khandor’s sports blog

As inocuous as this event may seem to be … at least, on the surface … in reality, it just might prove to be the leading edge of an iceberg.

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Isiah Thomas to serve as Knicks consultant

Thomas, a Hall of Famer with the Detroit Pistons, had a dismal run as team president from December 2003-April 2008, with the Knicks never winning a postseason game despite often having the league’s highest payroll. He was also the coach the final two seasons, getting dismissed after a 23-59 season in 2007-08.

Despite all that, plus that lawsuit brought by former team employee Anucha Browne Sanders that cost MSG $11.6 million, Thomas has remained close to Dolan and Walsh, even while coaching Florida International University, a job he will keep.

In fact, even when he was fired, he didn’t even fully leave. Walsh kept him on in an unspecified role until Thomas took the FIU job.

“I’m excited to once again be a part of the New York Knicks organization,” Thomas said. “I was honored to have been asked to help during the recent free agent recruiting process, and believe that this new role takes full advantage of my skill set as an evaluator of basketball talent.”

The Knicks said Thomas would “assist the team’s senior management in various capacities, including player recruitment.”

He helped the team in that area during free agency, when the Knicks landed Amare Stoudemire. He also was sent to Ohio to talk to representatives from LeBron James(notes), who eventually signed with Miami.

Walsh thanked Thomas during the press conference for Stoudemire, sparking reports that Thomas would return to the organization, perhaps even as general manager.

Before his failures in New York, largely a result on overspending for big names that didn’t work out, Thomas was known as a good evaluator of talent. He drafted Tracy McGrady(notes), Marcus Camby(notes) and eventual Rookie of the Year Damon Stoudamire(notes) in Toronto. Walsh has used him to scout in New York, sending him to Europe to see current Knicks forward Danilo Gallinari(notes).

The Knicks will call on those skills in Thomas’ current role.

“He will provide valuable insight and analysis of young prospects from around the world,” the statement said.

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 You Make The Call …

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Please feel free to explain your answer further in the comments section.

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Update:

#1. Seems as though Jeff Eisenberg was thinking in a similar way to this corner, about this situation with Zeke and the Knicks, when this news first broke [on Friday].

#2. Thomas won’t return to Knicks, afterall.

Gallinari Practices and the Knicks can barely contain themselves
The superlatives and expectations keep growing for Gallinari, the sixth overall pick in the 2008 draft. He showed no signs of discomfort in Tuesday’s two practices, or any indication that he had undergone minor back surgery five months ago.

He did, however, show off his full range of skills while playing with the first unit in the evening scrimmage.

Standing on the perimeter, Gallinari beat Larry Hughes off the dribble and fed David Lee inside for a layup attempt. (Lee missed.) When Al Harrington missed a 3-pointer, Gallinari soared in for a putback dunk. And in the highlight of the night, Gallinari spun past Ron Howard and flew in for a two-handed dunk. He missed a 3-pointer, but shooting is one skill the Knicks know Gallinari has in abundance.

D’Antoni has never wavered in his enthusiasm for Gallinari and is not concerned about raising expectations. Gallinari, 21, said he was not concerned either.

“I’m happy for that, because I think that if a player wants to be at a good level, you need responsibility, you need expectations,” Gallinari said, adding: “I like that. I know how to deal with that.”

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Remember the words, “Larry Nowitzki”, and exactly where you read them first.

If Gallinari can stay healthy this season … those who think that the Knicks are simply going to be push-overs in the EC [including many of the good folks in Raptorville] will be in for a rather Rude Awakening v1.

[ ... which, almost, unbelievably, led to this, this, this and, then, finally, this and this ... when we were all a great deal younger than today.]

Related:

Best shooter I’ve ever seen

Earlier this spring, yours truly was asked to provide an example of the type of player who SHOULD be obtained by the Raptors in a trade which involved Andrea Bargnani, as a possible #4/PF to play beside Chris Bosh [as the Dino's main-frame Center]. The two names that came to mind straight away were Anderson Varejao [unrestricted] and David Lee [restricted], both of whom are designated as Free Agents at the moment.

Two years ago, as a restricted free agent, the Cavaliers took a long time bringing Varejao into the fold, only doing so after a protracted hold-out. This past season he played as a Starting #4/PF for Cleveland, riding shot-gun for LeBron James, to the tune of 66 W’s in the regular season campaign. As a 27 year old player, going into his 6th season in the NBA, Varejao [6-10, 260] is the sort of effective, role-playing, garbage man who could excel beside Bosh, in a number of different ways [e.g. Offensively, Defensively and in terms of Rebounding].

Right now … in the aftermath of trading for the Big Diesel … the Cavs are in the market for a wing player with solid defensive skills, big game experience and a lively pair of legs with the ability to re-energize their offense without needing the ball in his his hands a great deal of the time.

Do the Raptors have a player on their roster, at the moment, who fits the bill, in this regard … that could possibly be used in a sign and trade to secure the services of Mr. Varejao in return?

By chance … Yes, they do.

His name happens to be Shawn Dwayne Marion … and he’s a perfect fit for Cleveland to complete their roster, hunting for their 1st NBA Title next spring. He is an under-sized, highly energetic #4/PF, who would thrive playing beside [and between] King James and Shaq Daddy. 

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A second good option for the Raptors is David Lee.

Raps setting their sights on Knicks’ big man Lee
The Raptors are widening their NBA free-agent search that now includes one of the more intriguing players on the market.

Capping a whirlwind 24 hours to open the negotiating period, league sources say Toronto is trying to obtain David Lee, an energetic rebounder who is a New York Knicks restricted free agent.

The sources couldn’t say whether the move on Lee would be a straight offer or whether it would be a sign-and-trade transaction with any of Toronto’s current free agents …

Lee, 26, had a breakout year with the Knicks last season, averaging 16 points and 11.7 rebounds a game. He had a salary of just about $1.8 million (all figures U.S.) and is seen as one of the top young free agents out there; he’s a restricted free agent so if Toronto were to simply make an offer and not try to engineer some sign-and-trade transactions, the Knicks could match it.

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Instead of chasing after a good but older player with their available money this summer … e.g. Hedo Turkoglu [age 30] … the Raptors would be much further ahead if they pursued either Anderson Varejao or David Lee AND then used him as their Starting Power Forward beside Chris Bosh [C] this season.

If the Raptors would have just drafted Derrick Brown last Thursday night …

1 Jose Calderon
2 Anthony Parker
3 DeMar DeRozan
4 Carlos Delfino
5 Derrick Brown
6 Reggie Evans
7 Anderson Varejao or David Lee
8 Chris Bosh [Center]
9 Andrea Bargnani

that’s the sort of 9-Man CORE GROUP which could:

* Win their fair share of regular season games this coming season
* Convince CB4 to re-sign with the Raptors next summer 
* Be the foundation of a solid contending team in the EC for the next decade.

By initiating legitimate discussions with Danny Ferry and Donnie Walsh there are all sorts of possibilities which exist for Bryan Colangelo to improve the Raptors this off season … including possible trades involving other talented young players - e.g. Andrea Bargnani, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, JJ Hickson and Danny Green - on each of their respective rosters.

Today’s question comes courtesy of “John Palandra” [a comment contributor at From Deep].

Based on talent and productivity at the Center position … and, assuming for a moment that the Collective Bargaining Agreement [CBA] would actually allow the deal to go through, which it would NOT, in real life …

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According to John P:

David Lee [6-9, 240, drafted by the Knicks, No. 30, overall, in 2005; $1.8 M, 1 yr] is not an example of a Less-than Top Tier Center in the NBA today who 

Andrea Bargnani [7-0, 250, drafted by the Raptors, No 1, overall, in 2006; $5.2 M, 2 yrs] would struggle to match-up with on an everyday basis, given their specific skill sets and assorted other personal attributes.

This is a perspective which is not shared by yours truly.

According to this corner David Lee is:

* A PLUS [+] Defensive Player [both Team and Individually]
* A PLUS [+] Rebounder
* An EVEN [0] Offensive Player

if/when he’s matched-up against Il Mago.

When there are 8 teams in the Eastern Conference separated in the standings by only 4.5 games, between the 7th and 14th positions, at the half-way point of the regular season schedule, it speaks to the parity which exists today in the NBA.

The fact is …

There is very little tangible separation between any of these teams, whether they fall into the Middle-of-the-Pack or the Low End categories.

Injuries, coaching decisions and the different managerial moves which each team makes in-season will determine [i] which ones qualify for the playoffs this spring and/or [ii] become a likely candidate for substantial improvement heading towards next season and beyond.  

This corner, for one, Truly, Madly, Deeply believes in & respects the fundamental human dignity of Stephon Xavier Marbury … as evidenced in this interview, from yesterday, with Bruce Beck:

Marbury Speaks Out About Future With Knicks

[on a bigger picture]

“First of all, I would just like to say how good God is, how good he’s been to me, whereas talking about being waived this year … it’s nothing … because being in this peaceful place [as a state-of-mind-and-body-and-spirit] … it’s the best thing that has ever happened to me … and, Playing basketball, it’s so small, you know, it’s a bigger, bigger picture going on, as far as me being waived and if I’m gonna be here and all of the speculation … at the end of the day, I wanna play basketball, so it doesn’t matter if I’m waived or not.”

“I’ve worked extremely hard, I worked out six months straight, you know, I dedicated myself to gettin back in the best shape of my life, I’m 200 lbs, I’m 7.5 body fat, uhmm … I’m eating right, I’m living right, I’m doing all of the things, I’m doing all of the things that I’m supposed to do to put myself in the situation where I can come out and be a dominant force … I’m mentally right, physically right, spiritually right … I’m inclined with myself, I’m in tune with what I have to do on the basketball court … I mean, I’m ready to play basketball, and it doesn’t where.”

[on when & what to fight]

“I felt like I have a lot to prove … you know, a lot of people have said that I can’t play anymore, you know, you have reporters walkin around with no spirit, sayings things about me that aren’t true, and they can say those things because they’re not, they don’t feel anything within themselves, so you know, when I hear the things that they’re saying, I’m like, wow, that’s malicious, you know to say these things about me and to talk about me the way that they’ve been talkin about me, it’s wrong … so for me, the only thing I can fight is principalities, I can’t fight people.”

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Yes, it’s a long interview … at 13+ minutes.
Watch it all for yourself.

Laugh if you will, but … to these ears, heart, and mind … there’s an awful lot to genuinely like about this young man.

Hopefully he will find a place to ply his trade this season.

No human being is perfect, or can ever come close to reaching that standard … BUT each and everyone of us deserves a second chance … and a third, and a fourth, and fifth, and a sixth, etc., etc., etc.

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Doing the best that you can do, at all times, is the best that you can hope for and achieve.

Okay.

Sticking with today’s theme of irresistibility …

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Hou’s back; Steph, too, for now
“There wouldn’t be no negotiation,” Marbury said. “They’re going to give me all my money. … If they want to waive me and give me all my money, fine. If not, …” 

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Given the latest news from the former 1st Round Draft Pick of the Milwaukee Bucks (1996, No. 4 overall) … someone needs to create a new commercial for the “Comments of Steph” … along the lines of:

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Scene 1 - “Random Steph comment #1 … $5.99″

Scene 2 - “Random Steph comment #2 … $1.98″

Scene 3 - “Random Steph comment #3 … $21,900,000.00″

Scene 4 - “Being in a place you’re wanted … AND trying to help the New York Knicks win a championship … Priceless. There are some things money can’t buy. For everything else … there’s Marburyscard.”
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Then, again … maybe not.

Q1. When the Code by which you live is, “Run, Run, Run …“, how can you possibly hope to respond … during times of hardship … with steadfastness?

A1. In all likelihood … you can’t.

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After an oftentimes spectacular 4+ years at the helm of the Phoenix Suns, head coach, Mike D’Antoni seems as though he will soon be moving on to - what he hopes will be - greener pastures.

In a searing indictment of all that’s at the root of the Basketball Philosophy, ‘Seven Seconds or Less‘ (Jack McCallum), Adrian Wojnarowski (Yahoo! Sports) explains the how’s & why’s.

D’Antoni ready to leave his desert mirage behind

Mandatory reading for all.

First, the Boston Celtics … then, the resurgent LA Lakers … and, now, the New York Knicks … 

Walsh hired as Knicks’ president, says he will wait to decide on Thomas

A good move for than just the NBA

Q1. What will be the impact of today’s announcement in New York on the Toronto Raptors?

A1. Unfortunately, in due time, fans of the Toronto Raptors will look back and rue the day their team was taken into the vortex of treadmill h*ll … during the 2005-2006, 2006-2007 & 2007-2008 seasons, on account of the decisions made by MLSE, and then Bryan Colangelo (President/GM).

* MLSE should not have hired Colangelo to run their NBA franchise.
* Araujo-R should not have been traded for Humphries-K.
* Villanueva-C should not have been traded for Ford-TJ.
* Bargnani-A should not have been the No. 1 Overall Draft Pick.
* Mitchell-S (& staff) should not have been retained to coach this team.
* Ford should not have been given a contract extension.
* Peterson-M should have been resigned.
* Kapono-J should not have been signed as a Free Agent.
* Delfino-C should not have been signed.

The Raptors should have been allowed to get worse before taking positive baby steps to get better from the abyss of 27-55.

It has always been foolhardy to EXPECT that the Celtics and the Knicks and the 76ers and the Nets were just going to sit by idly and ‘allow’ the Raptors to ascend to a permanent spot atop the Atlantic Division standings and, likewise, re: the Pistons, Cavaliers, Wizards, Magic, Bulls, Heat & Pacers, in terms of achieving supremacy in the Eastern Conference.

The people who run MLSE have no idea what it takes to build a championship team, either in the NHL or the NBA. MLSE knows how to do one thing exceptionally well … make $$$ … but they do not know what they’re doing when it comes to building a championship pro sports franchise.

Donnie Walsh’s move to the run the New York Knicks … means that the window of opportunity which once existed in Toronto for the Raptors … with Chris Bosh … is closing.