I'm not usually in the business of promoting sites, but http://www.cosellout.com seemed somewhat interesting.
The site goes into great detail (too much for me to list here) about Isiah Thomas (his moves, his draft picks, etc.) and breaks his moves and decision making down.
Let me preface this by saying that it is definitely a pro-Thomas website. That said, it still is worth a look.
I've included an excerpt below:
The Trades: Turning Weatherspoon into Wine
Pop Quiz: Which currently RETIRED player should Isiah NOT have traded for young talent?
A) Antonio Davis
B) Keith Van Vorn
C) Frank Williams
D) None of Above
Media Backlash: The Eddy Curry trade has been called “the worst trade in the history of sports”; the Steve Francis backlash makes folks believe that Trevor Ariza is Kobe Bryant; and the media endlessly reports on Jalen Rose’s salary instead of the trade’s draft pick that turned into Renaldo Balkman.
Hey Media – Do Your Homework!: The answer is D. While, Isiah is not mistake-free (show me one GM who isn’t), his trading record is overwhelmingly positive when freed from the biased lens of those who write about him. He has taken a pile of aging Clarence Weatherspoons, and turned them into a young talented nucleus capable of title contention within a couple of years. Finally, when judging Knicks trades, the value of new players will only judged against the value of the players given up. Salary will not be evaluated as a factor since we have already addressed the myth of "getting under the salary cap" as a preferred rebuilding strategy.
A. The Mistake: Steve Francis for Trevor Ariza (and Penny Hardaway)
Analysis: Let’s get this out of the way. While overhauling an entire roster in three years Thomas made at least one bad trade of any significance. Forget salary. This is simply a bad trade because Trevor Ariza was more valuable to the Knicks than Francis, who were already loaded at the shooting guard position. Ariza is emerging as a defensive specialist with a solid all-around game. Francis, and his declining knee, is just not the same athlete from a couple of years ago. In summary, Thomas made one bad trade. Any media critic who obsesses too long over this mistake should consider that another GM probably would not have stolen Trevor Ariza in the draft’s 2nd round in the first place, and be soothed that he was able to parlay Francis and Channing Frye into Zach Randolph. Final translation: 8th pick (Frye) and 43rd pick (Ariza) for Zach Randolph.
B. Weatherspoons into Wine (with great help from James Dolan’s Checkbook)
1) Keith Van Horn becomes David Lee and Mardy Collins (via draft picks obtained in interim Nazi Mohammed trade)
2) Dikembe Mutombo, O. Harrington, & F. Williams become Jamaal Crawford
3) Kurt Thomas becomes Quentin Richardson & Nate Robinson (via draft pick)
4) Antonio Davis becomes Renaldo Balkman (via draft pick acquired with Jalen Rose)
Analysis: Each trade that you see listed above received criticism from the short-sighted media during its time. These trades boil down to the Knicks trading Kurt Thomas (now 34), and a bunch of AARP members for a cadre of young promising players ages 22 -27 that form the nucleus of a Knicks youth movement for the next 10 years. While the media was loudly portraying Thomas as a dunce for absorbing expensive contracts (see Malik and Jalen Rose), Thomas was quietly collecting first round draft picks as part of these deals. And when it comes to drafting quality, Thomas is the best in the business. The media was too busy perpetuating the myth of the salary cap to notice that the Thomas strategy was turning old into young, retirees into rookies, and hopelessness into hope.
Media Hypocrisy: Let’s set the record sraight. Isiah’s media critics will now often give high praise to Thomas’ DRAFTING of David Lee, Renaldo Balkman, and Mardy Collins. But to this very day Thomas will rarely receives any credit for TRADING for those draft picks that landed these players. In fact, Thomas is STILL often RIPPED for making both the Malik Rose and Jalen Rose trades that landed those picks. The media simply cannot have it both ways. This bears repeating for those slow on the uptake: Thomas traded Nazi Mohammed and Antonio Davis for David Lee, Renaldo Balkman, and Mardy Collins! Because it is hard to conceive that so many media members are THAT dumb, like the salary cap issue, one can only conclude that there is personal anti-Isiah bias at work in their reporting.
C. The Signature Trades
1) Stephon Marbury (and Penny Hardaway) for Antonio Mcdyess, Howard Eisley, Charlie Ward, Maceij Lampe, Kirk Snyder (via draft pick) & #1 pick in 2010.
Updated Translation: Marbury was obtained for McDyess and a 1st round pick in 2010.
Marbury Trade Analysis: Depending on his performance the next two years, the Marbury trade looks like either a very good one or an average one. Marbury has emerged as floor leader that his critics previously doubted he could. Unfortunately, this trade could probably never be fully evaluated because Thomas gave up two #1 picks. Two #1 picks in Isiah’s hand have much more value than when being held by another GM. Still a good trade?: Most likely. Great trade?: Only, if Marbury leads the Knicks into title contention in the next few years. No complete assessment can be made prior to the 2010 draft pick.
2) Eddy Curry, Antonio Davis, and Wilson Chandler (via swapped 2007 draft pick) for Tim Thomas, Mike Sweetney, Ty Thomas (via draft pick), Joakim Noah (via swapped 2007 draft pick) and #right to swap #1 picks in 2008.
Updated Translation: Eddy Curry, Renaldo Balkman (acquired via Antonio Davis), and Wilson Chandler, for Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah.
Curry Trade Analysis: At best this will be a great trade for the Knicks or more likely a win-win for both the Knicks and the Bulls since Ty Thomas and Joakim Noah have great potential. Ultimately, this trade will be decided on whether Isiah is right about Curry’s recently emerging development as “the tip of the iceberg”. At this point, there is little reason to doubt Thomas here. Finally, any fair discussion of the Curry trade must also include the Knicks addition of Balkman who would not have been acquired without the pick-up of Antonio Davis’ expiring contract. After the media has ignored this fact for over a year, credit is given to New York Post bloggers for urging that this be reported.
3) Zach Randolph for Steve Francis and Channing Frye
Updated Translation: Zach Randolph for Channing Frye
Randolph Trade Analysis: Channing Frye, whose post-up game would never develop in an Eddy Curry centered offense should work better in Portland. Randolph’s brings rebounds and a midrange game that might complement Curry well and will always leave the Knicks with a post-up force on the floor. Critics who are concerned about interior defense, as am I, need to remind themselves that Channing Frye wasn’t reminding anyone of Patrick Ewing on D. In the worst case scenario where the post isn’t big enough for Curry and Randolph, one can always obtain value in a trade. In the final analysis, this trade is a straight-up steal.
4) Roster Depth and Versatility
The Knicks have incredible roster depth and versatility, in fact, maybe too much depth. This “problem”, which includes many young players, may open up possibilities for at least one more significant trade. Their versatility of different players may also make them a difficult playoff opponent where match-ups can be manipulated and adjusted across a 7 game series. Stay tuned.
Final Verse: Media critics will argue that the Knicks haven’t made the playoffs yet, but ignore the bigger picture and the stable of young talent he has amassed. They will argue that millions have been spent and we have argued that it is not their money to worry about. Nitpicking critics will also argue about deficiencies on court “chemistry”, but those critics never had Othella Harrington as trade bait. While one can point to many quality young players that Thomas exchanged for warm bodies on the shuffle-board circuit, there is not ONE-SINGLE EXCHANGE that in its final translation that can be definitively described as a bad trade. (His one clear mistake was also rectified as Steve Francis’ contract helped net Zach Randolph). The fact of the matter is that Thomas and Dolan’s dollars have done the impossible to the Knick’s bench: Turn Spike Lee into David Lee. While impatient and biased journalists were looking at the house "as-is", Thomas, like any smart business person was looking at "what the house could become". As stated elsewhere the Knicks will likely become title contenders in 2 - 3 years.
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Originally Posted by thewatcher
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