Meet Kenny Wooten.
Wooten, the power forward from Oregon, has looked impressive as an athletic defender during the team’s first two summer-league games, blocking four shots in 24 minutes.
The 21-year-old was likely earmarked for the Knicks at No. 55 had they not traded up in the second round to No. 47 to nab Ignas Brazdeikis, who pumped in 30 points in Sunday’s overtime loss to Phoenix.
They got Wooten anyway when he fell through the draft after he made a surprising decision to leave school instead of going back to the Ducks for his junior year.
“They told me about that,’’ Wooten said about the Knicks’ plan to take him at 55. “But I’m glad they got Iggy. You saw what he did right now [scoring 30 points in Sunday’s loss to the Suns]. I’m proud of him. I have no complaints. [Trading up] was a really smart choice.”
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Per NBA.com, all but Bullock have been made official as of this morning. I'm guessing there's some logistical thing with Bullock.
I just feel like if they can get him for a low cost or essentially absorbed into cap space/ expirings they need to explore it. He’s not perfect but he could really help turn this team around and they have a glaring hole at point guard.
It’s a big contract but look at the deals just handed out. Bullock/ Ellington/ Gibson/ Payton combined make more than Westbrook. And the argument to signing those guys was to change the teams culture and help be more professional and win. Wouldn’t Westbrook help with all of that by leaps and bounds more than those guys?
I think the narrative and criticism of him has gotten out of control. And if you can get a top 10-15 player for only cap space you have to look at it. I’m also not as concerned with “ cap flexibility “ as the Knicks seem to be.
It would have been interesting but he has a huge contract and limits any flexibility the franchise would have the next few years. Let's face it the Knicks are basically waiting for the next disgruntled star player under 30 to demand a trade. Free agency clearly not their strong suit and all the top players in the league have longer contracts now.
The right thing is to wait. Hope some of these kids develop and pounce when Towns, Booker, D Fox etc. pull a "trade me now".
It seems like an awful fit on the court tbh. I do agree he’s Miami-bound though.
you think westbrook and butler are competing for the 1 seed?
You have to pass on Russ. If he was 3 years younger maybe but he doesnt fit with us and will slow down the development of all of our young players with his ball domination. And OKC isnt just going to salary dump him so you will have to give up assets as well
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the Rat will land Westbrook and Miami will compete for the 1 seed in the East. Book it.
you think westbrook and butler are competing for the 1 seed?
Yup. Which teams in the East are so good that Miami with those 2 aren't in the mix? The Bucks and Sixers. Otherwise, why not? Toronto took a MAJOR hit
Wooten was really active around the basket in the minutes he got in our second game. I wonder if there's a space for him on the roster?
Also, Robinson has to chill out with the goaltendings the rest of summer league.
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Per NBA.com, all but Bullock have been made official as of this morning. I'm guessing there's some logistical thing with Bullock.
Where's you see that? I couldn't find anything
Wooten was really active around the basket in the minutes he got in our second game. I wonder if there's a space for him on the roster?
Also, Robinson has to chill out with the goaltendings the rest of summer league.
14 guaranteed deals + Allen (heavy favorite) and Wilkes on a 2 way... seems extremely unlikely to break camp with them
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Thanks. Odd that they haven't issued a press release as they typically do.
We have learned a few things this offseason.
1) Top free agents are not currently considering the Knicks.
2) You can always create cap space when you need it or engineer a S&T if a player wants to come.
3) The Knicks aren't going to use cap space to facilitate trades or create space space for other teams for assets.
4) The lottery is a complete crapshoot and its more appealing to players to be good/ fringe playoffs than bottom of the league
It would be a risky move, but if you could get 2 great years of Westbrook and 2 good years, I think it could be a really good move for the Knicks. Takes the scoring burden off the young players, actually have a legit penetrator and distributor, gets the young players to play harder and immediately makes the Knicks a playoff team in the east or close to it. He wouldn't be blocking any young guard they have and I actually think he would really help the young players.
If the cost is really that low, I would go for it. If another star becomes available, you can always make room for them as well. But the top guys are pretty set currently and the upcoming free agent classes are very weak.
I just disagree with the idea that it would be "same old Knicks" if they got an All NBA player without giving up much or anything at all...
Fine so a 3 seed where they have a player so good he could "Jordan" them to knocking off one of the elite teams. Pat always has it easy.
On one hand, you have to praise him for world class athleticism and the best motor in the league.
His point/rebound/assist stats are incredible.
However, if you prepare for him the way teams to in the playoffs...in other words, get back in transition to prevent his "punt return" like rebound and one may fast break and make him play half court basketball where is far less effective.
Also, its just a matter of time before he grates on teammates.
Then factor in age/salary, and it makes him unattractive for most teams, particularly:
1 teams with a lot of youth
2 teams close to winning bc his style is not conducive to playoff success
2) You can always create cap space when you need it or engineer a S&T if a player wants to come.
I disagree with this part. It seems to be quite hyperbolic. We have seen some of the more clever gms manufacture cap space when it appeared there wasn't any, but to me it doesn't mean that any team can just spend willy-nilly.
Regardless of what has happened in the past, it still takes some assortment of assets to "manufacture space". I think this holds true especially with the Knicks. The Knicks appear to have a reputation that they can be "had" in any trade so it seems from the outside that other teams rarely offer them fair deals. This in turn makes me believe that the Knicks need to be more shrewd with their cap then some other teams, because there is less of a chance they will be bailed out in a pinch. Just my opinion.
-Berman
My overall point is hoarding the cap space is overrated, especially for a team like the Knicks who won’t use it to acquire assets and have shown zero ability to land top superstars. It would be a risk, but there could be reward where Westbrook elevates this franchise across the board.
And look at Miami. They couldn’t have a worse cap situation and they just got a top free agent and will probably land Westbrook soon. It helps having good management, but cap space can be highly overrated. Only Pat Riley would have all these bad “middle” contracts and it will actually help in a trade....
I agree for the most part. I was not a fan of them stretching Noah, but it wasn't the end of the world. It's too bad that it takes such a long time to change perception though. I believe that the Knicks have yet to make any critical mistakes since Perry has arrived, but because things haven't broken their way yet, there is still a narrative that they don't do anything right. It makes it hard to be a Knicks fan and listen to certain media members.
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by prior regimes, I have liked each and every move this current regime has made
I agree for the most part. I was not a fan of them stretching Noah, but it wasn't the end of the world. It's too bad that it takes such a long time to change perception though. I believe that the Knicks have yet to make any critical mistakes since Perry has arrived, but because things haven't broken their way yet, there is still a narrative that they don't do anything right. It makes it hard to be a Knicks fan and listen to certain media members.
You're right on the $. Good point about Noah.
My overall point is hoarding the cap space is overrated, especially for a team like the Knicks who won’t use it to acquire assets and have shown zero ability to land top superstars. It would be a risk, but there could be reward where Westbrook elevates this franchise across the board.
And look at Miami. They couldn’t have a worse cap situation and they just got a top free agent and will probably land Westbrook soon. It helps having good management, but cap space can be highly overrated. Only Pat Riley would have all these bad “middle” contracts and it will actually help in a trade....
Giannis, AD, Oladipo, Paul George (PO), McCollum are all FA's in 2021 (AD in 2020).
While it's true that they haven't shown the ability to land top superstars, they've never had anything to sell but MSG and the NY market. If they had a more experienced roster with NBA contributors (not necessarily other stars) I think they'd be a destination stars would have strong interest in.
I don't really get the Miami point. They're not title contenders with Butler and Westbrook. They have some decent young players as a result of drafting and developing well (plus some patience, we would've given up on Winslow as a fanbase for example) but have no draft capital and will be capped out around two guys that have never won a thing. It's like Melo and Amare if Amare had stayed healthy. What's the end goal there? Some teams need to go for that to sell tickets, the Knicks don't which should be an advantage even if the media and casual fans have their laughs.
Even if the Knicks could do it, it also closes the door on "pre-agency". One thing the guys at the Ringer talk about all the time is that more players are demanding trades. If the Knicks trade for Westbrook and suddenly a great player demands a trade, who was thought to be happily under contract, and the Knicks weren't in the running because of Westbrook's contract, it could be quite frustrating.
One can also argue that his version of playing at an all-nba level doesn't get you anywhere.
You’re really overrating Westbrook.
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the Rat will land Westbrook and Miami will compete for the 1 seed in the East. Book it.
You’re really overrating Westbrook.
A future first ballot HOFer, league MVP joining up with Butler and Whiteside in a a weak East. Totally disagree.
Point remains the same. The East sucks. 2 elite teams, Toronto no longer is Westbrook/Butler and bare bones makes them one of the best teams in the East. You are really confident the Nets sans Durant or Pacers etc are better? Bucks and Sixers sure, Celtics? Who knows. Not the Knicks, Wizards, Hornets, Hawks, Bulls, Cavs... are the Pistons? I mean just do the math. The Heat by virtue of the East would be one of the better teams.
They are already committed long-term to Griffin, so tanking isn't an option. They're desperate to be relevant, so adding Westbrook and being a 3-6 seed in the East would be a big improvement in their circumstances and put them "back on the map."
Miami might be Westbrook's preferred destination, but I think the Pistons are more desperate and will offer a bigger package.
Westbrook's playstyle is not conducive to winning a 7 game series. And maybe Jimmy Butler thinks he can do for a team what Kawhi did for Toronto, but I don't think he's that kind of player.
Westbrook or CP3?
Also, the thought that there are no quality FAs in the next 3 years is a stupid argument.
Players request trades constantly and having a bunch of expiring deals,young players and draft picks puts the Knicks in the running for anyone that wants out.