The Drubbing

Yep, it’s time for a little straight-talk on the New York Knickerbockers. Last Spring Jeff Coplon wrote a piece for New York Magazine where he called the Knicks Absolutely, Positively the Worst Team in the History of Professional Sports. I wasn’t convinced at first glance. What about the 0-14 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their heinous orange uniforms? That’s gotta count for something right? I later realized that Coplon was dead on. Being a terrible team isn’t just about Ws & Ls. It’s also about value. And the Knicks have a Dollar Tree team on a Harrods budget.

They’re trying to turn it around, and I believe in Donnie Walsh and Mike D’Antoni. But as I’ve told my New York Knicks Season Subscription Representative the last three times he’s called, they’ve still got a long way to go. So here’s a run-down of the contracts the Knicks currently have on the books with abbreviated evaluations.

Knicks Payroll: $97,726,228    Cap Room: $-39,046,228

Wilson Chandler ($1,173,480)
+ Up and coming

Mardy Collins ($1,034,760)
– Overpaid

Jamal Crawford ($8,640,000)
+ Legit superstar

Eddy Curry ($9,723,983)
– A bit overpaid

Chris Duhon ($5,585,000)
– Ridiculous

Danilo Gallinari ($2,873,520)
+/- Only time will tell

Jerome James ($6,200,000)
– Inexcusable

Jared Jeffries ($6,049,400)
– Unacceptable

David Lee ($1,788,033)
+ Underpaid

Stephon Marbury ($20,840,625)
– Downright criminal

Zach Randolph ($14,666,667)
– Absurd

Quentin Richardson ($8,685,500)
– Not worth it

Anthony Roberson ($797,581)
+ Small risk, decent upside

Nate Robinson ($2,020,179)
+ Worth every penny

Malik Rose ($7,647,500)
– Beyond comprehension

Note to Knicks Organization: Your new website is terrible. Go back to the old one.

Note to Knicks Fans: Mike D’Antoni is the best coach the Knicks have had since Jeff Van Gundy (sorry Lenny Wilkens but your best work was behind you). So leave him alone and stop giving him flak when he doesn’t play Steph, the biggest failure on the Knicks current roster.