LB likes Speedy Claxton

NY Post: Hornets free agent Speedy Claxton, who played for Brown in Philadelphia, is on the coach's wish list. Claxton is a good defender, ball-handler and looks first to set up others. The former Hofstra star is behind Rookie of the Year shoo-in Chris Paul.

Claxton could be available for the $5 million mid-level exception, the only avenue other than a sign-and-trade in which the Knicks can obtain a decent free agent.

The Raptors' Mike James is another possibility, but it looks like "The Amityville Scorer" is seeking a payday in excess of the $5 million exception.

"We definitely need to get a guy who has that [point-guard] mentality," Brown said. "The more I see Steph, the more convinced I am he can play both positions - defensively [at shooting guard], without any problem. Offensively, I think he's great coming off screens. I really like him off the ball. I like the way he guards the 2-guard."

Brown said if they can't get add another point guard, he told Isiah Thomas "maybe it's Jamal [Crawford], maybe it's Nate [Robinson]."

BryantDunkGiant wrote:Yeah, this is kind of a strange comment by LB ... they have Francis AND Marbury already ...

Unless they're packing their bags soon

Maybe it was a comment for motivation?

keyindabox wrote:

BryantDunkGiant wrote:Yeah, this is kind of a strange comment by LB ... they have Francis AND Marbury already ...

Unless they're packing their bags soon

Maybe it was a comment for motivation?

Nah I wouldn't be suprised if both were gone by next season.

That whirling noise coming from midtown Manhattan last week was the sound of the NBA's marketing machine kicking into high gear as it prepares to capitalize on LeBron James' first trip to the playoffs.

James, the league's most recognizable young star, is playing his best when his team (and sport) needs him most. Heading into yesterday's game against Miami, James was averaging 36.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 7.4 assists. On Wednesday, he clinched the Cavaliers' first playoff berth in eight years by scoring 46 points, including 31 in the second half, against Dallas.

"I've always felt since I was drafted here that I was going to light it up like Vegas," James said. "It's been slow progress, but it takes a few years to put a building up in Vegas, too."

Of course, in New York, we try to erect skyscrapers in an afternoon, which is why many at Madison Square Garden will be drooling when they watch James take on the Knicks on Wednesday.

Most Knicks fans would trade their entire roster, coach Larry Brown and president Isiah Thomas to make James the foundation of a new team. And that's likely what it would take, because James wouldn't want anything to do with the mess that now plays at the Garden.

The bottom line is the more success the Cavaliers have, the more unlikely it is that James will leave when his contract expires in the summer of 2007.



Doubting Thomas

As Knicks fans get more and more frustrated, bashing Thomas is becoming a cottage industry on the Internet.

Sadknicks.com is pedaling "Fire Isiah T-shirts" and features an inane quote of the day from the Knicks' president. (Friday's feature: "Malik Rose is very similar to Ron Artest in energy and defensive ability.") Then there's jailisiah.com, which is pedaling "Jail Isiah" T-shirts and mugs. For every product purchased, the site says it will donate $1 to the YMCA of Greater New York to help develop the savior of the New York Knicks.

The most creative posting, however, is the "Ballad of Isiah," a musical slide show on youtube.com. In it, the singer laments, "Isiah is a man/who is carrying out a plan/that is as hopeless as a fish trying to breathe on dry land."