Knicks play No Limit, Texas Hold 'Em

…moving the Center to go Forward takes us Back…

by Guichard Cadet

In two trades that amount to folding your hand right after the flop, Knicks President Isiah Thomas did his best Scott Layden impression. At the same time, Isiah showed why he is so different from his Knicks predecessor.

Thomas stocked up on Forwards by trading Center Nazr Mohammed, Vin Baker, and back-up Point-Guards Moochie Norris and Jamison Brewer. In return, he got San Antonio Forward Malik Rose, Houston Forward Maurice Taylor, and two first round draft picks.

So far, the media consensus says Thomas has dug himself a deeper salary cap hole while losing his one bona fide center. The real verdict for these deals will come long after the summer, based on how Thomas packages these new draft picks and other expiring contracts.

Two columns by Marc Berman best explain why these trades had to be made, and their potential benefits.

At last year’s trade deadline, Isiah acquired Mohammed and Tim Thomas because he fell for the old math – thinking more minutes would translate into greater output. Though Nazr’s offensive numbers are up across the board, Kurt Thomas and Michael Sweetney’s rise in overall production relate to his true ineffectiveness.

Mohammed lacks a defensive presence, is consistently in foul trouble, and rarely outplays the opposing team’s center. The other night he got a technical foul for “verbalizing” to the referees – mainly because he was being outplayed by Ben Wallace and whoever the Pistons put against him. Known for his subdued demeanor, this clearly signaled he had reached the peak of his personal frustrations.

Not willing to see this turn, Isiah reversed his claim of patience and addressed a winless, worsening hand – the play of Mohammed.

Thomas showed he is not afraid to admit the errors of his ways by trading Mohammed who this time last year was “key to the deal”. No matter the outcome, he showed an unwillingness to drown in a river of doubt, sitting idly by while players under-perform, unlike…his predecessor.