Now that Donnie Walsh is apparently a lock to run the Knicks, the next question is what to do with the mess that Zeke made. Here are some suggestions:
# Stephon Marbury has to go. Trade him for a used jock strap, buy him out, cut him — just make him gone ASAP.
# Zach Randolph puts up numbers but is much more trouble than he's worth. He's totally self-absorbed and a total loser. That's why getting rid of him (and Starbury) will not be an easy task. But hey, if turning the Nix back into the Knicks was easy, then anybody could do the job.
# Eddy Curry can be rehabilitated and is a keeper. He has (and will) respond much better to a pat on the back than a kick in the rump. If he can't rebound, pass or defend, he can score when he catches the ball with at least one foot in the paint. Surround him with the right players and Curry can be a factor.
# David Lee is more effective coming off the bench. His energy can single-handedly change the tempo of a game, and he doesn't play sufficient defense to pair him with Curry for too many minutes.
# Jamal Crawford has huge upside as a shooting guard, but is a minus at the point. At either spot, however, his defensive deficiencies are troublesome. Still, if placed in a highly disciplined system, Crawford can be an impact player on a consistent basis.
# Nate Robinson would best be utilized as the second scorer on the second unit. He's a keeper.
# Quentin Richardson's physical ailments make him too risky to keep. In any case, the perfect role for him is also to be a scorer off the bench. Lose him.
# Jared Jeffries should be retained, simply because he's still an effective defender. However, asking him to do things he can't do well — like shoot, pass and handle — only emphasizes his deficiencies. He's a part-time stopper off the bench.
# There's only one job that fits Jerome James' resume — being a personal bodyguard for Isiah Thomas.
# Malik Rose can still be an effective defender in spot duty and is certainly a good influence in the locker room, but the Knicks will have to get younger in order to get better. Perhaps Rose would be willing to stay in the organization as a scout or assistant coach.
# Renaldo Balkman is another useful backup. He's a scrambler and defender who needs consistent daylight to blossom. A keeper.
# Mardy Collins needs to shoot a jillion jumpers during the off-season. If he can somehow improve his shot, he could serve as an adequate 15th man.
# Wilson Chandler seems to have the goods to be a productive NBA player. Let him compete with Collins for the last spot on the roster.
# Fred Jones is another handy veteran who can be counted on to acquit himself with honor in emergencies. A keeper.
# While Randolph Morris isn't exactly the stolen No. 1 draft pick that Zeke said he was, he's young, big, athletic and deserves to be given another season to determine if he can play at this level.
There's also been some talk about the future of Isiah, who is apparently one of Walsh's favorites. Perhaps he'll be retained on the bench or as GM, or perhaps in some administrative capacity. However, even though Jazzy Jim Dolan is on the hook for $20M, Zeke and his forked tongue have to walk the plank.
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.
Walsh has a monumental task. Restoring a semblance of life to the corpse that Zeke will leave behind may take at least 2-3 years. Or it may even prove to be impossible.
) nach New York...
