Armchair GM Featuring the New York Knicks

Before I begin I have to let it be known that I'm a bigger Melo fan than an Amar'e fan. And I'm not really a Knicks fan, I'm only rooting for them because of Melo, and to a lesser degree Amar'e. However, for the real life Knicks to be successful under Mike D'Antoni's system I do know that Melo just won't work. So I played around with ESPN's latest NBA Trade Machine and I came up with two possible trade scenarios that might help the Knicks (and also help the other team in the trade). Let's not forget that the estimated wins added or lost are just that, estimates.


Trade Number 1
The Knicks trade: Carmelo Anthony and Iman Shumpert
The Celtics trade: Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen


Okay, so the Celtics in theory get -7 wins while the Knicks get +7 wins. How is that fair to the Celtics? Well, for starters the Celtics get two younger players (although Melo has been in the league for quite a while, he is still relatively younger than Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett) they can build on for the future. Melo and Shumpert would greatly benefit from the leadership two successful future hall-of-famers would give them. Melo would just assume Pierce's scoring burden, and the two have similar play styles so the transition might not be that difficult. Pierce can slide over to shooting guard and be more of a support scorer instead of having to carry most of the scoring load. Garnett could focus more on defense and rebounding too since Melo can also operate on post ups. Let's not forget about Shumpert, who is also a pretty good defensive minded guard. He just needs to improve his shooting and his passing a bit more.


The Knicks get a true point guard in Rondo. This is someone who fits perfectly with D'Antoni's system, and I'm pretty sure Rondo will always find the open man. Let's not forget that Rondo is also a very good defender and combined with Tyson Chandler would greatly improve the Knicks' defense. With Ray Allen they get a marksman from three, someone who could steady the team with his veteran leadership, and his play style complements Amar'e's play style instead of clashing with it. Plus Landry Fields would benefit greatly if he were to learn from one of the league's greatest shooters.


Trade Number 2


The Knicks trade: Carmelo Anthony and Iman Shumpert
The Nets trade: Deron Williams and Johann Petro


I'm more of a Rondo fan than a Deron fan but this one gives the Knicks a little more offensive firepower. Again, Deron is a passing point guard who can score, and I'm sure he would love to have a pick and roll partner again. Plus Deron would be better offensively than Rondo. Petro's just there to balance the salaries to make the trade work.


As for the Nets, they finally get Melo, who is signed on long term meaning they don't have to worry about Deron leaving their team after this season. Shumpert was added to possibly replace the void left by Deron and hopefully learn from Avery Johnson. And if the Nets aren't planning on getting Dwight Howard anymore, a core of Brook Lopez - Carmelo Anthony - Iman Shumpert does sound good. I can't believe I'm that high on Shumpert, but I am.


Well, those are two trades I thought of that might help the Knicks and their trade partners. If it happens in real life it will be interesting, but if it doesn't, I didn't lose anything.


Oh, and if you're wondering why I don't have a trade with a Western Conference team, I just couldn't find a team with a good point guard who might be willing to get Melo. Sorry, Suns, but Steve Nash is a bit too old to consider.


However, just for fun's sake let's try this trade out I just thought of...


(Bonus) Trade Number 3


The Knicks Trade: Carmelo Anthony
The Suns Trade: Steve Nash and Josh Childress


Nash returns with D'Antoni for a few more years (I can't guess how many more) however the biggest risk here is that Nash won't have the benefit of Phoenix's excellent medical staff so he might run the risk of more injuries. Plus, D'Antoni has a habit of playing his starters too many minutes every night. Childress is just there to balance the salaries.


Melo moves to Phoenix, but never mind. Their owner wouldn't pull the trigger on this one. If what I read is true, the Suns' owner wouldn't want to spend on Melo and go to the luxury tax.


Out.

Katsu Curry

I don't have any pictures to support my article, but take my word for it. If you are in the Makati area and you're looking for a good tasting katsu curry you can always head by Zaifu in the Rockwell Power Plant Mall.


So far I've had katsu curry in about three or four places in Makati but the best I've had is at Zaifu. It has nothing to do with the cut of meat, but with the curry itself. It just tasted the best. 


But the best katsu curry I've had in the Philippines has to be in Ryuma at Paseo de Sta. Rosa in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. The cut of meat, the sauce, and the rice all blend together so well that I would gladly visit that place again for another round. Plus the other offerings of Ryuma aren't that bad either. And they are really affordable.


Out.

Rambling About Money

I wish I could afford to be in debt.


Let me explain. I have a few classmates in high school who are now paying off houses, cars, or condos they bought with their own money. Some have started their own businesses, and those businesses have done pretty well.


As for me? Well I can't say I'm underpaid (well, not totally underpaid) but I can't afford to pay for some things I had expected I would have had by this point in my life. I cannot even afford to buy a second-hand car for crying out loud.


Some people might be wondering why this is a problem for me. Isn't being debt-free good?


Well yes. But I think it's the "bad kind" of debt that I'd be proud to be free off. But the good kind? I'd love to be in debt if it meant I was paying for my own house (or condo unit). Or even just my own brand new car. Or even a few luxury items I really want but can't afford to pay for (even if it's zero interest one year to pay) like a new DSLR body or a new super-powerful laptop or desktop.


Because if I can afford to pay for those things, it means I'm making enough that I could even consider buying those things I mentioned. It means I have enough disposable income to buy my own place, or my own car (those two are my biggest priorities right now) while having enough money to pay for my family's basic everyday needs.


Here's where I have an issue. Even though I have a wife and daughter, we live with my folks. I use my mom's car everyday to go to and from work. Yes I pay for the car's gas. But that's it. So basically if my wife and I suddenly moved out of the house I'm guessing our lifestyle would take a drastic change to a more spartan lifestyle. Something I don't want to do since I promised myself that I would never make my family experience living on a tight budget.


But facts are facts, and right now my wife and I are thinking of plans to increase our income. Wish us luck.


Out.

Decisions, Decisions

Sometimes going with the flow isn't a bad thing.

Right now I've made a big decision in my life because I went with the flow. I can't really elaborate right now, but in my defense all I can say is that I tried multiple times to remedy this situation before I came up with this.

Or, humor me here for a bit and let my paranoid side shine through, but maybe other forces wanted me to decide this a long time ago. I have no idea. I can't really read people well. People I once thought were friends weren't really friends.

But the time for that is over. It's time to start following up on my decision. Wish me luck.

Out.

Cooking

I've written about it time and again, I love to cook. And happily, the dishes I've been making lately have been relatively good. They taste well, aren't over seasoned, and other people actually eat them without me resorting to force.


And I think I can continue to get better since I've learned to be more patient now, and I've learned to taste what I cook. Plus I also watch and understand more cooking shows now so I get a good idea of what would actually taste well together and whatnot.


So to this coming new year, I look forward to making more good food!


Out.