MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Jamal Crawford still throws up questionable shots, but he took another step forward in terms of stepping up to fill voids. When the Knicks lost Stephon Marbury for extended periods, he slid over and played the point. When the Knicks needed a voice in the locker room, he spoke up. Crawford averaged 20 points and five assists.
MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: Stephon Marbury did not like hearing blame for the Knicks' slow start and bolted a road trip for home. He took an extended leave following the death of his father, then shut down in January to have surgery on a cranky ankle. Marbury only appeared in 24 games, averaging 13.9 points and 4.7 assists, both career lows. BIGGEST NEEDS: If the Knicks decide to unload or buy out Stephon Marbury, the will need a point guard who is capable of making quick decisions and finding the open man. Since they aren't likely to deal Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph, it wouldn't hurt to bring in a big man who's known to be active defensively.
FREE AGENT FOCUS: Getting under the salary cap is a priority for new team president Donnie Walsh, but he's going to have to wait. He won't be shedding a lot of salary this summer by letting the likes of Fred Jones and Randolph Morris hit the free agent market. Both are role players who probably don't fit into future plans.
PLAYER NOTES:
--F David Lee has been looking for apartments in New York City, but there's no indication he's going to be a Knicks' fixture. Knicks president Donnie Walsh has to decide whether to offer the energetic rebounder a contract extension, or risk having Lee wind up a restricted free agent when next season ends.
--G Nate Robinson is also waiting to see if the Knicks want to extend him. Walsh first has to figure out how the roster fits together. Getting under the salary cap following the 2009-10 season might not be possible if both Lee and Robinson get extensions.
--G/F Quentin Richardson could help the cause if he somehow convinces his training partner in Chicago to consider the alternatives in a couple of years. He's been getting together with Dwayne Wade a couple of times a week to work out.
