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| Monday, October 1 Users: Mixed feelings on trade, but hating Houston ESPN.com |
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Knicks fans are pretty realistic. They don't want to rebuild, they realize that Allan Houston's contract is out of whack and that Marcus Camby is better suited for forward than center. But still they expect to win, and that might mean making a trade. But do they want a trade?
Your Knicks Feedback If Marcus Camby put on some weight over the summer like I've heard, then why would you want to mess with what works? In my opinion, the "weakest link" in that trio is Allan Houston. It's not that he's not capable, he just doesn't have the "fire" that it takes to be a Knick. Don't get me wrong, I love his sweet shot and when he's "on" he can light up the Garden, but he needs to take it to the hole more often. I've seen him do this with a lot of success, just not enough. Latrell Sprewell is THE MAN in NY right now. Add to this trio a forwards who can add 17 points and 9-12 rebounds a game and this is the team to beat in the East.
Claude V. Helton III
Everyone's first inclination is to mess with the 'big three' of Houston, Sprewell and Camby. This is a mistake. While Camby can currently be criticized for his lack of bulk and Houston for his lack of defense, I have a feeling these will change and that we'll see a different kind of ball being played by the Knicks. Camby has beefed up another 20 pounds during the offseason, and Houston knows that his own brand of defense won't fly in NY with a $100 million contract. Othella Harrington and Kurt Thomas make good forwards as well as muscular backups to Camby. Now, the logjam seems to be at the point. Clean up some of the stragglers -- Mark Jackson didn't exactly have an amazing season last year. Teaming him up in a trade with Clarence Weatherspoon could bring NY any of the good available centers around the league, and keep Camby in the lineup. Move it around a little, and you could have a forward/center matchup that rivals San Antonio's. One more thing -- Van Gundy? Best there is.
PJ Gallagher
My friend and I once agreed that being a Knicks fan is like being in a bad relationship. Every year there is some reason to get back together but in the end it always turns for the worst. This year there is no reason and I will not watch them. The Houston signing is an embarrassment to the team and city. Houston, a lackadaisical scorer and defender, is worth about half of his contract. I would have shipped him at first sight of an above average big man. Not necessarily a center though. With the running game these days two good power forwards can handle the inside. The Grizzles were looking to move Shareef Abdur-Rahim and did. He would have complimented Camby down low. I'm not a big fan of Glen Rice but he is a real small forward and would start with Houston out of the picture. With Sprewell at his natural position (sg) he would thrive.
Dmitri Ponomarev
There is no more hope for the Knicks. They are a roster of overpaid underachievers. The best case scenario now for the Knicks is to ride out these contracts and then rebuild. That means 5-10 years before the Knicks can actually be a lottery pick team. Add to that the 5-10 years it takes to get back on top. Its just as Scott Layden once said when asked when the Knicks will ever be under the salary cap, "never in our lifetime." Let's just admit it, Knick fans. The Knicks will not win a championship anytime soon. They will make the playoffs but go nowhere further. They are nailbiters and leave us stressing in the final 2 minutes. I no longer push for a championship in New York. It's not worth the stress...
Carlos M. Hernandez
Although I would like to say to attempt to build around the big three, it hasn't been working these past few seasons. Camby can't create for himself, and Houston disappears in crunch time. I would keep Sprewell and trade Houston and Camby, along with LJ, Charlie Ward and Mark Jackson, for a legitimate point guard and center. This team needs a major makeover. New Yorkers, including me, can't take much more of this.
Jesse Siegel
It's not an easy decision but I think the Knicks should try to do something, like trade Houston. Of course, his contract makes him impossible to trade and no one wanted him anyway. The Knicks don't want to part with Spree so it seems Camby has the biggest chance of being traded. But the worst thing Knick management can do is blow up the team and turn them into the Bulls, who have been rebuilding for the last three seasons. I say the Knicks have enough talent to be a factor in the East but not enough to take the title, so Layden should tinker but not rebuild.
Rafael
I don't think that there's any choice involved. Houston obviously stays because of the contract, and then you need to pick the player you like better of the other two. From my perspective the Knicks have already begun a painful rebuilding process with Ewing and LJ (essentially) gone, and I don't think it's fair to say that Sprewell is the same player he was before the choking. The Knicks have become an odd collection of parts that don't seem to make any sense when thrown together on the floor. Two decent scorers, a brittle "center," a couple of broken down old men, a few goons, and some role players. That doesn't sound like a team that's two players away from being a legitimate playoff contender.
Josh Roth
Thanks for a very balanced look at the Knicks! The answer to your question is YES and YES. The problem is, there isn't much available in the way of trades. Credit the Knick front office for not overreacting and trading away the big three. Also, give them credit for giving Patrick Ewing and Glen Rice what they really wanted. I hated to see Glen Rice go, but he deserves to be a starter. Of course, the real problem is the salary cap, because that makes rebuilding all but impossible. The only hope a Knick fan is left with is that Sprewell keeps it going, Camby takes that 20-plus pounds of muscle and adds a little intimidation and staying power to his magnificent game (he's their best player when he's on the court), and Allan Houston must play to his abilities (and his new contract) instead of wilting in the face of an opponent who is willing to play some defense. That being said, I like the Knicks' chances -- Van Gundy must be credited with building a gritty club.
David Schmitz
I would definitely trade either Sprewell or Houston for a legitimate center to let Camby play PF and maybe stay healthy a little bit more often. Their best bet was to get Mutombo for Houston, but that didn't work, and now they're stuck with paying Houston $50 million more than he's worth. Sprewell is the much better player than Houston, but if he can fetch a good big man the likes of Michael Olowokandi or Chris Mihm (hell, even Elden Campbell would help) then the Knicks will be a better team. Even though Shandon Anderson isn't an All Star, he'd be a good fit to replace whichever one was dealt and round out their starting five. The Knicks need to follow the Lakers instead of the Blazers in putting the right role players on the team and not stick talent with talent
Chris Palazzi
The Knicks should tinker with the big three. The problem with the Knicks is that they always try to cross a mountain without a guide. While the team always will have excellent defense, they lack a true superstar that can carry the team in the scoring department. The Kings have Chris Webber, the Lakers have Kobe and Shaq, and the Sixers have Allen Iverson. Who do the Knicks have? While Allan Houston and Latrell Sprewell are great players, they are not machine guns. Signing Houston to a $100-million deal was a mistake. Houston cannot carry a team. They should have used the money to get a big man and move Camby to power forward. Howard Eisley is a good, big point guard, but that is not going to help. Shandon Anderson is average. They need someone like Gary Payton. The Knicks have heart, they proved that in the 1998-99 playoffs, but heart can only carry them so far without a real talent.
Henry Chen
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