2010 NBA Trade Deadline: Opinion On New York Knicks Deals
M.D. Wright
2.18.10
***EDITOR'S NOTE: The 2010 National Basketball Association Trade Deadline is 3:00 PM EST, on Thursday, February 18, 2010. Some deals have been made, but I will focus on the New York Knicks' moves and speculate on some future moves (waivers, impending free agency, which begins July 1, 2010 -- and deals can be signed after the two-week moratorium is lifted July 15, 2010) that the Knicks may make as a result.
TRADE #1
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4924836
Knicks get G Tracy McGrady (who was traded to the Sacramento Kings for G Kevin Martin earlier in the day) and G Sergio Rodriguez from the Kings, the Houston Rockets get G Kevin Martin and F/C Hilton Armstrong from the Kings, and F Jordan Hill along with F Jared Jeffries from the Knicks.
The Kings get the Rockets' F Carl Landry and F Joey Dorsey -- along with the Knicks' G Larry Hughes.
This move is huge. People do not realize this was the plan from the get-go after Isiah Thomas was fired as the Knicks' GM. All eyes were on the 2010 free agent signing period and the Knicks are now in prime position to sign two MAX PLAYERS (in NBA jargon, that is signing to players to maximum contracts, which are in the 5 year/$90 million range -- or 6 year/$110 million range if they remain with their current teams).
Also included are the Knicks' 2011 and 2012 First Round Draft Picks. The 2011 pick is Top-1 protected, the 2012 pick is Top-5 protected. In essence, the Knicks are going ALL IN and "standing" on 17, if you will (Blackjack lingo), hoping their $30 million-plus in salary cap space will be enough to lure two of the big superstars who are impending free agents this offseason.
This list of big names includes:
F LeBron James.
G Dwyane Wade.
F/C Chris Bosh.
F Amaré Stoudemire.
--------------
Joe Johnson.
Rudy Gay.
If things go the way the Knicks and many Knick fans hope, the Knicks can POSSIBLY come away with LeBron James AND Dwyane Wade. Even Chris Bosh as "consolation" for not getting one of the former will be a great summer for Knicks fans and the Knicks' brass. They were able to keep F David Lee, F Danilo Gallinari, G/F Wilson Chandler and G Toney Douglas throughout all the trades.
***THIS JUST IN:
http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nba/news/story?id=4924052
Knicks send G Nate Robinson, 3-time consecutive NBA All-Star Dunk Contest winner to Boston for G Eddie House, JR Giddens and Bill Walker. There is another Knicks player involved, but he has yet to be named. Most of us Knick fans think it may be Chris Duhon, whose contract is expiring -- as the Knicks are likely to begin playing G Toney Douglas more often at the point guard position with the departure of Nate Robinson.
WE SHALL SEE.
The Knicks shaved tons off their cap by getting rid of Darko Milicic earlier in the week to receive Brian Cardinal, who will most likely be waived. Larry Hughes' prohibitive contract was moved, which helps the cap. Al Harrington, whose game has sunk to nothingness, and his $10M contract come off the books this offseason for the Knicks. So does Chris Duhon's. McGrady's $23M final year comes off in July, so the Knicks have the flexibility to keep him as a decent wing player for LeBron James and/or Wade, at the mid-level exception (which does not hurt the cap situation) or simply let him go and use the MLE and other exceptions to sign another player. The picks are negligible if the free agent signing period works out the way we hope here in New York.
Who wouldn't want to play here? We can sweeten the pot more than anyone other than either Los Angeles team -- and the Lakers are in cap hell, so they cannot sign anyone to more than a $6-$8M contract. The Clippers are... well, the CLIPPERS. Who wants to go there and never see their NBA career again? Definitely not these superstars.
My guess is that with all the moves the Knicks have made this week, and maybe a couple more to follow in waivers and so forth, they are going to try to get to about $40M under the cap and be able to tender their current players when necessary in 2011 so that any signings this offseason do not land them back in cap purgatory.
The Knicks have not been under the cap since we signed Allan Houston in 1996. I almost forgot what this feels like. Donnie Walsh is DEFINITELY NO DAVE CHECKETTS (all... and I mean ALL -- Knicks fans LOVED Checketts) but he just made a series of nice moves that put us in the driver's seat to have rights of first refusal for all the free agents coming up this offseason.
I LOVE IT.
When the Knicks are good, it is good for the NBA. You know this. I know this. David J. Stern knows this. Hate us or not, ACCEPT IT.
DISCUSS>>>
As politically incorrect as I wanna be.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
My Favorites: Today's 5 - TOP 25 SOUNDTRACKS SINCE 1980
My Favorites: Today's 5 - TOP 25 SOUNDTRACKS SINCE 1980
M.D. Wright
2.17.10
***EDITOR'S NOTE: Back with the Favorites Series after a week-long hiatus. May be a purge of them, so be prepared.
Today's 5: TOP 25 SOUNDTRACKS SINCE 1980.
Anytime I have to condense my musical tastes down to anything under a limit of 25, it is extremely tough. I almost think the best way for me to do these is to go rapid fire and go with the first one that comes to mind. Of course what that leads to is a lot of people being offended and inquiring why the soundtrack that got them through a bad season or a breakup in high school isn't listed ha. But hey, I'll do my best (since my tastes are very good if I do say so myself) to do the list justice. As always, feel free to chime in and give me your feedback. As a matter of fact, I encourage it.
1. NEW JACK CITY (1991).
Ushered in a new era of music and defined an entire generation in one album. If you weren't feeling this back then, something was seriously wrong with you. Christopher Williams had probably the headlining jam off the soundtrack with the classic song, "Dreamin'".
2. SUNSET PARK (1996).
This was that summer jam that year. The summer of '96 was great in many regards, but this soundtrack was the THEME of the summer, I think many people who were coming of age or in their 20s at the time will agree.
3. JUICE (1992).
2Pac making his debut and doing it in classic form. Oh, and Rakim spitting on "Know The Ledge" will never get old.
4. BOOMERANG (1992).
Say what you want about the movie, but the soundtrack was great. All those slow jams and this comes out as I am entering 8th grade -- which was a pretty good year for me.
5. WAITING TO EXHALE (1995).
NO SKIPS ALBUM. You have to be in that mindframe though. And I don't mean Angela Bassett lighting ol' boy's clothes on fire in the car, but the mellow/slow mood.
6. KRUSH GROOVE (1985).
WHEN HIP-HOP WAS STILL HIP-HOP.
7. THE BODYGUARD (1992).
Whitney headlined it and it's a classic.
8. ABOVE THE RIM (1994).
THAT SUMMER WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE TOP 3 SUMMERS EVER FOR ME. It was an overall great year in general. I will not argue this. This was the soundtrack of the summer of '94.
9. BROWN SUGAR (2002).
Just a nice, mellow, slow jam, quiet storm type album.
10. GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN' (2005).
50 at his apex.
11. GIRL 6 (1996).
Because you-know-who produced it and threw some of his best slow jams on there.
12. LOVE & BASKETBALL (2000).
An excellent mix of slow jams from back in the day and some newer songs that have become classics. It is one of the better examples of when a soundtrack fits a movie perfectly; scene for scene, throughout.
13. LOVE JONES (1997).
I honestly liked the movie more than the soundtrack at first, but as I dug in the crates and sometimes listen to some of these songs on the artists' individual albums at times, I realize how well it was put together.
14. NEW YORK UNDERCOVER (1995).
Vintage mid-90s music.
15. NOTORIOUS (2009).
Because it features BIGGIE.
16. PLAYER'S CLUB (1998).
The movie was so good that I sometimes forget about the soundtrack, but Cube, Mack 10 and Kurupt definitely did their thing -- along with others -- on here.
17. STREETS IS WATCHING (1998).
Back when I was a fan of Jay. I had the movie and the soundtrack and I swear I watched it 50 times that year. Maybe it was blind fandom, or because I was living in Brooklyn at the time, but what have you, it was excellent in my eyes. But I don't know that it would appeal to others if you weren't on the wave in '98.
18. RUSH HOUR (1998).
Just like the movie, the soundtrack hits you like a torrent of 25 great songs. Those first two Rush Hour movies/soundtracks were something to behold in the late 90s.
19. SET IT OFF (1996).
Another soundtrack that you'd have to be in that type of mode to really fully appreciate.
20. SHAFT (2000).
No individual classic songs, but fused together, it works.
21. HIGH SCHOOL HIGH (1996).
All I know is I was fiending for more Wu when this movie/soundtrack came out, and I got what I wanted. "Wu-Wear: Garment Renaissance" is one of my all-time favorite songs. And contrary to what non-Hip Hop heads may think, RZA MURDERED THAT SONG -- both the production that he used and his lyrics on the first verse.
22. THE PREACHER'S WIFE (1996).
I am guilty of two chick flicks and soundtracks. Sue me.
23. SOUL FOOD (1997).
I dunno, it just works for me.
24. THE BEST MAN (1999).
I think the music fit the scenes perfectly and it didn't detract from the movie itself. You want a good background for particular scenes, and for the poignant ones, the songs were perfect.
25. DEAD PRESIDENTS (1995)
COMING OF AGE ALBUM. If you were in high school back then, who DIDN'T love this?
Honorable Mention:
Bulworth (1998).
Hav Plenty (1998).
48 Hrs (1982).
Beverly Hills Cop (1984).
Coming To America (1988).
DISCUSS>>>
M.D. Wright
2.17.10
***EDITOR'S NOTE: Back with the Favorites Series after a week-long hiatus. May be a purge of them, so be prepared.
Today's 5: TOP 25 SOUNDTRACKS SINCE 1980.
Anytime I have to condense my musical tastes down to anything under a limit of 25, it is extremely tough. I almost think the best way for me to do these is to go rapid fire and go with the first one that comes to mind. Of course what that leads to is a lot of people being offended and inquiring why the soundtrack that got them through a bad season or a breakup in high school isn't listed ha. But hey, I'll do my best (since my tastes are very good if I do say so myself) to do the list justice. As always, feel free to chime in and give me your feedback. As a matter of fact, I encourage it.
1. NEW JACK CITY (1991).
Ushered in a new era of music and defined an entire generation in one album. If you weren't feeling this back then, something was seriously wrong with you. Christopher Williams had probably the headlining jam off the soundtrack with the classic song, "Dreamin'".
2. SUNSET PARK (1996).
This was that summer jam that year. The summer of '96 was great in many regards, but this soundtrack was the THEME of the summer, I think many people who were coming of age or in their 20s at the time will agree.
3. JUICE (1992).
2Pac making his debut and doing it in classic form. Oh, and Rakim spitting on "Know The Ledge" will never get old.
4. BOOMERANG (1992).
Say what you want about the movie, but the soundtrack was great. All those slow jams and this comes out as I am entering 8th grade -- which was a pretty good year for me.
5. WAITING TO EXHALE (1995).
NO SKIPS ALBUM. You have to be in that mindframe though. And I don't mean Angela Bassett lighting ol' boy's clothes on fire in the car, but the mellow/slow mood.
6. KRUSH GROOVE (1985).
WHEN HIP-HOP WAS STILL HIP-HOP.
7. THE BODYGUARD (1992).
Whitney headlined it and it's a classic.
8. ABOVE THE RIM (1994).
THAT SUMMER WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE TOP 3 SUMMERS EVER FOR ME. It was an overall great year in general. I will not argue this. This was the soundtrack of the summer of '94.
9. BROWN SUGAR (2002).
Just a nice, mellow, slow jam, quiet storm type album.
10. GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN' (2005).
50 at his apex.
11. GIRL 6 (1996).
Because you-know-who produced it and threw some of his best slow jams on there.
12. LOVE & BASKETBALL (2000).
An excellent mix of slow jams from back in the day and some newer songs that have become classics. It is one of the better examples of when a soundtrack fits a movie perfectly; scene for scene, throughout.
13. LOVE JONES (1997).
I honestly liked the movie more than the soundtrack at first, but as I dug in the crates and sometimes listen to some of these songs on the artists' individual albums at times, I realize how well it was put together.
14. NEW YORK UNDERCOVER (1995).
Vintage mid-90s music.
15. NOTORIOUS (2009).
Because it features BIGGIE.
16. PLAYER'S CLUB (1998).
The movie was so good that I sometimes forget about the soundtrack, but Cube, Mack 10 and Kurupt definitely did their thing -- along with others -- on here.
17. STREETS IS WATCHING (1998).
Back when I was a fan of Jay. I had the movie and the soundtrack and I swear I watched it 50 times that year. Maybe it was blind fandom, or because I was living in Brooklyn at the time, but what have you, it was excellent in my eyes. But I don't know that it would appeal to others if you weren't on the wave in '98.
18. RUSH HOUR (1998).
Just like the movie, the soundtrack hits you like a torrent of 25 great songs. Those first two Rush Hour movies/soundtracks were something to behold in the late 90s.
19. SET IT OFF (1996).
Another soundtrack that you'd have to be in that type of mode to really fully appreciate.
20. SHAFT (2000).
No individual classic songs, but fused together, it works.
21. HIGH SCHOOL HIGH (1996).
All I know is I was fiending for more Wu when this movie/soundtrack came out, and I got what I wanted. "Wu-Wear: Garment Renaissance" is one of my all-time favorite songs. And contrary to what non-Hip Hop heads may think, RZA MURDERED THAT SONG -- both the production that he used and his lyrics on the first verse.
22. THE PREACHER'S WIFE (1996).
I am guilty of two chick flicks and soundtracks. Sue me.
23. SOUL FOOD (1997).
I dunno, it just works for me.
24. THE BEST MAN (1999).
I think the music fit the scenes perfectly and it didn't detract from the movie itself. You want a good background for particular scenes, and for the poignant ones, the songs were perfect.
25. DEAD PRESIDENTS (1995)
COMING OF AGE ALBUM. If you were in high school back then, who DIDN'T love this?
Honorable Mention:
Bulworth (1998).
Hav Plenty (1998).
48 Hrs (1982).
Beverly Hills Cop (1984).
Coming To America (1988).
DISCUSS>>>
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