The Knicks, pending approvals and physicals and all that, are about to trade Kurt Thomas and a future conditional first-round pick for Quentin Richardson.

I am not sure how I feel about this deal - it depends on what the Knicks do in the draft THIS year, and what they end up doing with Goatbury. At least Q-Rich is not max contract. He has 5 years and $37.7 million left on his deal, with an additional option year. Kurt Thomas has 2 years and $14 million left, with an $8 million 2007-2008 option. So once again, Isiah has increased the length of contracts on the Knicks.

At least Q can play. He lit up the Knicks when he played this year, making 7 of 14 3 pointers. And he is young, 25 with 5 years in the league.

So what is the Knicks line-up going to look like?

C: TimThom/Jackie Butler/Bruno Sundov
PF: Malik Rose/Mo Taylor/Sweetney
SF: Ariza/Richardson/JYD
SG: Richardson/Crawford/Who?ston (if he ever plays again)
PG: Goatbury/Crawford/Jermaine Jackson/Penny (if not hurt)

The reason this trade does not make sense is that the Knicks now have 2 SG (Crawford, Richardson) or 2 SF (Ariza, Richardson) or 2 PG (Goatbury, Crawford) but have a SF as their starting center (TimThom).

Here's hoping the draft produces a 6-11 dunking PF and a 7 footer who can play D and block shots for the Knicks!