NFT: NY Knicks Draft Recap

Barrett - more than anything, I like his make-up. Seems like a very bright, well prepared, competitive/assertive kid that is ready (in terms of intangibles) for any basketball challenge.

The RD2 kid (Iggy). I can't say I have conviction about what he will be but at a glance, he looks rather Joe Ingles like.

but even still, good for them to stick with plan A, not get cute entertaining offers to trade down or overthink this in any way.

Some of my other targets (if any trades were made back into the late 1st/early 2nd) were Grant Williams, Carsen Edwards.

On to free agency where I have a feeling (personally a bad one) that they are going to sign Durant and Kyrie.

In comment 14478762 Chris684 said:

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but even still, good for them to stick with plan A, not get cute entertaining offers to trade down or overthink this in any way. Some of my other targets (if any trades were made back into the late 1st/early 2nd) were Grant Williams, Carsen Edwards. On to free agency where I have a feeling (personally a bad one) that they are going to sign Durant and Kyrie.

I keep going back and forth on this whether KD (age, injury but pedigree, extreme length/shooting that should lead to a better recovery than say Kobe) or go young Russell/Randle. One RFA I would love is Brogdon.

the interview linked below.

It's the lead surgeon at HSS if anyone would like some perspective on the Durant injury.
Link - ( New Window )

In comment 14478762 Chris684 said:

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but even still, good for them to stick with plan A, not get cute entertaining offers to trade down or overthink this in any way. Some of my other targets (if any trades were made back into the late 1st/early 2nd) were Grant Williams, Carsen Edwards. On to free agency where I have a feeling (personally a bad one) that they are going to sign Durant and Kyrie.

Good thing it was a no brainer, since too often they�ve drafted with this brain:

excited to see what FA brings.

Russell, randle, brogdon, lets go to war with a young team and build something that will last 10 years

In comment 14478778 nygiants16 said:

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Russell, randle, brogdon, lets go to war with a young team and build something that will last 10 years

Hell no pass on all 3. That's a great path to mediocrity.

...outside shot?

is a winning type of player. You're not going to see him in the highlights and his simple stats won't be sexy, but I'd love to have a guy like that and to me, he is worth 4/$15mm per.

...at Center?

In comment 14478785 M.S. said:

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...outside shot?

Does it need work? Yes. But I think people get too carried away with this concern. There is nothing broken about his shot. The form will be tweaked and the %s will go up. This is a kid that has lived at the rim since he started playing. Let him develop the shot. All the other stuff is there, particularly the intangibles. The last thing I'm worried about with a kid like this is whether he'll put in the time to upgrade the shot.

In comment 14478788 M.S. said:

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...at Center?

Nothing but great stuff down the stretch of last season. There wasn't a guy selected last night that came close to where MR is now or his upside.

In comment 14478790 Pep22 said:

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There is nothing broken about his shot. The form will be tweaked and the %s will go up.

Hmmm, where have I heard this before? Oh yeah, about Frenchy, and Shumpert before him. "Sure, he doesn't make many shots, but his form is fine!"

Brazdekis can shoot, but I doubt he ever plays much in the NBA. Way too slow - who will he guard?

About RJ Barrett

RJ Barrett is an assertive lefty scorer who lived up to the lofty expectations he faced at Duke, following perhaps the most accomplished junior career of any player in Canadian basketball history. The Toronto native staked his claim as one of the top young prospects in the world averaging 14.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game as a 14-year-old at the 2015 FIBA U16 Americas Championship. Despite frequently playing up multiple age-groups, Barrett found success on a wide array of platforms shining at the Jordan Brand Classic International Game, FIBA U17 World Championship, Nike Hoop Summit, Basketball Without Borders Global Camp, and Geico Nationals with Montverde Academy�all before he opted to forgo his final season of high school basketball and reclassify to the high school class of 2018. Widely regarded at the top prospect in that class earning McDonald�s All-American honors, Barrett turned in a signature performance in the semifinals of the 2017 FIBA U19 World Championship scoring 38 points to upset a US-team littered with other 2019 NBA Draft prospects. Made his senior national team debut last summer before averaging 22.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists to earn Consensus 1st Team All-American honors in his only season under Mike Krzyzewski.

Father Rowan Barrett represented Canada internationally and had multiple stints in Greece, France, and Venezuela over his two decades at the professional level.

Possesses an impressive blend of size, fluidity, and body control. Has the dimensions and versatility to fill several roles standing 6�7 with a 6�10 wingspan and a steadily improving 208-pound frame to go along with an unflappable scorer�s mentality.

Aggressive slasher whose game has rounded out impressively over time to complement his ability to get to the rim. Played a massive role for the Blue Devils first and foremost looking for his own offense but also contributing as a jump shooter, creating for others unselfishly, competing defensively, and doing a little bit of everything impacting winning in a variety of ways.
Defensive Analysis

Capable on-ball defender who had some nice moments against strong competition over the course of the season and has held his own across a variety of settings over the last several years. Has room to improve away from the ball in terms of rotations and ability to get in passing lanes but could emerge as a multi-positional defender on the wing as his body matures.

Allowed 0.551 points per Isolation possession showing solid lateral quickness and good intensity for stretches. Makes some occasional hustle plays and is a consistent factor on the glass.
Career Highlights

2018-19 National Player of the Year by USA Today.
Finalist for Wooden National Player of the Year Award.
Earned Consensus All-America First Team honors.
Jerry West Award winner, given annually to the nation�s best shooting guard.
Broke the ACC freshman scoring record, previously held by
Georgia Tech�s Kenny Anderson (721) in 1989-90.
2017-18 National Gatorade High School Player of the Year.
Freshman (2018-19)

Led the ACC in scoring (22.6 ppg), finishing just ahead of teammate Zion Williamson.
Named All-ACC First Team.
Averaged 7.6 rebounds (10th in ACC) and 4.3 assists (5th).
Posted the fourth triple-double in Duke history with 23 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists vs. N.C. State (Feb. 16).
Set an ACC freshman record with 26 20-point games.
His 11 assists vs. Virginia Tech in the NCAA East Regional Semifinals were a Duke freshman tournament record.
Strengths

Size, length, frame and athleticism of prototypical NBA wing.
Intelligent player with terrific scoring instincts.
Can play on or off the ball.
Embraces contact and physicality.
Highly competitive defensively.
Personal

Godfather is two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash.
Father, Rowan, played college basketball at St. John�s, professionally overseas and for Team Canada with Nash.
Mother, Kesha, ran track at St. John�s.

35 years ago? I mean we obviously have had some over the years (Lance Thomas, Marshall Plumlee, Chris Duhon), but I can't recall the last time we actually drafted one.

Pretty amazing when you think about it. Say what you want about Coach K and Duke (looking at you, Greg and Mook), but Duke is a basketball factory. The players may not always live up to expectations, but they are able to carve out good, long careers for themselves.

In comment 14478805 Anakim said:

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Pretty amazing when you think about it. Say what you want about Coach K and Duke (looking at you, Greg and Mook), but Duke is a basketball factory. The players may not always live up to expectations, but they are able to carve out good, long careers for themselves.

Comparatively few of them live up to expectations.

In comment 14478785 M.S. said:

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...outside shot?

Yes, I am. He wasn't a good foul shooter - which is an indication that he doesn't have a natural shooting touch.

Pretty excited about Barrett. All things considered, the Knicks made out well to get a prospect of his caliber and to even not fall lower than 3. He�s obviously not perfect, but he has all nba/ all star potential. That�s what�s you want picking high.

The narrative on Irving has gotten a little out of hand. This guy is an incredible talent. I�d be thrilled if the Knicks acquired a 27 year old 2nd team all nba player and all it cost them was cap space.

In comment 14478799 Greg from LI said:

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In comment 14478790 Pep22 said: Quote: There is nothing broken about his shot. The form will be tweaked and the %s will go up. Hmmm, where have I heard this before? Oh yeah, about Frenchy, and Shumpert before him. "Sure, he doesn't make many shots, but his form is fine!" Brazdekis can shoot, but I doubt he ever plays much in the NBA. Way too slow - who will he guard?

Ntilikina and Shumpert are really silly comparisons. Shumpert has a very low IQ and skill level. Ntilikina is afraid to shoot. Barrett has been the top kid in his class for several years. He is bright, assertive, highly skilled.

In comment 14478792 Pep22 said:

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In comment 14478788 M.S. said: Quote: ...at Center? Nothing but great stuff down the stretch of last season. There wasn't a guy selected last night that came close to where MR is now or his upside.

I agree. He's not a good shooter and may never be. But he's so good in other aspects of his game, that he will be an asset to the team. He dominates on defense and is a very good rebounder.

Player. He is super strong. When he arrived at Michigan, they told him to stop lifting cause he was too big.

He will tease. Some games at Michigan he dominated and there were games where he wasn�t even noticed. But he can shoot, he likes to drive, and is pretty fearless.

In comment 14478817 Pep22 said:

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Ntilikina and Shumpert are really silly comparisons. Shumpert has a very low IQ and skill level. Ntilikina is afraid to shoot. Barrett has been the top kid in his class for several years. He is bright, assertive, highly skilled.

Bright, assertive, highly skilled, has atrocious shot selection, and can't hit the broad side of a barn with his jumper. Did you know, beyond the lousy 3pt shooting, that he shot just 33% on ALL jump shots?

should be a solid nba player even if he cant improve his outside shot. That said if he cant then he wont be anywhere near the star we are hoping for.

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Hmmm, where have I heard this before? Oh yeah, about Frenchy, and Shumpert before him. "Sure, he doesn't make many shots, but his form is fine!"

My opinion on these matters counts for nothing, and quite rightly so (thanks, Gary Brooker), but I'm firmly in this camp. I think questions will increase.

In comment 14478807 Greg from LI said:

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In comment 14478805 Anakim said: Quote: Pretty amazing when you think about it. Say what you want about Coach K and Duke (looking at you, Greg and Mook), but Duke is a basketball factory. The players may not always live up to expectations, but they are able to carve out good, long careers for themselves. Comparatively few of them live up to expectations.

Few?

Grant Hill (injury derailed him)
Kyrie Irving
J.J Reddick
Cory Maggette
Carlos Boozer
Luol Deng
Shane Battier
Elton Brand

Christian Laettner and Johnny Dawkins are the only stars from Duke, that come to mind, that had Stellar college careers but were average in the NBA.


Nice try Greg but saying only a few met expectations is just SILLY.

52% from 2 and 45% overall, he absolutely needs to work on his 3 point shot, but can we stop acting like he cant shoot whatsover..

Also if he played for virginia greg would love the pick

In comment 14478821 dep026 said:

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Player. He is super strong. When he arrived at Michigan, they told him to stop lifting cause he was too big. He will tease. Some games at Michigan he dominated and there were games where he wasn�t even noticed. But he can shoot, he likes to drive, and is pretty fearless.

Agreed, though I'm biased because he killed the Terps twice lol

that the Knicks would trade down last night but they made the right move.

I am torn what to do in free agency. The Knicks have a very good young core but they will likely struggle as a team this season without a few veteran additions.

In comment 14478844 nygiants16 said:

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52% from 2 and 45% overall, he absolutely needs to work on his 3 point shot, but can we stop acting like he cant shoot whatsover.. Also if he played for virginia greg would love the pick

Absolutely. Saying he can't hit the broadside of a barn is just silly. The guy pumped in over 22ppg. Clearly he can score and distribute.

simply dug in to the point where he's coming off as fairly delusional.

He continually acts as if Barrett simply can't shoot the ball and it isn't just a couple of sly comments, he's been shouting the shit from the rooftops.

Three years of losing hasn�t provided the draft haul I was hoping for, but it�s been OK. We have no choice but to keep grinding.

In comment 14478844 nygiants16 said:

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52% from 2 and 45% overall, he absolutely needs to work on his 3 point shot, but can we stop acting like he cant shoot whatsover.. Also if he played for virginia greg would love the pick

If Barrett was from Virginia, and the Knicks selected him, Greg woould be like..

In comment 14478852 FatMan in Charlotte said:

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simply dug in to the point where he's coming off as fairly delusional. He continually acts as if Barrett simply can't shoot the ball and it isn't just a couple of sly comments, he's been shouting the shit from the rooftops.

Typical Greg.

In comment 14478844 nygiants16 said:

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52% from 2 and 45% overall, he absolutely needs to work on his 3 point shot, but can we stop acting like he cant shoot whatsover.. Also if he played for virginia greg would love the pick

He shot 33% on all jump shots. He made a ton of layups which juiced his shooting percentage.

In comment 14478852 FatMan in Charlotte said:

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He continually acts as if Barrett simply can't shoot the ball and it isn't just a couple of sly comments, he's been shouting the shit from the rooftops.

Acts as if? The facts are on my side. It's people arguing the opposite who fall back on "Nothing to worry about, his form is great!"

and I talk myself into him being the next Wade.

In comment 14478786 Pep22 said:

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is a winning type of player. You're not going to see him in the highlights and his simple stats won't be sexy, but I'd love to have a guy like that and to me, he is worth 4/$15mm per.

Chicago is rumored to be ready to offer him 4 years 80 mil. At 20 mil a season he is not worth it IMO, at 15ish I would consider it but not 20+ a season

still end up with a good draft haul. Especially since even with our losing two of the picks were way past the top 3. Sure Frank stinks, but i still think Knox can be damn good. Remember how good he was in summer league? I get that the competition was shittier but he shot so well. And that competition was also around his age, as he gets a bit older, bigger and more experienced hopefully he starts looking like that more consistently. Plus he had a bunch of games this year where he looked great. 19 year olds dont have a bunch of good games by luck alone.

I mean the 3 year haul will come down to Barrett mostly. I still like Knox a lot but i dont think he has superstar potential. I think he has very good player potential. If Barrett is a stud and knox is very good that is a great haul.

by knox i meant from the outside, not his overall shooting percentage. I remember him having some bad overall shooting percentages. ALthough a lot was later in the schedule when he started to look gassed.

Is that basketball has only been his main sport for like 4 years. He was primarily a football player like his old man before that.

In comment 14478869 TommyWiseau said:

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In comment 14478786 Pep22 said: Quote: is a winning type of player. You're not going to see him in the highlights and his simple stats won't be sexy, but I'd love to have a guy like that and to me, he is worth 4/$15mm per. Chicago is rumored to be ready to offer him 4 years 80 mil. At 20 mil a season he is not worth it IMO, at 15ish I would consider it but not 20+ a season

Great give two big contracts to Lavine and Brogdon who will be overpaid... and then draft a guard. JFC. My bulls need new management.

RJ was elated to be drafted by the Knicks

In comment 14478884 dep026 said:

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In comment 14478869 TommyWiseau said: Quote: In comment 14478786 Pep22 said: Quote: is a winning type of player. You're not going to see him in the highlights and his simple stats won't be sexy, but I'd love to have a guy like that and to me, he is worth 4/$15mm per. Chicago is rumored to be ready to offer him 4 years 80 mil. At 20 mil a season he is not worth it IMO, at 15ish I would consider it but not 20+ a season Great give two big contracts to Lavine and Brogdon who will be overpaid... and then draft a guard. JFC. My bulls need new management.

6 titles in the Jordan era.

You're not gonna get any sympathy around here.

pesky layups. They shouldn't even count.

so let me preface this by saying this is best case scenario..

j dont think i have heard this mentioned as a comp yet, but what about dwyane wade? Wade when he came into the league was slasher not a great shooter

In comment 14478889 Harvest Blend said:

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pesky layups. They shouldn't even count.

Yep, that's exactly what I'm saying, you fucking nitwit.

In comment 14478902 Greg from LI said:

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In comment 14478889 Harvest Blend said: Quote: pesky layups. They shouldn't even count. Yep, that's exactly what I'm saying, you fucking nitwit.

I know, right?

Are ready to declare a kid who just turned 19!!!! As a player who can�t shoot. Who cares about the shooting percentages from college he is 19!!!! He can finish in the paint, he has a good handle, he has good court vision. He is strong, he works hard, he comes from a good family, he wanted to be in NYC. These are awesome traits. This is not Ben Simmons, he will become a better jump shooter just like Frankie will on some other team. These are kids. I haven�t been able to read greg�s Posts but I�m assuming he wanted the over ratted hunter kid from Virginia. That�s not the type of player you pick with a top 3 pick. He will have a nice nba career as a rotational player, no upside though. Barrett has risks no doubt, but his upside is all nba player he puts the work it. When you are rebuilding a team and have a chance at one of these type of players you have to go for it.

Now they just have to remain patient and develop Robinson, Barrett, Knox, Trier, and Dotson.

Shams Charania
‏

Sources: Louisville�s VJ King has agreed to an undrafted free-agent deal with the New York Knicks.

The facts are on your side???

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Acts as if? The facts are on my side. It's people arguing the opposite who fall back on "Nothing to worry about, his form is great!"

You've dismissed the layups. Do that for Zion and guess what you have??

You've created a narrative that Barrett can't shoot at all based on a season of college ball. Harden's last year wasn't statistically much different from Barrett's.

I hate Duke as much as the next guy, but Barrett is an excellent player.

In comment 14478892 nygiants16 said:

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so let me preface this by saying this is best case scenario.. j dont think i have heard this mentioned as a comp yet, but what about dwyane wade? Wade when he came into the league was slasher not a great shooter

Their college stats are very similar. One thing we know is RJ has the work ethic to improve his jumper. He is the type of kid that will chuck 1000 shots a day to improve.

So it's a good thing Barrett was slotted to go 3,could have been a whole lot worse with this crew.

When he shot six percentage points better than Barrett from the arc and ten percentage points better from the line?

.

He made 3 out 10 3 pointers he attempted and that�s considered bad. If he makes 4 of 10 he is considered an awesome 3 point shooter. I have confidence that over a 15 year plus career he can improve that 3 point capabilities because he will take much better shots as he matures and he will practice it. Again he is 19!!!!

I see another caveat. FT's are now more important than layups!!

Knicks Film School
‏
Knicks can sign up to 6 players to Exhibit 10 contracts which allows them to either convert the player to a two-way or waive them and have them earn up to $50,000 if they play in Westchester for at least 60 days

They have signed Amir Hinton w/Exhibit 10, perhaps VJ King too

We're talking specifically about Barrett's shooting, since quite a few here want to explain away his weak shooting.
Which is more indicative of a good shooting touch, making a lot of layups or shooting a better percentage at the FT line?

In comment 14478951 Greg from LI said:

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We're talking specifically about Barrett's shooting, since quite a few here want to explain away his weak shooting. Which is more indicative of a good shooting touch, making a lot of layups or shooting a better percentage at the FT line?

Blah blah blah

Duke bad.

Blah blah blah

Virginia good.

a bit?

He shot 35.6% from 3. Barrett shot 30.8%. That's 6 points better?

Harden shot 56.4% on 2-pointers while Barrett shot 52.9%.

And guess what? Harden's numbers actually were down from his first season!! How the hell did he actually become the guy he is today?

"Blah blah blah" is easily the most intelligent post you've ever made here.

in every aspect, if I'm understanding you correctly?

In comment 14478962 Greg from LI said:

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"Blah blah blah" is easily the most intelligent post you've ever made here.

You couldn't possibly be the judge of who or what is intelligent.

to be a good pick?

Let's see if he survives the summer wheeling and dealing.

but that's not why he was drafted, not his strength on the floor

It's true there's a long list of guys who didn't improve their shot. But also not like it's some new thing for a rookie to need to work on. Hell Lance Thomas' summer of Js was effective, and he blows. It's a matter of working on it, and doing so consistently. A ton of players have done so...my fav being JKidd, who was an awful shooter yet late career was among the leader in made 3s (his shit Knick playoff series of like 0-20 notwithstanding)

It seems RJ has this work ethic and drive, comes from a fantastic bball program that tends to instill solid fundamentals & skills and in the best bball conference, even his father being a former SJU player from NY seems to be a perfect guide for the kid. Hell Steve Nash is his godfather

In comment 14478976 widmerseyebrow said:

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to be a good pick?

A future hall of famer? No he doesn't.

Knox, Smith Jr., Barrett and Frank are all subpar three-point shooters, and Mitch only operates around the rim. We'll see how the summer shakes out, but it's a huge issue right now.

Also, Perry likes to reference his Detroit days and "knowing what a championship team looks like," but those Detroit teams shared the ball and played defense, and the young guys he keeps bringing in rarely exhibit those qualities.

sounds interesting
Link - ( New Window )

Knicks will meet with Kawhi either sunday or monday and that meeting is already setup BUT Durant is the knicks main priority...

But I don't know what happened to him at Lville. He got parked on the bench last year and never re-emerged. His first two years, he'd have a bunch of invisible games bookended by an occasional monster game.

Still, if you're looking for a UDFA lottery ticket, he's as good a choice as any. There's a lot to work with there if they could find a way to develop the talent.

In comment 14478990 DanMetroMan said:

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In comment 14478976 widmerseyebrow said: Quote: to be a good pick? A future hall of famer? No he doesn't.

What does he need to be for us Dan..

To be a good player?

In comment 14478998 DanMetroMan said:

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sounds interesting Link - ( New Window )

Thanks Dan. That profile sounds very common to me - 'decent shooters,' transition game, projecting to 3-and-D, but not that good on D atm. Not sure what to make of it but we'll see at SL in a couple weeks

Is every pickup required to be 6'7"? I think 4 of 5 of them

In comment 14478998 DanMetroMan said:

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sounds interesting Link - ( New Window )

Good find. King seems like a very wise UDFA signing. Chances are he won't be anything but he does have talent.

In comment 14479004 nygiants16 said:

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Knicks will meet with Kawhi either sunday or monday and that meeting is already setup BUT Durant is the knicks main priority...

Interesting, I wonder what contract the Knicks are willing to offer Durant.

but it is more than disingenuous to suggest he can�t shoot. He played in an offense where Zion clogged the lane, limiting Barrett�s space. I think he�ll be a great pro. Long, athletic, a great handle, and by all accounts works his ass off. Those guys tend to work out more often than not.

the Harden comparison is a lazy one based off them both being a lefty.

He's Demar with upside.

In comment 14479024 Jon in NYC said:

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the Harden comparison is a lazy one based off them both being a lefty. He's Demar with upside.

I think his mental makeup puts him ahead of demar..

We have seen Demar shrink in the playoffs, i dont think Barrett will be afraid of those moments

In comment 14479016 Jay on the Island said:

Quote:

In comment 14479004 nygiants16 said: Quote: Knicks will meet with Kawhi either sunday or monday and that meeting is already setup BUT Durant is the knicks main priority... Interesting, I wonder what contract the Knicks are willing to offer Durant.

The max. Just like every other team that KD is interested in playing for.

should both be the priority ha. And that also sounds like lip service so KD knows he is the number one priority. Cause Kawhi should be #1 on every teams priority list.

In comment 14479027 nygiants16 said:

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We have seen Demar shrink in the playoffs, i dont think Barrett will be afraid of those moments

What exactly is this based on?

In comment 14478943 GMEN46 said:

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He made 3 out 10 3 pointers he attempted and that�s considered bad. If he makes 4 of 10 he is considered an awesome 3 point shooter. I have confidence that over a 15 year plus career he can improve that 3 point capabilities because he will take much better shots as he matures and he will practice it. Again he is 19!!!!

I was going to say this, you beat me.

Barrett is 19 and is now a full time basketball player. With countless hours of practice/coaching, I think he can eventually make 1 out of 10 more 3s.

In comment 14479032 Italianju said:

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should both be the priority ha. And that also sounds like lip service so KD knows he is the number one priority. Cause Kawhi should be #1 on every teams priority list.

That is what it sounded like when he said it, he saod the kawhi stuff first then he was like but waot durant is still the priority

In comment 14478997 bceagle05 said:

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Knox, Smith Jr., Barrett and Frank are all subpar three-point shooters, and Mitch only operates around the rim. We'll see how the summer shakes out, but it's a huge issue right now. Also, Perry likes to reference his Detroit days and "knowing what a championship team looks like," but those Detroit teams shared the ball and played defense, and the young guys he keeps bringing in rarely exhibit those qualities.

Knicks will most likely enter the season as the worst team in the league. Memphis, Cle, and Washington won't be far behind but they have some good players. The Knicks currently don't have a good NBA player on the roster. Not saying their players can't get better or won't become that, but that is the current situation.

The Knicks number 1 scorer is going to be Barrett or maybe Smith or Knox. They are really going to struggle to score and don't really have a good shooter on the roster. Hopefully the guys make major strides but we are in for another long year...

..

what I do like is he has relative comfort with all types - catch & shoot, off the bounce, even has a step-back already. I wouldn't be too surprised to find he was equally adept w/ Js going R as L. That and his work ethic to me are big indicators that he's got a good shot to improve it even if it never becomes a top strength in his game

If that were the case, why are there so many guys in the NBA that can't shoot? Why can't most major league baseball players hit higher than .275 when they practice every day with coaching and video? Why don't NFL QB prospects learn to throw more accurately?

Point is - it seems every scouting report on guys who can't shoot in college say they will improve. History shows most never get that much better. The one thing Knox and Barrett have going for them is that they are so young and do have less practice than draft picks 20 years ago.

I'd love to see splits, but that's my impression from watching him

Knox - a wasted pick. Literally an awful defender and not much better at finishing.
Robinson - brilliant pick for round 2. Great defender and very good rebounder. His shooting may never develop, but he's so dominating at what he does well, that he'll be an effective starting center.
Trier - Nothing ventured, nothing lost. He shows signs of being effective of the bench.
Barrett - Great with the ball, good on d, but his outside shooting is a concern.
Braz - Good shooter and can take it to the hole. Finishes well. D will be a problem, but he does work at ti. Good value for round 2.
Wilkes and Hinton - too early to tell.

In comment 14479054 ChaChing said:

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I wouldn't be too surprised to find he was equally adept w/ Js going R as L.

One of the knocks on him (not just me talking here, go look up pre-draft scouting reports if you don't believe me) is that he is VERY lefty-dominant and rarely goes to his right effectively.

In comment 14479061 Ira said:

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Knox - a wasted pick. Literally an awful defender and not much better at finishing. Robinson - brilliant pick for round 2. Great defender and very good rebounder. His shooting may never develop, but he's so dominating at what he does well, that he'll be an effective starting center. Trier - Nothing ventured, nothing lost. He shows signs of being effective of the bench. Barrett - Great with the ball, good on d, but his outside shooting is a concern. Braz - Good shooter and can take it to the hole. Finishes well. D will be a problem, but he does work at ti. Good value for round 2. Wilkes and Hinton - too early to tell.

lol at calling a 19 year old kid a wasted pick

In comment 14479053 nygiants16 said:

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..

Thats fair and I agree he would get time on most good teams in the league. Would love to see a mid range jumper from him this season but overall you have to be thrilled with what he did last year.

I think its nuts to write off Knox. I didn't like what I saw last year either, but I'm not writing him off this young...

knock him is who shoudl the knicks have taken instead of knox. The only guy i would trade knox for is SGA and its not like id feel like i was robbing LAC.

In comment 14479067 TyreeHelmet said:

Quote:

In comment 14479053 nygiants16 said: Quote: .. Thats fair and I agree he would get time on most good teams in the league. Would love to see a mid range jumper from him this season but overall you have to be thrilled with what he did last year. I think its nuts to write off Knox. I didn't like what I saw last year either, but I'm not writing him off this young...

i want Knox to be a better finisher at the rim, better defender and more consistent jump shooter, thatbis what inlook for this year

miss was Frank. It sounds like they really wanted Donovan Mitchell. Imagine what a different trajectory we would have been on as a franchise.

.

In comment 14479062 Greg from LI said:

Quote:

In comment 14479054 ChaChing said: Quote: I wouldn't be too surprised to find he was equally adept w/ Js going R as L. One of the knocks on him (not just me talking here, go look up pre-draft scouting reports if you don't believe me) is that he is VERY lefty-dominant and rarely goes to his right effectively.

Fair enough if that's the case. Will have an eye on it in SL if I get a chance to watch

In comment 14479068 Italianju said:

Quote:

knock him is who shoudl the knicks have taken instead of knox. The only guy i would trade knox for is SGA and its not like id feel like i was robbing LAC.

That's fair. I think SGA is much better. I'd rather had either of the Bridges or Huerter than Knox - and that's just off the top of my head.

Take a look at ESPN's Real +/- for small forwards. Knox is dead last and he isn't close to the player who's next to last.


NBA Real Plus-Minus -(Small Forwards page 3) - ( New Window )

on bridges and huerter. Knox has more upside then them and we should be shooting for upside.

Frank again. Literally just about every GM would have sprinted to the podium to pick RJ #3. He's not perfect but what draft pick is at age 19?

was all-SL or whatever, something like top 3. More than that, I loved his aggression & style of play overall, played fast & loose

But with the big team, it's almost like Frank's timidness rubbed off, or the physicality suddenly jumped on him and he backed off a bit. Totally different guy save a few flashes. Could be slow adjustment to NBA / NYC / adult life (fair tho we expect them to just jump in), could be just adjusting to the game. There's hope but not a lot of good film so far

In comment 14479082 Stu11 said:

Quote:

Frank again. Literally just about every GM would have sprinted to the podium to pick RJ #3. He's not perfect but what draft pick is at age 19?

Well, there are two components here.

1)It's making me sick to my stomach that not only do I have to root for Daniel fucking Jones now, I also have to root for RJ fucking Barrett

2)I think his flaws are much more significant than most people here do.

he knows how to score and to finish unlike Frank.

was an 18 year old rookie who has never played more then 38 games in a season. Give the kid a break

Really like what Atlanta did. A starting 5 of Young, Huerter, Reddish, Hunter and Collins is a nice young core.

I think Reddish is going to be a really good nba player.

but Young played well enough to save face, and suddenly they have a solid young team on their hands. If we miss on the max players, I hope we make a few trades and wind up with multiple first rounders next year - I'm always envious of those teams.

In comment 14479113 TommyWiseau said:

Quote:

was an 18 year old rookie who has never played more then 38 games in a season. Give the kid a break

i think knox is fine and has a ton of potential. the whole issue was having zero offensive system. would have been better having a system where guys can develop more.

the non system benefited guys like trier and the subpar PGs putting up solid looking stats

In comment 14479092 Greg from LI said:

Quote:

In comment 14479082 Stu11 said: Quote: Frank again. Literally just about every GM would have sprinted to the podium to pick RJ #3. He's not perfect but what draft pick is at age 19? Well, there are two components here. 1)It's making me sick to my stomach that not only do I have to root for Daniel fucking Jones now, I also have to root for RJ fucking Barrett 2)I think his flaws are much more significant than most people here do.

I hear ya. Believe me my Terp blood boils at the mere sight of a Dukie. 2 Things though, 1 We're out of the ACC, and 2 since these guys only stay 1 season these days you don't lather up as much hate like we used to over 3 or 4 years for Hurly, Laetner, Ferry, etc...

You'll see soon enough.

What?"

Love this from RJ
Link - ( New Window )

Perfect complement to Durant if they can also sign another elite free agent.

In comment 14479203 Stan in LA said:

Quote:

You'll see soon enough.

YES!!!! we got a steal guys!!

In comment 14479219 nygiants16 said:

Quote:

In comment 14479203 Stan in LA said: Quote: You'll see soon enough. YES!!!! we got a steal guys!!

Guaranteed HOF'er!!!!!!

In comment 14479078 Ira said:

Quote:

In comment 14479068 Italianju said: Quote: knock him is who shoudl the knicks have taken instead of knox. The only guy i would trade knox for is SGA and its not like id feel like i was robbing LAC. That's fair. I think SGA is much better. I'd rather had either of the Bridges or Huerter than Knox - and that's just off the top of my head. Take a look at ESPN's Real +/- for small forwards. Knox is dead last and he isn't close to the player who's next to last. NBA Real Plus-Minus -(Small Forwards page 3) - ( New Window )

It's hard to knock a rookie in this category, especially one that hasn't made basketball his priority until his junior year of high school, which was four years ago. I looked at other years for the same stat. Joe Harris was last in 2014. He started every game he played last year and shot 47% from 3. The next year Bogdan Bojanovich was last. He started every game he played for the Pacers this past season and averaged 18 ppg. I took a peak at Power Forwards. Pascal Siakam was 63rd out of 65 PFs his rookie year. He was just as important as anyone to the Raptors championship season. Give Knox time. He's going to get better.

Quote:

It's hard to knock a rookie in this category, especially one that hasn't made basketball his priority until his junior year of high school, which was four years ago. I looked at other years for the same stat. Joe Harris was last in 2014. He started every game he played last year and shot 47% from 3. The next year Bogdan Bojanovich was last. He started every game he played for the Pacers this past season and averaged 18 ppg. I took a peak at Power Forwards. Pascal Siakam was 63rd out of 65 PFs his rookie year. He was just as important as anyone to the Raptors championship season. Give Knox time. He's going to get better.

This is an A+ post right here - thank you. I've been down on Knox due to (among other things) some of these advanced stats, but never took the time to research other seasons and players. This makes me feel a little better.

see it.

In comment 14479246 Ira said:

Quote:

see it.

the kid is 19 it is called patience, is he a surefire player? no but calling him a terrible pick after 1 year is ridiculous

You need to hate to lose, and also need to KNOW you're gonna make the shot or whatever play needs to be made.

I'd like to see more of that from Knox. We'll see.

In comment 14479215 Vanzetti said:

Quote:

Perfect complement to Durant if they can also sign another elite free agent.

He shot under 30% from 3 last year. Not sure where that 3 in 3 and D is coming from. Also worth noting, Frank doesn't want to play the 2. He wants to be a 1 and was sulking last season when the Knicks tried him in other roles.

In comment 14479253 yatqb said:

Quote:

You need to hate to lose, and also need to KNOW you're gonna make the shot or whatever play needs to be made. I'd like to see more of that from Knox. We'll see.

True. I think he hung his head a bit, lost some confidence at times. That's certainly a little concerning

But way too soon to give up. Coaching & teammates can help, and RJ & Iggy apparently do not lack confidence so maybe that rubs off. Iirc he was expected to be a bit of a project, no? Start w/ SL in a few weeks, hopefully he's done some work this offseason, see where he's at and give him time

amd effectively banned from covering the team

the Knicks give access to all media equally. This has got to stop.

In comment 14479268 nygiants16 said:

Quote:

amd effectively banned from covering the team

Dolan doing his best you-know-who impression, though Isola really is a dickhead

G Dennis Smith Jr. (21)
G RJ Barrett (19)
F Kevin Knox (19)
F Iggy Brazdeikis (20)
C Mitchell Robinson (21)

G Frank Ntilikina (20)
G Allonzo Trier (23)
G Damyean Dotson (25)
F Henry Ellenson (22)

They average 21.11 years old.

solves this problem all by himself but it will be nice to have a player who has a better than average ability to facilitate for others relative to guys at his position. Its so discouraging to think about how many guys they've had that fell way below average in this area and because of it there have been so few easy scoring opportunities for the guys viewed as scorers, be it KP, Knox, THJ etc. -- of course, those three presented problems for teammates for the same reason.

Iggy & RJB will be in the gym for hours, getting reacquainted, and rekindling their past chemistry together.

Can't wait to see what they do in summer league.

per league rules, but press conferences like today that the Knicks host on their own are a different story - they can invite whom they wish.

In comment 14479271 yatqb said:

Quote:

the Knicks give access to all media equally. This has got to stop.

not defending dolan, but if you do not want to be treated like a tabloid, dont write and act like a tabloid

In comment 14479273 Anakim said:

Quote:

G Dennis Smith Jr. (21) G RJ Barrett (19) F Kevin Knox (19) F Iggy Brazdeikis (20) C Mitchell Robinson (21) G Frank Ntilikina (20) G Allonzo Trier (23) G Damyean Dotson (25) F Henry Ellenson (22) They average 21.11 years old.

They need to sign some vets to add to this group. Any free agents you guys would target on short deals ( ideally 1 plus team option)? Even if its an overpay for a year? Any possible RFA that could be had?

Dennis Smith Jr.
RJ Barrett
Kevin Knox
Kawhi Leonard
Mitchell Robinson

That team is a playoff contender and a whole lot of fun to watch.

Calipari said last year it would take him three years. During the summer on MSG he asked if he was shaving yet. Give the guy some time. When he gets stronger you are going to see the things you saw in summer league at the big league level. I love that the Knicks drafted for the end game and the high ceiling not the high floor guy.

An 18 year old rookie who averaged 12.8/4.5 a wasted pick is moronic.

An 18 year old rookie who averaged 12.8/4.5 a wasted pick is moronic.

situation in the NBA.

Kid gets drafted - "He is raw, young, will need a couple years to develop"

After one year - "He stinks, cant do X, Y, or Z, Wasted pick"

@WindhorstESPN:

�I know DeAndre Jordan is a guy on the Lakers' radar that they're hoping they may able to get for relatively cheap because he wants to be back in LA�

But is anyone really going to claim emotional response to mercenaries who played one year in a Duke uniform? This isnt Laettner and Battier waving Duke flags and hitting big shots against your alma matter for 4 years. Coach K just got tired of losing the top talent to Kentucky and loosened up his "Duke Filter".

good about their FA chances anymore, this is still reassuring to read
Link - ( New Window )

In comment 14479272 Anakim said:

Quote:

In comment 14479268 nygiants16 said: Quote: amd effectively banned from covering the team Dolan doing his best you-know-who impression, though Isola really is a dickhead

Isola is no longer w/The NYDN He now writes for The Athletic Stefan Bondy covers the Knicks for The NYDN.

nets are frontrunners for durant...

looking like Irving and Durant to the Nets.

even with durants injury, its going to sting if he and irving go to the nets after all season hype

..

In comment 14479384 nygiants16 said:

Quote:

nets are frontrunners for durant...

Where did you see them say that?

go figure

Bruce Arthur
✔
@bruce_arthur
Chauncey Billups just seriously compared R.J. Barrett to Chicago Jalen Rose AND said R.J. is a two-way player. In the same sentence!

Um, no Chauncey. He's not at all like that guy - ( New Window )

In comment 14479407 slickwilly said:

Quote:

In comment 14479384 nygiants16 said: Quote: nets are frontrunners for durant... Where did you see them say that?

the jump

was pure speculation if that was what you are referring to. These guys have no clue at this point and change what their sources are telling them every other day.

In comment 14479415 slickwilly said:

Quote:

was pure speculation if that was what you are referring to. These guys have no clue at this point and change what their sources are telling them every other day.

you realize kendricknperkins is one of durants good friends, if he is saying it probably true

In comment 14479416 nygiants16 said:

Quote:

In comment 14479415 slickwilly said: Quote: was pure speculation if that was what you are referring to. These guys have no clue at this point and change what their sources are telling them every other day. you realize kendricknperkins is one of durants good friends, if he is saying it probably true

He's paid to say stuff.

What's probably more true is that Kevin Durant just had his life upended and is more focused on getting that full leg cast off. He's going to meet with teams and make a decision. Nobody knows what's going to happen.

Why would anybody want to play for a team with no fans?

In comment 14479418 Ten Ton Hammer said:

Quote:

In comment 14479416 nygiants16 said: Quote: In comment 14479415 slickwilly said: Quote: was pure speculation if that was what you are referring to. These guys have no clue at this point and change what their sources are telling them every other day. you realize kendricknperkins is one of durants good friends, if he is saying it probably true He's paid to say stuff. What's probably more true is that Kevin Durant just had his life upended and is more focused on getting that full leg cast off. He's going to meet with teams and make a decision. Nobody knows what's going to happen.

durant has said multiple times he is not taking meetings

In comment 14479416 nygiants16 said:

Quote:

In comment 14479415 slickwilly said: Quote: was pure speculation if that was what you are referring to. These guys have no clue at this point and change what their sources are telling them every other day. you realize kendricknperkins is one of durants good friends, if he is saying it probably true

In the last month Perkins has said the Knicks, Clippers and Nets were all the favorites for Durant at different times. I'm not sure he knows much. This morning Jay Williams once again who is also very close to KD hinted that the Knicks would get KD or at least had a very good chance.

My sense though is that since the injury, KD has been mum on his intentions and no one really knows much aside from his inner inner circle. It's also quite possible KD has no idea yet what he's going to do which is the direction I lean towards.

without talking to representatives from that team.

In comment 14479432 Ten Ton Hammer said:

Quote:

without talking to representatives from that team.

just going by what he has said

No reason to be too concerned. There's been a lot of bullshit put out in the past two days.

per Griffin? I guess that's just an odd GM speak...

it's nothing but CLEAR no one knows. But some like to insist there's only one answer, yet change their own minds w/ every new report every time. It's comical (Tiki/Eli reference!) to me, but to each their own. Might as well be confident even if you're wrong!

if for no other reason then the fact that it shows players still dont want to play for the knicks. Whether its the losing, FO, owner, culture, pressure, whatever. Because there is zero chance they would be choosing BKN cause they think the current roster is that much better. Im not trying to knock the roster but its not why those guys would choose BKN.

Tommy Beer
✔
@TommyBeer
� 5h
GM Scott Perry mentioned that Knicks analytics guys were very high on Ignas Brazdeikis.

Here's why:
At UM, Brazdeikis scored 1.19 points per Spot Up possession [92nd percentile], scored .93 PPP in pick-and-roll action [84th percentile] and ranked in 89th percentile as a cutter.


Tommy Beer
✔
@TommyBeer
Brazdeikis graded out better defensively than I expected, especially on the perimeter.

According to Synergy data, Iggy allowed just 0.65 points per Isolation possession [69th percentile].

His tenacity and effort on the defensive end made up for some of his physical shortcomings

I thought it was illuminating that the Knicks made it a point to get the top 3 guys here. RJ is a coincidence I'm sure but the other two definitely are not.

The little bit I�ve seen of him, and what I�ve read of his strengths/weaknesses, he reminds me of Joe Ingles. Very similar measirables as well.

I haven�t seen much of him though so I could be way off, but that�s the first person I thought of when watching him.

I like the Iggy pick

Hopefully he can make the team and bring some intensity and role playing mentality. I like his off the ball movement.

In comment 14479726 Ira said:

Quote:

Quote: �I think we�re asking them to continue to be patient,� Knicks president Steve Mills said. �We laid out a plan when Scott came on board and then David [Fizdale] joined us, that we were going to build this team the right way. We�re going to draft well and we�re gonna be diligent about how we make this team and not take any shortcuts and follow a path.��

I'd love for us to land Kawhi. Every pundit would have to eat crow. And we'd be instant contenders.

Knox has the kind of musculature that will get spectacularly stronger over time, enhancing his shooting, moves to the rim, rebounding and defense.

It really astonishes me that people consider a 6'9" 19-y-o who was still getting taller as a a rookie to be close to his physical peak in basketball skills, aside from the fact that he only switched to BB as his primary sport 4 years ago. Add 15-20 pounds of solid muscle to that body, and THEN lets see what he can accomplish. And, of course he will get a lot of that just this summer. But by 2020-21, at age 21, he will be an entirely different athlete.

I am really intrigued to see what he looks like in summer league, where he will STILL be one of the younger players in the league. He's 10 whole months older than Barrett, who is a baby age-wise.

@TommyBeer
15h15 hours ago
Players named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year:

2014-15: D'Angelo Russell, Ohio State
2016-17: Miles Bridges, Michigan State
2017-18: Jaren Jackson Jr. Michigan State
2018-19: Ignas Brazdeikis, Michigan

We'll see how he compares at the next level, but fair enough...

@TommyBeer
17h17 hours ago

-Also, Barrett is just the fourth freshman over the last 25 years to score more than 850 points.
-The other three: Kevin Durant, Michael Beasley & Trae Young.
-Oh, and dating back to the start of his senior season in high school, Barrett is 67-5 in the last 72 games he's played in.

@TommyBeer
18h18 hours ago

Last season, RJ Barrett averaged more assists per game than PG's:
Coby White, Darius Garland Carsen Edwards.

Barrett also averaged 7.6 rebounds. That's a higher rebound average than bigs:
No. 4 overall pick De'Andre Hunter, No. 8 pick Jaxson Hayes and No. 12 pick PJ Washington.

I believe he was top 10 in rebounds & assists

stats and numbers are one aspect but when I look at players the feet are where I go first. Beginning with some very limited internet video his gait or length of stride had my attention. Unlike, to use as a comparison "Dollar" Bill Bradley and his short or abbreviated gait Brazdeikis stride was elongated, meaning he's on the plus side as a athlete.

A like comparison would be John Stockton. To stay with this comparison, Stocktons' nick name was "stock" but at some point you would think that someone would've changed that to "bulldog", because that was who Stockton was and that's what his game was predicated on. So watching the video on Brazdeikis it appears he has that same type of approach to the game. Not predicting that the Knicks have the next John Stockton on their team, rather that he has those qualities.

After that I took a look at the other additions...King Hinton and Wilkes. The only one I would have any questions on would be Hinton. My thinking is they also want to see who he actually is. He reminds me of a Michael Beasley type. And for that the Knicks want to see if he can defend and or facilitate. And I didn't see anything in those videos that were vision related...like was he a 9 man vision guy or a 3 man vision guy. He was spending the most time at setting up the opposition with his one on one stuff.

Mike Riordan.

It's the biggest thing that could limit his ability to become an impactful NBA player.

In comment 14479876 Phil in LA said:

Quote:

Mike Riordan.

There's a blast from the past. There was no 3 point shot in those days, though, so hard to compare.

another try-hard white guy. I like the little attitude he seems to play with, maybe the extremely poor man's Doncic without the passing?

Claxton could be a steal for the Nets though.

like him as a prospect. He's got some talent and he's got the edge that guys need to get the most out of their talent. I won't try to guess how good an nba player he'll be, but I think he'll be a useful player. Trading up to get him with just cash was a smart move.

people forget that:
1) He was Eastern Conference ROY in December.
2) He hit the Rookie wall hard in January.
3) He actually had three strong periods: The summer league, December, and the 6 games in April. For 6 games in April, he averaged 14 points and 7 rebounds.
4) For 14 games in March, his 3 pointer was at 43.1%. I expect that his three point average for the year (35.3%) would be 3-5 points higher if he had star scorers on the team to open up the court for him. He was rushing a lot because he had to.

And this was as the second youngest player in the league. Consider the upcoming year as a traditional rookie year, and let's see what he looks like.

343 from three and .387 from two. That percent from two,flat out sucks. I also know he is young and will improve.

In comment 14480069 XBRONX said:

Quote:

343 from three and .387 from two. That percent from two,flat out sucks. I also know he is young and will improve.

He has problems finishing his drives. He needs to work on that.

Quote:

Phil in LA : 10:06 am : link Mike Riordan.

with Bill Hoskett length!

until finally giving up. Knox has skills, unlike Frank, but he just seems oddly nonchalant out there. The fact that the Knicks brought in 3 players at his position might indicate something.

Anybody knows how Michael Porter�s rehab is going?

knox "has skills unlike Frank" would be a pretty good reason to give him more time. Kind of a big deal. He also had a much better rookie year then Frank did. The idea that he was an awful basketball player all of his rookie year is just not fact.

Barrett is a guard and i dont think it means anything that our 2nd rd pick and an undrafted guy could play SF.

depending on who the knicks sign in free agency as well..

I would assume kadeem allen would play summer league right?

It seems like his injury makes his fit in NYK make even more sense. His injury legitimizes his GSW exit. The Knicks can offer him a 4 year max contract which gives him security despite his injury. His injury timeline would seem to work well with the Knicks core of players, who will get another year of experience and development. Even if we end up tanking, we could add another big piece in the draft. Not to mention, we'd still have another max space in case someone decides 2020-21 is the Knicks time with a core of:

KD/Second max/RJB/Mitch/2020 1st

Knox/DSJ/Trier/Dotson/Iggy/Frank

Is there any way GSW offers KD that 5 year deal? That would seem to be the move that would preempt any discussion of KD moving on. I don't see how he couldn't stay in GS for a quarter billion dollars. But, at that level, maybe the money is more negotiable than it seems...

the whole thing could work well if we just go with 1-year deals. Our best kids will be approaching maturity by fall 2020, we add another high draft pick in summer 2020, and have two first round picks in 2021, our's and Denver's. Add a second max just as Durant is healing, and have a lot of cheap, young talent in addition.

It seems this FO is doing it right for once. Not holding their breaths for any single outcome, but ready & positioned for the right FAs / opportunities when available

Chase only those FAs, hit the jackpot & get 2-3 great, if you get 1 you can spend a year developing that group. Don't have to spend cap just because you have it. If no one comes down, it's all youth. And maybe in a few offseasons that opportunity comes up after you've built a few decent players (whether stars or rotation pieces to keep, or trade chips).

It IS the Knicks so we'll see. But it sure feels like the team is on the right track w/ this FO

Mitch, Knox, Trier and RJ are all on board, though Mitch will only play a couple of games. I�m looking forward to watching the undrafted guys too, especially Amir Hinton. Hey, maybe we�ll get some good free agent news to add to the excitement.

Hahn is doing a show next sunday 6 to 9..

In comment 14480454 adamg said:

Quote:

It seems like his injury makes his fit in NYK make even more sense. His injury legitimizes his GSW exit. The Knicks can offer him a 4 year max contract which gives him security despite his injury. His injury timeline would seem to work well with the Knicks core of players, who will get another year of experience and development. Even if we end up tanking, we could add another big piece in the draft. Not to mention, we'd still have another max space in case someone decides 2020-21 is the Knicks time with a core of: KD/Second max/RJB/Mitch/2020 1st Knox/DSJ/Trier/Dotson/Iggy/Frank Is there any way GSW offers KD that 5 year deal? That would seem to be the move that would preempt any discussion of KD moving on. I don't see how he couldn't stay in GS for a quarter billion dollars. But, at that level, maybe the money is more negotiable than it seems...

By all accounts GS is almost certainly going to offer him the 5 year max. I know people are skeptical that given the tax bill they�ll actually do it but nothing reported has indicated anything else thus far.

As far as KD to NYK goes, I�m not sure anyone�s heard much of anything about his intentions since the injury. What may not play in our favor is that he could be less confident in his ability to carry a team than he was prior to the injury, making it more important that he goes somewhere with another star hence why there�s so much Nets talk recently given Kyrie�s interest there.

it's that he doesn't do anything but shoot. He's a black hole on offense and he has really poor assist and rebounding numbers.

Obviously working on offense is important as well, but I'd love for him to work on his court vision and passing.

getting to the basket in summer league. Once the real games started he struggled to finish and i think it made him more hesitant to drive. 4.5 rebounds a game for a rookie SF was fine. As for assists i dont think thats ever going to be a strong part of his game, but for a SF thats not a big deal.

and finishing once he gets there. If he can do that he will be fine.