Knicks Eyeing Garnett

I know the James Dolan coined ‘significant progress’ isn’t enough to please the Knick faithful-what they really wanted was a return to the post season. The suits at NBA head office and ESPN can’t be happy their largest market is once again missing the playoffs.

But something else is going on in the shadows of the NYC. Isiah Thomas, the Knicks GM and coach, has that Machiavellian streak, always scheming on what’s next.

Which leads to this question: What is next for the New York franchise?

I believe the Knicks are positioning themselves to acquire Kevin Garnett. Yes, The Big Ticket in The Big Apple.

Eventually, the marriage between Garnett and the Wolves will end-it must. I believe their much-rumored divorce goes down this summer.

And when the split occurs, Isiah Thomas, the NBA’s biggest opportunist, will be there to pick up the pieces.

New York, New York is the front-runner to land Garnett.

The Knicks have plenty of young, cheap talent they could offer the Wolves in a trade: Channing Frye, David Lee, Nate Robinson, Jared Jeffries, Renaldo Balkman, Randolph Morris, and Mardy Collins.

The Knicks also have expiring contracts to match Garnett’s 21 million dollar per year salary. Malik Rose’s 7 million dollar per year salary expires after 2008-09. And Steve Francis’ 16 million dollar per year salary also comes off the books following the 2008-09 season.

Right now, things are in motion for New York to make a run at Kevin Garnett. If they acquire The Big Ticket, Madison Avenue will forget about missing the playoffs and catch phrases like ‘significant progress’ will seem even more trivial.