What to do with the Knicks

My offseason is over and it's time to get back to business. After having a chance to scour the NBA preseason and see many faces change teams ... it's time to evaluate. The most frequently asked question has been revolving around the Knicks.

We have heard LeBron, DWade, Chris Bosh ... and many more coming to the Knicks in the big free agent blast of 2010. I believe the 2010 market is important for the Knicks ... but they need to get ahead of the curve. Let's start with their core:

Tony Douglass is an NBA guard and can play the role of scoring PG or undersized 2.
Danillo Gallinari can flat out stroke it and can be a #3 scorer in the NBA at the forward spot.
Jordan Hill is too athletic and active to keep on the bench- at 6-11 he is the PF of the future.
Wilson Chandler is a 6th man who can provide scoring off of the bench at the guard and forward spots.

So why not just play these guys and build? The reason is simple. In order to get ahead of the free agent curve the Knicks have to show that the following players have market value:

1. David Lee
2. Nate Robinson
3. Al Harrington
4. Jared Jeffries
5. Larry Hughes

All five have to be moved immediately ... it is a poorly constructed core. Here's what to do with them.
The Hornets are looking to have a garage sale-- they fired Byron Scott and CP3 is hurt. Knicks give expiring contracts of David Lee and Nate Robinson to New Orleans for Emeka Okafor.
The Clippers are in the same boat. Dunleavy is two weeks away from being fired as both GM and Head Coach ... once he is fired (he should not be by the way) take Marcus Camby and send Jared Jeffiries and Larry Hughes out West.
The final move won't come until draft time- Al Harrington and a 2011 first rounder for the rights to Rick Rubio. Minnesota needs a forward that can create and Rubio will not be available until 2011 (unless the Knicks buy him out)

Don't take my word for it. Look at the rosters, the contracts, tendancies of the coaches and Gm's.

Here's the Big Move-- forget LeBron, Dwade, Bosh and go and get Joe Johnson. Bring him and D'Antoni together again. Treat him like one of the big 3 and get him off of the market before he becomes the only one left.

Here's what the Knicks look like in 2010-11
PG Ricky Rubio (he will never play in a second rate market like Minnesota- it's LA, NYC, Chicago)- a younger Steve Nash???
2G Joe Johnson
SF Danillo Gallinari at 6-10 he can shot over most 3's
PF Jordan Hill can do what Lee does but with better def and less shots
C Okafor is a double double waiting to happen and is a post that demands a double team

Off the bench-
Tony Douglass- a better Leandro Barbosa
Duhon-- Keep him. He is an NBA back up who knows how to win- insurance
Wilson Chandler is instant offense off of the bench- at 6-7 he gives lots of options.
Marcus Camby gives them the inside defensive player they need to get out and be more aggressive on the perimeter.
Target Chris Wright 6-9 forward in the second round out of Dayton (Boris Diaw in the making)
Keep Darko or Curry for the often injured Camby.

Tomorrow I will give you the tourneys you need to keep an eye on internationally to be ready for the top darft picks in June.
DD