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Alan Hahn

Just think, the hardest part is still to come.

Donnie Walsh on Thursday excavated another $9.5 million off the 2010-11 salary cap, which frees up more than $30 million in cap space for this summer's long-awaited Knicks renovation.

They already had enough space to make LeBron James a maximum contract offer, but now the NBA's biggest market is a lot more dangerous because it can build a team around James with the leftover cash.

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers worked furiously before the deadline to make a major addition - forward Antawn Jamison - to put even more talent around James, hoping it pushes the Cavs to a championship that most expect would be enough to keep LeBron from leaving.

Make no mistake, the Cavs are extremely concerned about the lure of the Garden, New York and now the virtual clean slate the Knicks will have on July 1.

And that's exactly the plan.

Walsh struggled all week with giving up a young a.sset in rookie Jordan Hill and a 2012 first-round pick - essentially mortgaging the future - to accomplish the cap savings goal. But by making the deal, a clear message was sent to James and the Cavs.

"Two words," a Western Conference general manager said.

"All in."

As you keep vigil in this ongoing LeBronathon, let's correct one misguided a.ssumption. Even with all of that cap space, there technically won't be enough room to make two maximum-contract offers to free agents this summer and still fill out the roster without going over the cap. So those visions of LeBron and his buddy Dwyane Wade tossing alley-oops to each other the way they did last Sunday in Dallas probably are going to remain limited to All-Star Games and Olympics.

But if they can sign James, the Knicks can involve him in the process of putting together the pieces around him. For instance, James really wanted the Cavs to trade for Amare Stoudemire before the deadline. Stoudemire, if he decides to opt out, could join him in New York. Very few GMs believe Stoudemire is a max contract player, so that shouldn't be an issue.

Even if the Knicks are unable to convince James - who by then likely will be a two-time MVP - to leave Cleveland, there still are some very favorable options.

They can use the cap space to target two All-Stars such as Joe Johnson and Chris Bosh, though you'd have to convince them to take less than a max contract or attempt to acquire one via sign-and-trade.

The extra cap room also allows a better chance to re-sign David Lee, though Lee will have several opportunities to consider around the league and also could be included in a sign-and-trade for one of the aforementioned stars. And the Knicks - who are owned by Cablevision, which also owns Newsday - can make a lot of upgrades via trades with their cap space and the value of Eddy Curry's contract, which expires after 2010-11.

The NBA sent a memo last summer to its teams warning that the salary cap - based on a poor economic climate - could drop from nearly $58 million this season to as low as $50 million in 2010-11. More recent projections say the cap could dip to $55 million. That $5-million swing is extremely important to the Knicks, obviously.

Walsh clearly wasn't taking any chances, which is why he mortgaged the future in trading Hill and the 2012 first-round pick to ensure the Knicks will have the space they need to make these past two years of sacrifice worth their while.

if only we could have see if the Kings would have taken Curry for Thomas since they are trying to get rid of him and are placing waivers on him

Players weren't exactly jumping for joy in the locker room on Thursday upon hearing that the team had acquired Nate Robinson from the Knicks.

Boston send New York a package that included guard Eddie House.

"I would've been fine if we hadn't ... we'll see whether that's the right decision or not," said coach Doc Rivers. "I like this team, I've said it over and over again. I didn't think we needed to make changes."

Rajon Rondo at first declined to discuss the trade, then opened up a bit.

"I don't know, I don't know," said Rondo. "I hope it's for the best. Eddie House can drop 20, 30 [points off the bench] too. But [the players] don't make decision, we just play the game."

Ray Allen didn't feel a trade was necessary.

"I didn't think we were bad," said Allen. "We were good."

Even Lakers coach Phil Jackson got in on the act, questioning Danny Ainge's logic.

"I really don't know about that," he said. "I have a great respect for House's game. I don't know what you can improve on that credible shooting skill that he has. House really has a strike factor in his game that can really disturb a team."

now that we have a PG capable of running...D'Antino says we're going to be doing just that once again....if we don't re-sign T-Mac, guess we gonna make Tracy be our CC Sabathia for the Brewers and make this n*gga work

alanhahn

D'Antoni on if McGrady will play right away: “Might as well, we’ve only got 29 to go." McGrady will be in uniform vs OKC if physicals clear.

alanhahn

McGrady speaks: "I know these guys are seven games out of the playoffs, but this is the team I really wanted to come to.”

More McGrady: "This is not the same Tracy from last season when I was hobbling on one leg. That’s not going to be me.

McGrady says if Knicks bring in LeBron or Wade, "I'd be a damn fool not to want to stay here . . . Money is not an issue [for me]."

TMac on NY: "Every player should want 2 play here...this frnchse hs been down so long, y not be part of something special and build it up?"

HowardBeckNYT

TMac was light-hearted and engaging in his first meet-and-greet w/NY media today. Seems very, very, very happy to be here.

HowardBeckNYT

TMac very aware of Knicks' cap plans. But said he'd happily re-sign for whatever's left if they get two max players (LeBron/Bosh).

HowardBeckNYT

LOL. But I've seen plenty of rich miserable guys in this league RT @jimguelda I'd be lighthearted and engaging if I was making $23 mil too!

The Knicks have officially waived forward Brian Cardinal.

New York acquired Cardinal from the Timberwolves earlier this week in exchange for Darko Milicic.

"President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that the team has waived forward Brian Cardinal," the team wrote on their official Twitter page.

this was obviously happening, cost waaay less to waive this dude than it would for Darko, that's why Knicks did the trade with the Minnesota c*ckBlockers

Tracy McGrady is excited about landing in New York and hopes that he has a future with the Knicks.

McGrady says he'd even be willing to re-sign for less money if it means playing alongside superstars in New York.

"This is not the same Tracy from last season, when I was hobbling on one leg," said McGrady, who says he's healthy after microfracture surgery.

So how do you all feel about the trades and our situation for the future?

Howard Beck

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Tracy McGrady’s arrival on Thursday may lead directly to David Lee’s departure in July. The issue is salary-cap rules.

By acquiring McGrady’s large expiring contract, the Knicks created nearly enough cap room to sign two superstars this summer. To use that cap room, they first have to renounce the rights to all of their free agents, including Lee.

That means the Knicks will forfeit Lee’s Bird rights, which allow a team to exceed the cap to keep one of its players. Once they are under the cap, they will also lose the midlevel exception, a salary slot worth about $6 million.

So if the Knicks sign two maximum-salaried players, say LeBron James and Chris Bosh, should they become free agents, there will be no cap space left for Lee and no way to keep him. They will have to fill out the roster with players making the N.B.A. minimum.

There are other possible situations. If the Knicks sign only one superstar, they would have about $16 million of cap room left. That would be enough to re-sign Lee (even without his Bird rights) and other players, a.ssuming another team has not signed Lee while the Knicks were chasing bigger stars.

The Knicks could also use Lee in a sign-and-trade deal, perhaps in a dual sign-and-trade for Bosh. However, renouncing his rights negates the sign-and-trade option. Timing is an issue: The Knicks will not claim their estimated $31.5 million in cap room until they have renounced the rights to all their free agents.

Alan Hahn

There's only 29 games left in the season, so there's no time to waste. Mike D'Antoni said this morning that Tracy McGrady will start in his Knicks debut tonight against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Garden.

McGrady isn't sure if he can handle 30 minutes or more just yet, but insists he doesn't have any limitations as a result of his microfracture surgery.

"I don't look at it as I can't do this, I can't do that," he said. "I don't have any doubt. I feel once I'm out there and what I've been through as far as rehabbing and working out, I feel I can do everything I've done in the past."

McGrady will slide into the spot vacated by Jared Jeffries, who was sent to the Rockets as part of Thursday's nine-player, three-team trade. McGrady will move into the shooting guard position next to Chris Duhon, while Wilson Chandler, who had been playing the two spot most of the season, will move to power forward.

Sergio Rodriguez will back up Duhon for now, but that could change as Rodriguez gets more acclimated with the offense. It will be interesting to see if D'Antoni gets to a point where he tries rookie Toney Douglas next to McGrady as a shot-maker and defender once McGrady proves his conditioning is at the necessary level for the offense to run through him.

The Knicks are a lot smaller with this lineup, of course, as 6-10 swingman Danilo Gallinari is the tallest player in the starting five while Chandler (6-8) and David Lee (6-9) is the smallest frontcourt in the NBA.

Sergio Rodriguez on Knick trade


McGrady Wants to Be Part of Something Special With Knicks

depending on how things go, may start tonight or in a couple weeks but Duhon appears to be benchwarming bound and Sergi with TD backing him up may be the permanent rotation for the rest of the year and depending on who we get in the off season (i'm still saying we WILL get Ridnour) will be our PG rotation next season)........one of the main reasons for this trade was cause not only will it allow cap room for WHOEVER, it also gives the younger/bench warmers more minutes to see if they are worth keeping

any thoughts on who the rotation would be?

my guess is

1. Serg
2. Gallo
3. T-Mac
4. Chandler
5. Lee

Even though the Knicks now have $9M more cap space than the Nets, the franchise isn't worried they have been surpassed for the prime position of power in free agency.

The Nets can make trades before July 1st to clear more cap space and also will own no worse than the fourth overall pick in the draft.

"I think you have to let it play out," said interim coach/general manager Kiki Vandeweghe.

also, gonna see what's good with the Summer League roster as well, lot of them dudes got a chance of making it on the roster for cheap...wonder if Von Wafer gonna play for us again

Duhon
T-Mac
Gallo
Chandler
Lee

House & Sergio will be playing tonight

New players, same results. D'anphony cannot coach down the stretch to save his life.

Other than that this new Knicks team is the s**t. Mac/Serg/House all exceeded expectations :agreement6:

The Knicks lost in overtime 121-118 to Oklahoma City in the debuts of Tracy McGrady, Sergio Rodriguez and Eddie House, but there was an excitement in the arena that hasn't been seen in recent years.

McGrady scored 26 points on an efficient 10-for-17 with five a.ssists and four rebounds.

“I felt good going to the basket,” McGrady said. “I felt explosive.”

McGrady was received warmly my the New York crowd.

“I haven’t felt that good in a while, to really be received that way, to hear those chants,” McGrady said. “It really gave chills down my spine.”