He played a very controlled style of basketball under Brown and flourished but look at how many of his teammates complained about that same style under which he flourished and which most considered to be good basketball.

He is erratic at times but its really hard to gauge is it him or the team because nothing is done consistently by anyone on the team to really be able to single out who isnt showing up every night.

What stands out to me about all of the analysis of Crawford is how so many people question why he has such a large role instead of asking themselves where are the players that they believe should because while Crawford may not show up every game these alternatives never show up at all.

If I was the Knicks, I would trade Frye and Crawford for Wallace. I defer to you, as you seem like someone much more in tune with the Piston’s franchise than I. Dumars seems like a competent GM who will only make moves if it benefits his team. That said, I still don’t think they would do it. I think Crawford, if he executes his player’s option (which his agent surely will), has a contract that runs two or three years longer than Rasheeds at pretty much the same price, and at a less productive value. Frye would only further complicate the Piston front court, unless they had another deal lined up.

As for Robinson, I don’t want to be size-ist, but I don’t see him starting in the league, only because of his size (I know he has a tremendous vertical leap, rebounds better than guards almost a foot taller (i.e. Allan Houston et al…) and has guts and flair and is made of solid rock), but pretty much every player in the modern era under 6 foot has been a back-up point guard or has played on a team that isn’t very good.

Crawford, if the Knicks keep him, is not only a valid starter (if the Knicks keep him), but he could also start on a winner IF he tweaks his game is some very minor ways.

I’m affraid the Knick’s goal, as it has been the last 3+ seasons, has been to get into the playoffs and make as much noise as possible once there. They have come up remarkably short each time, and even if next year they succeed, they are still at least 2 years from the finals, pending their moves from here on out. Their salary situation improves a lot in two years. I think any move they make should be geared toward ’09.

Obviously, the acquisition of Francis, the lack of progress of Crawford, and the ambiguous progression of Curry (see next Monday…) have muddled the Knicks REBUILDING PROCESS. Since those deals are done, all we can do, as fans, is looks ahead to what the future holds.

The NBA champ next year will likely come from the West. Dallas willl have something to prove. San Antonio will be the same team that dominated the playoffs. Phoenix will have a chip on its shoulder.

It does appear Detroit can, and probably should, give up Rasheed this summer. But isn’t there anybody else who would put up a better package (Dallas, Miami, Indiana, Orlando, etc…)? If the Knicks were to gut their team for Kobe or Garnett, that would make sense from an economic standpoint (like A-Rod coming to the Yankees, it’s a no-brainer, despite the toll it would take on other facets of the team, such as actually winning ball games…). But Rasheed would simply be a pawn in convincing Knick fans they are committed to winning more games, despite the actual amount of winning they do.

Basically, I see Crawford (and others) for Lewis happening (pending Lenny W.) before I see Rasheed. Maybe I’d RATHER see Rasheed, but maybe not. Only time will tell. If neither happen. then I’d like to see Crawford start and be great. I know it’s a lot. But, being a Knick fan the past seven years, I prefer to remain optimistic…

re: Detroit, I don’t see Crawford replacing Billups or Hamilton – he’d be replacing Carlos Delfino and Lindsey Hunter as the 3rd guard. Frye and the pick would give them two young guys with potential. Detroit has about 6 solid frontcourt guys (McDyess, Webber and Mohammed and Joe D. has ordered more playing time for Maxiell, plus Amir Johnson who was burning up the D-league)…. so they could afford to give up Rasheed. It’d be a calculated risk – he’s getting on people’s nerves, and getting older, but still a very good player.

That said, it might be a trade that would work for both teams.

It seems Crawford has more value in Seattle, where he is a local hero (along with Nate). But again, Crawford has a long term deal which nets him more than his apparent on-court value would dictate. Adding Frye would off-set Crawford’s negatives, but I’m not sure if Detroit is reralistic (unless Rasheed is such a head case that they are despeate to unload him, in which case, do the Knicks really want him?…).

As for the statistical wash between Nate and Jamal, I suppose you make a good point; however, I feel safer with Crawford in the game than Robinson. Both are erratic and flawed. Crawford seems to be a more intellectual person and his games SEEMS to have a bit more savvy, so I find it easier to root for him, so I guess I’d just rather have him on the court.

In discussing trade value though, Nate may as well be mentioned here too, because although their productivity is pretty even, Nate is a circus act on the court, and fans love a circus act. To trade him for superior talent is easier to justify to another teams fan’s because of his highlight-style play.

His contracts doesn’t match up as well with the superior talent that’s available though, making for a very complex trading season…

On another note, how much better would the Knicks be if they just gave all of Crawford’s minutes to Nate Robinson? You’d get a TS of 55% (vs. 51% for JC), 39% on 3-pointers instead of 34%, fewer assists but only a slightly worse A/To ratio, and much better rebounder. Not much D either way, but if you account for Nate’s lack of experience, there’s more hope for him to improve -he’s plenty strong and quick.

We tend to think of Nate as a PG because of his size, but he’s a straight-up shooting guard, doing basically the same things as Crawford, but better. Not to mention he’s four years younger at 1/8 the salary.

Like Channing Frye, JC is expendable and might have some trade value… for example, offering both those guys and the #23 pick for Rasheed Wallace (or anyone else in the $10-12 million salary range).

Thats the enigma with this guy; he does nearly everything that you would want out of a guy to completely hate him. Yeh, he cant play D and he has terrible shot selection, but as soon as you are completely sold on him, he makes a big play or hits a game winning shot. He seems to be a competitor and will bleed orange and blue, but then he contradicts that thought after throwing up a stupid circus shot instead of passing to open Q in the corner. I just do not get this guy, kind of like I did for Starks. Everything was feast or famine, but now that I look back at watching him throughout my childhood, I wish we had more guys with heart and courage like he had. And if we trade Craw for a safe player say like a Desmond Mason type player who is a consistent scorer, but the ceiling of potential is not as high and last minutes heroics are not on his resume, I might have the same feeling for Craw like I do now with Starks. That is why the guy is such a risk to keep or get rid of. Just can not tell ya.