New York Knicks Tickets are desirable among New Yorkers no matter what the team's record. The franchise has been struggling for years but it appears that the Knicks could be ready to turn things around. Knicks owner James Dolan fired GM and head coach Isiah Thomas and hired Donnie Walsh as team president, who in turn hired former Suns head coach Mike D'Antoni. The new regime marks a fresh start for the team from a management standpoint, but the payroll is still way over the salary cap and the roster is severely lacking in team chemistry.
Thomas was notorious for taking chances on talented guys who had character issues, a tendency that really hurt the team. Thomas' acquisitions of Stephon Marbury, Eddy Curry, Zach Randolph, Jared Jeffries and Jerome James are all considered to be major mistakes. Each of those players has disappointed production-wise when considering their contract and it will take a lot of work to fix the team financially.
Step one is unloading Stephon Marbury. His unpopularity among his teammates is well-documented and I just wouldn't want him around the clubhouse. Each year we hear about how he's working hard in the offseason and this is going to be his comeback year, but he disappoints every season with with lackluster, selfish play. He's scheduled to make more than $20 million this season in the last year of his contract. If they can't unload him in a trade to a team looking for an expiring deal, I think a buyout is in order. Curry and Randolph both seem to lack motivation and are never in the best of shape. If the Knicks can land expiring deals for either player, they should jump at the chance. Neither guy appears to fit D'Antoni's offense. Jeffries and James both received mid-level exceptions from Thomas and neither has produced much.
The bright spots for the Knicks are Jamal Crawford, David Lee, Nate Robinson and Danilo Gallinari. Crawford is the best player on the team and probably the only guy who sells New York Knicks tickets. He should thrive in D'Antoni's up-tempo system, as should Robinson. Lee is a high energy guy who deserves a starting spot, but probably won't get one unless Randolph is moved. Gallinari is a wildcard, but he's D'Antoni's guy and should fit the system. Wilson Chandler, last year's first rounder, is still an unknown at this point.
Walsh has expressed the desire to clear cap space for 2010 when LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh will hit the market if they choose to opt out of their current deals. While you can't base your entire roster strategy on signing a future free agent, clearing cap space cannot be a bad idea for the Knicks. With the highest payroll in the league, they should be much better than they've played.
The team signed Chris Duhon this offseason to be their point guard, which signals that Marbury's time is likely out. Neither Walsh nor D'Antoni have any ties to any players on the roster aside from Gallinari, and will not hesitate to clean house. The Knicks need to focus on working hard and developing team chemistry, while cutting payroll and avoiding any big contracts that aren't expiring deals. I have faith that New York Knicks tickets will return to being a prominent item among sports fans.
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