FanPost

Knicks Pre-Season Roster

Excluding any "crazy' acquisitions- Metta or Kobe-or potential trades, Phil sure knows how to work the phones and the press, it appears the K's "core" roster is ready.

I'm going with 12 solid campers:

PG's- Calderon, Prigs;

SG's-TJH, Shump, JR;

SF's-Melo, Early;

PF's-Bargs, Jason Smith;

C's-Sam, Cole, Amare.

A number of these players/positions are inferred from the Phil interview with Clyde and Crispino during the second game @ The Vegas League and are either "red herrings" or "Phil being Phil".

Let's go position by position:

PG's. Obviously both Calderon, the anointed starter, and Prigs are set. The question is does the roster have a spot for Larkin ? I think not. A very nice player and a good 'change of pace",fun to watch and root for, but a weak shooter and although "crafty", it's doubtful whether he can cover the Walls and Westbrooks, even with his speed. I think Shannon Brown might get the spot, knowing the triangle and having better size. Larkin either goes to the D-league, gets traded or sadly, cut. Galloway had one nice summer league game and might be a D-League hold but for now, not NBA ready.

SG's. Strong and might actually, be stronger. Tim is going to be the #2 scorer behind Melo and in my opinion, should start @#2. I like Shump's game and think Phil will and should give him plenty of run in camp. If he's not triangle material there's plenty of time to trade him. JR is the conundrum wrapped in the enigma. I don't think he fits the triangle nor is he a Fish 'type of guy". The question is can you get anything for him ? I'd package him before camp. The might get stronger, is the personage of Early-Bird. Early doesn't have the NBA-body for either forward position, yet, and would have a very difficult time on the defensive end against both positions, but at this stage would be perfect #2.

SF's. Melo will prosper in the triangle beyond his wildest imagination and do so playing less minutes with less stress. Watch him play the mid-post with his back to the basket ! I don't think Early is ready, read above and unless Phil is looking to trade for someone here or go to a "run and gun" second unit, see below, this spot needs help.

PF's. If Bargs isn't hurt in the elbow area, this system and coaching staff will rekindle his career. He can play the 4/5 in mid-post, low post or go outside and the extra spacing and passing will make him a tough cover. Jason Smith "might" be the Oakleyesque guy, I think, this team is missing. He's shown solid inside rim protection skills and if he's quick enough to cover 4's, he could be a starter.

C's. I think before mid-year, Cole will be the starting 5 and benefit greatly from the triangle and this coaching staff. He has a wide-base, which is essential to mid and low post passing and can move around the rim sufficiently well. Sam will play back-up minutes and should work best against the bigger Hibbert-types. Phil noted A mare is "best" @ the 5 and while I don't think he fits the system, at all, the staff might be thinking of a 'small" lineup in a run and gun style, featuring a bunch of the 2's TJH, Shump, Early and maybe even keeping Larkin. It might be fun to watch but they had better score a bunch !

As for the last 2 spots, I've got Shannon Brown on the roster, now, I think he brings Tyler, Henrique, Ellington, T Wear and Thanasis to camp with Kenyon Martin and I'd like to see Toure Murry, also come back. Tyler has a nice shot and an "attitude" I love, but is basically weak defensively, ex the dramatic once-in-a-while block and too erratic offensively,and I would love to see him coached by a triangle-guy in the D-league for a year. Henrique was the Summer League "surprise" and is worth looking at in camp. Here, too his base is too small for inside triangle play and he doesn't appear to have any shot, but D-league coaching makes him worth a look. He's been there before and might want some Europe money, but I'm sure Phil could figure that out. Ellington, unless he's added to his game is in the "overstocked" position and should be moved even before camp. Wear was solid in college and showed good offensive skills in one summer league game was actually 'brought in' after the league got started and should be available for camp. Would stash him in the D-league and see what he has. The "not quite Greek Freak" is a project and to quote Fraschilla is "2 years away from being 2 years away". Murry might be the late game PG, that I currently have S Brown in. I'm surprised he hasn't caught on elsewhere and would definitely bring him back and store in the D-League or "workout" a Europe deal. Martin doesn't have a deal and may be too injury prone and perhaps long in the tooth, but is worth a camp look and could be a good, if he, applying to a bunch of Knicks "bigs", gets hurt, replacement.

This team is going to be better than most "experts" are projecting.