Comments on: New York Ponders Point Guards

By: jon abbey

jon abbey — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:27:09 +0000

“If he wants to come to NBA then he’s got to go through Minnesota. ”

this isn’t true. if he sits out a year (meaning if he doesn’t play in Europe either), he is allowed to reenter the draft and Minnesota would lose his rights.

By: Caleb

Caleb — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:59:54 +0000

Yeah, Kahn sounds like he’s ready to wait Rubio out. In which case he probably does come to Minnesota. Or else Kahn is just a good poker player. His coaching search is ridiculous but I don’t know why he’s taking crap over the PG situation.

If I had to guess, in two years it’s more likely that Rubio is a T-Wolf, than Flynn.

By: Ted Nelson

Ted Nelson — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:54:35 +0000

“By the way, it’s kind of weird how all the Rubio trade rumors have died down even while most of the available evidence points to him never coming to Minnesota.”

FC Barcelona is negotiating to keep him in Spain this season. So the acquiring NBA team would be looking for a discount (maybe a steep one depending on if/how his contract is restructured with Barca). Minnesota was already unsatisfied with the offers when it was unclear whether Rubio was coming for 2009/10, if he’s not coming this season I don’t see who trades for him.

I don’t think all available evidence points to Rubio never coming to Minnesota. If he wants to be an elite player and/or max out financially then he’s got to come to the NBA. If he wants to come to NBA then he’s got to go through Minnesota. Maybe Minnesota ends up trading his rights, but for Rubio to never come to Minnesota he’s got to be motivated by neither money nor basketball.

By: Dan Panorama

Dan Panorama — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:43:43 +0000

By the way, it’s kind of weird how all the Rubio trade rumors have died down even while most of the available evidence points to him never coming to Minnesota.

By: ess-dog

ess-dog — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:22:41 +0000

Speaking of the Sessions negotiations, I wonder how much advanced statistics come into play? I can’t imagine Chubby is saying things like “Did you see Ramon’s dunk on Bosh on October 31st? You gotta pay him that extra million!” But I wonder how much PER for instance is a chip that is played.
Ramon’s PER is roughly 18 while Duhon’s is around 11. So Ramon should at least get the midlevel like Duhon did, right? But Duhon’s eFG and TS% are substantially higher than Sessions, so maybe he deserves less than Duhon at this point in his career…
I would have to think it’s the job of the GM owner to find and spin these statistics in their favor during negotiations (not to mention, use them to locate the talent in the first place…)

By: ess-dog

ess-dog — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:44:56 +0000

Well it looks like Roy and Joe Johnson are working on extensions, limiting our options even further. We really have to hope Gallo becomes a legit borderline all-star.
You have to maximize each roster spot, just to get good enough to lure any free agent at this point. I also think we should consider a plan of one FA in’10 and one in ’11, because of curry’s expiring. Sessions, Chandler, Gallo, Hill and maybe Lee and Nate could be as good a core as Cleveland’s or Miamis by ’10, better by ’11.
This plan is sound. If Lee is a casuality because of it, so be it. It’s the only way we’ll win anything.
That being said, I think Sessions is worth the risk for the midlevel. His potential would be higher than any current knick save Gallo. Even for 5 years it’s worth it.

By: Ted Nelson

Ted Nelson — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 03:55:26 +0000

iserp,

“The positive outcome is that Manu + Lee could do the trick to lure a max FA; and Manu is a great player.”

Good point. It’s possible, even if he doesn’t help get a LeBron/Wade as you say he’s a great player (when healthy).
I guess I misunderstood your original point. I was just saying why he’s not mentioned in the same breath as the big three.

“and the Spurs are likely to start rebuilding; so it may be easy to get him.”

This I don’t know about. The Spurs look like a serious contender this season. They look to be right up against the cap for 2010/11 (depending on where it is) even without Manu, so they’re not going to be able to immediately replace him. I’d say they might sign him to a short-term deal. So to get him either he may have to be injured all season or you have to “overpay.”

“Two max FAs can attract each other, but i don’t think it would be easy.”

Definitely won’t be easy. It’s a sales job for the team that tries to do it. The Knicks would be selling NYC and you’re selling Walshtoni’s ability to run a great organization around two elite players in their mid-20s.

As far as sign-and-trades, one big factor to consider is that a free agent can sign a one year longer deal with larger raises between seasons to stay with his old team. A sign-and-trade allows for a larger, longer max deal, obviously an incentive for the player. The old team has to be convinced he’s leaving either way (or want him to leave), and if that’s the case then they’re getting something in return. Plus if the Knicks are under the cap they don’t have to send back equal salary. It’s tricky, but it could work. Worst case you keep the assets you’re trying to use in the deal.

TDM,

Nate and Lee don’t seem to have much recourse at this point.
Who knows what “slightly less” means (probably not whoever wrote the article), but Walsh obviously thinks it’s significant for some reason.
For example, every dollar less he gives to Sessions could be an extra dollar he offers Lee and/or Nate, or he may have run the numbers and decided he can’t afford a cent more and still accomplish his 2010 goals…

By: iserp

iserp — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:57:39 +0000

“to have negotiations, last forever”
to have negotiations that last forever

By: iserp

iserp — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:55:40 +0000

Two max FAs can attract each other, but i don’t think it would be easy. Without anybody else on the team, they would be still wary, specially if they are already in contender teams. Bosh + Wade could be a possibility, because I think Miami is going nowhere in the playoffs, and Toronto has Bosh replacement in Bargagni, so they might not try hard to convince Bosh to stay. But they would have less risky options (Cleveland will have space to sign Bosh, won’t they?).

Any deal with 2 max FAs that involves a S&T is likely to have negotiations, last forever and may not be succesful. And I don’t see this guys taking chances with other good possibilities at hand.

So I believe it is more reallistic to keep assets to sign one max FA, and then, seeing how Lee/Gallinari/Chandler develops, we would be title contenders, or just a good playoff team.

By: TDM

TDM — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:45:04 +0000

Ted -

I totally agree that the Knicks should hold out for the best deal possible.

However, the Newsday piece indicated that Walsh was “offering slightly less” than the MLE. If true, I say quick dickin’ around and get it done. If Donnie is interested and the numbers are close, he should just pull the trigger.

The longer he splits hairs with Chubby, the longer it will take to get the Nate situation settled. If it were about the length of the deal I could understand, however, I haven’t heard that the Knicks have a problem with a 5 yr deal.

Donnie needs to start focusing his efforts on Lee and Nate if he isn’t sold on Sessions.