Post by irish2u2 on Dec 9, 2020 17:44:41 GMT -5
Maybe some good news. Maybe some alarming news. Maybe some surprising news.
I watch Knicksfantv.com on YouTube. I know Jason does too and the host/moderator/founder CP “The Franchise” has some bonafide contacts within the Knicks organization. He’s a hardcore fan but he’s also pretty objective. Due to COVID-19 restrictions there are no media at the practices but some things have come out from multiple sources. He’s not my only source but what he says has weight.
First the alarming news. Collectively we have heard some things about Mitchell Robinson. He just fired his 6th agent. There have been questions about his work ethic and his attitude. Apparently there might be some truth about the rumors. I know the kid is playing for money far below his worth but you have to keep an eye out for him. I’m thinking the Knicks sent a message when they signed Nerlens Noel who in a lot of ways is a clone of Mitch. I really like Mitch but one has to admit he is not a traditional type personality. On the positive front he is in shape, up to 250 lbs and working on his offense and not getting in foul trouble as much. Is he unhappy about his contract? Is that affecting him and his attitude? These Knicks are careful so an extension will be offered to Mitch when he shows he is worth the commitment.
On the very positive side is everybody seems to be talking about the positive play of Kevin Knox and Dennis Smith, Jr. When asked about PG competition Tom Thibodeau did not mention anybody but DSJ and Elfrid Payton and he was effusive in his praise of Smith. Let’s face it that Smith has the most physical ability of any of our PGs. If suddenly the light goes on with him that is huge news for the Knicks. It feels like the Knicks have some fine backup NBA PGs in Payton, Rivers, Ntilikina and even Powell and Quickley. The Knicks lack that guy who can not just get his teammates involved and play defense but also contribute on offense too. From last year we know DSJ is an athletic freak who can get to the rim and finish. His decision making and jump shot were huge questions. The word is DSJ is hitting his shots and he is seeing his teammates better. He is just 23 years old and if he suddenly gets it that is huge for the Knicks.
If Kevin Knox can be the player John Caliparri insists he can be that too is huge. We all know Kevin has length and athleticism. He can shoot. He is just 21 but his growth curve feels stunted which may have more to do with the Knicks chaotic management situation than anything else. Now comes Leon Rose, Kenny Payne and Tom Thibodeau and suddenly the word is Kevin is a different player. He added some muscle and apparently found his confidence along the way. Again, this is huge if true. People in the know think Kevin has more confidence in his shot and his handle and he is being more assertive. Issues with defense won’t be a huge issue because you either play defense or sit if you play for Tom Thibodeau.
I need to add an observation here. There are 5 starting positions on a basketball team. On a great team you maybe go 4 or 5 deep. The fact these kids are playing better may or may not affect their play with the Knicks because they are also valuable as trade chips. There are only so many players who actually contribute to the Knicks. My personal wish is Knox and DSJ can be important contributors especially since the New New York Knicks have become a team that is way more athletic and potentially way more uptempo. DSJ and Knox are certainly fits in an uptempo offense especially DSJ because of the way he can finish. We don’t have the media at practices so a lot of what is said maybe coach speak from Thibs but I think DSJ and Knox are in the rotation picture and DSJ may even be a starter. Oh happy days if that is true!
According to CP and his trusted source there indeed was a trade on the table with Sacramento that involved Randle and Frank for Buddy Hield. Apparently the Kings wanted much more for Hield even though this trade was mostly a salary dump for them. So the Knicks backed out when Sacramento asked for picks or other young players and that is good.
I like Hield and he has game but he is getting almost superstar money for slightly above star ability. Adding him to the Knicks puts a rookie, Toppin at PF which may or may not be good, and it puts RJ at SF because Hield is a guard. It does add scoring or more accurately long range scoring but otherwise it’s a wash. Buddy is signed for 4 more years at almost 80 million. He is almost 2 years older than Randle, who has a team option next summer, and aside from rebounding at guard which is good but half the rate of Randle he shooters from the field a little worse and commits almost as many turnovers with lower ball usage than Julius. Maybe I’m alarmed this trade was almost consummated but maybe it was on the table at all because one question we keep asking here needs to be answered.
Is Obi a 3 or a 4or both? In case you haven’t been reading my posts I think Obi is a hybrid forward who needs to grow a bit into a PF role. He has a light base and not a bunch of bulk. He isn’t exactly Brandon Ingram but a couple of photos of him during practice showed me a very skinny guy. There are questions about his defense but that is why Thibs gets the big bucks. I think defensive issues at the 3 or 4 can be mitigated somewhat by Thibs team defense, smarts and effort. Obi is smart. Obi works hard. Obi is an elite athlete and that alone can compensate for defensive miscues. Right now I think we need to get scorers on the floor and as our leading scorer and rebounder last season Randle needs to be on the floor. So does Obi. Now it remains that Randle does get traded and Obi become a full time 4 but I am hoping for a better deal than just Buddy Hield. The Knicks have a ton of draft capital and in fact they have the best trading position of ANY team in the NBA. The have talented young players (noe what I said earlier about DSJ and Knox), they have a multitude of draft picks and they are 18 million dollars UNDER the cap this season. Leon Rose must decide wisely how to leverage this advantageous situation into a better New York Knicks team.
So far the Knicks have avoided Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, John Wall, Gordon Heyward and now Buddy Hield. I doubt they are in the James Harden conversation but if it comes up don’t take that call from Houston.
It is entirely possible Rose does nothing. When asked repeatedly by the Post’s Berman our new coach showed his previous experience of being in NY by deftly avoiding the subject of 18 mil under the cap and future trades with a coachspeak response that Rose was always working to make the Knicks better. Well played Coach.
A few questions might get answered Friday night when the Knicks open their pre-season against Detroit. I’m not expecting much but questions about PG, Mitch, Obi, etc. might start to look a little clearer. I have no real expectations for this basketball team but I do note the influence this coaching staff is having on the players. Thibs is letting his coaches coach which sounds like a small thing but after guys like D’Antoni and some of other megalomaniacs who have roamed the Knicks sidelines it’s a very refreshing thing to see. Tom is not looking over his shoulders which means the Knicks players are getting personalized coaching attention that is predicated on addressing both strengths and weaknesses. Everybody is on the same page.
I have no doubt Randle will get traded this season. I have no doubt there will be peaks and valleys. I also have no doubt the management of the Knicks will keep the momentum moving forward. I feel pretty good about them based on what they haven’t done. No splashy signings or trades for big name players who aren’t fits. It feels like there is a new culture in MSG.
Finally.
I watch Knicksfantv.com on YouTube. I know Jason does too and the host/moderator/founder CP “The Franchise” has some bonafide contacts within the Knicks organization. He’s a hardcore fan but he’s also pretty objective. Due to COVID-19 restrictions there are no media at the practices but some things have come out from multiple sources. He’s not my only source but what he says has weight.
First the alarming news. Collectively we have heard some things about Mitchell Robinson. He just fired his 6th agent. There have been questions about his work ethic and his attitude. Apparently there might be some truth about the rumors. I know the kid is playing for money far below his worth but you have to keep an eye out for him. I’m thinking the Knicks sent a message when they signed Nerlens Noel who in a lot of ways is a clone of Mitch. I really like Mitch but one has to admit he is not a traditional type personality. On the positive front he is in shape, up to 250 lbs and working on his offense and not getting in foul trouble as much. Is he unhappy about his contract? Is that affecting him and his attitude? These Knicks are careful so an extension will be offered to Mitch when he shows he is worth the commitment.
On the very positive side is everybody seems to be talking about the positive play of Kevin Knox and Dennis Smith, Jr. When asked about PG competition Tom Thibodeau did not mention anybody but DSJ and Elfrid Payton and he was effusive in his praise of Smith. Let’s face it that Smith has the most physical ability of any of our PGs. If suddenly the light goes on with him that is huge news for the Knicks. It feels like the Knicks have some fine backup NBA PGs in Payton, Rivers, Ntilikina and even Powell and Quickley. The Knicks lack that guy who can not just get his teammates involved and play defense but also contribute on offense too. From last year we know DSJ is an athletic freak who can get to the rim and finish. His decision making and jump shot were huge questions. The word is DSJ is hitting his shots and he is seeing his teammates better. He is just 23 years old and if he suddenly gets it that is huge for the Knicks.
If Kevin Knox can be the player John Caliparri insists he can be that too is huge. We all know Kevin has length and athleticism. He can shoot. He is just 21 but his growth curve feels stunted which may have more to do with the Knicks chaotic management situation than anything else. Now comes Leon Rose, Kenny Payne and Tom Thibodeau and suddenly the word is Kevin is a different player. He added some muscle and apparently found his confidence along the way. Again, this is huge if true. People in the know think Kevin has more confidence in his shot and his handle and he is being more assertive. Issues with defense won’t be a huge issue because you either play defense or sit if you play for Tom Thibodeau.
I need to add an observation here. There are 5 starting positions on a basketball team. On a great team you maybe go 4 or 5 deep. The fact these kids are playing better may or may not affect their play with the Knicks because they are also valuable as trade chips. There are only so many players who actually contribute to the Knicks. My personal wish is Knox and DSJ can be important contributors especially since the New New York Knicks have become a team that is way more athletic and potentially way more uptempo. DSJ and Knox are certainly fits in an uptempo offense especially DSJ because of the way he can finish. We don’t have the media at practices so a lot of what is said maybe coach speak from Thibs but I think DSJ and Knox are in the rotation picture and DSJ may even be a starter. Oh happy days if that is true!
According to CP and his trusted source there indeed was a trade on the table with Sacramento that involved Randle and Frank for Buddy Hield. Apparently the Kings wanted much more for Hield even though this trade was mostly a salary dump for them. So the Knicks backed out when Sacramento asked for picks or other young players and that is good.
I like Hield and he has game but he is getting almost superstar money for slightly above star ability. Adding him to the Knicks puts a rookie, Toppin at PF which may or may not be good, and it puts RJ at SF because Hield is a guard. It does add scoring or more accurately long range scoring but otherwise it’s a wash. Buddy is signed for 4 more years at almost 80 million. He is almost 2 years older than Randle, who has a team option next summer, and aside from rebounding at guard which is good but half the rate of Randle he shooters from the field a little worse and commits almost as many turnovers with lower ball usage than Julius. Maybe I’m alarmed this trade was almost consummated but maybe it was on the table at all because one question we keep asking here needs to be answered.
Is Obi a 3 or a 4or both? In case you haven’t been reading my posts I think Obi is a hybrid forward who needs to grow a bit into a PF role. He has a light base and not a bunch of bulk. He isn’t exactly Brandon Ingram but a couple of photos of him during practice showed me a very skinny guy. There are questions about his defense but that is why Thibs gets the big bucks. I think defensive issues at the 3 or 4 can be mitigated somewhat by Thibs team defense, smarts and effort. Obi is smart. Obi works hard. Obi is an elite athlete and that alone can compensate for defensive miscues. Right now I think we need to get scorers on the floor and as our leading scorer and rebounder last season Randle needs to be on the floor. So does Obi. Now it remains that Randle does get traded and Obi become a full time 4 but I am hoping for a better deal than just Buddy Hield. The Knicks have a ton of draft capital and in fact they have the best trading position of ANY team in the NBA. The have talented young players (noe what I said earlier about DSJ and Knox), they have a multitude of draft picks and they are 18 million dollars UNDER the cap this season. Leon Rose must decide wisely how to leverage this advantageous situation into a better New York Knicks team.
So far the Knicks have avoided Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, John Wall, Gordon Heyward and now Buddy Hield. I doubt they are in the James Harden conversation but if it comes up don’t take that call from Houston.
It is entirely possible Rose does nothing. When asked repeatedly by the Post’s Berman our new coach showed his previous experience of being in NY by deftly avoiding the subject of 18 mil under the cap and future trades with a coachspeak response that Rose was always working to make the Knicks better. Well played Coach. A few questions might get answered Friday night when the Knicks open their pre-season against Detroit. I’m not expecting much but questions about PG, Mitch, Obi, etc. might start to look a little clearer. I have no real expectations for this basketball team but I do note the influence this coaching staff is having on the players. Thibs is letting his coaches coach which sounds like a small thing but after guys like D’Antoni and some of other megalomaniacs who have roamed the Knicks sidelines it’s a very refreshing thing to see. Tom is not looking over his shoulders which means the Knicks players are getting personalized coaching attention that is predicated on addressing both strengths and weaknesses. Everybody is on the same page.
I have no doubt Randle will get traded this season. I have no doubt there will be peaks and valleys. I also have no doubt the management of the Knicks will keep the momentum moving forward. I feel pretty good about them based on what they haven’t done. No splashy signings or trades for big name players who aren’t fits. It feels like there is a new culture in MSG.
Finally.
