yao is a major loss, but they can use some of the insurance money to pick up Eddy’s contract. All the Houston heat will do him good.  New York can convince Houston to deal T-Mac for Eddy Curry and Larry Hughes. Let’s make that happen.

Mr. Walsh has this team looking like a mirror image of the last year’s team. Harrington is Zach Randolph with more range and a willingness to play defense. Hughes is Crawford, with less explosiveness, but a better ability to show on D. But, he’s only better by a few buckets and heart. Hughes will guard Kobe, but Crawford won’t even look at him on defense. Kobe will torch both, but it’s the mindset of Hughes that makes him a bit better. He’ll score less, get less assists, but more rebounds, and show on D. They have made additions, and players are more seasoned in the league and D’Antoni’s system. Toney Douglass is a more athletic Collins, as far as minutes are concerned, he’s certain to see more.  

I just like what Donnie Walsh has brought forward for the NY basketball team, and I want them to keep recruiting new talent, and bring the best players in the league to suit up for Madison Square Garden. To accomplish that, it takes fiscal responsibility, and detailed research. It takes finding all the people that want to be a part of a blue collar organization and bring in the same mind set.

Grant Hill is that mind set. D-Lee is that mindset. Nate is an exciting player, and we can wait for him to get more and more mature. At the least, another year at a reasonable price for his skill set. Flip Murray, is a guy they need to take a look at as a 6^th man, if they don’t keep Nate. Right now, the club is decent. They are one great player from being dangerous. But, it has to be a great one. And, it’s a good thing there will be a bevy of them on the market next summer. Duhon, Hughes, Chandler, Harrington/Lee, and Hill as the starting five is solid. Gallo, Douglass, Nate, Darko, and Curry as relief, ready to bring the energy is a solid core too. Hopefully Curry can give them at least 25 good minutes.  D’Antoni has already shown that his rotation is only 8 players, 9 maximum. I want Patrick Ewing Jr., to get a jersey this year. The Knicks will have an interesting time again next year, bringing the fans through an emotional roller coaster, but we’ll all be there watching, waiting to see how they will get Lebron into the building.