I, Izulde Jestor = Idiot. In New York.

[Tim Moungey]

"Mr. Jestor, it's the Detroit Pistons. They're offering us the #7 pick and Chris Wilcox for Danilo Gallinari."

Just when I thought I was out the game, they pull me back in. Back here in the Big Apple, where I'm again in charge of the Knicks. My first draft back. No Joakim Noah this time. Just a trade offer before I've even had time to look at the scouting reports.

Things move a hell of a lot faster than they used to.

Danilo Gallinari. Lot of split opinions about this kid. Some say Mike Dunleavy, others say a poor man's Dirk. I've heard Josh Smith, Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis. All kinds of things.

Some think he's a legit All-Star and we need to hang on to him. Others think he'll just be a serviceable fourth option. Me? I'm not really sure what to think. The game has changed a ton from my day. Back then, you had a clear and neatly organized hierarchy and it was easy to sort out players by their scouting and statistics. Now? Everybody seems to fall into a blobby medium.

I call my assistant GM. He says it's a crap deal way favoring the Pistons, so forget it anyhow. I do.

After looking over our workout reports, I'm even more glad I turned it down. There's not a single damn prospect in the class likely to be at #7, let alone #9, who fits the Jestorball model.

Oh well. Let's see how this rolls.

2010 NBA Draft 1st Round
1. PG John Wall - Washington Wizards
2. SG Evan Turner - Philadelphia 76ers
3. SF Wesley Johnson - New Jersey Nets
4. C Demarcus Cousins - Minnesota Timberwolves

Somewhere about pick 4, I get another call. This time it's the Thunder, offering Daequan Cook and #21 for Wilson Chandler. That's much more to my liking, as I'm not high on Chandler at all, but nor am I sold on the deal.

I try to get Russell Westbrook, but even the #9 pick won't cut it for them. We come close on another deal, but can't make salaries match, so I tell them to call me after the draft.

5. PF Derrick Favors - Sacramento Kings
6. C Cole Aldrich - Golden State Warriors
7. PF Epke Udoh - Detroit Pistons
8. SF Al-Farouq Aminu - Los Angeles Clippers

Talking heads are saying we'll pick Xavier Henry. I can see why, but my choice is clear.

9. PF Greg Monroe - New York Knicks

I love, love, -love- big men who have good passing and handling ability and Monroe fits the bill, in my opinion. Plus, picking him, we can keep Gallinari at the SF spot.

10. SG Xavier Henry - Indiana Pacers
11. SF Gordon Hayward - New Orleans Hornets
12. PF Ed Davis - Memphis Grizzlies
13. SF Paul George - Toronto Raptors
14. PG Terrico White - Houston Rockets
15. PF Larry Sanders - Milwaukee Bucks
16. C Daniel Orton - Charlotte Bobcats
17. SG Avery Bradley - Chicago Bulls
18. SF Luke Babbitt - Miami Heat
19. SG James Anderson - Boston Celtics
20. PF Patrick Patterson - San Antonio Spurs
21. SF Quincy Pondexter - Denver Nuggets
22. SF Da'Sean Butler - Portland Trailblazers
23. SG Jordan Crawford - Utah Jazz
24. SF Damion James - Atlanta Hawks
25. SG Dominique Jones - Denver Nuggets
26. PF Craig Brackens - Phoenix Suns
27. C Hassan Whiteside - Dallas Mavericks
28. PG Grevis Vasquez - Houston Rockets
29. SG Eric Bledsoe - Memphis Grizzlies
30. SF Stanley Robinson - Cleveland Cavaliers

So Landry Fields from Stanford, a projected first round pick, is still sitting there at #39. But then Solomon Alabi seduces me with his 7'1 foot body and ability to block shots, so we take him instead.

The pick's trashed, but whatever.

First look after the draft says I should be pretty happy with Monroe and Alabi could be a serviceable reserve in time. Probably should have taken Fields, but oh well.

There were a bunch of trades during the draft, none of which I'll cover right now because it was a long, long draft day. I didn't feel quite the excitement that I used to. Probably because everything's gotten so damned noisy and busy.

I renounce everyone prior to free agency, giving us $39 million and change to work with. No, we will not be chasing after LeBron. I don't like him. I realize much of it was the media machine that consumed him as a young boy, but I think he needs to stop this silliness and stay in Cleveland; become who he was born to be.

Summer League
PG Tony Douglas
SF Wilson Chandler
SF Danilo Gallinari
PF Greg Monroe
C Solomon Alabi

22 points from Tony Douglas in our opening 96-80 loss to the Grizzlies. Not sure if I'm excited about our new head coach's strategies. Oh by the way, we hired Del Harris as our head coach when I took over. I didn't want Mike D'Antoni's no defense ass around anymore and I couldn't convince Jeff Van Gundy to come back to New York, so I went with the elder statesman in Harris. Really elder, at 73.

102-74 loss to the Thunder and our lack of offense is alarming, especially since these are the main guys we're going to war with if nothing major happens in free agency.

Danilo Gallinari breaks out with 28 points, but we lose 100-84 to the Magic. One of our scrub invites got 12 bench points too, but no one cares.

120-85 loss to the Kings. I need to make a FA splash or this trip will be as short as last time Semih Erden, by the way, has now scored 12 bench points in the last two games. Solid game by Greg Monroe with 13 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and a block.

Semih Erden with 15 bench points, Danilo Gallinari with 23 points and Wilson Chandler with a pleasant 15 point, 10 rebound double-double to give us the 95-83 win over the Pistons and salvage something out of the summer league.

Hunting around before free agency, I do my damnedest to pry Stephen Curry from the Warriors. I even offer Danilo Gallinari. They tell me to go take a flying leap.

But then the 76ers give me the tired BS line about matching the best thing or close to it from their side of the trade. Really? Really?! GO **** YOURSELF! Jrue Holiday has substandard handling for a PG and is extremely raw right now and you're telling me Wilson Chandler and Solomon Alabi, plus even a 2nd rounder I'll throw in isn't enough?

I hate this league.

I really, really do.

Free Agency
Here's us throwing all of our money at Dwayne Wade. We also throw a sizeable contract at two other players.

And yes, we steal Paul Pierce on a 4 year, $60 million contract with a team option in the last year.

...Only to have the New Jersey Nets steal D-Wade and LeBron on the same day.

We strike back by signing Amare Stoudamire to a max deal a few days later.

Pierce is 32. If we want to win, we need to go all in.

So I hit the phones and after long hours and long talks, I make the following happen.

New York Knicks receive
PG Steve Nash
Phoenix Suns 2011 1st
Phoenix Suns 2013 1st

Phoenix Suns receive
SF Wilson Chandler
C Eddy Curry
PG Tony Douglas
New York Knicks 2011 2nd

What this means for the Knicks
Nash, Pierce, and Stoudamire all in one offseason. The Lottery GM, Jestor, is taking a blitzkrieg route to rebuilding the Knicks, especially after the Nets' coup of Wade and King James. Nash will be the perfect floor general for Pierce and Stoudamire and with Phoenix likely much worse now, those firsts could hold considerable value.

What this means for the Suns
What a shocking offseason this must be for Suns fans. First they lose Stoudemire to the Knicks. Now they trade Nash to New York and include two first round picks besides. How does this deal make sense for them? Financially. This is all about having another $14 million come off the books next season. They're already $8 million under the cap and Jason Richardson's contract alone is worth $14.4 million in expiring. 28.4 + 8 = 36.4 million, plus the other expirings. That means money to go after their choice of Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Yao Ming, maybe Carmelo Anthony if he opts not to take his option. Let's also not forget Blake Griffin, Brandon Jennings, etc.

Winner: New York
Phoenix will be very, very bad without Nash and Stoudamire. So bad that it's a guaranteed lottery selection in 2011, maybe even 2013. A dear price for the Suns to pay and they'll need to land somebody like a Rose, Noah, or Griffin to make it worth their while for having done this.

6 players under contract. $11 million and change in cap. I've got my starting five set, now I just need the role players.

Like Chris Duhon back in New York at a $3 million one year deal to be the backup point guard and Big Ben Wallace for $6 million and a shot at maybe another ring.

Interesting use of the cap by Miami. After missing out on the big two, they get Rudy Gay and Al Harrington on the same day I spend the rest of my money on Josh Howard. I told Charles Rolen I'd be under the cap but losing. Oops. Let's just hope he likes winning lots more.

9 players left, so I need at least 3 guys on min-sal.

Wow. Joe Johnson to the Chicago Bulls and the overrated Luis Scola to the Suns.

The Heat pay good money to Earl Watson to take him from us. We counter by getting Steve Blake on a one year min sal, but lose Mike Sweetney to I forget who just now. The Lakers gave AI a two year min sal. Wow.

Ahmad Nivins upside intrigues me enough to sign him to a two year deal and Von Wafer gets the one year min sal to make our minimum 12.

Preseason mags are picking the Nets and.... us... as the favorites. As one writer put it, "This is the most exciting NY/NJ basketball war since the NBA/ABA fracas of the '70s. Both teams have a great three star core and quality role-players to fill in the gaps. It should be a thrilling fight all season long."

Heh.

New Jersey Nets
PG Devin Harris
SG Dwayne Wade
SF Lebron James
PF Yi Jianli
C Brook Lopez
Courtney Lee
Wesley Johnson (R)
Terrence Williams
Linus Kleiza
Craig Smith
Ramon Sessions
Ryan Hollins

New York Knicks
PG Steve Nash
SG Danilo Gallinari
SF Paul Pierce
PF Greg Monroe (R)
C Amare Stoudamire
Ben Wallace
Josh Howard
Chris Duhon
Steve Blake
Von Wafer
Ahmad Nivins (R)
Solomon Alabi (R)

I feel like our depth is a ton better than New Jersey's. Their PG and big man depth suck the big one. On the other hand, our starting five is much weaker, with only two go-to guys on offense.

Man, I hope I did the right thing here. Bulls #3 in the East and I can't help but think the D-Rose/Joe Johnson backcourt won't work. West favorites are Lakers/Jazz/Kings.

That last one I don't see at all.

Speaking of last...

Phoenix Suns
PG Tony Douglas
SG Jason Richardson
SF Wilson Chandler
PF Luis Scola
C Robin Lopez

Yeah. That lineup alone tells you why the Suns are picked for last in the West.

[Cleasby]

Jestors back!

[Tim Moungey]

I should be sleeping, but I just *have* to see how this team does.

As fate would have it, our first game of the year is in New York against the D-Wade and Bron Nets. Instant national game of the week... and we get hammered 103-80. LeBron James scores 21 and holds Paul Pierce to 1 of 8 shooting. It was the key matchup of the game and the difference right there. How demoralizing.

23 points, 8 assists, just 1 TO from Steve Nash the next game to go with Amare Stoudamire's 20 points and 11 rebounds... and we lose 105-87 to the 76ers.

119-105 the next night and we finally win on the back end of the doubleheader in Atlanta. Steve Nash dazzles with 22 points and 14 assists, Amare Stoudamire with 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks, and Josh Howard with the great 12 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists off the bench. Oh, Ben Wallace scored 11 benchside too.

I've notice in the early games that we do much better when Danilo Gallinari limits his shots. I'm considering trading him.

To .500 we go after a 115-106 trackmeet over the Warriors. Amare Stoudamire electrifies with 26 points and 10 rebounds and somehow Ben Wallace scores 20 bench points with 8 rebounds.

21 points from Amare Stoudemire and Ben Wallace's 15 points and 8 rebounds off the bench can't hide that we suck in a 102-81 drubbing by the Bobcats.

Paul Pierce finally breaks out for 25 points and Danilo Gallinari scores 27. Ben Wallace with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks off the bench. Steve Nash 13 points and 15 assists, and Chris Duhon 11 bench points. Result? 121-109 loss to Orlando. Dwight Howard triple-doubles with 15 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 blocks.

28 points from Amare Stoudamire, a cool 12 point, 12 assist double double from Steve Nash, and 12 and 10 bench points from Ben Wallace and Chris Duhon pilot us to a 110-85 squash of the T-Wolves.

But it's another back end game, this time in New Jersey. 107-94 loss not quite as bad, so maybe we just need to gel. 21 points, 9 rebounds Amare Stoudemire, whose name I never spell right, and 12 points, 10 assists for Steve Nash.

Paul Pierce's 23 points and 11 rebounds, Amare Stoudemire's 15 points and 16 rebounds, Steve Nash's 19 points and 11 assists and Josh Howard's 11 bench points all ensure we keep Detroit winless to the tune of 106-94.

Really? Another back-to-back? But it's okay because we smash the Thunder 103-86 on defense, Steve Nash's 25 points, and Ben Wallace's 10 bench boards.

****! 124-122 heartbreaker in Utah to drop us below .500. Don't want to talk about it.

Harrowing 95-93 win over Clippers next. Very gunky game with no standouts.

100-85 loss to the Lakers because of course we can't be over .500. Forget Paul Pierce's 25 points when we're shooting 37.8% as a team.

Grrr!!!!!!!! 100-97 loss to a ****ass 2 win Heat team, now 3. Way to waste Steve Nash's 30 points and 8 assists. Oh, they also got Chris Bosh in FA, so they're underachieving relative to the talent level.

Upsetting the Magic 98-81 helps a bit. 21 points, 13 rebounds enables Amare Stoudemire to hold Howard to a draw, the spaces filled in by Steve Nash's 17 points and 13 assists and Josh Howard's 13 bench points.

We're 7-8 at the end of the month, tied with the Bobcats and 76ers for the #8 seed in the East. Indiana Pacers somehow went 12-2 to tie the Nets for NBA's best record.

Our defense sucks and it really shouldn't. Then again, Harris doesn't like to play tough defense or hit the boards. Maybe I should fire his ass.

...No, I'll give him time to legitimately take this team to a playoff spot.

[Math2]

Sweet, I loved your NY Knicks/Nuggets dynasty before! Good luck!

And I would trade Danilo. I prefer Chandler to him.

[Tim Moungey]

Thanks, guys.

And I'm quite tempted to trade Danilo, believe you me.

[zike_42]

Woo Jestor's back! With my team as well. Hopefully you stay there longer than last time. When the team gels it will be a quality team.

[soulD]

Tim trade Amare or Pierce for Melo
for some reason, i think this would run better under a more offensive minded coach...(the starters aren't really defensive enabled) ;p

love that you're writing again btw.

[Tim Moungey]

zike: Thanks. We'll see how long it lasts.

soulD: Honestly I can't stand Melo so that's not going to happen. And yeah D'Antoni would have loved coaching this team - ha! Thanks.

[Tim Moungey]

No trades in the first month of the year and the moment's passed for reviewing the draft deals.

Most of my guys aren't trade eligible yet, but I notice the Bulls have Luol Deng on the block. Something to think about, maybe.

Danilo Galinari goes off for 32 points in our 121-110 win over the Raptors to open December. Steve Nash picks up 21 points and 17 assists and Amare Stoudamire hammers home 24 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocks.

The win costs us Josh Howard, who breaks his ankle and is out for a month and a half/b]. Not cool. He's been extremely solid for us, averaging 8.3 points and playing good defense. We sign swingman [b]Antoine Wright as injury cover. He's averaging 15.5 points and shooting 50% in the D-Leagues.

Finally back over .500 after whipping the Cavaliers 107-88. Amare Stoudamire with 34 points, 12 rebounds and 4 steals, Steve Nash with 20 points and 12 assists, and Paul Pierce with 22 points.

A couple nights later we go to Cleveland and win again, 108-103. Paul Pierce tears them up for 34 points, Steve Nash hands out 10 points and 20 assists, Danilo Galinari scores 21 and Ben Wallace gets 10 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks off the bench.

Now Antoine Wright gets hurt, but it's only a wrist sprain, so he'll just have to suck it up.

No victory yet for the Suns after we douse them 118-95. Fun game to watch with 4 Knicks with 20+ points. First up, Steve Nash with 20 points, 17 assists, and 7 rebounds. Then Danilo Galinari with 22, Paul Pierce with 21 and Amare Stoudamire with 20. Oh and all five starters scored 13 points or more.

Indiana ends our winning streak in a hard-fought 117-114 game. 23 and 20 points from Amare Stoudamire and Danilo Galinari just didn't do it and nor did Steve Nash's 14 points and 12 assists.

The very next night we're in New York, knocking out the C's 111-99 on Amare Stoudamire's 25 points and 16 rebounds and Chris Duhon's ridiculous 6/6, 4/4 from 3 point shooting, for 18 points in just 15 minutes.

A nice little break ensues before beating the Bucks 121-113 via Amare Stoudamire (27 points), Danilo Galinari (28 points), Steve Nash (22 points, 15 assists) and Ben Wallace's 10 bench points.

The Bucks return the favor when we go to Miwakee, a 109-88 loss that marks the first time this month we've failed to score 100 points in a game. I quit watching this one early.

We rebound on the backend of the doubleheader to squish the Wizards 108-91. Steve Nash the hero with 20 points and 10 assists, although Chris Duhon's 15 bench points sure helped.

118-87 romp over the very good Bulls is keyed by Paul Pierce's 27 points, Amare Stoudamire's 23 points and 11 rebounds, and 13 and 10 bench points from usual suspects Chris Duhon and Ben Wallace.

Defense carries us in a 96-89 road win in D.C. That and 19 points, 11 assists out of Steve Nash, 13 points, 17 rebounds from Amare Stoudamire, and Ben Wallace's 14 bench points.

Doubleheader? doublewin as we complete the back end by bouncing the Pistons 101-78. All five starters with 10+ points, led by Amare Stoudamire's 28 points. Chris Duhon sparked the second team with 13 points.

The holiday season's good cheer continues with a 109-104 victory in Toronto. Amare Stoudamire does his thing with 20 points and 15 rebounds, Danilo Galinari tops scoring with 27 points, Steve Nash doubles my favorite number with 16 points, 16 assists, and Chris Duhon, who is well earning his $3 million paycheck, chips in 13 bench points.

Portland ends the merriment just before New Year's. 110-98 trouncing and Amare Stoudamire's pair of 16s in points and rebounds are pretty poor alongside Chris Duhon's 15 bench points. We didn't play D at all that game.

To make matters worse, Danilo Galinari breaks his elbow and is out 2 months. Now this is a very serious injury. Gallinari is our third leading scorer and ballthief, not to mention our most disciplined starter by far.

Unfortunately, it looks like the free agents all have a Day 90 rule attached to them, so we can't make a move. So we make Chris Duhon the starting SG and sign old as hell Antonio Daniels as a backup.

And because I have to see what this disaster portends, I carry on to our New Year's Day game.

113-105 loss to the mediocre Timberwolves. 26 points from Amare Stoudamire, 11 bench points from Ben Wallace. Sadly, Chris Duhon chucked the hell out of the ball, taking a team high 20 attempts in his nervousness, and making only 7 of them.

Yeah.

18-12 puts us 2nd in the Atlantic, 6.5 behind the Nets, who at 25-6 have the league's best record. We're also currently the #5 seed with homecourt advantage over the lesser #4 seed Southeast leaders, a dead-heat tie between Charlotte and Orlando.

Let's see just how long we can keep this charade up without Danilo Gallinari, though. Hell, we still have two weeks left until Josh Howard comes back.

Quick side note: Amare Stoudamire is 16th in the league in both points and rebounding. Steve Nash is #2 in assists with 11.3, 0.3 behind Chris Paul.

[soulD]

tim im not a Melo fan either, but hes still more durable than say T-Mcgrady