Starting Five |
Player
Rating |
C |
Nazr Mohammed |
5 |
PF |
Kurt Thomas |
6 |
SF |
Tim Thomas |
6 |
SG |
Allan Houston |
7 |
PG |
Stephon Marbury |
8 |
| |
|
32 |
* Player Rating on a 1 to 10 Scale. 10
denotes best at position in the NBA with no weaknesses, 5 would be average
player who holds his own etc.
Reserves |
Position
Rating |
C |
Dikembe Mutombo / Cezary Trybanski |
5 |
PF |
Mike Sweetney / Othella Harrington |
4 |
SF |
Shandon Anderson / Trevor Ariza |
4 |
SG |
Anfernee Hardaway |
6 |
PG |
Frank Williams / Moochie Norris |
6 |
| |
|
25 |
* Ratings based on ability of bench to
fill in a position. More than one backup at a position would influence
the rating as would one player's ability to play multiple positions.
Needs:
This is a mediocre team that will struggle to improve. Isiah will need
to find someone wanting to dump a star's contract to pick up any talented
pieces but he needs to have an expiring contract to offer in return.
Overpaying and long extensions like he gave to Kurt Thomas make that
impossible...
A trade seems like their best hope, with Chicago looking like a prime
trade candidate. Chicago would willingly give up Jerome Williams, Antonio
Davis and Eddie Robinson for expiring contracts and may package one
or more of those with Jamal Crawford to make it more palatable to the
Knicks. The Bulls would probably want some youth (the Knicks have no
picks available for the next couple of years) back too and Sweetney
should be of interest to them. The key is finding another contract/s
to make the numbers work. Shandon Anderson could be a decent fit.
Forward
An athletic forward to run with Marbury is Thomas' main search.
Tim Thomas fits the bill to an extent but the Knicks would like to get
quicker at the PF spot to. Wouldn't Kenyon be a great fit? If only Isiah
had something to offer the Nets...
Potential Candidates: Eddie Robinson, Darius Miles
Prediction: This team should squeeze
into the playoffs and lose in the first round. Exactly like last year.
40-45 wins seems about right.