Since We Last Spoke

Well its been over a month since my last post, I’d make up an excuse saying I was busy but since we’re all such close friends I’ll just be honest with you; The Knicks stink and it’s the summer and there’s really not to much to discuss Knicks wise. Here’s a recap of what’s happened over the past month:

Team USA wins the gold

Team USA did what it had to do; they came out and dominated every game. The biggest story to me was the performance of Dwayne Wade. I doubted if Wade even deserved to be on the team, but his performance will get me to admit something I rarely admit…. I was wrong. Seeing Wade and Kobe impose their competitive nature on their opponents made it clear the U.S. is still the most dominate team when the right collection of players is assembled.

Renaldo Balkman is traded for a bag of basketballs.

In actuality he was traded to Denver for a second round pick and the rights to Taurenn Green and Bobbie Jones (both let go before their arrival in New York). But you get the picture. Balkman definitely had his positives; he hustled, rebounded, defended, and had by far the best hair on the team. But on the flip side he had zero basketball IQ, and I’d put my money on a 10 year old kid knocking down more open jump shots then Balk. That being said I still do believe he’ll find a niche in this league as an energy guy off the bench but he just doesn’t fit this Knicks team who has a glut of small forwards with much more ability.

Ewing returns to the Garden

Probably should’ve added the Jr. part to that statement huh? Georgetown product Patrick Ewing Jr. was acquired in a trade for the draft rights to European stiff Fredrick Weis. Yes the same Fred Weis we drafted ahead of Ron Artest. Yes the same Fred Weis who never played a single game for this team.

This is a small deal that I really think can help this team. Maybe not this coming season, but in the future I could see Jr. becoming a solid defender off the bench. The best comparison to me would be he’s more intelligent Renaldo Balkman with a cheaper contract. Ewing Jr. played at Georgetown which means he’s played in the Princeton style offense which emphasizes the fundamentals of the game which automatically should give him two steps on Balkman.

Also for an organization that’s made nothing but mistakes over the years, it’s a great public relations move.

The real Patrick Ewing is inducted into the Hall of Fame

Every Knick fan has bagged on Ewing for his inability to bring us a championship but the fact of the matter is, he is the greatest player in the history of this franchise. You could questions the results of the game but you could never question how hard he played. (Game 7 1994 Eastern Conference Finals24 points, 22 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 blocks). Living in the Stephon Marbury era really makes you appreciate what Ewing brought to the table.

The season kicks off October 29th at the Garden against a healthy Dwayne Wade and the Heat and the news around the club continues to be slow except for the consistent Zach Randolph rumors. The latest rumors have Randolph going to Memphis for Darko Milic, and Marko Jaric. Personally I’d be all for that, it follows the get under the salary cap for 2010 plan. Darko is nowhere near as talented as Randolph but Randolph's contract is almost as big as his waistline and it was clearly proven that Curry and Randolph can’t play together. Apparently Memphis has started to realize the flaws of acquiring Randolph and has demanded the Knicks add a future 1st round pick in the deal.

The new trade would look like this.

Darko
Jaric
Kyle Lowry/ Javaris Crittenton

For

Randolph
Future 1st round pick

I know giving up a future first round pick goes against the plan, but it will be a lottery protected pick that most likely won’t change hands until 2011 and we obtain a former first round draft pick in Lowry or Crittenton. After watching Lowry play for Villanova he would definitely be a great addition and I’d sign off on this trade immediately.