Watching the Knicks play the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night, I came way with the feeling that very few of the current Knicks are a good fit for coach Mike D'Antoni's system. Jamal Crawford appeared uncomfortable and Zach Randolph was putrid versus the Celtics. This certainly wasn't Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire playing Mike D'Antoni's up-tempo basketball with the Phoenix Suns.

Today the Knicks made two trades that will bring this Knicks squad more in line with Mike D'Antoni's basketball philosophy. The Knicks sent guard Jamal Crawford to the Golden State Warriors for forward Al Harrington; and in another move sent power forward Zach Randolph and guard Mardy Collins to the Los Angeles Clippers for guard Cutino Mobley and forward Tim Thomas. Each of these moves will allow the Knicks additional cap space in 2010 for the LeBron James Summer of Love. Harrington, Mobley and Thomas have contracts that expire at the end of the 2009-10 season.

By moving Crawford and Randolph, the Knicks will be freeing up $27.1 million for the LeBron James Summer of Love. Not only will LeBron James be a free agent, but so will Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Yao Ming, Manu Ginobili. Joe Johnson and Steve Nash.

These moves signal that the Isiah Thomas era has come an emphatic end. Crawford and Randolph were lauded by Thomas as players who would take the Knicks to the next level. In Mike D'Antoni's play fast approach, Crawford's incessant dribbling slowed the offensive flow. D'Antoni's offense relies on quick passes and a point guard, such as Steve Nash, who can use the dribble to penetrate and create open shots for his teammates. Presently, point guard Chris Duhon is more valuable to the Knicks than Jamal Crawford. Duhon is not as talented as Crawford, but the guy is a leader and a winner.

Randolph was simply bad fit in Mike D'Antoni's approach to the game. Randolph's skill set is more conducive to a half-court game and D'Antoni's Knicks will not be playing half-court basketball. It was painful to watch Randolph versus the Celtics -- not only was Randolph ineffective offensively but he was a liability on the defensive end. Celtics center Kendrick Perkins had a field day against Zach Randolph.

Where Does This Leave The Knicks? 

Immediately, the Knicks are a better team with the players they added. Cutino Mobley is a more than suitable replacement for Jamal Crawford and will thrive playing up-tempo basketball. Mike D'Antoni coached Tim Thomas with the Phoenix Suns, so don't expect Thomas to look lost on the court. (Welcome back to New York, Tim.)

Al Harrington is a favorite of Knicks general manager Donnie Walsh, from Walsh's days in Indiana. Harrington's ability to run the floor, spot up and shoot the three, and defend the post will make him a perfect fit in D'Antoni's system.

Can you expect Harrington, Mobley or Thomas to play at an All-Star level with the Knicks? No, but Crawford and Randolph were not playing at an All-Star level, so bring in guys that will be comfortable in D'Antoni's system.

Will The Knicks Make More Moves?

It's been reported that the Knicks have been attempting to formalize a buyout with Stephen Marbury. Starbury is acting as his own agent, which is not speeding up matters. Starbury has the second-largest contract in the NBA for this year, at $21.9 million, and he's not interested in taking eighty cents on the dollar.

Starbury

Eddy Curry represents all that was wrong about the Isiah Thomas era of New York Knicks basketball. Don't let the door hit your big, fat ass, Eddy.

David Lee is a Madison Square Garden favorite, but his game is not well-suited for Mike D'Antoni's system. Moving Lee will be good for David Lee and good for the Knicks. Against the Celtics, Lee showed his acclaimed  hustle and a willingness to play tough defense in the post. Lee will help a lot of teams.

Playing in D'Antoni's system, players have inflated offensive numbers. In future trades, the Knicks should be able to get quality in return.

The Knicks of 2010-2011

Expect to see Steve Nash on that roster. Nash enjoyed two MVP seasons with Mike D'Antoni, he is a poor fit with the current Phoenix Suns Shaquille O'Neal-centric offense and he owns a pad in New York. As an unabashed fan of Steve Nash, Nash's arrival in New York can't happen soon enough.

[The Phoenix Suns are a mess. Suns president and general manager Steve Kerr has assembled a schizophrenic team that has no true personality. Are the Suns a running team or are they a half-court team? It doesn't appear the players know, which is a big problem, and Shaquille O'Neal is no longer a dynamic offensive player. ]

The moves made today by Donnie Walsh and Mike D'Antoni reflect the prevailing wisdom in David Stern's NBA. You have to lose - to eventually win. Look no farther than the current NBA champion Boston Celtics for evidence to support that theory. As presently constructed, the Knickerbockers will be able to compete on a nightly basis, but they will not be vying for an NBA championship. The Knicks will entertain Garden patrons, but all eyes should be looking for the 2010 LeBron James Summer of Love.