A Plan for the Future

The New York Knicks finally gave their fans something we haven't had in several years -- hope. By dealing Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph as well as uselss Mardy Collins for Al Harrington, Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas, the Knicks made it clear that they are going hard after free agents in the summer of 2010.
That group includes LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire and Dirk Nowitzki.
These trades enable them to do that because Crawford and Randolph are scheduled to earn $27 million in 2010-2011, money the Knicks no longer have to pay.
All three of the players the Knicks acquired have deals expiring after next year, clearing almost exactly $40 million from the cap.
That leaves the Knicks with only four players under contract for 2010-2011. That's Eddy Curry (11.3m), Jared Jeffries ($6.9m), Danilo Gallinari ($2.8m) and Wilson Chandler ($1.8m).
Chris Duhon, Nate Robinson and David Lee all come off the books after next year as well but could potentialy be re-signed.
Donnie Walsh and Mike Dantoni even admitted that clearing cap space was the reason for these moves (and the reason Marbury will not be traded this year), so you'd have to view these trades as effective in reaching that goal.
But the Knicks still have two whole seasons to play. Losing Randolph for two spare parts hurts the performance of the team. And I think Crawford was the Knicks best player, mostly because he was the one guy with the guys and ability to take, and more importantly, make, a late-game shot. But Donnie Walsh loves Al Harrington and he probably thinks he's better and more unique in his talents than Jamal Crawford.
So even if the Knicks take their lumps for two more years we at least have something to look forward to, maybe even two somethings.