Since this season is all but lost, I was going to start the lottery analysis. However, given that Chicago gets the Knicks first round pick in the draft, I declined to do so.

But now - the Knicks have 2 first round picks - Denver's and San Antonio's. Unfortunately, they are the third and first seeds in the Western Conference right now. But the bottom of the first round produced Nate Robinson at 21 and David Lee at 30, so anything's possible.

After this year, the Knicks finally stop paying Penny. Although they will need to re-sign Eddy Curry. But after the 2006-2007 season, Allan Houston, Jalen Rose, Mo Taylor and Shandon Anderson come off the books. And after the 2007-2008 season, its Malik Rose and Jerome Williams.

Still, even for the 2007-2008 season, payroll will drop from $110 million to $49 million.

So I don't know how I feel about Jalen Rose. He can't make the Knicks any worse. They give up 20 turnovers a game and consistently lose by 30. But the Knicks pick up a draft pick and some cash in the deal and the price is one more year of max-contract? Okay.

Here's looking forward to 2007-2008: only a season and a half away.