Jamal CrawfordI get the whole part about Donnie Walsh wanting to reunite with Al Harrington, a guy who he really liked in Indiana. But why does New York have to sacrifice Jamal Crawford as part of a deal for Harrington?
Crawford’s built up a strong following in the Garden, and is the Knicks’ most talented perimeter scorer by far. If the Knicks get a package of Harrington, Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley for Crawford and Zach Randolph, they could be totally lost when they’re in a half-court set.
That being said, there are some reasons that Walsh believes this is the right move for the Knicks:
* Plain and simple, Jamal jacks. Even though he’s been far more accurate this season from three-point land than he’s been over his career, Jamal still takes low-percentage shots too often when he could make an extra pass. 7 Seconds Or Less doesn’t mean that you have to take a bad shot before the shot clock hits 19 seconds.
* Crawford falls in love with dribbling. In Mike D’Antoni’s ideal system, his shooting guard wouldn’t bring the offense to a halt by putting the ball on the floor as much as Jamal does.
* He’s not a good passer. Though Jamal makes plays in the open floor, his court vision might be his weakest attribute. He’s averaging just over 4 assists per game, which is simply a product of playing in this system, but he’s also close to 2.5 turnovers per night.
* He makes $10 million in 2010-11. That’s the biggest strike against him. Without Crawford, Randolph, or Mardy Collins, the Knicks payroll for the 2010-11 season only includes a $13 million player option for Eddy Curry (which will be gone by then), $7 million player option for Jared Jeffries (which will be gone by then), a $4 million team option for Danilo Gallinari (who knows?), and a $2 million team option for Wilson Chandler. That means they basically have a clean slate from this point forward to build around LeBron.
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November 21st, 2008 at 11:56 am
SK says:
All the Knicks need to do now is get rid of Curry’s fat ass and JJ’s worthless self and it’s a job well done by Walsh.
Tim Thomas back at the garden is going to be the biggest drawback.
November 21st, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Brown says:
It’s been said before, but why would LBJ go to NY with no idea who his supporting cast would be? He’s not going to sign somewhere that’s farther away from a championship. You NY cats need to stop drinking the kool-aid.
November 21st, 2008 at 12:04 pm
johnny says:
The Knicks need this one bad. They also need to trade Nate and Lee before having to pay them what they’re worth! If they could package them with JJ for an expiring and a 1st rounder, that would be the best imo.
All 3 of those guys going to NY could work ok with D’Antoni in the meanwhile.
Tim Thomas got his undeserved contract by playing great for Fun-ix in the postseason a few years back.
November 21st, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Kobeef says:
I don’t understand why the Knicks want to get rid of JC or why the Warriors want him…I’m starting to think this trade is bogus.
November 21st, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Promoman says:
You also forgot to list that Jamal is a defensive liability. The best Jamal will do on D is go for passing lane steals and he loses a good deal of those gambles.
November 21st, 2008 at 12:37 pm
McFly says:
I love JC! He shows Vancouver love coming up to play ball here and his handles were sick.
November 21st, 2008 at 12:46 pm
PALakerFan says:
The pitch to Lebron will be “Hey, bring your friends. We’ll get you ANYONE you want!”
November 21st, 2008 at 12:50 pm
AP007 says:
The Basketball gods Have shined on us…….Jamal “target Locked”Crawford is leavin……FOREVER…….wooorst starting 2 guard in the league….drop 40 one night the next night 8……
November 21st, 2008 at 1:00 pm
BxBaller says:
If the Knicks make this trade I will officially be done with them. They claim Jamal’s a gunner, then what about Harrington? That dude is imo worse than Crawford. And really Tim Thomas again? I don’t think I could stomach a second stint with him.
November 21st, 2008 at 2:05 pm
KW says:
It’s a lebron move. Everything is a lebron move. Sit tight and relax Knicks fans. The next two years are like a flight to Hawaii in middle coach seat. You need to suffer through it to get to paradise.
November 21st, 2008 at 10:31 pm
JCARR says:
Lebron is responsible for this trade. (just stop wearing Yankee hats) Donnie Walsh is the most inconsistent GM (or whatever) someone could ever have. He justs throws money away and talent too.
Crawford should have stayed… trade people like collins (sucks at everything), gallinari (the rooster still has an egg amount of points), malik rose (whack), or even chandler (not sold on him 100% percent yet)
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:26 pm
knickfanatic says:
Walsh is a genius. The Knicks were not going to win anything with the current bunch. I liked Zach and Crawford but they were not keepers. The Knicks still need to move Curry for expirings to set up the “dream scenario”.
Here it is: Bron, Nash and one of Bosh/Amare/Wade in NY in 2010. Call it a conspiracy, but I think these Olympians have discussed that scenario. Combined with Wilson, Lee, Nate, Gallinari (if he is not a bust), JJ and the 2009 draft pick, this is a very good team. The knicks might also be able to attract a key role player for the mid level exception or move some players for better role players.
Relax knick fans. Be patient. We have been losers too long to expect instant success. This is how you build a championship team.
November 24th, 2008 at 6:22 am
rick773 says:
I understand the move for 2010 but what if it backfires , I’m a bulls fan I should know Jerry Krause had all the cap room for players like Grant Hill Tim Duncan and T-mac needless to say none of those ever donned a bulls uni. Could you imagine the look on every knick fan across the nation it would be tragic.
P.S. I’m not wishing misfortune on the knicks but I’d LMAO for days at it