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True but Ariza would have demanded the MLE and we would have had no money to go after McDyess and Bonner would have been our starting center again last year.
Ariza had a very bad year for the Rockets. Personally, I think because, in part, he had way too much offensive responsibility. Houston had him miscast as one of their team's featured players. He's a role player, not a playmaker. If he got back to the supporting cast-type of role he had with the Fakers, he'd likely flourish again. Besides, he young and less cheaper than RJ.
True but Ariza would have demanded the MLE and we would have had no money to go after McDyess and Bonner would have been our starting center again last year.
Do you only watch one side of the floor? You're missing half the game!
October 1, 2010
Chandler, a Swingman, Remains a Constant on a Knicks Team That Is Always Evolving
By HOWARD BECK
MILAN — They traded his mentors and his friends, the veterans who guided him and the pranksters who kept him laughing. For two straight years, they traded nearly everyone, until one day Wilson Chandler looked up and found a roster of near strangers staring back at him, a dizzy survivor of The Great Knicks Purge.
“I’m just happy to still be here,” Chandler, the Knicks’ fourth-year swingman, said Friday as he sheared medical tape from his ankles. He added, “It’s just tough to see people go.”
By now, Chandler is almost numb to the turnover. He had 31 teammates in his first three seasons, not counting free agents on 10-day contracts. He greeted 10 more new faces in September, bringing his grand total to 41.
The list of departed comrades includes a Robinson (Nate) and a Roberson (Anthony), a James (Jerome) and a Jones (Fred), a Rose (Malik), a House (Eddie) and a Hill (Jordan).
Chandler and Eddy Curry are the last ties to the Isiah Thomas era — and Curry may never play another game for the team.
Even now, as the reconstructed Knicks prepare for a revival, change is a constant threat. Chandler and Danilo Gallinari — who have become close friends — are tied to every trade rumor involving Carmelo Anthony.
“You can’t fight stuff like that,” Chandler said. “I mean, that’s just how it goes.”
As one of the lone holdovers, Chandler now provides some critical continuity in the lineup. Of the 13 healthy players in camp, only Chandler, Gallinari, Toney Douglas and Amar’e Stoudemire have much experience in Coach Mike D’Antoni’s offense.
That is part of the reason D’Antoni has Chandler penciled in as his starting shooting guard, even if he is not the most conventional choice. Chandler is big (6 feet 8 inches, 225 pounds) and strong and was once projected by D’Antoni as a power forward because of his post defense.
The Knicks have better shooters and playmakers available. But Chandler is young (23), steady and improving, and his size and strength bother opposing guards. Chandler fits in the backcourt, “so as long as we have enough playmakers on the floor, and enough ability to create shots, which he’s better than what you think at it,” D’Antoni said.
Chandler averaged a career-high 15.3 points last season, his first as an everyday guard. If the Knicks need more shooting, D’Antoni can turn to Douglas, Roger Mason or — once he is healthy — Kelenna Azubuike. Bill Walker is also an option at what is probably the Knicks’ deepest position.
That depth also makes Chandler somewhat expendable, if the Knicks need to use him in a trade.
For now, Chandler — who came to camp looking leaner and more muscular — is trying to regain his timing after a series of injuries. He missed the final 15 games last season because of a groin injury, then had ankle and hernia operations in the off-season. He just began running full speed again in early September. His jump shot is rusty.
“My rhythm is definitely off,” Chandler said. “It’s easy with guys like this to get a rhythm back.”
He was referring primarily to Stoudemire, whose presence will create more open jump shots for teammates. The Knicks have not had a legitimate superstar — the kind who creates havoc for opponents — in a decade. With Stoudemire occupying defenses, Chandler and Gallinari will have more room to operate and less pressure to carry the offense.
Stoudemire, Mason and Raymond Felton have also brought a measure of leadership and professionalism that has been sorely lacking in the locker room in recent years. All of the Knicks’ newcomers are known as high-character, team-oriented players, which should make the transition this season smoother.
Mason is willingly accepting a backup role, though he started 82 games for a 54-win San Antonio Spurs team in 2008-9.
“Mike told me I’m either going to start you, or you’ll come off the bench and you’re going to play a lot,” Mason said. “With me, it’s whatever he wants to do.”
That at ude stands in stark contrast to the string of gripes issued by disgruntled Knicks veterans in recent years. Mason said that setting a professional tone was “one of my biggest roles.”
“I had a two-year crash course on being a championship-caliber pro” in San Antonio, he said. “And I’m trying to bring that here. With the young guys, I think they listen, they look up to guys like me, guys like Amar’e, guys like Ray.”
So if the rapid-fire changes have been jarring, they have come with some substantial benefits.
“I’m happy with the team we got,” Chandler said, adding, “I just hope everybody stays together.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/02/sp...gewanted=print
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Stoudemire "professional", "leadership" ?
Last edited by boutons_deux; 10-03-2010 at 08:39 AM.
You can watch Wilson on NBA TV right now.
Um, yeah, the Spurs would have likely traded RJ's expiring contract before the deadline.
Sorry, but he'd have left town with RJ. Try and keep up.
Knicks Have Their Pick?
It has been widely rumored and reported that the New York Knicks are desperately in search of a first round pick in next summer's draft, with the thinking being that they could then put together a package for the Denver Nuggets that would land Carmelo Anthony in town. Over the weekend a great deal of speculation began circulating that the San Antonio Spurs might be the team to help the Knicks get a first rounder, with Wilson Chandler being the player mentioned as possibly heading back to the Spurs.
The connection here is obvious, and might therefore be easier to dismiss as mere speculation. The Spurs would like to add another small forward, as Richard Jefferson is currently the only three on the team. It's easy enough to connect the dots here and suggest that the Spurs are the team that is willing to part with a first round pick and make a deal happen with the Knicks. However, just because it's easy to connect the dots doesn't mean it's necessarily true.
The Spurs are over the salary cap, meaning they can't simply absorb Chandler's $2.1 million salary and move on. Someone from the Spurs has to be involved in the trade, either going back to the Knicks or to a possible third team. Given the Spurs' glut of front court players, Matt Bonner's name has been thrown around quite a bit as someone who could be sent to New York. There are a couple of issues with that, however, as Bonner has endeared himself to the Spurs and also can't be traded until December 15th because he re-signed with the Spurs over the summer.
What's more likely, if Chandler is to land in San Antonio, is that the Knicks would find a third-party who would absorb someone like Garrett Temple or Gary Neal, while the Spurs use their $825,000 trade exception to bring back Chandler. The Knicks get a first round pick without having to take back a player, the Spurs get their small forward, and another team gets an inexpensive player they can waive to free up cap space if they choose.
There's no question Chandler could help the Spurs. He's improved in each of his three years in the NBA, and averaged 15.3 points in 65 games for the Knicks last season. Still, there's a lot of uncertainty around the Knicks organization, so it's probably premature for Chandler to start switching out his cold weather gear for shorts and tank tops just yet.
Bill Ingram
Hoopsworld
I likes it.
ahh, man. why'd you have to bring that up. now i'm all depressed, again. freakin' scola. damned rockets.
Trade Gary Neal? Oh noes!
If Kirk Penney works out it might not be too terrible a thing.
Get this done! we need chandler to start learning the system. =)
The Spurs have been in 'win-now' mode for years. Teams that aren't in win-now mode don't trade 2 firsts for what was only a half year rental of a backsliding over the hill Kurt Thomas. Yeah, they re-signed him, but that was the deal at the time.
i had r.c. buford about 3 feet away from me at the open practice he was waiting on marcus cousin to go back to the tunnel I was thinking about asking him but didn't want to make it akward
If I ever meet R.C. I'm gonna ask him why the they traded Luis Scola.
Thank you for the kiss of death hoopsworld...Now I know this trade well never happen.
jesus. for how long does Ingram write about NBA? he still doesn't know the basics about the CBA, but doesn't hesitate to write those "insider" speculations about possible trades.What's more likely, if Chandler is to land in San Antonio, is that the Knicks would find a third-party who would absorb someone like Garrett Temple or Gary Neal, while the Spurs use their $825,000 trade exception to bring back Chandler. The Knicks get a first round pick without having to take back a player, the Spurs get their small forward, and another team gets an inexpensive player they can waive to free up cap space if they choose.
Spurs can NOT use the TE for Chandler.
(it's to small and it's not possible to combine the TE with a players salary)
it's not Temple or Neal. neither one of them, nor both combined make enough to get the numbers work.
and a team that trades for Neal (who can't be traded before Dec. 15th anyhow) can't free cap space if they waive him, because his salary is guaranteed. and if it's Temple and the other unguaranteed contracts (Jerrells, Gee), they wouldn't need a third team, b/c Knicks can just waive them as well. (costs them just 210 K, because Temple and Gee have small guaranteed parts).
and I agree. Hoopsworld writing about it brings the chance that the trade for Chandler happens to below 1%. damn.
Words can't describe how incredibly stupid and clueless this article ismakes you almost appreciate McDonald.
Great.Words can't describe how incredibly stupid and clueless this article is
The cost of adding Chandler for the first rounder only would draw a lot of consequences. His $2.1 salary would be almost twice, plus the team would lost another few millions from the luxury tax teams retribution. It's like $7M for an little known backup player, plus the first rounder.
On top of that, Chandler will be RFA in the best case after this season and no matter how limited his role with the Spurs, teams will make offers based on his previous three years.
That trade has some chances if the Spurs send some players. Jerrels, Temple and Gee could be, but they are the third string PG and SF. Third string PG is still an important role.
No way the Spurs trade Dice, unless the Spurs make an agreement with Knicks to make a buyout. But Dice has like $10M left in his contract, it's too much for a late first rounder.
Long term, the Spurs are shooting the foot helping the Knicks with Melo, because Parker would make a solid core with Amare and Melo.
In all fairness he isn't really a little known backup player. He has steadily improved every year he has been in the league.
In 09 he started 70/82 games for the Knicks averaging 33mpg, 14pts and 5rbs
Last season he started 64 games and averaged 35 mpg , 15pts and 5rbs.
I understand the money aspect makes it a weird option but if the Spurs feel like he will turn out to be a stud than they would obviously be willing to extend his contract once he becomes a RFA.
Mcdyess 5.8 mil will also come off the books next year if he still decides to retire.
The thing with Chandler is, he's probably miscast as a starting SG, with the Knicks. It seems that miscasting/misjudging players is part of the fabric of the Knicks. On the Spurs, however, Chandler would make an immediate contribution as a very solid backup SF - his natural position.
That said, should he improve his outside shooting, he could very well evolve into a long-term solution as a starting SF. Because he's shown a propensity to develop his game each year he's been in the NBA, there's every reason to believe he'll continue to get better.
Has to say something that I took the time to read your post before the latest rumor and thoughts of Mr. Ingram.
I'm in no way an expert but I think the thing you hear ad nauseam almost more than any other rule or correction when talking CBA and contracts from those you look to learn from, is that you cannot combine exceptions. I can't tell you how often that question comes up or how many times I see someone like Coon address it.
Chandler's actually fine in that system for what D'Antoni wants. I'm sure he envisions him to be in somewhat of the same mold as Marion.
But for the good of Chandler and his ability to reach his potential, utilize all the gifts he's been given to excel at the defensive end and as a legitimate 'glue-guy' and championship component, it'd be best if he got out of that system and environment. That's my belief, anyway.
FWIW: Bill Walker makes more sense for the Spurs. In theory, Chandler could be a good defender, but it's more or less RJ redux on offense. Chandler is a transition player with almost no outside shot.
Walker is a good three point shooter. Plus, it's easier to make salaries and taxes work if the Spurs trade for Walker. If I recall, Buford had some interest in Walker prior to the 2008 draft.
Always liked Walker and will never forget the beast he was in high school, but I'm a little perplexed when looking up his numbers.
I was sure he was a great athlete, small forward at the NBA level, and that he couldn't shoot. Looking at the numbers for last year (in a decent amount of attempts - 116), he shot 43% from 3 and 50% from both the 10-15 and 16-23' ranges . . .
Oh, and he also happened to play and defend from the 2 better than any other position.
Health's a BIG question with him and those knees, but he definitely looks to be someone worth taking a flier on.
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