NFT: Knicks chat - backcourt options

The draft is 11 days away. I have started looking T some of the prospects. I'll start off with 3 of them and then look at a couple of options via trade and FA. I'm not going deep into this so feel free to add your opinions on any additional options as there seem to be many.

The Knicks seem to be one of the most intriguing teams in the NBA this offseason. No, they don't have a top pick in this year's draft but with picks 19 and 21 the Knicks seem to want to move at least one of these picks to either move up in the draft or trade for a player.

The obvious place to start is Damian Lillard. I think we can all agree that just getting him on this team makes us better. However, that is never the question. This topic has been discussed already but the point is what will it take and according to rumors it would be a ton. Personally, I don't think the Knicks are in a position to throw too many eggs into one basket. Having Randle and Damian Lillard as your top two players and not much else doesn't look like a championship caliber team. I have said this before and will repeat it, players are available every year and the timing has to be right to make the move. The timing is not right to make a huge move just like it wasn't right last year to go after Beal. I talk about NBA purgatory all the time. I think it is the worst place to be. The Knicks are getting closer to being able to make a huge move but they aren't there yet.

Sexton? What will it take? What are we comfortable with trading for him? This is a much more likely situation to come to fruition than Lillard. I have no idea what Cleveland would accept. Hitdog, if it was him, is emphatic that Cleveland isn't trading him. If so then this point is moot. However, from reading about this situation, Cleveland does not want to pay his price tag and would have gotten more if they traded him last year. Supposedly NBA execs are aware of his contract demands and don't want to give up a lot to take on that type of contract. This severely limits his market. I also read that an NBA exec, I think, stated that teams with a lottery pick wouldn't offer the pick for Sexton. They'd rather get a player on a cheaper contract. With that known, I think I draw the line in the sand at 19, Knox, and another smaller piece. If Cleveland says no then no problem. We move on to another option. I don't want to argue about the details of the trade. Maybe Cleveland laughs at us but every moment that passes increases the likelihood that Cleveland doesn't get a good return for him similar to what happened with Lonzo Ball this year. NO waited way too long and couldn't work out a trade and now it looks as if they'll lose him for nothing. No wonder Zion seems to want to move on when his contract is up.

Lets talk about Ball. If the Knicks like his game I think he'd be a nice asset on this team. It comes down to what contract he's looking for and how that fits in with our ling term plans. He is definitely a player we should look into.

Someone brought up Duncan Robinson the other day. I think he makes a lot of sense for this team as well. Timing and the value 9f the contract will determine if we will be players. He has versatility to play the 2 or 3 and he gives this team some much needed shooting.

Let's talk about the draft. The first guy I think should be talked about is Davion Mitchell. From what I read he is great defensively and limited offensively. I started watching clips and, while that doesn't tell the whole story, I was expecting someone way worse than he showed. I like his offensive game. He doesn't look explosive but looks very smooth and heady. He takes what the defense gives. He isn't going to be able to drive at will to the basket but if there is a crease them he'll take it. If the defender gives him space he can hit the 3. He always seems to know where his teammates are. The question really becomes, is he worth trading 19 and 21 for him because that is what it looks like it would take.

I haven't seen Springer's name brought up much at all. I like him. My knowledge is very limited but from what I have watched he is like a bully with the ball. I like that. It reminds me of the good part of Marbury where he was able to attack the rim at well. This team needs players that can break down a defense. He needs to get better as a passer and trusting his teammates more but he is no slouch in that area either. He needs to imrpove his outside shot for the NBA imo. The positive is he is only 18 years old. I love the upside whereas someone like Mitchell is 22 and soon to be 23, if I remember correctly.

I know there are way more prospects to look at in terms of the PG position but I'll leave that to others who know more than me.

I hate Berman but he had and article on SG Duarte yesterday so I checked him out. I think Thibs probably loves this kid. He has length, he plays defense, and he can hit long range shots. The negative? I think he's 24 years old. He has a unique story but he supposedly still has upside to his game.

Where does this leave the Knicks? The weird thing about the NBA is that the draft occurs before FA and the NBA, more than any other sport imo, focuses on need in the draft. The Knicks have more back channels than we do but I would be shocked if we didn't come out of this draft with a PG/combo guard. We can't assume we can get a FA PG nor trade for one until the trade is actually executed.

I will lay out one situation: let's assume Cleveland accepts our offer of pick 19, Knox, and say pick 32 for Sexton. If we did that I can see the Knicks drafting Duarte at 21 because he is ready to play now. How would you feel about a backcourt of:

Sexton
Rose
Quickley
Duarte
Luca
Burks (assuming he is resigned)

As much as I love the upside of Springer, I don't think Thibs wants to take on players that young to have them develop. I think that is one reason that Mitchell seems to be coveted.

With that said, I lied. I'll give you a second scenario. Let's assume we trade picks 19 and 21 for Mitchell. How would you feel about a backcourt of:

Mitchell
Rose
Quickley
Duncan
Luca
Burks (assume he is retained)

Which one do you like better? Do you have a better outcome?