Strong, positive teamwork is defined by a leader who has a vision and the ability to inspire his or her team to work toward the realization of that vision.

i wonder if Isiah employs a similar tactic when evaluating trades?

but you never know, maybe some team will want our 2 picks and d lee for a high first rounder.

i would say his deadline deals, perhaps a sign of him buckling under the relentless pressure of the crushing NY media to make a move that makes splashy headlines on the back pages.

Let’s transport ourselves to an alternate universe for a moment, shall we? And pretend that this years two deadline deals & last year’s two deadline deals never happened. Along with that straight-up idiotic Jerome James signing, which i am convinced was Isiah playing “behind the scenes politics” to gain sway with agents.

So….two promising rookies (DLee & N8) are gone. We’re left with 2nd rounder swingman Dijon Thompson out of UCLA instead (oddly enough still backing up former UCLA forward Trevor Ariza).

We have eliminated some of the payroll bloat, though. James’ considerable bloat was never here, while Penny & ADavis’s expiring contracts will be allowed to expire as they play out the string in a NY uniform (or rehabbing down south, like Penny).

Incoming franchise center Eddy Curry gets to play alongside longtime rugged rebounder/defender Kurt Thomas, with Nazr Mohammed and rookie Channing Frye completing a deep and talented power rotation. Nazr will have some impressive nights filling in for an injured and/or foul-prone Curry, plus he is in the final year of his contract and is driven to play well to showcase himself for a nice FA contract in the summer of ’06. Kurt can teach “the rook” Frye how to spread the floor offensively and pack it in defensively. Veterans Antonio Davis & Vin Baker can keep youngster Jackie Butler company on the end of the bench.

Small forward is a huge problem coming into this season. Last year’s rookie flash Trevor Ariza gets the first crack at the starting position, while Qyntel Woods hounds him for playing time (perhaps that analogy was barking up the wrong tree). Veteran Penny Hardaway would have a legit opportunity in this universe of playing – even starting – and thus earning some of his max contract money in his final season.

Marbury and Crawford start in the razor-thin backcourt. Knicks would have two backup point guards in Jamison Brewer & Moochie Norris. Crawford’s backup would probably be whoever didn’t play among Qyntel & Penny up front, although perhaps rookie Dijon Thompson could get a look. Or else a veteran free agent could be had for a minimum deal (the return of Spree???)

Four players (Penny, ADavis, Nazr Mohammed & Moochie Norris) would have expiring contracts this season, and we would keep all four and take them off the books this year.

i reckon this squad wouldn’t do any worse than the “real” Knicks i see today. These Knicks would head into this summer with only three players under significant long term contracts (Marbury, Crawford & Curry). The ’06-07 Knicks would still have Houston, Shamderson, etc coming off the books, along with 33-year old Kurt Thomas.

These Knicks would also have significantly less assets to use in trades, so improvement would have to come via the draft. These Knicks would have their 1st round pick this season to fill in the gaping hole at small forward, likely with Gonzaga forward Adam Morrison.

Thus, in this scenario, the ’06-07 Knicks would feature Curry/Frye/Morrison/Crawford/Starbury, with Kurt Thomas, Trevor Ariza, Qyntel Woods & Jackie Butler off the bench.

Rather have this than what we now face?

So i dont know how good this can do but this is the best i can do

Look, I respect Steve Francis’s offensive skills, but the next time he guards somebody will be the first time. Plus, this blows the salary cap to hell and gone, so it puts real change even FURTHER off into the future.

It’s getting more and more clear to me: Isiah Thomas needs to go – he doesn’t know what he’s doing.

“in one of my fantasy bball leagues three guys immediately changed their team names to “ex-knickfan,” “ex-knickfan #2,” and “fuck the knicks.” i can’t remember any trade in recent memory that has had such an immediate and obvious adverse effect on its team’s fan base. the incompetence at work here is shocking. and of course it all starts with james “blank check” dolan, who’s letting the wheels come off the wagon …. and actually seems to be encouraging it.”