Toughness, rebounding, on ball defense, you know, all the things the Knicks are missing.  What we need at this moment, with THIS team, more than anything, is exactly what one player, who is available, brings.

creepiest Jeff Foster picture we could find...

If you have been on Twitter, and you follow me (@ralphguerrero, by the way), then the one thing you are absolutely sure of is that there is one player I feel the Knicks need to get to a hold of. I have been saying it for weeks now.  Jeff Foster.  I have been clamoring on Twitter, Facebook and every talk radio show I could get on!

Now it seems like is everyone is catching Foster fever as well.  Various major media reports are coming in now that the Knicks are very high on Foster.  Word is they might even go as far as to offer him the full mid-level exception.  The number of years is not known yet, but we know they will be very hesitant to go more than one year and dip into next years cap space. (more…)

TO: ALL PLAYERS

FROM: G. WILLIAM HUNTER

RE: SETTLEMENT

As you have heard, early Saturday morning, the NBA and the players reached a settlement in the Anthony antitrust case, the Minnesota lawsuit brought by several players and supported by your National Basketball Players Association following the disclaimer of interest voted by the Player Representatives less than two weeks ago. I offer my sincere congratulations for the significant achievements won on behalf of all players as a result of that settlement.

Over the next two weeks, the parties involved in the Anthony lawsuit will engage in a four-step process in an attempt to open training camps and free agency on December 9th and begin the 2011-12 season on Christmas Day. (more…)

Via Newsday:

“Donnie Walsh chatted before Monday night’s game with agent Andy Miller, who represents Chauncey Billups.  Miller said he has had “preliminary conversations” with the Knicks about Billups’ future with the team beyond this season, but at this point, “nothing specific” has been addressed…

The Knicks are expected to keep Billups for at least the final year of his contract.  He could be a valuable asset as an expiring contract, especially if a team such as the Hornets looks to trade Chris Paul before he opts out for free agency in 2012.”

Chauncey hurts his thigh
TD outplays CP3
Beat The Heat, Hornets

Via NY Daily News:

“Who would have thought in October that the Knicks would trot out a lineup featuring (Jared) Jeffries, Shawne Williams and Anthony Carter. Better yet, who would have predicted that Toney Douglas, who replaced the injured Chauncey Billups, would outplay Chris Paul to almost embarrassing proportions?…

In his second start at point guard, Douglas scored 24 points on 10-for-13 shooting as the Knicks improved to 31-28. He also hounded Paul, who is either not 100% healthy, disinterested or both.“

It was only one game.  But if Douglas continues to improve as the Knicks backup PG, perhaps Donnie Walsh would be better served to go after Dwight Howard rather than Chris Paul next year.

Anyone who has followed the career of Chauncey Billups knew last week when he was sent to New York from Denver that while Carmelo Anthony was the centerpiece of the trade, Billups was hardly a throw-in.  Lets not forget that Billups was arguably best player on an NBA Championship Detroit Pistons team.  That is nothing to sneeze at when you consider the best player on other championship teams over the last decade or two (Kobe, Shaq, Duncan, Jordan, Garnett).  Detractors might say that he is over the hill, and no longer playing at that level.  That even if he shows some flashes, he is way past his prime.  Mike D’Antoni disagrees. (more…)

Sources are reporting that the Nets have agreed to a deal with the Utah Jazz to acquire star point guard Deron Williams in exchange for Derrick Favors and Devin Harris.  Williams is a major acquisition for the Nets, who were not able to outmaneuver the Knicks for Carmelo Anthony.

Williams is set to become a free agent after next season, and many people have speculated that the Knicks would make a run at him since they traded Raymond Felton.  Chauncey Billups, who they recently acquired from Denver in the Anthony deal, is a solid player.  But Billups is on the wrong side of 30 and he too, becomes a free agent after next season.

It will be interesting to see whether the Nets will be able to sign Williams to a contract extension, or whether this is just a short stop before moving on to play with Amar’e, Carmelo, and the new look Knicks.  If he does sign an extension, the Knicks primary target in the summer of 2012 will surely be Chris Paul, the other star point guard whose contract expires after next season.

Via NY Daily News:

But if a deal for Anthony goes through…Paul sees an immediate title contender at Madison Square Garden.

“No question. No question,” he said. “You’re talking about probably the best scorer in the league (Anthony) going to a team with Amar’e and Raymond Felton.”

Via Newsday:

“If you want any chance against us in Miami, you’d better team up with in New York,” James told Anthony, who relayed the conversation this month in an interview with SI.com.

Shortly after that, Hornets point guard Chris Paul grabbed a glass of champagne and, to Anthony and Stoudemire, toasted the formation of “our own Big Three” with the Knicks.

Anthony and Paul have since downplayed the moment as joking around, but by the end of the summer both had begun to employ exit strategies with their teams. Paul, who will be a free agent in 2012, has been pacified, for now, but Anthony appears to be only weeks away – the Feb. 24 trade deadline – from taking on LeBron’s challenge.

Everyone knew coming into the 2010-2011 season that for the Knicks to be competitive, that Amar’e Stoudemire, their free agent prize, would have to play to his potential.  But to be a serious contender, the Knicks would need someone to push the tempo, break down opposing defenses off the dribble, and feed Amar’e the ball.  Raymond Felton, initially brought in to play this role on a temporary basis until the Knicks could acquire Chris Paul or some other superstar, has shown the Knicks, and the city, that he was born to play this role, and to play it in New York City.