Barkley Rips Walsh For Setting Sights On LeBron

[duncan228]

Barkley Rips Walsh For Setting Sights On LeBron
Charles Barkley rips Knicks' president Donnie Walsh for bad management
BY Frank Isola
Daily News

Charles Barkley believes that Donnie Walsh's decision to essentially tank two seasons with the hopes of possibly landing LeBron James is bad management.

"When you set up yourself by basically saying, 'We're going to (stink) for the next two or three years,' I don't think there is any way that can be good for your team," Barkley said. "They're not going to win because those guys know they're not going to be here next year. To expect them to give 110% is unrealistic."

Seven of the 14 players on the Knicks' roster are in the final year of their contracts, including Al Harrington, Larry Hughes, David Lee and Nate Robinson. Those expiring contracts will create much-needed salary cap space for the 2010 free agent class, possibly featuring James and Dwyane Wade.

Walsh, the Knicks' president, didn't add a significant player during the offseason because he didn't want to compromise the organization's long-term plans. The Knicks, who open the 2009-10 season Wednesday in Miami, finished 32-50 last season and aren't expected to be much better this season.

"The Knicks don't have a good team," said Barkley, the TNT analyst. "I think waiting to do all the free agency thing has hurt the camaraderie and chemistry on the team. Those guys aren't dumb. They know they're not going to be around."

Barkley and his TNT cohorts Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson met with reporters in Manhattan yesterday on the eve of the NBA opening.

James' future will be a hot topic all year. The Cavaliers' superstar can become a free agent on July 1 and even Barkley admitted that if James doesn't return to Cleveland, he will end up in New York. However, Barkley would like to see James remain with the Cavs.

"LeBron James should stay in Cleveland," Barkley said. "I hope he does. He has a unique opportunity to be drafted in your home state and be a legend. I just think that's a great story."

SO SORRY: Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv coach Pini Gershon sent a letter of apology to NBA commissioner David Stern and Walsh for refusing to the leave the Garden court in a timely manner after being ejected during the third quarter of a preseason loss to the Knicks at the Garden. After 10 minutes of coaxing by NBA security people and a rabbi, Gershon finally walked to the locker room.

[lefty]

Barkley for president

[jonnybravo]

So, he rips a team that had a high payroll with a bunch of scrubs, that would like to reduce payroll to go out and get stars? He fails as a GM before even getting the job.

x100.

His is of the same mentality why 80% of NBA teams are mired in mediocrity and hanging up banners if they win 35 wins on the back of a Tier 2 or 3 "star". You don't win doing that crap.

[Chieflion]

Walsh has his targets right but the media blew the plan up to epic proportions and now everyone wants to do the same thing.

[jonnybravo]

Walsh has his targets right but the media blew the plan up to epic proportions and now everyone wants to do the same thing.

There's a lot of players that'll make New York semi-relevant besides Lebron fortunately.