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Post by irish2u2 on Jun 10, 2021 7:34:57 GMT -5
Some further thoughts on free agency and the summer in general. In my various football discussions I keep saying "trust the coaches". In the Knicks situation it becomes trust the management. Albeit with some reservations like passing on Christian Wood last summer.  Our management team has done an excellent job so far and right now I trust them whatever direction they take... but....
We have some interesting options this summer in free agency. Some think the Knicks should sign Kyle Lowry (I don't think Chris Paul will be an option) who still has some game and who can split time with Derrick Rose. It's an interesting scenario IF the Knicks have a third player who can step in when either or both of our older guards breaks down. The mentorship Rose and Lowry provide would be amazing but I'm still against this move. I'd rather use Rose soley in the mentorship role and develop a young guard. But who is that guard? IQ? Vildoza? Somebody we draft?
I love Quickly but he didn't show much as a playmaker. Before writing this post I watched an hour or so of video of Luca Vildoza playing and commentary on what he might bring to the Knicks. I think IQ is an emergency PG at best but when coupled with RJ or Burks he becomes adequate because RJ and Alec are superlative playmakers. To me IQ is a younger Lou Williams which is a pretty good option to have on your team. I think Vildoza shows promise and he has a very good all around game but transitioning to the NBA from Europe is not always an easy process. In Luca's favor is he has a decent shot, great court vision and he's tough. He's an average athlete at best and he needs to tighten up his handle. In other words he is a project but a project who excels at the pick and roll and the pick and pop. Imagine him with Mitch and Obi.
So who do the Knicks sign or trade for if they don't sign Lowry? Rene brought up an excellent candidate in Kendrick Nunn. I watched video on him too. He is a restricted free agent and his video was interesting. He has a Miami Heat pedigree which is very much a positive. He plays both ends of the court, can create and he can certainly shoot and score. Is he a breakout player? I don't know but he checks most of the boxes. But will he be lured away from Miami? Like Jason's favorite summer hopeful Duncan Robinson the Knicks would have to overpay for him to get him. Which is all right but IMHO Miami matches any offers for Robinson and maybe Nunn too but everything this summer depends on what they do with Oladipo. I think they have a team option on Dragic and Iguodala. They likely keep Goran and let Andre and his 18 million go. The key here is Miami can go above the cap because they own Bird rights on both Robinson and Nunn and maybe they don't hit the luxury tax threshold by letting Iguodala go. Pat the Rat will keep both. Book it.
Let's also just dismiss two other rumors. John Wall and Dennis Schroeder. Just because Wall is a Kentucky alum doesn't mean the Knicks should add him. John has missed 141 games out of the last 296 games played over the past four years. He turns 31 before the season and he is owed over 90 million over the next 2 years. I believe I have made my case against Wall. I'd take Wall over Schroeder which makes my case against Dennis.
I like Colin Sexton and Norman Powell. How much I like Sexton depends on the cost. Cleveland knows that the Sexton/Garland backcourt doesn't work and Garland has better playmaker numbers and will cost less. Garland is signed through 2024 while Sexton reaches his qualifying year in 2023 and he's already talked a max contract. I don't see an urgency to trade Sexton this summer but Cleveland will listen to the right offer. After much thought I'm not so sure the Knicks should absorb Kevin Love's deal though if they were willing a deal most certainly could be done. I also think the Knicks Core (Randle, RJ, Mitch, Obi, IQ and Vildoza) has to be off the table. So if the Knicks could absorb one salary like maybe Taurean Prince plus roster fodder (sorry Kevin and Frank) and draft picks it gets done.
Let me make my case again. Sexton is a pure scorer with 3 level scoring skills at the 3 point line, off the bounce and at the rim. He's a superior athlete. He's just 22 years old. He lets Rose come off the bench adding a lot of punch at the PG position. Sexton adds a lot off offensive pop to the Knicks especially since he can get his own shots. I trust the Thibs system will make Sexton a better two way player and make the chemistry work.
Norman Powell is another matter. He fits the Knicks profile perfectly but not as a PG. He's a swing player who with the Knicks should primarily play at SG moving RJ to SF. Powell just turned 28 and he's an unrestricted free agent this summer. He's an excellent team player and he can score shooting 48% from the field and 40% from the 3 point line and averaging almost 19 PPG between Toronto and Portland. He's a great athlete too and all he costs is money. The main issue with Powell is he is just 6'3 but he jumps to the moon with a 6'11 wingspan. Powell is not a superstar. Powell does raise the talent level on the Knicks and he fits the chemistry of the team perfectly. In fact I might be more amenable to Lowry if the Knicks had Powell too.
I do think Kelly Oubre is a possibility. He played for the Warriors so he understands the team dynamic and while he was awful from the 3 point line in the beginning of the season he still finished at 31% after a dismal 21% start to the season. Oubre is an uber athlete, an excellent defender, one of the best finishers in the league and still only 25 years old. He has possibilities and the Knicks need an upgrade at SF. Since apparently the Knicks have learned how to make lemonade from lemons as as 3 point shooters (Randle, RJ, Rose all improved dramatically as 3 point shooters) maybe they work their magic with Kelly. Add a 3 point shot to his arsenal and and he's an 18-20 PPG scorer.
Who else is out there? Some have mentioned Evan Fournier but I pass on him. I'd rather keep Burks who is far more versatile than Evan and likely a whole bunch cheaper. Olynk? He shot 34% from the 3 point line last year and if you want a stretch big you can find better. Most of Kelly's treys came against the Knicks. Maybe he's a cheap option if the Knicks don't re-sign Nerlens Noel. I hope we keep Noel even after a dismal series against Atlanta. Most pundits forget he was coming off a bum ankle and it showed. If the Knicks are inclined to look at stretch bigs Georgi Dieng from the Spurs is a free agent. He shot over 40% from the 3 point line and you have to like the Spurs lineage.
Of course there is Lonzo Ball. I'm still not sold on him as long as he has that ugly jumper and even uglier father. I'm a little more amenable to DeMar DeRozan but I like Oubre a little better because of his age.
BIG trades!!!
Damian Lillard. Bradley Beal. Myles Turner, Kemba Walker, Karl Anthony Towns, etc.
Lillard, Beal and Towns instantly change the Knicks team but the issue with BIG trades is BIG cost. Personally I doubt any of the Big 3 become available but if they do I save discussion till then.
It should be an exciting off season because for the first time in a long time the Knicks have had a successful season, have multiple first round picks plus a high second rounder and they can have a lot of cap room. They can parlay their picks into a lottery pick or use them in a big trade. They can absorb a bad contract to make a deal on a difference maker type player. They can go the Suns route and sign an aging but still effective star. They can be patient. I forget who mentioned it but I like the notion of building this team while waiting for the inevitable decline of the Brooklyn Three. Patience is a virtue so baby steps this off season would not be an issue for me.
Right now I have two absolutes for this off season. Re-sign Derrick Rose. Do NOT re-sign Elfrid Payton.
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Post by rxmeister on Jun 11, 2021 7:51:45 GMT -5
I think everyone is forgetting that the Knicks were one of the top three point shooting teams in the NBA last year finishing second at 39.2%. Should we add a sniper or two? It would be nice, but I don’t think it’s a priority. Just get more talented! I think the big adds if any this offseason will determine the needs for other players. If you add poor three point shooters like a DeRozen or iffy ones like Lonzo, then adding great shooters will become more of a priority, but if your adds are decent three point shooters themselves, it’s not as important. And assuming you keep your number one picks, while it’s hard to find your next NBA superstar where the Knicks are picking, you can get great shooters at those spots.
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Post by jbnewyork162 on Jun 11, 2021 8:33:48 GMT -5
I think everyone is forgetting that the Knicks were one of the top three point shooting teams in the NBA last year finishing second at 39.2%. Should we add a sniper or two? It would be nice, but I don’t think it’s a priority. Just get more talented! I think the big adds if any this offseason will determine the needs for other players. If you add poor three point shooters like a DeRozen or iffy ones like Lonzo, then adding great shooters will become more of a priority, but if your adds are decent three point shooters themselves, it’s not as important. And assuming you keep your number one picks, while it’s hard to find your next NBA superstar where the Knicks are picking, you can get great shooters at those spots. We were a top 3 shooting team but neither Randle, RJ or Frank are snipers. Look at the teams in the playoffs Mark. Almost every position can hit a perimeter shot almost too easily of the teams that are left naturally. Corner threes are great but Huerter, Gallo, Trae Young and Bogdon were hitting them a few feet behind straight away three which is the hardest 3 to make. Who on our team was naturally always on like those four men I listed? If the answer is none or one of them then yes three point shooting at all positions, amongst a point guard a starting wing and perhaps a superstar are our priorities. |
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Post by axios on Jun 11, 2021 9:42:34 GMT -5
We have no shooters, that's what we need. Bullock or Alec will be gone. Knox is probably our best shooter, and Im sure Thibs has no patience for him. If it costs us nothing , I would take Wall. We are not beating the Nets or anyone in the next few years. The free agents that are available this year, dont move the needle. Id keep knox our youth, and get us a PG. If we can flip Randle for picks and youth, I would do it, as i think him and RJ are redundant.
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Post by jbnewyork162 on Jun 11, 2021 10:12:59 GMT -5
We have no shooters, that's what we need. Bullock or Alec will be gone. Knox is probably our best shooter, and Im sure Thibs has no patience for him. If it costs us nothing , I would take Wall. We are not beating the Nets or anyone in the next few years. The free agents that are available this year, dont move the needle. Id keep knox our youth, and get us a PG. If we can flip Randle for picks and youth, I would do it, as i think him and RJ are redundant. Yikes. We are not flipping Randle for anything. He basically did more with less than Carmelo did when he was here. While he isn't Embiid or Devin Booker he is our franchise player. He busted his tail all season and while Atlanta was the better team and Randle fell short, he still got us this far. He plays the 4 and RJ plays the 2 or 3. How are they even similar? Randle posts up and shoots the corner J and RJ drives and hits the opposite corner J. We do need a PG if Vildoza isn't it. And we need MORE shooting at every position, I don't care who it is without sacrificing defense. |
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Post by axios on Jun 11, 2021 14:39:39 GMT -5
Disagree, Randle, vertically challenged, not the shooter Carmelo was and melo knew where to pass, he just wouldnt, , less BBALL iq w Randle. his turnovers were terrible, "he was doing too much" i get it, sell high. He cannot get his shot where he wants and doesnt have the bballIQ to know where to go, he is up in the air and looking. He's a 3rd option. RJ is 50/50 if he can become a shooter. We have no building blocks, just pieces to be sold or used to make us pretend to look good.
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Post by jbnewyork162 on Jun 11, 2021 16:23:44 GMT -5
Disagree, Randle, vertically challenged, not the shooter Carmelo was and melo knew where to pass, he just wouldnt, , less BBALL iq w Randle. his turnovers were terrible, "he was doing too much" i get it, sell high. He cannot get his shot where he wants and doesnt have the bballIQ to know where to go, he is up in the air and looking. He's a 3rd option. RJ is 50/50 if he can become a shooter. We have no building blocks, just pieces to be sold or used to make us pretend to look good. Thankfully you nor I run the team and people paid way higher than us do. I'll continue to trust Rose, Wes and Perry over anything else. Trading Randle after he got us to the playoffs is something Isiah Thomas or Phil Jackson would do as an exec. Except they'd trade him for Eddy Curry Jr and Caitlyn Jenner Jr. |
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Post by rxmeister on Jun 12, 2021 6:56:22 GMT -5
Randle found open shooters all season, I don’t know where you get he doesn’t pass the ball. While the playoffs are without a doubt the most important part of the season, a five game series is a short sample size and needs to be treated that way. Randle had a bad series, let’s suddenly think he’s a bum and we should flip him for picks! This is considered the best draft in years and this is the year we don’t get in the lottery? It was more than worth it though and I don’t want to be right back there next year with a weaker class coming out. When you think of flipping your best player for picks, think Kevin Knox and Frank Nlitikina and you’ll catch yourself. And Jason, again, I make the same short sample size argument with you. You said we don’t have snipers and then you mentioned as one of your examples Trae Young, who shot 34% from three this season. RJ and Julius both shot 40%. However in the five game short sample, Trae was hot and they were not. So I don’t think it’s more snipers we need as much as players who are true superstars and most importantly, find that higher level in the playoffs. Now that’s what Trae Young is, and it’s what we don’t have on our team. Believe me, nothing gets me jumping off my couch more screaming “YES!” than a three point sniper and I can yell that yes even before it goes in, but as much money as the Knicks have in cap space you can’t afford everything, and to me getting those big big stars that become even bigger when the game is on the line should be our primary focus right now. And like I said, we have two first round picks and we can find a sniper or two on a rookie deal. There will be no superstars where the Knicks are drafting. As for Irish’s excellent post, I say a big yes on Sexton, but I also wouldn’t be averse to adding an injury prone point like John Wall as long as it’s a straight salary dump.
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Post by irish2u2 on Jun 12, 2021 11:41:44 GMT -5
Randle found open shooters all season, I don’t know where you get he doesn’t pass the ball. While the playoffs are without a doubt the most important part of the season, a five game series is a short sample size and needs to be treated that way. Randle had a bad series, let’s suddenly think he’s a bum and we should flip him for picks! This is considered the best draft in years and this is the year we don’t get in the lottery? It was more than worth it though and I don’t want to be right back there next year with a weaker class coming out. When you think of flipping your best player for picks, think Kevin Knox and Frank Nlitikina and you’ll catch yourself. And Jason, again, I make the same short sample size argument with you. You said we don’t have snipers and then you mentioned as one of your examples Trae Young, who shot 34% from three this season. RJ and Julius both shot 40%. However in the five game short sample, Trae was hot and they were not. So I don’t think it’s more snipers we need as much as players who are true superstars and most importantly, find that higher level in the playoffs. Now that’s what Trae Young is, and it’s what we don’t have on our team. Believe me, nothing gets me jumping off my couch more screaming “YES!” than a three point sniper and I can yell that yes even before it goes in, but as much money as the Knicks have in cap space you can’t afford everything, and to me getting those big big stars that become even bigger when the game is on the line should be our primary focus right now. And like I said, we have two first round picks and we can find a sniper or two on a rookie deal. There will be no superstars where the Knicks are drafting. As for Irish’s excellent post, I say a big yes on Sexton, but I also wouldn’t be averse to adding an injury prone point like John Wall as long as it’s a straight salary dump.
No one poster has been a more ardent advocate of Julius Randle than me. My opinion of him is based on 71 games during the season and not the 5 postseason games that were the first in his career. However if Houston called and said if y'all take John Wall and our top lottery pick for Julius Randle and some of your picks I'd do it. Cade Cunningham has superstar written all over him and if Houston has a brain freeze and actually makes a trade proposal that includes Randle, Wall and their #1 pick I make the deal. Houston won't make that call and they don't return our call if the Knicks make that proposal. I really like Mobley, Suggs, Green and Kuminga but not nearly as much as I like Cunningham. That said while everyone on the Knicks could be traded there are very few scenarios where I see Julius as part of that package. I still think Randle and RJ are ideal #2 and #3 options and if the Knicks can find or develop the right #1 option the team becomes a championship contender.
One more thing. Randle did make some of the worst turnovers of the season. He has to work on that and not force plays so much. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2021 1:04:54 GMT -5
I can get past the disappointment of the Hawks series, especially the last game, knowing the Knicks can get way better this summer. The Knicks are nowhere near their ceiling and they have plenty of options through the draft, free agency and trades to get better.
The Knicks will have the following players available in free agency.
Elfrid Payton
Nerlens Noel
Reggie Bullock
Derrick Rose
Alec Burks
Theo Pinson
Jared Harper
Frank Ntilikina (qualifying offer)
Mitchell Robinson (team option)
With 50 million committed and a projected cap of 112 million the Knicks have a lot of options financially.
But you know the Knicks will re-sign some off their free agents. It's a mortal lock the Knicks exercise their team option on Robinson. It's just as much a mortal lock they renounce Payton. It's also a mortal lock the Knicks re-sign Derrick Rose.
Rose turns 33 in October so the Knicks should be looking at a 2 year deal and no more than 3 in the 15-20 million per annum range. Maybe less since we have to figure the losses all teams took due to COVID-19. I'm thinking the management keeps either Burks or Bullock, but not both, and Noel. None of these players except Rose are written in stone though.Before renouncing Ntilikina he becomes trade material. As does Kevin Knox and even Obi Toppin. The Knicks have several possible trade scenarios to address issues at PG and SF and with scoring.
The date for free agency this year is August 2nd which gives the Knicks a lot of time to consider their various issues. Let me first say how adamantly I am against signing Chris Paul or Kyle Lowry because of cost and age. The Suns are in a far better situation to sign a player like Paul than the Knicks especially given the health concerns of both CP3 and Lowry. The Suns simply have more talent. Lowry is a wonderful player but like Paul he's at the tail end of his career.
I'm not enamored of Lonzo Ball either. Or DeMar DeRozan. To me the safe bet right now and a major talent upgrade is Norman Powell. I don't believe Powell will cost the Knicks a ton of money (20 mil max) and he's a fit. He brings athleticism, scoring, shooting, versatility, defense and he's a team guy. Powell is a talent upgrade on a team that needs upgraded talent. A safe addition to make the Knicks better and because he is a free agent the Knicks likely keep Burks and Noel while not putting players like Obi or Mitch on the market.
But if Trae Young is on the Knicks they would be playing Philadelphia in the playoffs but a talent like Young is rare. I don't see too many contributors in the draft either though the Knicks can parlay multiple picks into a lottery pick. I can rattle off a dozen players plus Young who immediately make the Knicks a serious playoff contender (Beal, Dame, LaVine, Ingram, etc.) but even if any are available they would cost us too much. The core of the Knicks are Randle, Rose and RJ which is a nice start but right now none of these players is a fit as a go to #1 option. Not like Trae Young. But to seriously upgrade talent the Knicks may have to roll the dice.
Can anyone say Colin Sexton? Only 22 years old coming off a season where he averaged 24.3 PPG and shot 48% from the field and 37% from the arc. Trae Young averages 25.3 PPG on 44% from the field and 34% from beyond the arc. The difference in the two players is Young averages over 9 APG while Sexton only averaged 4.4. The rumors are Sexton is not popular in the locker room because he is viewed as a ball hog. The numbers back that up. But he is only 22 with serious skills and scoring ability at a position the Knicks vitally need an upgrade at long term. I have questions about the mix with Rose and certainly adding Sexton crowds Burks out but the real question is cost.
Sexton is available because of the play of Darius Garland and the emergence of Isaac Okoro. He's also in that max extension window. When Sexton and Garland played together they were explosive scorers but seriously over matched on defense. So much so they were the WORST backcourt tandem on defense in the NBA. They were also the shortest starting tandem in the NBA. Sexton is the same height as Young, a better athlete though maybe a tad less skilled and so far in his career he hasn't shown a lot as a lead guard. Garland is the better playmaker who still scores 17 PPG plus the Cavs feel their first round pick this year, Isaac Okoro, can be their starting SG. Okoro is 6'5, an uber athlete and he does play defense.
Straight up Sexton would cost draft picks and multiple players. Maybe even both Toppin and IQ and there are questions about chemistry. The Knicks could seriously lessen the talent cost by absorbing salary. Namely Kevin Love. Love is due 60 million over the next 2 years. He's been hurt a lot but he can still play and the Knicks have the room in their cap. Taking on Love dramatically lowers the cost of the trade. You go from multiple first round picks to maybe one. The Cavs might take Knox and filler to make the deal work. I'm thinking they would also want Obi but the Knicks keep IQ. I know it's radical to take on Love but the Cavs are desperate to shed him and one of the options the Knicks have is cap room. This is one way to use cap room especially if you feel the free agent market is weak.
I think before you consider any trade you have to consider the chemistry. Sexton is an intense player and fairly smart and Cleveland is a hot mess so I would not judge Colin too harshly on the chemistry on that team. On our team there are a number of leaders so the question is can Colin fit in with the Knicks dynamic. His skill set is perfect for the Knicks. He can score and he can get his own shot. He is an explosive athlete. His defense will get better. He's also noted as a hard worker. Think Jimmy Butler's chemistry issues with the Wolves and see how he has fit in with Miami. Sexton is no Jimmy Butler but he is an intense, hard working player and the Knicks team chemistry is certainly an asset.
Safe bet is Powell. The risky bet is Sexton who brings a little more offense to the team. Taking on Love isn't anything but a money deal. In fact my hope is the Knicks keep Obi and just release Love. If we can keep Obi throw another first rounder into the package.
Skipping past trades and free agency is the draft. The Knicks have 4 picks in the draft and 2 first rounders next year. They have the 19th, 21st, 32nd and 58th picks in this year's draft. I'm not looking so much at particular players now till the combines but several kids out of the top 5 sure picks do interest me. Namely Baylor's Davion Mitchell and Arkansas Moses Moody. I also like Rene's guy C/PF Charles Bassey or Kentucky's big Isiah Washington with the later picks.
To me the most exciting part of the off season is the range of options the Knicks have to get better. As many of you pointed out the Knicks have a high ceiling and now a taste of playoff basketball. A lot of you have also said the Knicks signature is hard work and hustle and in the playoffs everybody plays hard. It comes down to talent and the Knicks have the means to get more talented. Randle is better as a #2 option. RJ might be a #1 option in the next few years but in the playoffs Rose was the most dynamic offensive player and right there is the heart of the issue. Rose works best coming off the bench which means another dynamic scorer need be added to the mix. I'm thinking interior defense and rebounding are helped by a healthy Mitch Robinson but perhaps an upgrade at SF helps.
Another huge factor is timing. The draft is on July 29th. Free agency starts on August 2nd. Normally more than a month separates the draft and free agency. We are looking at 4 days. But the strength of this Knicks team has been their management so while the window is tight the Knicks can make deals. Good deals.
Right now I am not advocating anything past improving the talent of the Knicks. Before anybody goes batshit crazy at trading for Kevin Love consider the economics of today's NBA and also consider it's a 2 year cap hit to get maybe a superstar PG. I know RJ will improve. Maybe Randle improves too though I think he is at his ceiling. Counting on Derrick Rose as one of your top 3 players is dangerous at best. IQ and Obi both showed immense promise. Also who knows who wants out and might be available. Beal is on the fence about his future. I have heard some talk Ingram might be available for the right price. Zach LaVine too. We have almost 2 months till the draft and a lot will happen. Right now Sexton is a viable option. But to some of you maybe not.
Thoughts? Opinions? Candidates for trade, free agency or the draft?
We've all praised the actually competent current management and I expect they will do well again. Even without another star yet, that cap space will allow us to offer a couple million extra dollars to the right role players that the capped out teams cannot.
I like Lonzo quite a bit but in this era I prefer drive and kick point guards. Now bear with me. Again the management team bonus. Not only do WES and LEON know talent, they likely have great insight into stars future plans. (unlike asshat mills promising Durant and Irving without reading a borough map) Back to the fantastic four (leon, wes, scott, thibs). If they KNOW that a Levine WANTS to be here, well then now I want LONZO bad. His size and all three outside players switchability would cause opponents major problems.
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Post by irish2u2 on Jun 13, 2021 12:41:41 GMT -5
Has anyone before GG posted ever suggested Leon Rose and WWW might have inside skinny on the future plans of players on other teams? It's a brilliant notion no matter who said it first but it also seems like a tampering minefield for our braintrust. Still if our management has an idea of how the trade/free agent landscape is going to lay out that is a HUGE advantage in our favor and like GG says any moves made this summer might be made with moves one or two years down the line in mind. I'm not a huge fan on Lonzo Ball but Lonzo and LaVine would make an awesome backcourt tandem which also means RJ moving up to SF. In 2 years Zach is a free agent.
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Post by irish2u2 on Jun 23, 2021 16:43:46 GMT -5
Now we have a better idea of where things lie this summer with the draft lottery completed. The first question of the summer is do the Knicks keep their first round picks at #19 and #21 OR do they attempt to move up in the draft. My feeling is the Knicks should attempt to bundle their picks for Orlando's #8 pick where they can target Davion Mitchell, Scottie Barnes or James Bouknight. The picks in the 19-21 range are more projects while these 3 players can help right away. Every one of these guys has at least one weakness but they also have lots of strengths. Barnes is a jumpsuit away from being a top 3 pick. Mitchell is an incredible ball handler and passer who can also score and is considered the most ready of all the draft eligible players to step into a rotational role. Rene brought up Bouknight. Moses Moody is a better shooter but Bouknight is a way better scorer capable of getting his own shot or spotting up. Most important besides an upgrade in athleticism is that all three of these guys can defend with both Barnes and Mitchell being considered elite defenders. To make this deal with Orlando the Knicks should dangle Frank.
I have no earthly clue what the Knicks should do in the free agent market. One of the articles I read on free agency cautioned falling in love with your own free agents but that said the Knicks should absolutely keep Derrick Rose. The next question is do the Knicks go short term or long term on free agents. Kyle Lowry and/or DeMar DeRozan would be considered the short term options. I don't think the Knicks have a chance at Kawhi Leonard or Chris Paul and both are way too fragile for my liking.
There are a number of possible free agent signings that make sense but maybe don't offer the immediate boost Lowry and DeRozan do because of their offensive proficiency at positions of great need for the Knicks. We are talking Lonzo Ball*, Spencer Dinwiddie, Norman Powell, Kelly Oubre, Gary Trent, Jr., Will Barton, Laurie Markkanan*, Duncan Robinson*, Devonte Graham*, Evan Fournier, Dennis Schroeder, Mike Conley and maybe even Victor Oladipo. Plus our guys Rose, Burks, Noel, Bullock, Gibson and Frank. I think it a mortal lock the Knicks keep Mitch in his team option year.
* is for restricted free agents.
Out of all these players only Powell, Oubre, Trent, Jr. really interest me. Lowry and DeRozan is certainly an upgrade that maybe takes the Knicks past the first round but then what? Do the Knicks target the immediate future or a few years down the line? I don't like overpaying for players which is what you have to do to get a restricted free agent. In contemplating the Knicks future I am starting to get swayed a bit by my board mates. By all means move up to the lottery and if at all possible get Mitchell as the Knicks PG of the future. Then look at Oubre and Trent, Jr. They are both young and they seriously upgrade the talent level. After what the Knicks did in improving their 3 point shooting I am thinking that if Kelly Oubre can get to 37% from beyond the arc he becomes a serious weapon. I am more sold on Trent, Jr. after watching some video. He has defensive chops too. If the Knicks can sign Oubre and GTJ then they can pass on Burks and Bullock with regret and thanks. I believe the Knicks can keep Noel as I am not sure he gets massive offers as a backup center who is mostly an offensive liability.
CENTER: Mitch, Nerlens, Pelle
FORWARD: Randle, Toppin, Knox, Oubre, maybe Taj
GUARD: Rose, Barrett, Vildoza, Trent, Jr., Mitchell, Quickley
The focus should be on cap control till 2023 when a number of high end players might become free agents amongst them Luka Doncic. The Knicks are also primed to make a high profile trade if they wish.
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Post by daglazer on Jun 24, 2021 21:41:45 GMT -5
One potential recruiting benefit with Gary Trent, Jr. is the Duke connection. He helped recruit RJ to Duke and they have played plenty of pickup games together. I am sure that RJ is going to tell GTJ how much he enjoys playing for Thibs.
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Post by ReneNYG1 on Jun 25, 2021 10:00:06 GMT -5
Yes the Dukie connect,I would to love to land Gary Trent as I think his upside is just ripe to breakout like Juluis did for us,imagine we get another most improved in Trent boom back to back MIP.That is what is going to take get another star,the more shots we take at it the better chance,in this draft I have no doubt the special get guy is Bougnight a NYer ready to go for that prize he could turn into our own Lillard.Signing Powel would work for me cause I think we lose Burts and Powel high character fits our team chemistry nice.I would hate if much like GS jumped infront of us to get Curry to change history this time they pass on Bougnight at 7 only to leave him to us at 8th.That keeps me up at night the possibility they get him hurting us for the next 10 years again.Golden State has the 7th pic let that sink in and after you feel that they also have the 14th pick.They might decide between Mitchell and Boughnight and we get their leftovers if that leftover is Boughnight I'm happy.They could go Giddey and make me Giddy or they can go Suggs if he drops but my scare is there,I want Bougnight for us.
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Post by jbnewyork162 on Jun 25, 2021 10:19:01 GMT -5
Yes the Dukie connect,I would to love to land Gary Trent as I think his upside is just ripe to breakout like Juluis did for us,imagine we get another most improved in Trent boom back to back MIP.That is what is going to take get another star,the more shots we take at it the better chance,in this draft I have no doubt the special get guy is Bougnight a NYer ready to go for that prize he could turn into our own Lillard.Signing Powel would work for me cause I think we lose Burts and Powel high character fits our team chemistry nice.I would hate if much like GS jumped infront of us to get Curry to change history this time they pass on Bougnight at 7 only to leave him to us at 8th.That keeps me up at night the possibility they get him hurting us for the next 10 years again.Golden State has the 7th pic let that sink in and after you feel that they also have the 14th pick.They might decide between Mitchell and Boughnight and we get their leftovers if that leftover is Boughnight I'm happy.They could go Giddey and make me Giddy or they can go Suggs if he drops but my scare is there,I want Bougnight for us. First we have to trade up before we count our eggs before they hatch. I want to see who is desperate and who might be willing. |
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Our management team has done an excellent job so far and right now I trust them whatever direction they take... but.... 
