So I am concerned about how the majority of our team seems to be made out of 100% grade A+ porcelain.
However, that being said, I think we are in great position to contend for a championship next year. I would not engage in any of these wild trade theories we have heard.
Next year I see our roster as largely set.
We have Brunson at the 1 and Divo at the 2. I am largely on the fence with OG, but I would resign him and start him at the 3. Then we have the walking bad attitude/All pro Randle at the 4.
So here is where the question marks begin. I would do everything possible to resign Hartenstein, but I'm going to just assume we fail for the sake of preparing for the worst case scenario. So, the Knicks have two first round picks, and a second.
Now, I know nothing about NBA free agency, but people around here keep insisting expiring contracts have value. I'm not convinced by what I have seen out of the Knicks, but if so, then take advantage of the expiring contract of Bogs and get a backup at either PG, SF, C or finally PF. Then use your first 1st round pick on whichever position you did not address yet starting at backup SF, then C, then PG. Use your second first round pick on a backup PG, or a C, or a SF. Then you have your second round pick to use on a C or a PF. I don't know. Maybe I am overly exuberant, but I think our future is ROSES!
Oh, and if the fans here are full of it and Bogs expiring contract has no value, then I would resign him to a reasonable contract and then instead of looking for a backup SF in the draft, I would look for a backup SG who would prove to be an upgrade over Miles McBride.
@JonChep
San Francisco’s Jonathan Mogbo lived above the rim at the NEXT Sports Pro Day.
Measured in w/ a +7 ¾” wingspan (2nd largest differential) and notched the 5th fastest sprint time.
Grab-and-go playmaking + overall versatility really stood out in scrimmages.
Needle-moving week.
Ngijol Songolo
@5ongolo
Jonathan Mogbo has so many skills that can make him a walking mismatch.
He rebounds incredibly well (10.2 RPG in college with a 23.3% rebound rate) and likes to handle + distribute in transition (3.7 APG, 24.5% assist rate).
The role player playoff contenders should consider.
@TheDunkCentral
Nic Claxton, Isaiah Hartenstein and Jonas Valanciunas are potential targets for the OKC Thunder, per @MikeAScotto
“Rival executives are monitoring the Thunder as a potential team in the free-agent center market this summer, with several names available, such as Nic Claxton – who can potentially command over $20 million on the market, as noted by HoopsHype – Isaiah Hartenstein, and Jonas Valanciunas, who’s not expected to return to New Orleans.”
@JonChep
San Francisco’s Jonathan Mogbo lived above the rim at the NEXT Sports Pro Day.
Measured in w/ a +7 ¾” wingspan (2nd largest differential) and notched the 5th fastest sprint time.
Grab-and-go playmaking + overall versatility really stood out in scrimmages.
Needle-moving week.
Ngijol Songolo
@5ongolo
Jonathan Mogbo has so many skills that can make him a walking mismatch.
He rebounds incredibly well (10.2 RPG in college with a 23.3% rebound rate) and likes to handle + distribute in transition (3.7 APG, 24.5% assist rate).
The role player playoff contenders should consider.
This guy was created in a lab to play for Thibs.
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Jon Chepkevich
@JonChep
San Francisco’s Jonathan Mogbo lived above the rim at the NEXT Sports Pro Day.
Measured in w/ a +7 ¾” wingspan (2nd largest differential) and notched the 5th fastest sprint time.
Grab-and-go playmaking + overall versatility really stood out in scrimmages.
Needle-moving week.
Ngijol Songolo
@5ongolo
Jonathan Mogbo has so many skills that can make him a walking mismatch.
He rebounds incredibly well (10.2 RPG in college with a 23.3% rebound rate) and likes to handle + distribute in transition (3.7 APG, 24.5% assist rate).
The role player playoff contenders should consider.
This guy was created in a lab to play for Thibs.
Raves about his work ethic, they claim he also showed off 3 point range in workouts (who knows?) but watching clips of him he really truly reminds me of Josh Hart. His skillset is the type that gets playing time as a rookie too.
Link - ( New Window )
he was playing hurt last year and had surgery immediately after the playoffs. I'll give him a pass for that. He was a disaster vs. Atlanta in 2021. No excuses there. Although looking back at that roster in 2021, I think it was a team that overachieved during the regular season and wasn't exactly built for playoff success. Bullock, Noel, and Payton ranked 3, 4, and 5 in minutes played for us that year!
I watch…a lot of big ten basketball and I’m honestly not even sure who you’re talking about unless this was a Caitlin Clark joke
If they keep their second I’m also going to stump for Ajay Mitchell. Love his game and guys have proven that you can be successful in the nba coming from a smaller conference.
By the way, here's Josh Hart talking about Thibs.
Hart - ( New Window )
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I watch…a lot of big ten basketball and I’m honestly not even sure who you’re talking about unless this was a Caitlin Clark joke
I had to google it. Payton Sandfort
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In comment 16526000 Anakim said:
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I watch…a lot of big ten basketball and I’m honestly not even sure who you’re talking about unless this was a Caitlin Clark joke
I had to google it. Payton Sandfort
Oh wow I wouldn’t have pegged him as an nba caliber guy personally. I do think they can find higher upside probably and they’re in a spot where they don’t really need immediate rotation help.
That’s one of the reasons I like Dunn. Let him sit and figure out a jumper for two years similar to how they’ve handled Deuce
I don’t love him in ultra clutch spots but he has hit game winners. That said he’s also played very well over 100s of games for NY, including many 4th quarters that saw the Knicks win on his back.
I just think many over think it with Randle. He’s not legendary good no one is saying he is. Still an elite force at PF. He’s also relatively cheap and the Knicks got him for literally nothing. He helped turn this franchise around.
But no, I am not deluding myself or anyone into thinking Randle is some flawless transcendent superstar without weakness. He’s still great. He’s also coming off 2 straight injuries now and is about to get more expensive. I’d be open to just about anything within reason.
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In comment 16525670 DanMetroMan said:
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this an indication Lebron is considering the Suns?
Evan Sidery
@esidery
Bronny James was scheduled for 10 workouts with NBA teams, but he’s declined all of them except two: Lakers and Suns, per @ShamsCharania
on @RunItBackFDTV
.
Phoenix will legitimately be considering Bronny at No. 22 overall.
Kind of rubs me the wrong way. Bronny isn't that good of a prospect that he can decline workouts for teams. He's at best a second round talent with defensive upside. Aside from Thanasis, I can't think of another example of a nepo situation in basketball.
The Knicks literally had Chris Smith on the team lmao.
Hah, I forgot about him
For the sake of argument I’m fine acknowledging Randle hasn’t played his best ball in May. But that can change. We’ve seen it go both ways. Things change. Randle has the skill set to make a difference.
December and January combined he averaged 26/8.5/4.5 on 51% from the field and 84% from the line.
I need him to stay engaged on defense but on offense he was a monster. I think he's being undervalued when everyone keeps suggesting he gets moved for Bridges or for future picks or whatever.
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What are your thoughts on Randle in high pressure situations? He's played in 15 playoff games and hes shooting what, 28% from 3? 33% from the floor and averaging 17 pts a game. Not only playoffs, it seems like any late game situation as well. He always makes mistakes. Do you think theres anything to that? How would you explain it?
I don’t love him in ultra clutch spots but he has hit game winners. That said he’s also played very well over 100s of games for NY, including many 4th quarters that saw the Knicks win on his back.
I just think many over think it with Randle. He’s not legendary good no one is saying he is. Still an elite force at PF. He’s also relatively cheap and the Knicks got him for literally nothing. He helped turn this franchise around.
But no, I am not deluding myself or anyone into thinking Randle is some flawless transcendent superstar without weakness. He’s still great. He’s also coming off 2 straight injuries now and is about to get more expensive. I’d be open to just about anything within reason.
That's the thing though, Randle has been really good and he's been an important part of making the Knicks good, but he's not the guy to get us to the next level. Randle came to the Knicks when nobody else wanted to and he helped turn us into a playoff caliber team. He's perfect in that role, but he's just not a guy that's gonna get you over the hump, IMO. He has too many important flaws.
I can remember one game winner and it was on a broken play when he lost the ball and then chucked a prayer. Are there more? I can remember dozens of times he lost his dribble or turned the ball over or missed the game winner.
He is a very good player and has a lot for this organization but in the end i dont think he is the number 2 to get this team over the top..
You need a guy where you say in a playoff game ok i am ok with Brunson or the other guy having the ball in their hands, i do not trust Rand le in those big spots
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In comment 16525970 Kmed6000 said:
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What are your thoughts on Randle in high pressure situations? He's played in 15 playoff games and hes shooting what, 28% from 3? 33% from the floor and averaging 17 pts a game. Not only playoffs, it seems like any late game situation as well. He always makes mistakes. Do you think theres anything to that? How would you explain it?
I don’t love him in ultra clutch spots but he has hit game winners. That said he’s also played very well over 100s of games for NY, including many 4th quarters that saw the Knicks win on his back.
I just think many over think it with Randle. He’s not legendary good no one is saying he is. Still an elite force at PF. He’s also relatively cheap and the Knicks got him for literally nothing. He helped turn this franchise around.
But no, I am not deluding myself or anyone into thinking Randle is some flawless transcendent superstar without weakness. He’s still great. He’s also coming off 2 straight injuries now and is about to get more expensive. I’d be open to just about anything within reason.
That's the thing though, Randle has been really good and he's been an important part of making the Knicks good, but he's not the guy to get us to the next level. Randle came to the Knicks when nobody else wanted to and he helped turn us into a playoff caliber team. He's perfect in that role, but he's just not a guy that's gonna get you over the hump, IMO. He has too many important flaws.
I can remember one game winner and it was on a broken play when he lost the ball and then chucked a prayer. Are there more? I can remember dozens of times he lost his dribble or turned the ball over or missed the game winner.
So we cannot win a title with an all nba player at PF?
Why does he have to be THE guy? We have Brunson and even OG filling big roles here now. We have Divo and Hart filling big roles here now--all these guys weren't here in 2020. Most weren't here in 2022.
A team can win a title with Horace Grant but not Julius Randle? A team can come within a finger tip of of an NBA title with Charles Oakley as the 3rd best player (or even 2nd best) but we cannot win with Randle? That's what everyone is telling me? I can't buy that.
Randle is a terrific player even if he's not THE guy. Fine. Let someone else be THE guy.
Like I said, if you can improve upon Randle or flesh out the roster and finances here as to improve the team and it requires Randle being dealt? I am all ears. Until then, he's fine here. He's a winning player even if he's not the best PF of this era. He's still great.
I agree djm. I think if we had a healthy Randle, Brunson & OG, we'd still be in the playoffs battling Boston.
If you dont, you are not going to want to keep him..
This isnt about regular season anymore, all those accolades are amazing and he has done a lot for this organization, but right now its about winning in the playoffs
This team is loaded with shooting and scoring now. Randle hasn't been afforded that luxury since he's been here save for a month this season and what happened? The Knicks destroyed everyone.
Randle already displayed that he can work within this system. And he's already displayed that he can taylor his game around the new comers (OG, Hart, Divo)
We'd be playing right now if OG or Randle stayed healthy. We'd be up in this series if they were both healthy. We were cheated. Don't give up on this team just yet.
IF they bring in a guy like Mitchell or even Paul George things change.
It seems to me that in the past when Randle was the 1st option (w/ no dependable 2nd option), he would force things, a bad shot or he'd turn it over with a spin move into traffic (trying to be superman), etc.
But before he got hurt this yr, it seemed like he knew he had other options and wasn't forcing things.
I guess we'll find out what the FO & Thibs feels about him in the next few mos.
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if you trust him with the ball in his hands to score and take over playoff games as the 2nd option then you are going to want to keep him..
It seems to me that in the past when Randle was the 1st option (w/ no dependable 2nd option), he would force things, a bad shot or he'd turn it over with a spin move into traffic (trying to be superman), etc.
But before he got hurt this yr, it seemed like he knew he had other options and wasn't forcing things.
I guess we'll find out what the FO & Thibs feels about him in the next few mos.
Thats fine in the regular season but in the playoffs you need 2 guys go out and sckre 25 to 30..
Dallas has Doncic and Kyrie
Minnesota has Edwards and Towns
Boston has Brown and Tatum..
Yup and Donte shot the lights out
No disagreement. But in January Randle played within the team concept and we were unbeatable. So I think the question is whether the Knicks try to get back to the January team, with everybody healthy, or go in another direction. If Randle is healthy and has his head on straight (which he seemed to in January), he's a very valuable player.
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We are a different team with OG, with or without Randle.
No disagreement. But in January Randle played within the team concept and we were unbeatable. So I think the question is whether the Knicks try to get back to the January team, with everybody healthy, or go in another direction. If Randle is healthy and has his head on straight (which he seemed to in January), he's a very valuable player.
That works in the regular season, that style wont work in the playoffs
PPG during that 14 game span:
Brunson: 28.6
Randle: 23.8
OG: 15.6
DDV: 13.5
Grimes: 9.4
McBride: 8.6
Hartenstein: 7.7
Hart: 6.8
Grimes had two of his best games of the season in two of the four wins the Knicks had against playoff teams (Nuggets and Sixers) scoring 19 points in each.
DDV's hot streak immediately followed the game in which both Randle and OG were injured and put out of action: a six game span in which DDV averaged 29.2 a game.
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on an expiring deal to save money.
Dolan has been spared paying any money at all for this roster for ages, but that's coming to an end soon.
But they're not going to trade Julius to avoid paying luxury tax or some shit. That's a bonkers take.
Has nothing to do with saving money for Dolan, the 1st and 2nd apron extremely hinder the ability to make a trsde for a star...
Its why many think the Knicks will make a deal between now and July 1st then the Knicks will go over the tax and aprons to keep the players they have together..
I know that. But they're not trading one of the all-stars on the team to make sure they're under the apron. That's what I'm saying.
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In comment 16525897 Jan in DC said:
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on an expiring deal to save money.
Dolan has been spared paying any money at all for this roster for ages, but that's coming to an end soon.
But they're not going to trade Julius to avoid paying luxury tax or some shit. That's a bonkers take.
Has nothing to do with saving money for Dolan, the 1st and 2nd apron extremely hinder the ability to make a trsde for a star...
Its why many think the Knicks will make a deal between now and July 1st then the Knicks will go over the tax and aprons to keep the players they have together..
I know that. But they're not trading one of the all-stars on the team to make sure they're under the apron. That's what I'm saying.
Yes i agree to a point, i think the apron will definitely be part of the conversation, I think if they want to run it back but leave their options open, that apron is gokng to to come into play..
Thats why i think if a big move happens, it will happen before July 1st
OG: 35 million
Randle: 30
Brunson 24
Ihart: 16
Hart: 18
mitch: 16
Bojan: 22
Divencenzo: 11
Mcbride 4.3
Thats 176 already, doesnt include draft picks, Precious, and cap holds
OG: 35 million
Randle: 30
Brunson 24
Ihart: 16
Hart: 18
mitch: 16
Bojan: 22
Divencenzo: 11
Mcbride 4.3
Thats 176 already, doesnt include draft picks, Precious, and cap holds
Remind me what the deal is with Bojan's contract. It becomes guaranteed at the end of June?
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by July 1st their payroll could look like this:
OG: 35 million
Randle: 30
Brunson 24
Ihart: 16
Hart: 18
mitch: 16
Bojan: 22
Divencenzo: 11
Mcbride 4.3
Thats 176 already, doesnt include draft picks, Precious, and cap holds
Remind me what the deal is with Bojan's contract. It becomes guaranteed at the end of June?
June 28th, 2 million of it is guaranteed, after that date it is fully
Are there any realistic targets on the market better than Randle? You tell me.
You run it back you better be damn sure this is a title contender, because you are then going into next year most likely giving Randle an extension, Brunson an extension this yesr or next and if its next it is over 45 million a year..
There is no longer stsr hunting, there is no trading Randle for another star...
In comment 16527001 nygiants16 said:
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they would have swept the Pacers. This year. And they would have given Boston quite the run. This team was insanely good before Randle and OG got hurt at the same time. If an upgrade is truly available, go for it. But be very careful breaking this team up.
You run it back you better be damn sure this is a title contender, because you are then going into next year most likely giving Randle an extension, Brunson an extension this yesr or next and if its next it is over 45 million a year..
There is no longer stsr hunting, there is no trading Randle for another star...
Probably Jazz