Andre Miller Stops By, Leaves Empty-Handed

by Seth on Jul 20, 2009 5:37 PM EDT in News

On an otherwise quiet day, Frank Isola of the Daily News got wind of the news that Donnie Walsh and the Knicks met with free agent point guard Andre Miller today.

According to a team source, the meeting between Miller and Knicks president Donnie Walsh took place at the Knicks training facility in Greenburgh. It is not believed that the Knicks made Miller an offer. Miller is hoping to sign for more than the mid-level exception of $5.8 million.

A more plausible scenario for the Knicks would be to work out a sign-and-trade with the Sixers. Chris Duhon would almost certainly be included in a deal for Miller.

Leaving without an offer is a bummer, but I'm more surprised to see the Knicks denying Miller his obligatory presents. What, no personalized jersey? No blaring his name from the arena PA system? No perusing the MSG renovation plans over wine and foie gras? Walsh must not really want Miller. Or is the VIP treatment only for those 35 and older? The Knicks aren't going to get many more visitors this summer if they're getting stingy with the goody bags.

In all seriousness, this is a free agent pursuit that I don't at all mind. Miller's not that old, commands respect from his teammates (and not just "Hey, weren't you in NBA Hangtime!?" respect), and has played in all 82 games his last two years. He'd also serve as an able mentor for Toney Douglas, whose already shown signs that he might one day be a serious point guard with some tutelage. A Duhon-for-Miller swap might make some sense, too. Duhon's got an expiring contract, and he'd likely be the odd man out if sandwiched between the more proficient Miller and the upstart Douglas. Keep an eye out for an actual offer, and don't be surprised if Ramon Sessions is next in line.

In other news, tip of the hat to Quentin Richardson, who's been a member of 13% of the NBA's teams since draft night. Poor Q.

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Can 'Dre Miller hit "fast forward"?

Teams are so fixated on the 2010 window. Granted, whatever deal Miller carries over to next year would amount to a potential problem for the Knicks in signing two huge names. I grok the cap thing, in rudimentary terms anyway.

But c’mon — if he plausibly can go for something like the MLE, this is a guy the team would surely be interested in 12 months from now. The biggest PG name from the (possibly illusory) 2010 class just signed an extension today. If Andre could nudge the calendar a single season, suddenly he’d be a very acceptable signing. He’d be a comparative bargain acquisition at a position of need. Heck, he looks like one today.

by feral on Jul 20, 2009 6:06 PM EDT reply actions

ramon sessions > andre miller

"if it aint broke, dont break it"

by babyeater26 on Jul 20, 2009 6:20 PM EDT reply actions

I would gamble on Sessions

More so than an older aging Andre Miller.

by 420man! on Jul 20, 2009 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions

agreed

not even close

by Barnesgasm on Jul 20, 2009 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions

i'm with you

sessions, to me, could be as powerful as rose or rondo on the right team. miller’s not half bad, though. i wonder who’s gonna end up commanding more money?

Posting and Toasting: "Say yo Oak, what's the dish tonight? A couple steaks on the grill and we season it right."

by Seth on Jul 20, 2009 7:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Sessions and Miller

are in two different categories in that Miller would be purely a hired gun for one or two years (hopefully not three), while Sessions would be a team building block. Supposedly one of the reasons the Bucks let Charlie V. walk was to free up room to match on any reasonable Sessions offer. That means the Knicks would have to make a decidedly unreasonable offer to have any shot at him. I think the dude is nice and all, but everything is relative when the long-term plan is as clear cut as ours. I know that everyone is coming back down to earth in the realization that we can’t sign every big name free agent (Bron AND Bosh AND Nash in 2010! Go Knicks!!!), but I still think that it’s Donnie’s responsibility to at least put us in position to try and make some big moves. Giving Sessions big bucks flies directly in the face of that.

The whole situation reminds me of when the Knicks signed Chris Childs. Relatively unknown pg who had a big season on a small-market team gets a big chunk of the Knicks’ FA dollars and totally changes the plans. Knicks had their sites set on Jordan, but instead came out with LJ, Houston, and Chris Childs. Don’t get me wrong, I’d be like a pig in shit if we got those guys today, but yea… I’d also take Jordan. Not saying that we’re going to get Bron, Wade, Bosh, or Amare, but it would be irresponsible to fuck our cap room so that we couldn’t even try.

"But when he saw it, he just put his hands up and they couldn’t give it to him. It just fell to the ground, I-I don’t, you know … So, that showed me he had great experience..." - Jeff Van Gundy

by Anthony Bonner's Subpoena on Jul 20, 2009 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't fully understand

the Bucks making space to retain Sessions with Jennings around (and Ridnour somewhere in the background). That said, I agree that anything above the MLE might trip up the long-term plan. That’s unless you think Sessions is a big name in the making, and we’d be signing up early, while he’s still relatively cheap. Hard to say.

Posting and Toasting: "Say yo Oak, what's the dish tonight? A couple steaks on the grill and we season it right."

by Seth on Jul 20, 2009 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m so sure Sessions is gonna blow up. If we can sign him for what we offered Kidd we’re good money. I can see him easily putting up something like 16 and 8 this year under the Pringles Guy. We need to secure him now before every casual NBA fan knows his name.

The one question mark for me — I know nothing about the man’s character, just that he looks relatively young and innocent. Pause that.

by SamH on Jul 20, 2009 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Now, see if you're right

Then cheaply signing the NEXT big name right now is actually more fiscally responsible than going after after a pre-existing big name next year. It’s risky, but more organic, I think. That’s why this LeBron James stuff, while awesome, makes me cringe. I don’t think straight about the Knicks.

Posting and Toasting: "Say yo Oak, what's the dish tonight? A couple steaks on the grill and we season it right."

by Seth on Jul 20, 2009 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I say if Duhon can average 8 dimes a game, Sessions would get closer to 10.

"I'll probably go get lifted right now with Greg. Hey, and come back tomorrow and try to get another win."

-Renaldo

by solanumbrella on Jul 20, 2009 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions

13

twitter.com/aighttho

by stingy d on Jul 21, 2009 2:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Im glad about this

Id be pissed if Sessions came in and left empty handed.

I think Sessions could be a real nice piece not just for next season but in future seasons too.

Not making an offer to dude will be a mistake, its the least Walsh can do here. Id like to see him accept the 3 year 18 mill that was offered to Kidd, it could be a steal in 2 years time.

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 20, 2009 6:37 PM EDT reply actions

I think Miller's alright.

I think Sessions is the bee’s knees.

"I'll probably go get lifted right now with Greg. Hey, and come back tomorrow and try to get another win."

-Renaldo

by solanumbrella on Jul 20, 2009 9:27 PM EDT reply actions

Yep

And Danilo’s the bee’s Cock and Almond is the bee’s Nuts.

And Jason Kidd is an asshole.

"Ariza on Mobley, trying to put some chillin on his thrillin"
"Vexing D, makes you hurry, makes you worry"

by Serious Garbage Time on Jul 20, 2009 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions

the bees asshole?

or just an asshole

"if it aint broke, dont break it"

by babyeater26 on Jul 20, 2009 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Tough choice . . .

"Ariza on Mobley, trying to put some chillin on his thrillin"
"Vexing D, makes you hurry, makes you worry"

by Serious Garbage Time on Jul 21, 2009 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions

bosh always misses the point

sessions can finish at the rim. that is duhon’s most glaring flaw.

seriously tho, bosh is thinking about something else entirely

twitter.com/aighttho

by stingy d on Jul 21, 2009 3:00 AM EDT reply actions

perfect summation

of why we avoid Chris Bosh.

Nice touch to find Sessions scoring on him. You know things…

by Chris Child's Fist on Jul 22, 2009 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions

i'm sensing some Rubio-like love coming from P&T about Sessions

“ramon sessions > andre miller”
“I’m so sure Sessions is gonna blow up.”
“I think Sessions is the bee’s knees.”
“he looks relatively young and ~~willing~~ innocent”

Ewing with the step...YES! and the foul!

by Anthony Masons Haircut on Jul 21, 2009 8:24 AM EDT reply actions