With their earlier designs on Nick Van Exel apparently stalled, the Knicks plan (once again) to try for Dikembe Mutombo. Hmm. I guess having Mutombo around would help the height-challenged Knicks…but if we were looking for a 40-something center, why’d we ever trade Patrick Ewing in the first place?
Tag: Knicks
Knick the Quick.
Word is from Frank Isola that the Knicks are Warriors are discussing a trade that would bring Nick Van Exel to NY. As y’all know, I’ve been really down on this incarnation of the Knickerbockers, particularly with Spree gone for (ugh) Van Horn. But this proposed trade – Van Exel for Thomas and Ward – might turn me around right quick. To my mind, Nick Van Exel is the clutchest guy in the league. There’s nobody – nobody – I’d rather have shooting a last-second fadeaway 3 to win the game. Look at the playoffs last year – he single-handedly willed the Mavs past Portland and Sacramento. Dallas were idiots to trade him…At any rate, I very much hope this goes through – it sounds like such a great trade for NY that I have my doubts.
Lighting the Lampe.
Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to witness some decent ball at the Garden. With Spree’s departure marking the lowlight in another sorry Knicks off-season, NY fans pin their longshot hopes on Maciej Lampe. Hey, you can’t teach height.
All’s Well with Latrell.
At his official introduction as a Minnesota Timberwolf, Spree makes peace with Knicks brass. I have very little doubt that he’ll end up having the last laugh about this dubious Keith Van Horn transaction.
So long, Spree.
It’s official…the most dynamic Knick since Bernard King has left the Garden. Consider me among the legions of Knicks fans who’re bummed to see him go…and who aren’t psyched at all about Keith Van Horn. This lousy trade reeks of Layden.
The Sprewell Era Ends.
ESPN is reporting as breaking news that the Knicks have basically traded Sprewell for Keith Van Horn in a 4-player deal (Latrell goes to the T-Wolves, Terrell Brandon goes to the Hawks, Glenn Robinson goes to the Sixers.) While this emphatically makes Minnesota a better team (particularly with Sam Cassell and Michael Olowokandi also joining KG), I can’t say I’m very happy about what’s happened to the Knickerbockers. Spree was the only high-octane guy on a team of one-dimensional choke artists…it’s going to be really hard to root for a team fronted by Van Horn and Houston.
You can’t teach height.
While the NBA draft this year was slower than usual and surprisingly free of interesting trades (with the exception of Cassell to Minnesota, which happened the next day), I thought the Knicks did reasonably well this year. The Sweetney pick at No. 9 was a terrible, Laydenesque call, but picking up the free-falling seven-footer Maciej Lampe at No. 30 sounds like a steal (presuming his contract negotiations work out.) The 7’4″ Slavko Vranes sounds like a decent second-round choice too, far better than Frederic Weis at any rate. Now the question facing Knicks fans is how the trade winds will blow.
Fire Dolan!
With the 2003 NBA draft coming up on Thursday, the Knickerbockers are starting to sound desperate and – sadly – it looks like the Sprewell Era might be over. Can’t we just get rid of Dolan and Layden instead?
Regime Change.
The Lakers fall to the Spurs in six. (Woohoo!) But, amid the rejoicing (outside of LA, of course), let’s take a moment to remember Dave DeBusschere, one of the all-time Knick greats.
Van Gundy to Gund?
Mike Fratello notwithstanding, it appears that TNT continues to be the best place for basketball coaches to spend time between gigs. A week after Danny Ainge joined the Celtics, the cellar-dweller Cleveland Cavaliers ask New York if they can speak to Jeff Van Gundy. Hiring Van Gundy would be a great move for Cleveland, but I’d think he’d want a more high-profile and talent-laden club. (Of course, they might always get LeBron…) Ah well. I still wish Van Gundy had never left the Knicks. (As for playoff news, Chris Webber’s injury has greatly depressed me, but I’ll stick with my earlier picks for now.)