A Beasley Gallo of a Yi

Chris Sheridan of espn wrote an article the other day (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2010/columns/story?columnist=sheridan_chris&page=beasleygame3-100423) talking about Miami's displeasure with famed second year player Michael Beasley.

Today I'm reading an NY Daily News article by Julian Garcia (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/2010/04/25/2010-04-25_amare_may_be_out_of_netsknicks_mix.html#ixzz0mDhgcfMV) mentioning the Net's possible desire to trade away the Chinese up and comer Yi Jianlian.


What does this have to do with a Knicks blog??? The numbers...Danilo Gallinari's numbers to be exact. Gallo had a good year this past season despite the Knicks losing season. He posted about 15pts, 5rebs, 2 assists, and almost 1 steal/block per game. He even turned up the offense down the stretch of the season, averaging 20pts per for the month of April...Sweet.


What's just as sweet are the numbers posted by Michael Beasley. Beasley was the second overall pick in the same draft as Gallo, who was picked 6th. Beasley posted nearly identical numbers as Gallo. The only difference is the 3pt percentage, obviously and the minutes. Beasley actually averaged 29 minutes per game compared to Gallo's 33. Why is Pat Riley supposedly souring on their #2 overall pick, while the Knicks are almost ready to crown Gallo king of Little Italy??? Without getting into the off the court issues, Beasley has a reputation for not giving it his all on the basketball court. I find that to be a joke since the offense is catered to allow Dwyane Wade to save them on every possession. The Heat essentially don't need the skills Beasley brings to the table. They need a back to the basket, lunch pail type of player at power forward like Carlos Boozer. Beasley is no Boozer. Beasley is a mid-range finesse player that can take his man off the dribble like a guard. Beasley rarely is allowed to utilize these skills making him a victim of the offense he is in.


Yi Jianlian is a foreign born player like Gallo and has the extra task of getting used to a whole different culture let alone American basketball. With that said his numbers last season also were nearly identical to both Beasley and Gallo. Yi's shooting percentage by far was the worst at 40% and it showed in the slight dip in scoring compared to the other two players at 12pts per game. Yi's main knock was aggressiveness and getting used to the American style of play. Chinese players are notoriously polite on the court and have trouble getting used to that aspect. Yi showed flashes of 18/10 production but it was short lived due to various injuries throughout the year.

So if these guys are so similar, why are Yi and Beasley seemingly being run out of their respective towns??? As I said before, the system could be the main reason two guys haven't turned the corner. Another is age. Yi is only 23, while Beasley is a ripe 21. Gallo is 22 himself...but he's the prince of NY...at least for now. People are still comparing him to Dirk Nowitzki. If there is still enough potential in Gallo to reach that status, then there is enough time for Beasley and Yi to reach their ceilings. In my humble opinion, Beasley might be comparable to Glenn "Big Dog" Robinson who was a 20/6 player for nearly a decade. Yi Jianlian is very similar to Kevin Garnett in style but not in crazy, so a poor mans KG is about right, keeping in mind KG was 25/10/5 for a decade.

Rumors??? The Heat supposedly just want cap space for Beasley...The Knicks have plenty to spare and need the talent. The Nets are simply looking to upgrade the position. Sign and trade for David Lee??? Makes sense for the Knicks because they need as many crafty moves as possible to fill out the roster as they hope to sign two max players this off-season. Could Beasley, Gallo, Yi make a good front court??? They have the size especially with Yi being 7 feet. They have the mobility and passing ability...they also have D'antoni's offense to loosen them up....its worth a look.

Hopefully Donnie Walsh has my blog bookmarked on his browser *wink, wink*

T-mac we hardly knew ye

Tracy McGrady is heading into free agency, but is already stating that he doesn't see himself as a sixth man.

"Sixth man? I don't see myself being a sixth man," McGrady said Friday night when asked about the possibility.

"I mean, I haven't fallen off that --- much," he said. "I've been hurt the last two years. But I ain't fallen off that much."

McGrady has struggled at times in New York, but doesn't think he'll have to audition for teams this summer to prove how far he's come.

"I'm interested to go to a team where I can win," he said.



Read more: http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/65890/20100410/mcgrady_doesnt_see_himself_as_sixth_man/##ixzz0lEqkZ1m5

He hasn't fallen off that much??? I mean he said himself in the quotes above that he's been hurt the last two years...it's a little more than just hurt...the dude simply hasn't played many NBA games for the last 2 years. The games he has played in he's looked like a dude that doesn't know when to throw in the towel. I'd also say he's looked very arrogant out there. He was basically coasting. I don't think the dude was trying to fit in with the team as much as he was just trying to just get in some NBA caliber run for his rehab. That doesn't sit well to me. It's not about expecting Tracy to become Batman again and go toe to toe against Lebron James for the win. It's about his me first attitude.

I won't use my space to bash anyone, but how man times throughout his career did he leave his team, or have a dramatic episode on the court taking himself out of games. He had a few instances where he was actually carried off the court in a stretcher in a game only to start again the same week. I dunno Knick fans. He's always seemed like a drama Queen. How much is he even worth at this present time...Seriously...a veteran, former all-star, MVP candidate that hasn't played ball at an elite level in 2 years because of chronic knee injuries...even if he was a 2nd tier guy...he should only command about a 1 year for about the veteran's minimum with maybe an option for a second year. He hasn't proven he's worth a huge commitment. Even if a team over pays, they would be stupid to pay him anything over the mid-level exemption for a year, which is roughly 6 mil per.

It's kind of a joke to even blog about it. I wish Tracy McGrady well and I hope he can at least sniff the idea of making the all-star team again. Knicks however don't have time for his non-sense. Nobody should be bigger than the team, organization or the city they play for. Knicks are trying to get professional ball players and turn around a decade of embarrassment this off season. There's absolutely no room to play nurse and rub any former superstar's boo boo's.

Go Knicks!

Other free agency options

It's not July first yet...but there's a little less than 3 months to go. Everyone has talked Lebron, Wade, Amare and Bosh to they are blue in the face. Yeah they are the big dogs in this coming off-season...but what are the OTHER options??? Not much has been said about the ability to absorb contracts. The Knicks could in fact do just that. The other team would be awarded a trade exemption.



These guys look familiar??? That's Chris Paul and Darren Collison of the New Orleans Hornets. Chris Paul was arguably the best point guard in the league before he went down with a knee injury that required surgery...cost him 25 games. He's now out for the remainder of the season because of torn ligaments in his middle finger. Talk about bad breaks...but that depends on who you talk to. Darren Collison has come on extreamly strong in Paul's absence, often putting up numbers that rivaled his all world teammate. Sorry to say but one has to go...in any other city Darren Collison would be the guy they shipped...but this is New Orleans. They represent the back end of the NBA teams that struggle to sell seats and break even as a franchise. They need a winning TEAM more than they need a superstar clogging up the cap space. What do they need??? A small fwd, and front court depth. Knicks have up and comer Wilson Chandler and lame duck Eddy Curry, who is entering his contract year and needs to play well to secure his next contract in the NBA. Its a little hard to swallow at first glance, but in the business of basketball, it makes alot of sense for both teams. Don't forget, Chris Paul is a battered player and now has to prove he can bounce back from injurys, especially ones that require surgery. Knicks would be taking a huge risk that they probably would have to make in this situation.



Seriously is Joe Johnson a max player??? The dude turned down more than the Knicks could offer already from an Atlanta extention. He's a good player but...is he THAT good??? What about these guys?:




16 million...that's how much Joe Johnson is looking for. That's the maximum allowed under the CBA. Mike Miller and Ray Allen can both be signed this off-season for the same amount of money. Who would you rather have? Joe Johnson or Ray Allen AND Mike Miller??? Ray Allen probably commands a 2 year 10 mill per year deal...Mike Miller has seen a dip in his scoring output the last few seasons so he could see about 6 million per. They both fit a need in D'antoni's offense. To have both in coaches short rotation would be incredible.

Add a resigned David Lee...maybe Marcus Camby is lured back. With everything you read here, give or take a few mill here and there...how good could this potential Knick team be:

David Lee
Gallo
Camby
Chris Paul
Ray Allen
Mike Miller
Toney Douglas
Earl Barron
Bill Walker
2 2nd rounders

A Blog and a dream.

Arenas is locked up...could he be set free on MSG?

Gilbert Arenas used to be an interesting character. He had an interesting blog up, where he was very entertaining and funny. He was great on Twitter for a stint. He was a great interview as well because you never knew what he was going to say. Nothing too controversial...just interesting, entertaining and well, funny. That's basically who he was and what the NBA is sorely lacking since the days of when every team seemed to have at least one. The NBA was fun to follow back then, and yes the NBA let Gilbert do his thing. It's great for the league....

All this crashed to the earth when he decided to bring guns into the workplace and recklessly display them however he did it. The reports are mixed as to what really happened and everyone is tight lipped about it. Whatever happened that day, brings us to the present and Arenas is going to spend 2 days in jail as part of his sentencing from the felony gun charge. Coaches and players are giving the routine fraternal support as they always do. Clearly that locker room has been damaged and it all seemed to clear as soon as the "Big 3" of Arenas, Jaimison, and Butler were traded/suspended from the roster. The Wizards are clearly a team on the rebuild and have a new champion in Andray Blatche as its cornerstone. Tons of cap space has been removed in the process, and the only "blotch" on the payroll at this time is the former Agent Zero, Mr. Gilbert Arenas.

Enter the 2010 free agent market. A rather large amount of teams have cap space and players to trade. Depending on what the Wizards want to do, they can revamp their club or dump more cap with the contract of Gilbert Arenas. I find it hard to believe this guy can just come back to Washington D.C. and just play basketball like nothing happened. There are hungry teams out there, thirsty to get over the hump and challenge the current powerhouses of the league for the NBA Championship. Since the focus of my blog surrounds the Knicks, its quite obvious they have a gaping hole at the point guard spot. D'antoni needs courage, athleticism, poise, dribble drive ability and court vision. Arenas is capable of all of the above. Selfishness is also another adjective that can be used to describe Arenas game. Perhaps Arenas as been humbled by this whole experience. Perhaps he longs to prove he is not a complete moron and can win...he could disappear into the abyss that is NBA smaller markets and finish out his career. I think there is no doubt that regardless of how humble this man might become, he has a fire that burns inside that is not going to shy away from the pressure of success or failure. The ultimate stage is MSG.




Right away the Knicks have the most money to spend out of any team and the greatest need for a star caliber point guard. They could essentially absorb Arenas contract due to them being over the cap. What makes more sense for the Knicks to offer Eddy Curry, who will be on an expiring contract at the start of the off-season. Knicks have Wilson Chandler and Toney Douglas to dangle as well. What other team would be willing to do such a thing? Not many because most of the teams with cap space have some of the most talented and explosive point guards the league have to offer. Washington in return gets a look at a possible post presence in Curry (contract year)and the freedom to take on the 2011 free agent market headlined by Carmelo Anthony.

Just Bloggin...