Deto-Nate

Since Mike D’Antoni benched Nate Robinson, the Knicks have won three of four, including three straight (OK, 2.5) against the Hawks, the Nets, and the Ail Blazers. The team, now operating almost exclusively as an 8-man rotation, is playing much more cohesively and competitively. Granted, four games isn’t a great sample size, but this statistic speaks volumes about Robinson’s value to the team: When Lil’ Him logs less than 15 minutes of game time, the Knicks are a respectable 7-6, compared to a truly pathetic 0-15 when Kryptonate gets more than 15 minutes of burn. Robinson, a fan favorite, for reasons I’ve never quite figured out, literally brings more nicknames—and traffic violations—to the team than actual wins. Nate, for all his hops and marketing chops, isn’t exactly long for the Knicks. It’s now just a matter of time before Walsh, with the full endorsement of D’Antoni, sends Robinson packing.

My question is, what do you think the organization could get for him? Before you answer, keep in mind Robinson is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, which could either be attractive to a team or prohibitive, depending on their finances.

I like to think Orlando would send us back a first-round pick for Robinson. He’ll give them instant offense off the bench, and is, in my opinion, a much better option than JJ Redick. As The Post’s Mike Vaccaro, one of my favorite sports writers of all time, wrote this morning, “in his highest evolution and most useful form, Robinson would be Vinnie Johnson Lite, instant spurts of offense on a good team who could be locked away if he shows up cold on any given night." 

Orlando seems like the perfect fit for him.  

BEN:

Interesting stat. You mean 0-9, right? Not 0-15? Anyway, worth a little more examination. Nate-Rob sat out the first six games of November, a stretch during which the Knicks went 1-5; clearly, they didn't have anyone to fill his shoes and it hurt them. More recently, he's been intentionally benched by D'Antoni, and the team has been 3-1 since that decision. Whatever it is--morale, chemistry, a specific in-game strategy--the team has clearly changed its relationship to its fan-favorite scorer who somehow isn't popular with the fans. There's no doubt that not playing Robinson, for a while, is the right thing for this team. But I have to question whether this is going to work long term; I suspect the balance on this stat will shift. One thing seems clear, though: they are not a good team when they have to rely on him.

What can you get for a talented scorer with an attitude problem? At $4m in cap space, I don't know he has enough to offer Orlando. Yes, they're light on shooting guards behind Vince Carter, but they've got a legitimate shot at a title this year; and if I were them I'd hesitate to bring in someone with such potential to mess with their success. What about more of a dark-horse team, with a similar depth problem, and a money issue to worry about at the same time? The Houston Rockets have almost $40m invested in Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady. Who better than they to take on a problem child who can save them money long-term? They're the best fit I can think of.

Is he worth a first-round pick? It's possible. I don't have the sense that next year's draft will be exceptionally strong (behind the basketball genius of John Wall, that is), so maybe they'd take a flier. Then again, if D'Antoni is desperate to move him, that price may come down. One thing we can agree on: Nate-Rob's days in New York are likely numbered, and I don't think he's going to be missed.

Did someone say they wanted to watch more John Wall highlights? Very well, if you insist:



MILES:

I read the 0-15 stat in a bunch of different dailies and websites. I'll defer to Howard Beck, who wrote yesterday morning the Knicks are "0-9 when he plays at least 19 minutes and 7-6 when he plays 12 or fewer." I credit the Knicks' mini-run to Larry Hughes. He's been great this month, believe it or not, both on the defensive end and running the offense. I actually wouldn't mind bringing him back next year, for the right price, of course. I doubt, though, he'd be willing to take the minimum to stay in New York. 

The Rockets are also interesting trading partners. What are the chances Daryl Morey would be interested in Jared Jeffries, Eddy Curry, Nate and $3 million for McGrady? We'll gladly take back McGrady for three months to clear enough cap space to sign Lebron and Chris Bosh in the offseason. I'd say this scenario is about as likely to happen as John Wall returning to Kentucky for his sophomore season.