COSELLOUT

Analysis: Let’s get this out of the way. While overhauling an entire roster in three years Thomas made at least one bad trade of any significance. Forget salary. This is simply a bad trade because Trevor Ariza was more valuable to the Knicks than Francis, who were already loaded at the shooting guard position. Ariza is emerging as a defensive specialist with a solid all-around game. Francis, and his declining knee, is just not the same athlete from a couple of years ago. In summary, Thomas made one bad trade. Any media critic who obsesses too long over this mistake should consider that another GM probably would not have stolen Trevor Ariza in the draft’s 2^nd round in the first place, and be soothed that he was able to parlay Francis and Channing Frye into Zach Randolph. Final translation: 8^th pick (Frye) and 43^rd pick (Ariza) for Zach Randolph.

4)     Antonio Davis becomes Renaldo Balkman (via draft pick acquired with Jalen Rose)

Analysis: Each trade that you see listed above received criticism from the short-sighted media during its time. These trades boil down to the Knicks trading Kurt Thomas (now 34), and a bunch of AARP members for a cadre of young promising players ages 22 -27 that form the nucleus of a Knicks youth movement for the next 10 years. While the media was loudly portraying Thomas as a dunce for absorbing expensive contracts (see Malik and Jalen Rose), Thomas was quietly collecting first round draft picks as part of these deals. And when it comes to drafting quality, Thomas is the best in the business. The media was too busy perpetuating the myth of the salary cap to notice that the Thomas strategy was turning old into young, retirees into rookies, and hopelessness into hope.

Media Hypocrisy: Let’s set the record sraight. Isiah’s media critics will now often give high praise to Thomas’ DRAFTING of David Lee, Renaldo Balkman, and Mardy Collins. But to this very day Thomas will rarely receives any credit for TRADING for those draft picks that landed these players. In fact, Thomas is STILL often RIPPED for making both the Malik Rose and Jalen Rose trades that landed those picks. The media simply cannot have it both ways. This bears repeating for those slow on the uptake: Thomas traded Nazi Mohammed and Antonio Davis for David Lee, Renaldo Balkman, and Mardy Collins! Because it is hard to conceive that so many media members are THAT dumb, like the salary cap issue, one can only conclude that there is personal anti-Isiah bias at work in their reporting.  

Dec. 2007 UPDATE on  Part C: "The Signature Trades". It is fair to say with two additional months hindsight this portion of the column has been turned on its head. Marbury went AWOL after a game 5 benching and has never really returned and the Knicks have never recovered; Eddy Curry has not developed in 2007, and the acquisition of Randolph (a steal on paper) has helped to stunt Curry’s growth and that of other young players. Ultimately, it is the outcome of "the signature trades" that will overshadow all of the excellent trades in Part B — as it should.

C.    The Signature Trades

Marbury Trade Analysis: Depending on his performance the next two years, the Marbury trade looks like either a very good one or an average one. Marbury has emerged as floor leader that his critics previously doubted he could. Unfortunately, this trade could probably never be fully evaluated because Thomas gave up two #1 picks. Two #1 picks in Isiah’s hand have much more value than when being held by another GM. Still a good trade?: Most likely. Great trade?: Only, if Marbury leads the Knicks into title contention in the next few years. No complete assessment can be made prior to the 2010 draft pick.

Curry Trade Analysis: At best this will be a great trade for the Knicks or more likely a win-win for both the Knicks and the Bulls since Ty Thomas and Joakim Noah have great potential. Ultimately, this trade will be decided on whether Isiah is right about Curry’s recently emerging development as “the tip of the iceberg”. At this point, there is little reason to doubt Thomas here. Finally, any fair discussion of the Curry trade must also include the Knicks addition of Balkman who would not have been acquired without the pick-up of Antonio Davis’ expiring contract. After the media has ignored this fact for over a year, credit is given to New York Post bloggers for urging that this be reported (*see retraction below). 

*Update – October 5: While on the excellent blog The Knix Fix[1] yesterday, this passage was critiqued through the following cited point (Hat Tip to Adam L) by commenter MattyKay[2] "Balkman should not be considered part of the Curry trade even though he was acquired for Antonio Davis’s contract, because the Knicks also gave up Tim Thomas’s expiring contract in the Curry deal. Therefore, it’s reasonable to assume that the Knicks would have just traded Tim Thomas to Toronto."  This point about Tim Thomas’ similar contract is absolutely correct had not been previously considered. With that sound logic readers should now subtract Renaldo Balkman from the equation. The trade now becomes: Eddy Curry and Wilson Chandler for Ty Thomas and Joakim Noah. While not as lopsided as yesterday, it is safe to say that there are too many unknowns about all four players future potential to render a verdict right now. The jury is out. 

(Keeping in line with our "truth in reporting policy" if any reader can clearly show any factual error in any COSELLOUT column we will print the retraction for all to see and credit the source. We are beholden to no employer, advertiser or ego. The truth is our only master.)

Randolph Trade Analysis: Channing Frye, whose post-up game would never develop in an Eddy Curry centered offense should work better in Portland. Randolph’s brings rebounds and a midrange game that might complement Curry well and will always leave the Knicks with a post-up force on the floor. Critics who are concerned about interior defense, as am I, need to remind themselves that Channing Frye wasn’t reminding anyone of Patrick Ewing on D. In the worst case scenario where the post isn’t big enough for Curry and Randolph, one can always obtain value in a trade. In the final analysis, this trade is a straight-up steal.