Although many Knicks fans are enamored by the possibility of seeing Chris Paul in a Knicks uniform, it is important to remember that what we want isn’t always what we need.
That the Knicks would be a really good team with the addition of Paul is undeniable; however, as evidenced in Miami, three players cannot do the job of 15, no matter how great. Therefore, it would be wise, on the Knicks behalf, not to follow the path of the Miami Heat no matter how attractive it may seem.
Another issue with the Paul situation is that the New Orleans Hornets seem to be inclined to trading him at the deadline if there is no indication that he will sign an extension. In other words, much like in the asinine trade for Carmelo Anthony, the Hornets will want everything and the kitchen sink for their franchise player.
The Knicks, already a debilitated team in terms of depth, will have to part ways with Iman Shumpert, Chauncy Billups, Landry Fields, Shawne Williams and possibly more. Thus, the Knicks would essentially become the Big Three and the rest of the bums, and this, simply put, would be a devastating tragedy.
The Knicks, however, can and should improve during the offseason. There is an abundance of quality players the Knicks can sign to short and affordable contracts; more specifically, a lot great players that lost value due to injury or reduced minutes.
These players include:
Troy Murphy: For a player of his size, he is as versatile as they come. With career averages of 11.6 PPG, 8.3 RPG and 1.6 APG, he has the potential to be a great bargain after an atrocious injury-plagued season last year.
Delonte West: West is a defensive stopper and combo guard who can potentially be a great fit in the Mike D’Antoni system. Throughout his career West has averaged 9.7 PPG, 3 RPG and 3.6 APG; he, like Murphy, dealt with several injuries this past season and can be a great commodity at the trade deadline.
Michael Redd: If Redd is able to avoid injuries, he can be a good role player/ three-point specialists or the best bargain in the NBA. At 20 PPG, 4 RPG and 2.3 APG for his career,if this former franchise player is able to reinvent himself, he will be pleasant surprise with a very cheap price tag.
Aaron Brooks: Brooks is a deadly shooter and can run with the best of them, making him a good fit for the D’Antoni system. Brooks’ career averages are 12.5 PPG, 3.6 APG and 1.9 RPG; if he can rebound to produce at the 09-10 level, Brooks will be an absolute steal this offseason.
Samuel Dalembert: The Knicks have a desperate need for someone with size who can rebound and play defense; all of these skills define Dalembert. For his career, Dalembert has averaged 8.1 PPG, 8.3 RPG and a monstrous 1.9 BPG. If Dalembert signs with the Knicks, it won’t be for cheap, but his role reduction in Sacramento makes him more attainable.
Other Options include: J.J. Barea, Tyson Chandler, Wilson Chandler, Nene Hilario, Rodney Stuckey, Reggie Williams, Jeff Foster, DeAndre Jordan, Marc Gasol, Shane Battier, Anthony Carter, Jared Jeffries, Shawne Williams, Jason Richardson and Reggie Evans.
The Knicks also have a ton of trade options. Of the many players they can choose from, the following are the most likely to produce in accordance to their original trade value.
Kirk Hinrich: Hinrich is a great leader, defender, passer and shooter; in short, he's a great fit for the Knicks. With career averages of 13 PPG, 5.6 APG and 3.3 RPG, the guy can flat out play. Unfortunately for Hinrich, his stint with the Atlanta Hawks looks more and more to be cut short by the up and coming Jeff Teague; therefore, the Hawks will likely ship Hinrich before his value plummets further.
Ramon Sessions: When given minutes, Sessions has proven he is an excellent playmaker. Throughout his career, Sessions has averaged 11.1 PPG, 4.8 APG and 3.1 RPG in limited minutes. With a wealth of players at the point guard position, Cleveland is looking to trade Sessions and the Knicks can be a front-runner.
Robin Lopez: Lopez is overshadowed by Brook’s success but has demonstrated that he can play defense and rebound well. In very limited minutes, Lopez has averaged just 5.9 PPG, 3.3 RPG and 0.8 BPG. If Lopez were to find an increased role, his production on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball would improve immensely. Also, take into consideration he is only 23.
Beno Udrih: Udrih is a great combo guard who can pass and score in bunches. Udrih’s career numbers are 9.6 PPG, 3.5 APG and 2.3 RPG. The numbers are a bit misleading because although Udrih has been in the league for six years, he hasn’t had a steady role.
Hasheem Thabeet: I know your thinking “Thabeet is a ******* bum” but hear me out. The kid is only 24 and didn’t learn to play basketball until recently. Further, for some reason, big men take longer to develop. Some late bloomers include: Ben Wallace, Al Jefferson, Jermaine O’Neal and Andray Blatche. All I’m saying is Thabeet will be handed to the Knicks for next to nothing, so why not roll the dice.
Other Options: Omer Asik, Louis Admundson, Goran Dragic, Mo Williams, O.J. Mayo, Carlos Delfino, Ryan Anderson, Steve Nash, Jason Thompson, Jerryd Bayless, Javale McGee, Dorell Wright, Chase Budinger, Jonny Flynn, Darren Collison, Lamar Odom, Shaun Livingston, Gary Neal, Jose Calderon, Lance Stephenson and Trevor Ariza.
With all of these options, the Knicks cannot put all of their eggs in three baskets. By opting to sign players to short-term deals that can be traded away for youth or areas of need, the Knicks should not allow themselves to ruin what Donnie Walsh made possible by following the trend throughout the league.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/768253-why-chris-paul-is-not-the-answer-for-the-new-york-knicks
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