NFT: NYK personnel with Thibs on board

Just my opinion:

RJ Barrett - great mentality/approach that should help to maximize his talents and minimize his shortcomings. I think a Demar Derozon projection is reasonable, even if a little optimistic. Thibs is perfect for Barrett.

Mitch Robinson - massively underrated BIG (because of the team he's been on). There are very few young BIGs in the NBA I'd take over him. Upside is limitless and now he's got a coach that should allow for major growth.

Frank Ntlikina - Again, Thibs is the perfect guy to capitalize on the type of player Ntilikina should be, like a Thabo Sefolosha or Garrett Temple type (smart, responsible, defensive oriented bench wing). Not a sexy projection, but useful.

I like vets Gibson and Bullock for their bench roles.

Young players with modest upside and the kind of reputations in terms of their intangibles to allow some optimism: Wooten, Brazdeikas, Harper.
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Hard to imagine Kevin Knox (soft, confidence too easily broken) or DSJ (low IQ, lazy as the day is long, poor shooter, selfish) doing anything to get their careers on track.


Goners: I expect Portis, Ellington, Payton will see NYK team options declined. Harkless is a 3 and D guy without the 3. That's $40mm coming off.
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The elephant in the room is Julius Randle. he was awful this past year but that's what happens when you have NO legit/primary ball handlers on the team and you ask a guy who has no business leading the offense to do so. If he isn't traded e.g. part of a CP3 trade, Thibs has had success with a somewhat similar player albeit in a different era (Carlos Boozer).

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Plan if I were in charge:

Draft:

Lottery: Deni Avdija - 6'9" 215, shooting has improved, playmaking wing who can defend. Best thing about him is his personality/approach (see everything I said about RJ Barrett).

LAC pick: Guard Grant Riller - poor man's (maybe not that poor) CJ McCollum_. Love this kid's grit and offensive game.

2nd rounder: Xavier Tillman. A 22 year old Taj Gibson who is likely to be underrated in this draft.

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Free agency:

Fred Vanvleet 4 x $25mm
Frank Jackson 3 x $8mm
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson 1 x $5mm

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Roster (minutes):

PG: FVV (32), Jackson (16), Riller, Harper

SG: RJB (32), Ntilikina (16)

SF: Avdija (24), Bullock (14), RHJ (10)

PF: Randle if not traded (30), Tillman (18), Brazdeikas

C: Mitch (30), Gibson (18), Wooten