Controversy abounded when Larry Brown left the Pistons for the New York Knicks. The Knicks and his high salary were the perfect challenge for Brown and, of course, it hasn’t been easy. Brown is so adamant about not playing rookies that he barely played first-round pick Darko Milicic while in Detroit. In New York, he doesn’t have much of a choice: it’s inexperienced rookies or overpaid veterans.
Some of their rookies have been playing very well. Channing Frye has come from nowhere to emerge as the favorite for Rookie of the Year. Frye’s basic game: shoot from the outside and collapse against the glass. But he does it so well and so prolifically that he has so far been the best big man on the Knicks. Nate Robinson isn’t a good defender but he’s pretty quick to the basket. One very impressive stat is that New York only accepts 8.7 3-pointers per game, impressive because sometimes it’s hard to control all those rookies.
Other moves have been a failure so far. Jerome James has done practically nothing other than grow since he’s been in New York. Quentin Richardson’s sole purpose was to hit 3-pointers, but with the Knicks shying away from outside shots, Richardson has been completely useless. And while Nate Robinson and Jamal Crawford are good scorers, they’ve done a lousy job managing the basketball with an NBA-high 17.5 turnovers per game.
There have been rumors that the Knicks are in talks with Minnesota for Kevin Garnett. That would be the only possible move to ensure Isaiah Thomas keeps his job. As Elgin Baylor has shown us, great basketball players are not great executives. Thomas continues Scott Layden’s legacy of bad moves. At the Center, landing Jerome James for 6 years and $36 million was one thing. But then he went after Eddy Curry and got him for $60 million, and now James is coming off the bench. Why recruit Nate Robinson when you already have Jamal Crawford? A lot of money also goes to Richardson. Not enough faith has been placed in the young Knicks.
New York has plenty of players to fill all five positions. Whether they are the correct five is another story. The Atlantic Division that is currently tied with the Nets and the Sixers is wide open. The Knicks can make a move if they improve several things. Turnovers can be quelled if Marbury and Crawford aren’t allowed to walk off on their own all the time. Next year should be better for them. As for this one, it’s unlikely. New York needs to win 25 at home to even have a chance.
