With Season Winding Down, Brown Is Gearing Up to Deal
Stephon Marbury, who has openly feuded with Brown, ranks high on the list of players the Knicks will try to trade this summer. It is possible that Marbury played his final minutes as a Knick last night. He left the game late in the first quarter after straining the patellar tendon in his left knee, and his status is unclear. He was to have a magnetic resonance imaging examination this morning
The Knicks acquired Francis at Brown's urging last month, just as they previously signed Qyntel Woods. But Brown has not yet put his stamp on this team by acquiring the type of players who fit his traditional mold: defense-minded, selfless and with a high basketball I.Q.
While the Knicks repeatedly acquire high-priced former All-Stars — Francis, Marbury, Jalen Rose, Penny Hardaway — Brown's 76ers supported their star, Iverson, with a cast of unflashy role players: Eric Snow, Aaron McKie, George Lynch, Brian Shaw.
The Knicks, having shown scant progress despite Brown's coaching, are left with one logical route this summer: trade everyone they can and find Brown the players who fit his approach. That will require Thomas to heed Brown's advice, but those who know Brown say that is generally a good idea.
"He's usually successful when he puts players around him that do the things that he likes to do," Cheeks said.
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