Nix on Iverson

[spnited]

A pathetic team that has thrown this season down the drain in pursuit of next year's free agent group decides AI is not worth the risk, no matter how badly this team sucks:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/21/sports/basketball/21iverson.html?_r=1&ref=sports

 

[Brooklyn Bridge]

So the Answer wasn't the answer? I hear the argument that the Knicks are trying to land one or more of the big name FAs next year. Who exactly wants to go to NY? What kind of supporting cast is there? I can think of a half dozen places I would rather go before I would play for the Knicks.

 

[cranberry]

Terrible move. The Knicks have essentially told their fans that they are not interested in putting a competitive team on the court this year. OK, I will not attend my usual game or two because of it. Screw James Dolan. I also hope like hell that LeBron James and Dwyane Wade laugh in his bloated, callow face next year.

 

[outofplace]

So the Answer wasn't the answer? I hear the argument that the Knicks are trying to land one or more of the big name FAs next year. Who exactly wants to go to NY? What kind of supporting cast is there? I can think of a half dozen places I would rather go before I would play for the Knicks.

But...but...it's a chance to play in NEW YORK!

(Not to say that anybody here has made that argument, but it does seem to the people who assume the Knicks are going to land one of the big names are thinking).

 

[spnited]

There are many delusional Knicks fans -- as well as some delusional Dolanites -- who believe LeBron is a lock for New York next season and that's all they need to become title contenders.

100% wrong on both counts.

 

[Den1983]

There are many delusional Knicks fans -- as well as some delusional Dolanites -- who believe LeBron is a lock for New York next season and that's all they need to become title contenders.

100% wrong on both counts.

Agree completely.

In fact, I see the whole 2010 thing backfiring them. It would not surprise me to see them end up with Joe Johnson and little else. It would make my day.

 

[JackReacher]

Does anyone know exactly how much money the Knicks will have this summer to spend on free agents?

 

[Small Town Guy]

I can see the Knicks falling flat with the 2010 free agents, but I don't think the supporting cast argument will play that big of a role. Is LeBron's supporting cast in Cleveland right now some great stockpile of talent? If LeBron was on the Knicks this year instead of the Cavs, the Cavs would be the team with about two or three wins right now. And if he does go there and they get another decent free agent with their cap space, they'll be fine. if you have a superstar, you don't need a lot to build around him. The Lakers of 05-07 were trotting out Kwame, Smush, Cook and Walton - and Odom - out there with Kobe. The second Bynum started developing they were one of the top teams in the west in 08, then the Gasol trade put them over the top.

LeBron might stay put. But I don't think it's going to be because he cant' fathom leaving that supporting cast - or Mike Brown - in Cleveland.

 

[Starman]

Terrible move. The Knicks have essentially told their fans that they are not interested in putting a competitive team on the court this year.

Signing Allen Iverson would do nothing to promote that end -- in fact, would retard the process.

 

[cranberry]

Terrible move. The Knicks have essentially told their fans that they are not interested in putting a competitive team on the court this year.

Signing Allen Iverson would do nothing to promote that end -- in fact, would retard the process.

No, it wouldn't, unless you really think that taking minutes away from Nate Robinson and Chris Duhon is a big deal. I don't. AI remains the superior player to both, even at his age, and neither of the incumbents are part of the Knicks' ultimate solution.

You want to strip the team of talent to position for the pipe dream of getting LeBron or Wade next year? Fine. I'll wait until next year and see if that happens before I plunk down $300 to watch a game at the Garden.

 

[Starman]

Last season, Allen Iverson turned the Pistons from a slightly-above-average team to a well-below-average team.

He didn't help teams much to win even in his prime. He's well past his prime, and is now a catastrophic liability on defense and intolerably disruptive on offense. You can put up with his "give me the ball and go rebound" offensive game if he can score 90% of the time, but not if that figure goes to 55%.

 

[cranberry]

Last season, Allen Iverson turned the Pistons from a slightly-above-average team to a well-below-average team.

He didn't help teams much to win even in his prime. He's well past his prime, and is now a catastrophic liability on defense and intolerably disruptive on offense. You can put up with his "give me the ball and go rebound" offensive game if he can score 90% of the time, but not if that figure goes to 55%.

The Knicks ain't the Pistons, and I'd be very interested -- interested enough to buy a ticket, perhaps -- to see how this Hall of Famer, who remains a better guard than the Knicks have on their current roster, fits in D'Antoni's offense.

It's certainly worth a one-year, $1.3 million deal for a team that's going absolutely nowhere and will be playing to empty seats and sending me e-mail discounts before Christmas.

 

[Drip]

There are many delusional Knicks fans -- as well as some delusional Dolanites -- who believe LeBron is a lock for New York next season and that's all they need to become title contenders.

100% wrong on both counts.

Aside from loot, and I don't believe he's in it for the money only, there is NOTHING that the Knicks can present to James to make the situation attractable. Contrary to popular belief, New York is not the end of end all.

 

[spnited]

Then there is the absurd idea that LeBron will have more endorsement opportunities in New York. He's already an international brand.
And if you walk around midtown Manhattan right now, you'll see LeBron on more ads and billboards than any New York athlete.

 

[Small Town Guy]

But maybe LeBron thinks New York is the biggest thing. We don't know. That's just as likely as thinking he's going to have loyalty to Cleveland just because he's from Ohio.

It's like calling the Garden the mecca of basketball. It sounds absurd to us because of what we've seen from the Knicks the last 10 years and because they haven't won a title in nearly 40 years. But the fact is the players do treat it differently when they play there, guys like LeBron, Kobe, Jordan before them, do put the Garden - and New York - on a pedestal that you wouldn't think it would deserve, considering the recent history.

 

[Ashy Larry]

There are many delusional Knicks fans -- as well as some delusional Dolanites -- who believe LeBron is a lock for New York next season and that's all they need to become title contenders.

100% wrong on both counts.

What are ya talking about? Lebron loves the Yankees!!! Of course he's gonna sign with the Knicks.

 

[outofplace]

But maybe LeBron thinks New York is the biggest thing. We don't know. That's just as likely as thinking he's going to have loyalty to Cleveland just because he's from Ohio.

It's like calling the Garden the mecca of basketball. It sounds absurd to us because of what we've seen from the Knicks the last 10 years and because they haven't won a title in nearly 40 years. But the fact is the players do treat it differently when they play there, guys like LeBron, Kobe, Jordan before them, do put the Garden - and New York - on a pedestal that you wouldn't think it would deserve, considering the recent history.

I'm going to err on the side of assuming that after a few years in the spotlight, James is not a clueless rube.

 

[cranberry]

But maybe LeBron thinks New York is the biggest thing. We don't know. That's just as likely as thinking he's going to have loyalty to Cleveland just because he's from Ohio.

It's like calling the Garden the mecca of basketball. It sounds absurd to us because of what we've seen from the Knicks the last 10 years and because they haven't won a title in nearly 40 years. But the fact is the players do treat it differently when they play there, guys like LeBron, Kobe, Jordan before them, do put the Garden - and New York - on a pedestal that you wouldn't think it would deserve, considering the recent history.

I'm going to err on the side of assuming that after a few years in the spotlight, James is not a clueless rube.

Yes, he's clearly hoping for the rebirth of the Condors so he can play in Pittsburgh.

 

[Small Town Guy]

But maybe LeBron thinks New York is the biggest thing. We don't know. That's just as likely as thinking he's going to have loyalty to Cleveland just because he's from Ohio.

It's like calling the Garden the mecca of basketball. It sounds absurd to us because of what we've seen from the Knicks the last 10 years and because they haven't won a title in nearly 40 years. But the fact is the players do treat it differently when they play there, guys like LeBron, Kobe, Jordan before them, do put the Garden - and New York - on a pedestal that you wouldn't think it would deserve, considering the recent history.

I'm going to err on the side of assuming that after a few years in the spotlight, James is not a clueless rube.

Meaning? I didn't mean he walks around gazing up at skyscrapers and is awed by the guys sketching in Times Square so he's going to run to New York. But players talk about the Garden differently than when they play in other arenas, there are endless quotes affirming that on their trips to play the Knicks. So there is a chance that, yes, playing in new york because it's New York might be part of the appeal for LeBron. It's no more ludicrous than those who insist he's going to stay because he went to high school in Akron, as if he had a choice in 2003 and picked Cleveland over every other team in the league. We'll find out in July.

 

[outofplace]

But maybe LeBron thinks New York is the biggest thing. We don't know. That's just as likely as thinking he's going to have loyalty to Cleveland just because he's from Ohio.

It's like calling the Garden the mecca of basketball. It sounds absurd to us because of what we've seen from the Knicks the last 10 years and because they haven't won a title in nearly 40 years. But the fact is the players do treat it differently when they play there, guys like LeBron, Kobe, Jordan before them, do put the Garden - and New York - on a pedestal that you wouldn't think it would deserve, considering the recent history.

I'm going to err on the side of assuming that after a few years in the spotlight, James is not a clueless rube.

Yes, he's clearly hoping for the rebirth of the Condors so he can play in Pittsburgh.

Now that would make sense. Even a guy from Ohio would have the sense to prefer Pittsburgh over Cleveland.