Inheriting a New NBA team.

I grew up a New York Knicks fan. I remember the glory days of Patrick Ewing's drop step drive into the paint, Charles Oakley grabbing every rebound in sight, and Pat Riley's hardcore, do not  f*ck with us defense.

But over the past few years, I have come to realize something. I was a Patrick Ewing fan first and foremost before the Knicks.

And when the Knicks sent Ewing packing like he was cheap suit to Seattle years ago, the paint started to chip off my love for the Knicks. The past decade has not helped either.

James Dolan, Scott Layden, and Isiah Thomas have made it unbearable for any Knick fan.

Dolan is the definition of Trust Fund Baby, that is handed a business and buries it into the ground. Ironically, Dolan hand picked Isiah Thomas, after he put a basketball league into bankruptcy!

Layden, made the Ewing deal, that brought over Glenn Rice, but he forgot to acquire his knees in the deal as well. We would also like to mention the following , Shandon Anderson, Howard Eisley, Othella Harrington, the Allan Houston 100 million dollar contract (top 20 worst sports contracts ever), and the Antonio Mcdyess trade, that Layden took Nene 7th overall, and passed on Amare Stoudamire. Lastly, the following seasons top 10 pick... Michael Sweetney anyone?

Should we even mention Isiah's resume? At least he could decently draft, but thats when he did not deal the picks for Eddy Curry. Isiah was also only one of 3 stupid, crazy GM's (the others would be Elgin Baylors corpse, and Laker booster Chris Wallace) to take on Zach Randolph, his contract, and eating habits, not to mention the soap operas he had with Larry Brown, and Anucha Browne. By the way, did I even mention Stephon Marbury?

I have tried to stick with this franchise, but more and more, I have come to the realization that it was not the Blue, White, and Orange I was a fan of. I grew up in an era that the Knicks had a superstar that gave it his all, even if it never materialized into a title.

So, I am offically jumping off the wagon. I do not care if present GM Donnie Walsh is potentially getting Lebron James or not. I want to be a fan of a basketball team again. I have three candidates to choose from, none of them are playoff teams, so I am not trying to ride the wave of another franchise's success.

1) Minnesota T-Wolves

Why?- It is not a perfect franchise by any means, but it has a solid young nucleus that you can root for. Al Jefferson, Kevin Love, and most of all, rookie Point Guard Johnny Flynn.

Now, does the Ricky Rubio Saga scare me off? Not exactly. They will get good value for a guy that cannot even shave yet, but is in a Gillette commerical.

The new GM, David Khan does terrify me. He could easily become Layden/Isiah Redux 2.0.

Flynn is the kicker. I love and watch Big East Basketball, and you have to root for a smallish Point Guard that can run like a deer, jump out of the gym ( see Youtube video of Flynn dunking on Rutgers Mike Rosario), and is as tough as nails. I think he is going to be Aaron Brooks with flash and some attitude.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder

Why?- You would think the main reason is Kevin Durant right? Wrong

I love how this franchise is ran. GM Sam Presti is the textbook definition of a guy that told managment that if you are patient with me, I will make a potential dynasty. All he did for a few years was dump contracts, and collect draft picks.

Now, Presti has a fantastic young core (Durant, Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green, James Harden), along with several good role players on the roster. Oh, did I mention that the Thunder will have at the most, 40 million on the books for the 2010-2011 Free Agent Sweepstakes?

That is around 18 million under the cap. Lebron? Bosh? These guys would not be interested in playing with this group?

He is not the main reason, but Durant is a huge reason. Guy is a machine. He is going to win several scoring titles, but the thing that got me about him was 2 things. One, hes a gym rat, and has that MJ/Kobe mentality that he can score 55 in a game, and think he could do more. The second thing was when I heard that he went to Las Vegas for the Rookie League, sat on the bench with his future and potential teammates, and cheered them on. This is the type of heart and soul leader I grew up loving in Ewing.

and finally, and hear me out on this one...

3) Los Angeles Clippers

Why? - I know, Donald Sterling and that Front Office make James Dolan look like Red Auerbach, but there is plenty to like here.

1.- Two young future All-Stars in Eric Gordon and #1 overall pick Blake Griffin.

2.- How can you dislike Baron Davis? Serously.

3.- I am a sucker for the real, true underdog.

4.- Including picking up Mardy Collins option (Who is a stiff.) The Clippers only have 36 million in salaries for 10-11. That is without even taking into consideration the Clips trying to pawn off Chris Kaman's goofy mind and contract, and possibly resigning Marcus Camby.

5- Lebron should be a real possiblilty here. I know Bill Simmons brought this up first, but it really does make sense. Lebron has two potential All Stars, plus another Lottery Pick from this upcoming season to grow old with. Something the Cavs could never offer him. The Cavs also could not offer him the spotlight of actually making a LA market team viable again, and creating a Clippers-Lakers rivalry that The Hebrew Godfather (David Stern) is salavating over.

I know how I have thought this out, now I would like to know your input on it. Clippers? Thunder? T-Wolves? Stay with the Knicks? I have put up a voting poll to see what team I will inherit into SportsTown, and I will gladly take any emails @ TheSportsTown@gmail.com , or dicsuss it on Twitter(TheSportsTown) .

Ricky Rubio, few tidbits........

I am starting to really feel sorry for the state of Minnesota. First, they had to watch the Twins accept 30 cents on the dollar for Johan Santana and lose Torii Hunter for nothing in the same offseason. Then, they have to deal with The Days of Our Favre soap opera and now have to fall into the trap that he is their savior. Now, they have to deal with the Ricky Rubio Saga. Here are some quotes from Rubio, and I will just play translator here:


"Going to Minnesota would have just complicated my life a lot. It was a risk and I didn't see it so clearly."

Translation: There is NO way I will play basketball in Minnesota!!!

"My Priority was the NBA and it was impossible for the Minnesota Timberwolves to pay my buyout clause, so I wanted to stay home." (By the way, which is BS, because T-Wolves GM David Khan has gone back and forth to Spain all summer to negotiate a buyout agreement, and actually was reported that he reached a deal. Also, this is the same franchise that got caught for pulling Used Car sales-under the table deals in the past. Joe Smith ring a bell? Yes, different GM, but same Owner.)

Translation: My priority is to get into a big basketball market (cough New York cough). A warm market if possible (cough LA cough).

"When the season ended, I entered the draft with the intention of going to the NBA. But some things happened that kept me from being ahead of the rest and I ended #5, which I was happy with, but it didn't allow me the chance to go to the NBA. I tried, but in the end it wasn't to be."

Translation: I thought I was going to be a Top 3 pick. I thought the Grizzles had a deal to move down since I told them there was no shot in hell I was going to go play for the Lakers AAA Team. I would already be in Oklahoma City, practicing tossing alley-oops to Kevin Durant in a gym if they picked me. Then, I was happy Minnesota took me with the 5th pick, because I thought they would trade me to New York. Lastly, they drafted Johnny Flynn as well, who is a faster, quicker, tougher, more NBA ready Point Guard than I am.

"They could only put a half a million into it, and I think that deal with Minnesota had too many obstacles." (Just see above. And Ricky? The 500k thing applied to every NBA team.)

"I won't lie. My objective has always been the NBA"

Translation: Although, my Internship at ESPN was solid this summer. Did you guys check me out interviewing the parents in the stands at the Little League World Series?

This can be spun in alot of directions, but two things are clear. one, Rubio never wanted to play in Minnesota. He is now pulling an elegant, more media friendly Steve Francis Power Play. Which, if you remember, was a drafted player telling a franchise that there was a better chance of Popeye being attracted to Bluto over Olive Oil, than he would ever put on their jeresy. And last, 18 year old kids do not know how to bullshit people yet. He just offically made his bed, I hope he can sleep in it.


Couple of more tidbits:

It never ceases to amaze me how sometimes people are sheep. The #1 selling NFL jeresy? Brett Farve. That is basically an $80 snotrag when Favre has one of his classic 23 Touchdown/19 Int seasons and leads the Vikings to a 7-9 record.

The 4th best selling jeresy? Michael Vick.... Nothing out of Philly would amaze me. Just tell me, does the Vick jeresy come with his Eagles number, or his prison process number?

Speaking of Philly, I think the Phillies are getting the A-Game from Cole Hamels just at the right time.

Big props to David Wright for coming back this season after being plunked in the peanut! But, did you see that new helmet he is wearing? Now, I am all for the safety precautious, but I dunno if he is playing baseball, or if he is at the Jetson's house flying around with Elroy.

And last, the one thing I learned from Pac Man Jones signing to play in the CFL, Winnipeg must have some high quality strip clubs.