Sorry To See Nate Go

It seems like a sure thing that Nate Robinson will be traded to the Celtics in a move the Knicks are making with a mind toward 2010.

Nate was probably a goner anyway after the season, given his expiring contract, but now that’s it’s actually here, I’m sad to see Nate go.

Since he was drafted, Nate was one of the only reasons to watch the Knicks during their recent awful run. Who’s going to fill that role now....Eddie House? Tracy McGrady? Yuck.

It’s a shame the Knicks couldn’t figure out a way to weave Robinson into their long term plans. I imagine some of this move could be attributed to Nate’s head-butting with Mike D’Antoni.

Knick fans are the ones who are losing out because these two head-strong individuals couldn’t work out their differences.

It’s the mark of a good coach to bring out a players strengths (of which Nate had many) while making him mesh within the system.

Remember the game when Nate came out of D’Antoni’s doghouse against Atlanta and torched the Hawks for 41? It was the most entertaining Knicks game of the past couple of years.

Couldn’t D’Antoni find SOMETHING from that performance that he could work with? Apparently not. I’ll be real interested to see how Doc Rivers employs Nate with the Celtics.

On the bright side – for Nate – he goes from the cellar to the penthouse. He’ll get a chance to take his act to the playoffs and make a possible run at a title.

While I’m excited for the summer of 2010, I can’t help but feel that if the Knicks do make a killing in free agency, the team will feel somewhat artificial. I’ll miss homegrown talent like Nate.

(The obvious argument here is to throw my Yankee fandom in my face…talk about artificial! But I’ve always maintained that the Yankees have a homegrown CORE unlike any other team in sports…so I don’t get that feeling from them despite their penchant for adding players via free agency).

I say we keep as many serviceable parts of the Knicks, ON THE KNICKS. Included in that list is David Lee, Danilo Gallinari and, until today, Nate Robinson.

It’s not everyday a team trades it’s most popular player. But it’s also just as rare when you have a uber-popular player that management can’t wait to get rid of.

Here’s to hoping both Nate and the Knicks benefit from this deal.

Matt Estreich for The Huddle