More idle midsummer thoughts

Yes, Wilson Chandler looked impressive in the Knicks' summer league debut. Emphasis on summer league (the same goes for free agent Anthony Roberson, also impressive in the summer opener). Chandler seems like he'll be a better fit in Mike D'Antoni's system than he was in Isiah Thomas'.

Which assumes that Thomas had a system last season, which several scouts said they couldn't recognize.

But let's not hand Chandler the opening night starting small forward's job quite yet. Let's see if he can defend perhaps the toughest position to guard in the league. And let's also see if Quentin Richardson can revive whatever he might have left under D'Antoni and play as he did during their one year together with the Suns.

They may end up being the two-man depth chart at the 3, if Renaldo Balkman doesn't horn his way into the mix, although we're not sure he's a good fit with D'Antoni and he could get tossed into a deal somewhere.

***

If the season started today and Donnie Walsh succeeds in unloading Zach Randolph, buys out Stephon Marbury, Jerome James and possibly Malik Rose, here's your potential opening-night depth chart for the moment:

PG: Chris Duhon, Mardy Collins

SG: Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson

SF: Chandler, Richardson, Balkman

PF: David Lee, Danilo Gallinari, Jared Jeffries

C: Eddy Curry

That's 11, so Walsh would have some filling in to do. And that assumes he doesn't trade Lee or Balkman.

But although we firmly believe in the value of addition by subtraction (i.e. Randolph, Marbury), the above doesn't look like more than a 30-33-win team _ unless D'Antoni can make chicken salad out of ...

***

We call your attention, for starters, to this entry from last season's Knicks' press guide:

"Thomas scored again with the unprecedented signing of free agent Randolph Morris, making the promising Kentucky center the first player ever to jump from the NCAA tournament to the NBA in the same week."

And now, last we heard, Morris jumped straight out of New York to the Celtics' rookie and free agent mini-camp.

Yet another reason why Thomas (who played his "unprecedented" signee all of 20 games last season) is delivering lunch orders for his paycheck these days.

***

We admit we're not of the tattoo generation, but we're a little skittish about tats on the sides of people's coconuts. Hence our wonder about why Stephon Marbury would want to emulate Mike Tyson, albeit in a much smaller fashion.

Just a thought. Yours on all of the above welcome as always.

 

Comments

[TWolf]

Roberson looked good, but his game is the same as Nates.

The above squad doesnt sound too impressive.

?Curry? For all his short comings, he's quick to the Basket.

Buy Jerome James a bus ticket and never let him back in NYC again. Worst Knick of all time.

[TWolf]

The Rooster looked good. he's so young, he'll get better, but I hate when big men set up at the 3 point line. Still he's going to improve and be a huge muscular dude in a coupla years. Mostly he has mental toughness. I like that.

I had no idea chandler had a game.

I think ZBO should have a chance to prove his stuff

I would be willing to pick up Tractor Traylor for the right price.

[Loki1963]

What were the Clips offering for Zach? How bad was it?

[George from Scottsdale]

Steve,prefer he keep Zach and go Duhon, Chandler@2,Gallinari,Zach and Lee,2nd team Craw with Eddy,N8 and Balk.As you noted last years team had No O nor D,so this squad with minimum coaching should be good for 30 wins and Mike D might make it 35!!Run on Offense and switches on D were much better yesterday than last year,issue is still going to be inside,maybe someone shakes out before camp.

[Cloak n Dagger]

I heard on 1050 ESPN Radio NY that the Nuggets will be sending Marcus Camby to the Clippers for salary cap relief.

WTF

Still Donny could still work a trade with LA (the Lakers) to get rid of Z-Bo but it might have to include a third team- ala my suggested three way trade with the Kings, Knicks, and Lakers.

Darn!

Whaddup Stevey.

Keep up the good work!