Brian Cronin: What do you think this means in regards to Rudy Fernandez? Does this make it less likely for him to be dealt?  

I don’t know… It seems a little dubious whether they deal him this season at this point (at least straight up, maybe in a package), but they still have good backcourt depth even if they do deal him. Hard to get a good return on a guy who has publicly stated he wants out of the NBA immediately…

iserp: I am surprised NO gave a 1st that may go quite high (10-18 by most predictions) for Bayless. It seems they’re trying too hard to get a team ready now for CP3, and it is going to hurt them in the long term. I mean, they still have two years till CP3 leaves, and that pick gave them flexibility for trades involving Peja’s expiring, or they might draft a talented player.  

Monty Williams coached Bayless in Portland, so it’s not like they were taking a shot in the dark. It was a risky move for NO, but Bayless is only 22 and might be as good as whoever they were going to draft anyway (not only because he’s solid with more potential, but this should be a freshman heavy draft and getting a 19 year old might mean waiting a few years NO doesn’t have… like Portland has with Bayless). Even when CP3 missed the season they only had the 11 pick, so projecting anything lower than that is pessimistic. Bayless himself was an 11 pick.
He means that they won’t have to rely on Willie Green and Mustafa Shakur, though he replicates a lot of what Marcus Thornton does. He might also allow CP3 to rest more. Bayless is likely to blossom into a strong rotation player and could help a team one year (and one injured future HOFer) removed from back-to-back 50 win seasons get back to the playoffs. So while it’s a risky move, I can see why NO is optimistic (both about their chances and about Bayless) enough to make this move and bump Willie Green out of their rotation… because Willie Green probably costs you a few wins.

Great deal for Portland, though, considering they weren’t going to play the guy anyway.

Doug Chu: Skankees! Now that one was a doozy! The MLB.com discussion boards would have also accepted “Stankees”, “Yank-mees,” or “Bankees.” Does that mean you root for games to go into extra innings, like in those Buffalo Wild Wings commercials? :)  (Quote)

Not here to impress you. Just hate the Yankers so much it spill over into just about everything else I do.

What do you think this means in regards to Rudy Fernandez? Does this make it less likely for him to be dealt?

Thomas B.: MLB fan minus the Skankees.  

Skankees! Now that one was a doozy! The MLB.com discussion boards would have also accepted “Stankees”, “Yank-mees,” or “Bankees.”

Does that mean you root for games to go into extra innings, like in those Buffalo Wild Wings commercials? :)

ess-dog: I can’t believe that either Toney or Landry will be starting for the Knicks this year!

Has D’Antoni said that? What I’ve read is that it’s still up in the air, but not that WC WILL NOT be starting. Wilson Chandler has started every game he’s played in this preseason, and been treated like a starter/big minute guy. I guess it depends on how Anthony Randolph does–overall, in the frontcourt, and on perimeter D–and also how Fields does but I still figure WC is their wing stopper when they really need one.

http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/knicksblog/no_guarantee_chandler_starts_for_AFqx6kmj0Zg2Q72jOoudEO

Z: Mike– great work. Your opening paragraph is one of the best pieces of sports writing I’ve read in a while. Perfectly put.  

Thanks.

Z: @19– I’m surprised Real GM would link up anything citing Bleacher Report as a source. The author of that piece is “Hardcourt Mayhem”. Bleacher Report is basically the Onion, only without any jokes.  

If given the option between the two, I would more likely trust the Onion as a source.