I don't know if you remember about two years ago when the Knicks hired Donnie Walsh, who in turn hired Mike D'Antoni. Many people viewed this as the point of turnaround for the Knicks, where everything started to change for the better. However, the beginning of this tandem lead to probably some of the worst basketball or financal decisions that the Knicks could make.
There are three critical errors that this decision-making tandem made that has led the Knicks down the wrong path in their rebuilding process. First, how D'Antoni and Walsh chose to handle Stephon Marbury. The summer of D'Antoni's signing all the players were getting themselves in condition to play in the up-tempo system and that included Marbury too. As a matter a fact, he came back fit and in shape and played excelllent basketball in the preseason showing great promise of what was to come during the season. Also, this being his second go-around with D'Antoni he appeared determined to excel and flourish within the system. However, after a beautiful preseason and a summer of hard work and dedication; the tag team decided that Marbury wouldn't start nor would he play. Now from a basketball personnel prospective this makes no sense. Marbury had shown his effectiveness in the system throughout the preseason when given playing time. Beyond that the player the Knicks had in the pipeline, Chris Duhon, definitely did not make the decision seem any wiser. Marbury definitely would've made the Knicks more competetive that year. And they even took it a step further by banishing Marbury from the organization further alienating him. Now beyond basketball lets take a look at the financials behind the Marbury decision. At the time Marbury had a contract worth $21 million, which was an expiring contract. If the Knicks' tag team were wise they would taken advantage of Marbury's new found enthusiam and commitment and showcased him with the intentions of trading him for either young talent, veteran talent or for a contract set to expire this (2010) summer. They would been in a much better position whether in terms of young talent (that would been in development during this and last season) or possessed the star player(s) (still not too late see How The Knicks Could Blast-Off) to draw a top tier free agent or finally had enough money coming off their cap to sign almost three max contracts.
The second mistake the tag team made was their draft choice in 2008. Danilo Gallinari is coming around this season after spending most of last season shelved because of injuries. However, one has to wonder whether Gallinari was chosen because of his ties with D'Antoni then him being the best player available. The Knicks passed on Brook Lopez who is solid big man, Eric Gordon a very good shooting guard and even DJ Augustin, an undersized point guard with exceptional shooting skill. Gallinari is a good player but seems to be too one dimensional, to the point where even offensively he is only a 3pt shooter and seemingly lacks any other skill. His defense is non-existent (as is with most of the Knicks). If the Knicks had chosen a big man where they really had a need because of Eddy Curry’s current limitations. There were plenty of bigs on the board such as Brook Lopez and Roy Hibbert who now would've solidified the middle for the Knicks. Or they could addressed backcourt needs in picking Eric Gordon or Augustin and had better shooting in the backcourt, especially at the point guard position.
As if making the mistake in the 2008 NBA Draft wasn't enough they followed it with a sequel drafting Jordan Hill with the #8 pick in the draft. I am not saying the Knicks should've known that Brandon Jennings was as capable as he's shown but with their familiarity with the European game they should've been able to see some of these things. Also with the Knicks current point guard situation (or better said lack of point guard), how high is the risk drafting a quick point guard with penetrating and passing ability, even if he can't shoot. His ability to penetrate and pass would allow him to flourish in a pick roll offense predicated on setting up the 3pt shot and transition offense. This is all based on the scouting report, not hindsight.
So as bad as Isaiah left the Knicks, especially in regards to the contracts he handed out, there was still wiggle room to turn it around but the tag team didn't capitalize on opportunities presented, putting the Knicks in a more volatile position this season.
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