How to Fix the Knicks. A Blueprint for Donnie Walsh.

When the season ends and the James Dolans regime concludes another season of Unablevision's reign of mediocracy, Knick fans will look foward to a off-season of hope following the hiring of former Indiana Pacers executive Donnie Walsh. For many Knicks fans Walsh signals an end to the Isiah Thomas tragedy of 33rd street. The Knicks currently sit tied for 4th worst in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies as the season wraps up, assuring them the 4th most ping pong balls in the Michael Beasley (the Kansas State Freshman Foward) Sweepstakes.
While the Knicks do have a wealth of young talent and a a free-spending owner in James Dolan, they have spent a king's ransom to bring in, what has so far proven to be, a bad mix of players, unable to win together. Walsh must assess what to do at each position, and what roles he needs to fill and ewhat roiles the players he plans to keep will fill and what players to get rid of. While this task seems to be something the right basketball mind can fix, lets remeber only three years ago when it was thought that the addition of Eddy Curry, the three first round Picks in Channing Frye, Nate Robinson, and David Lee, under the teachings of Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown would put this franchise on the right path to a much coveted NBA Championship in New York.
It was only one year ago that Isiah "Zeke" Thomas was given a 4 year contract extension to run the Knicks sidelines and front office. Even with the Anuca Browne Sanders Sexual Harrassment case looming on Thomas and the Knicks organization, James Dolan had seen enough improvement that he felt warrented extending Thomas' contract.
Then the Knicks went 21-56( and counting), and everything not named Jamal Crawford fell apart. Hampered with the NBA's seconed largerst payroll(behind only Mark Cuban's Dallas Mavericks)and 58-plus loss season, change is needed throughout.
Former CBA coach and basketball author/journalist Charley Rosen of Foxsports.com(not to mention the best basketball mind in print offers his fix the Nix in his column on the website.
"What do the Knicks need that they don't have?

A high-quality point guard, which immediately rules out Sebastian Telfair.
A rugged, defensive-oriented, rebound-hungry power forward.
A lively and creative small forward.
A savvy draft.
To make LeBron an offer he can't refuse when his rights are up for grabs."

Rosen's keep list includes Curry, Lee, Crawford, Robinson, Jared Jeffeies, Fred Jones, and Renaldo Balkman.
His maybe list consist of Randolph Morris, Mardy Collins, and Wilson Chandler.
Rosen's Must get rid of list includes Stephon Marbury, Jerome James, Zack Randolph (No surprise), Quentin Richardson, and Malik Rose to get younger.
While Rosen offers up great reasons why to retain and rid these players, it is worth examining each position to determine what to rid and retain to right the Knicks ship.

COACH
Fire Isiah!!! Those have roared thoughout the Garden since early in the Knicks season. While Thomas did coach the Indiana Pacers to the NBA playoffs for three straight years under Donnie Walsh, he lost the Knicks respect and attention in the Locker room after the team voted to bench Marbury during a west coast trip after he went home to New York before a game against the Pheonix Suns. The lack of command Thomas had from the moment he chose to ignore the vote he chose to give the team and start Marbury, doomed the 2007-08 season early on. Isiah must not return to the sidelines next year.
The luck for all Knicks fans is that Isiah has stated that he wants to honor his contract and would be willing to stay with the organization in any capacity that Donnie Walsh sees fitting. That role would be best suited as a high profile scout in charge of the draft. As a excutive Isiah Thomas is one of the best in the game at choosing players, as skill that many execs don't pocess. His record includes Marcus Camby, Tracy MacGrady, Damon Stoudomire, Trevor Ariza, Lee, Nate, Frye, Balkman, Collins, and Chandler. While most execs considered those picks a reach (except Camby) Thomas proved them all wrong.
Who to hire?
The canidates include: Herb Williams, Scott Skiles, Rick Carlisle, Mark Jackson, and dark horse Jaff Van Gundy.
While the popular choice is Jackson for his ties to the organization and hot name due to his greatness at the point guard positon, the right choice would be Carlisle. Skiles had a bad History with Curry and Crawford when they played for him in Chicago, that would give Walsh a harder task of getting rid of two more large contracts. The Knicks would be taking a huge gamble on Jackson who has no coaching experience at any level. The theory that he would make a natrual transition from borderline Hall of Fame point guard to coach holds a lot less weight when you remember that Isiah Thomas was a shoo-in Hall of Fame point gaurd who failed at coaching. The biggest difference are that Jax was a past first player the raised the value of his team with his leadership abilities and Zeke was a two time champion who carismatically contolled the locker room and ruled the Pistons with a iron fist.
Rick Carlisle on the other hand is a no nonsense coach, who has taken two teams to the NBA Eastern Conference finals in Detroit and Indiana. He turned the Pistons from draft lottery caliber to championship caliber. Carlisle is a proven winner at the coaching position and would be the best choice for the sideline outside of Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich.

POINT GUARD
It is at the point Guard position that the nightmare begins for Walsh. The nightmare is not exactly Marbury, but more the role of Franchise Player. With the Knicks the role of the Franchise player is a Three Headed Monster; The Player they Think should be the Franchise Player (Eddy Curry), The Player they pay like a Franchise Player (Marbury at 19 million), and The Player that thinks they are the Franchise player because his former employer overpayed him at 13million (Randolph). The problem is that Randoplh and Curry are really not good enough for that role despite Curry's ability to score with a toe in the paint. Neither have ever embraced the team concept of sharing the ball equals slower double teams.
The enigma that is Stephon Marbury.
When looking at the talent and skills of Stephon Marbury, they scream FRANCHISE PLAYER.He has amazing handle and dribble ailities, and can pass the ball on a dime. Due to his strength and superior conditioning Marbury receives the inbound pass and get the ball above the timeline at will. Steph can choose to shoot,pass from the parimeter and curl around screens for a open shot, fake and drive, crossover and then hesistate and drive, or just stick his head down and power his drive past his man. Marbury is strong enough to withstand all contact he endures when he drives the ball to the basket and atletice enough to alter his plans when the defense rotates. He has the court vision to spot open men in a instant and executes a almost perfect Screen and Roll when given the partner to work with. Marbury also can deliver no assist passes and power his way back to quickly reset the offense when all options are defended good.
When Marbury is motivated, as he was during the 2006-07 season, Marbury fronts his man well on defense and stays in front of his man. His quick hands result in steals, but Marbury will tend to drift in the lanes. Under Isiah, Ron Artest would do the same. Marbury will be as physical with his man as the referee will allow, meaning he is not Greg Anthony, but you will not face him and shoot buckets after the game to refine your stroke with the energy you reserved. Steph at his worst tends to stray away from this nasty defense to charge his man on th eperimeter and watch as he is past for a edrive to the basket. In all Marbury due to his power offense game and physical defense is hell, with winning basketball being about creating mismatches, this guy is almost nightly a mismatch. Marbury is best defended by letting him get shot happy and not getting his teamates involved.
Marbury's issues are more to do with if he does not get his number called in the offense he will call it himself outside of the offense. Marbury is not suited for a strict offense where he is not the 1 or 1a option, he was lost under Larry Brown and will continue to only play for coaches who massage his massive superstar ego. Marbury also tends to overhandle the ball leading to unnessesary turnovers, that would be rid of by a good coach. Even during his best defensive games, Steph tends to deefend the screen and roll poorly by going under the pick and letting up long range jumpshot, or going over the pick and chasing his man on a drive. With his size and strength, it is a wonder why Marbury does not blast thurough the screen on a consistant basis. It would lead to a lower shooting percentage for his man and multiple away from the ball fouls giving Knick fans flashbacks of another New York Knicks number 3, John Starks. This can be fixed with a coach who belives in teaching in practices, like Larry Brown was supposed to be for the Knicks. These are tendencie that Steph has, he also will blast through screens in the 4th quater of close games making Knick fansclamour for more. Marbury also tends to sulk when not happy and will speak his mind to the press, even when he should just tote the company line. He is considered a cancer to chemistry due to this, even though he is the team captain and was the most respected player on the Knicks when he was healthy.The former NBA iron man at almost 5 season without missing a game, Steph has missed large parts of the last two seasons due to knee and ankle surgery.
To win with Steph, Marbury need defensive minded athletic shot blocking frontcourt player that can play the pick and roll and catch lead passes to the basket when Marbury gets fronted by a big man on a rotation. Marbury would also need a outside shooter and a passer from the post. A good available player would be Ron Artest who makes excellent passes out of the paint when all of his options toward the basket are defened. Artest would give the Knicks another perimeter defender to play alongside Marbury.
The problem with getting rid of Marbury, beside his skill and talent, is he is in the final year of his contract that pays him 21million. If the Knicks want any shot at getting Lebron James it starts here. The Knicks must get the 20 million a year they pay Marbury off the books. If they decide to retain Marbury after this season it must be for a lot less money and only for the short term (2010).
If the Knicks decide to keep Marbury, and talent at the Point Guard position is not in abudance around the NBA, they must suround him with players that he can suceed with. A small foward with a mid range jump-shot willing to operate the pick and roll and receive the ball in the post, A power foward that is defensive minded, athletic, and looks to set picks on offense, rebound on defense and rotate to protect the basket when the perimeter defender looses his man. This player should be able to hit the 8-12 foot jumper (15ft if they want Big Dolan $$$) and catch ally-oop passes from the Guards. A shot blocking Center to patrol the paint and contest lay-ups. A big man that rotates to scare any perimeter player on the offense driving the ball makes for a easier time for the perimeter defenders. In a perfect world the Knicks would get Ron Artest, Emeka Okafor, and Marcus Camby.
If the Knicks land a top pick in the 2008 NBA draft, then University of Memphis' Guard Derrick Rose would be the best choice for the Knicks. Compared to a stronger and slower Chris Paul, he would be a ideal replacement for Marbury. This would give the Knicks a lot more flexibilty with Marbury, now the Knicks would have a young elite point guard learning for a year while Steph's contract expires. If Rose shows enough to take over the helm at the point then you let Steph walk. If he is not ready for primetime, Steph's value would be diminished in the long term, but increased greatly on the Knicks in the very short term.
There is also no available free agent at the point better than Starbury, that would be willing to accept the Knicks only bargaining chip, the mid-level exemption.

In business, the most common practice to suceed is Sell when your commdity is high and buy when other commodites are low. With Stephon the Knicks would receive maybe ten cents on the dollar, if they were to take on a long term headache they could get sixty cents on the dollar. Marbury's talent and expiring contract almost command a even-up exchange. Can Marbury return to form after a season in which he had surgery to remove bone fragments from his ankle and on which the Knicks did not support him enough in his mind after his father Donald passed away from a heart attack suffered while attending a Knick game. The selling low only gets worse for the Knicks when the other heads of the monster emerge.

SHOOTING GUARD
While the Knicks appear set with the 27 year old Jamal Crawford's breakout season of 21ppg, there is nothing of any value behind Crawford. If Crawford were to miss a chuck of games as he usually does every season, the Knicks are forced to use Fred Jones or Quentin Richardson. Fred Jones has never shown anything but amazing athleticism and solim defense for a player barely 6'4". He is too short for shooting guard on a regular basis and too inconsistant to be relyed on for valuable minutes.
Q-Rich has got to go!
Q-Rich has a bad back that limits him to around 50-60 games, he does not get along with his teammates. His vertical leap is inconsitant, and that is a main part of his game. Without Steve Nash, Richardson couldn't throw a rock in the ocean. But the biggest reason Richardson has got to go is he gets along with no one and is a coach killer.
Richardson didn't play for Larry Brown.
Richardson fought with Isiah Thomas, Zack Randolph, and anyone else.
Richardson was one player seen by Roy Jones Jr. in a 10 mintue visit to a Knicks practice as one of two players standing up his coach.
Q-Rich has got to go.
The right coach can get Jamal Crawford to play defense the right way as Larry Brown would say, fight through picks and curbing his lane diving; the way he played for Larry Brown. The problem is Jamal Crawford is so slight, he lacks the strength to effectively fight to picks on a consistant basis during a 82 game schedule and still be effective on the offensive end to pour in the more glamourous 20ppg stats. Playing basketball the right way does not show up in the stat sheet, thus negating getting players like Utah Jazz foward Matt Harpering the large contract.
The Knicks need a tall, pass first defensive mind guy off the bench to spell Jamal Crawford of some minutes. Is Mardy Collins that guy? they can wait and find out. One thing is certain, this guy must be found for relitivly cheap. The Knicks could also use a outside shooterin the Trenton Hassel mold to spell Crawford of minutes. Eddie House, and anyone else in the NBA who can consistanly hit the money ball please apply. If only Allan Houston could find the fountain of youth.
A long baller could easily stech the floor for the Knicks, who search their line-up for a lucky hand nightly. This would lead to less blown fourth quarter leads.

SMALL FOWARD
Get Ron Artest! While this is the Knicks deepest position when it comes to bodies, it happens to be the thinnest position when it comes to talent. Renaldo Balkman, Jared Jaffies, and Wilson Chandler all make for great guys to fill in on a bench unit. Jared Jeffries is a stud defender and the best on the current Knicks roster. He does not shoot the ball and move the ball on offense well by dribbling into the paint and passing out of the free-throw line. the Knicks play better when Jeffries gets his minutes, when getting over 20 minutes a game, Jeffries is a lockdown defender, who at 6'11" is impossible to drive around or shoot over.
Hustle is word most commonly used when describing Balkman, Often compared to a young Dennis Rodman, until he shows a old Dennis Rodman basketball I.Q. and defense/rebound prowlness, Balkman should be used as much as needed. 20 to 25 mpg.
Wilson Chandler has shown flashes of quality basketball. He has put up good point and rebound totals when given the minutes. he is still on his rookie contract which pays him in the million dollar per year range. Chandler as of now is a valuable commodity going into his second year. The 6'8" athlete must develop enough versitility and defense to crack the 12 man rotation though if the Knicks plan to keep Chandler. Chandler must be able to play and defend either both foward spots or the taller wing players.
Ron Artest would change the whole complextion of this team. You now add a legitimate low post scorer and passer. The Queens, New Yorek native would bring his lockdown, physical perimeter defense to a team that sorely needs guys stopped. He would make Marbury's defense much more threatning now with two physical guys on the wing. Artest would be able to stop the other teams best offesive player letting the easy defensive assignments trickle down. With a defensive/ rebound minded power foward that can block shots, the Knicks would be able to entertain keeping Eddy Curry. Artest would give the Knicks a nice group of defensive minded fowards, that a versitle enought to play the floor together as a stopper unit for short strecthes. With Marbury, Artest, Jefferies, and Balkman. the Knicks would be a shot blocker away from creating a effective defensive unit. You can plug in players such as Nate Robinson,David Lee and Jamal Crawford for more emphasis on there respective roles.
Offensivley Artest would give the Knicks a low post scorer and passer. Artest is so effective at passing out of the paint, he would remind the Knicks fans of Larry Johnson. He can make a pass for an assist or pass out to re-set the offense.
Artest, who refind his game on the playgrounds of the dangerous Queensbridge Housing project would also bring his swagger of a go to scorer when the game is on the line, something only the Knicks need in the post to complement Jamal Crawford. If Crawford is double teamed in the final seconds, Artest would welcome the ball in the paint for a last shot.
Artest also sets massive picks, has led the NBA in steals, and is a absolute massive mound of muscle at 6'7" and 260lbs. The fans at the Garden would cheer the return of the St. John University product, invoking memories of former New York bred former Knick defensive bully Anthony Mason (only on the perimeter and not in the paint).

POWER FOWARD
The second head of the three headed monster emerges in Zach Randolph. This is the ugliest head of them all. Randolph might post better rebound numbers than Curry, but he gives absolutly no effort to fight for those rebounds. His height, ability and positon on the floor lead to these high rebound numbers. Randolph is a ball hog with no intrest in sharring with the four other guys on the floor with the same shirts on. He would much rather share with the five guys closer to him with the other color shirts.He is turnover prone.
Randolph also plays absolutly no defense, which combined with the Knicks weak perimeter defense makes for no last line of defense. Randolph makes no attempt to block any would be scorer, there is no defensive rotation. Randolph also does nothing without the ball, no picks, no movement. He will wait for the ball and then front his defender.
Randolph also does not get along with his teammates, coaches, or the salary cap for that matter.
So why with all the problems of Zach Randolph is David Lee sitting? Money. Randolph makes 13million a season compared to Lee's rookie contract extended. While Lee is better in all facets for the Knicks, he is a much more fluid offensive player with his passing, he rotates on defense, and anticpates plays much better, Lee is still a poor defender with a still raw scoring game. Lee is slightly undersized for the bigger fowards at 6'9", but can leap out the building and always gives a A effort.
If the Knicks can rid Randolph and get a player such as restricted free agent to be Emeka Okefor from the Charlotte Bobcats, Lee and Okefor would create a nice frontline rotation. Lee is best suited as a role player for rebounding. He can move a bigger defensive minded four to the five for short spurts, and even play the three for 5 to 7 minute spells.
Donnie Walsh need to find the second coming of Dale Davis, that would be Okefor. Walsh must make Okefor a offer the Cats can't refuse. WAlsh should also trade Randolph for a bottle of Murphy's Wood oil polish to clean the Garden floor; If only finding a taker for Z.Randolph would be that easy.

CENTER
The third head has emerged.
The enigma that is Eddy Curry. The massive 6'11" near 300lb center for the Knicks. Curry can bull his way to get position, but turns the ball over in the slightest touch. He has a nice array of offensive post moves, but is way too prone to commit offensive fouls. He is that big but give you about 7 rebounds a game. he shoots 58% and scores 19 meaningless ppg at his best. Curry is 25 years old and still has time to show he can change, but at best Curry is a second option in todays NBA.
Donnie Walsh sees the center position as a defensive position, he envisions Tyson Chandler and Marcus Camby as the protoypical centers. The Knicks got the wrong Baby Bull big man when they traded for Curry. The Knicks also traded this player when they shipped Marcus Camby to Denver for Antonio McDyess.
Curry also cannot co-exist with Randolph, but does get along with his teammates and his lo-key demenor makes for a better teammate.
If the Knicks were to keep Eddy Curry, a talented backup would have to be acquired. Jason Collins would fit this mold nicely. While Collins is not the Shot Blocker savaant that would idealy fit this mold, Collins bullies his man around the paint, set massive picks and rebounds with authority. Collins can be had for the mid level if the market for him dosn't grow and he gets paid beyond his talent. Jerome James' services would have to be terminated.
The Knicks could also trade Curry for a role playing defensive minded Center like unrestricted free agent to be New Jersey Nets big-man Dasagna Diop, but they would have to back up this player again with a Collins type of backup.
The only solution for the Knicks here is to get bigger faster, more atheletic, and most important defensive minded. If Curry is to stick around, the Knicks must invest in teaching him how to play the Center position the proper way. They must send him to a big man camp every summer and hire Patrick Ewing to teach him during the season. Curry must show up in prime shape at about 260 lbs of muscle. Eddy Curry would also have to wake up and develop a fire to get the ball and do what ever it takes to win. If Curry does not have that commitment, then he must go.

THE BENCH
Isiah built a solid bench in his tenure as President of the Knicks. Robinson, Jefferies, Lee, Balkman, Morris, Collins,Chandler, Jones and Malik Rose make for nice peices to a solid bench. The Knicks lack a outside scorer like a free agent to be Brent Barry and a playmaking point guard like Carlos DelFino. Guys to bring in a team first attitiude without commanding too many minutes from the starters, ROLE PLAYERS. It is also a must to sign these guys to short term contracts to breed competion to fill those rolls out of the young bench players. DeSagna Diop would fit nicely into the big man rotation and could eventually start but that is a luxury the Knicks might not be able to afford. If Thomas remains as a scout, there should be no worries in this department. The Knicks biggest bench problem is getting the right guys on the floor at the same time, and getting enough minutes for this many talented players. If the Knicks can add a talented long baller, this only becomes harder when these players heat up.

While the Knicks maintain they are looking at this with a plan for the next few years, the real year in mind is 2010, when Lebron James can be wined and dined at New York's finest Steakhouses and nightclubs. King James will never try to rescue the Knicks from any worse then they are now. It would be hard to imagine Donnie Walsh wooing Lebron with Zach Randolph, Quenton Richardson, and Eddy Curry.
Change is needed in this group.
The Knicks continue to show up the most out of shape and least prepared team in the NBA. They do not practice hard or effective. The New regime, starting with Donnie Walsh has got to change the routine the Knicks have become so accustomed to in practicing and preparing for a game.