@ShamsCharania
BREAKING: The Minnesota Timberwolves are nearing a trade to send All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks, sources tell me and @JonKrawczynski.
right now the Celtics are the clear favorite, OKC is next and the favorite out West, and the Knicks are a pretty clear 3rd in terms of title odds. The Knicks haven't been Top 3 in pre-season title odds since what, 1995? Brunson is roughly 7th in terms of MVP odds and the fans love him.
I expect the Knicks to be awesome this year if everyone is healthy. I'll be rooting for them in the East. But I'll be interested to see how the fans react if Brunson plays like say Bucks Lillard last year for the first months and the Knicks are only 4th in the East around New Year's.
But I'm really looking forward to watching this team. Bridges in particular is actually who I'm most intrigued by on this team, feels like an ideal role for him.
in other words, the fans may be disappointed if this team underachieves? You're really going out on a limb there...
No, I'm actually predicting the Knicks will struggle a little more than expected early in the year as Brunson will have to adjust to brand new style of offensive supporting cast. Even if Towns/Bridges are great fits, I just think it will take some growing pains from Brunson especially before they finally click. And if those relative struggles happen, I'd just be interested to see how Knicks fans here and in general react.
So now you're expecting them to struggle more than some unnamed group of observers is expecting them to struggle. Good to know....
Of course there's going to be growing pains and of course NY fans can be impatient. Seems like you're dancing around what you really want to say.
What exactly do you think it is that I don’t want to say. I feel like I’ve been pretty clear.
The Knicks are going to have the best spacing on the floor in the NBA this season. Only the Celtics are in the same conversation. The pick and pop game between Brunson and KAT is going to be incredibly difficult to stop. Having two of the best wings in OG and Bridges will be an incredible advantage. I also think Bridges' offense is very underrated and he'll be able to thrive with teams focused on stopping Jalen and KAT. You can either have Hart play inside and dominate the offensive glass, or you go with McBride to add a fifth player who can knock down threes at a high percentage. I think this season is going to be so much easier for Brunson to score because he will never have had so much room to operate.
He was taking four fewer shots per game with Julius in the lineup, and all of those and then some will presumably go to KAT, plus still need to get Bridges involved.
Wouldn't be surprised if he dropped to closer to 26 ppg from 32.
I think this is right. As a Knicks fan I love Brunson and I suspect by the end of the season, we're going to be fine and probably finish 2nd in the East or the like. But he is a guy who doesn't really get easy buckets; he's not uber athletic. He has to hit shots and typically harder shots. There's some variance with that type of player.
#1, good to interact with you again if you're "Ash".
But yea, he relies on being a great shot-maker. Like Luka and Harden who were also big-time "ball hogs" in the sense of time of possession, Brunson also has great start-stop but he's not a great athlete.
He's a great player and this should be a great team. I don't want people to think I'm somehow shitting on the Knicks. But I'm just preparing you guys for something that's a fairly likely scenario, which is Brunson starts getting flak for underperforming now that Randle is gone. I guess Towns is such a whipping boy for being "soft" that somehow he'd get some blame too no matter what, but this is Brunson's team pretty clearly.
Look, the guy lead the league in time of possession + missed field goals last year. If you don't think that style has the potential to backfire if the guy has a bad stretch, that's on you.
But that's it. My prediction is 58 wins and a clear Top 4 contender in the East with the Celtics/Sixers/Bucks. I know the Sixers vs. Knicks matchup is what a lot of people are hyped about, but Knicks vs. Bucks is what I'm wanting to see the most. I think the Knicks are the best built team to take out the Celtics, I think they're a real contender, and I think Brunson will finish Top 7 in the MVP voting at the end of the day. Good luck to you guys.
Thanks Osi--partial response in my response to Enzo's response to you.
He was taking four fewer shots per game with Julius in the lineup, and all of those and then some will presumably go to KAT, plus still need to get Bridges involved.
Wouldn't be surprised if he dropped to closer to 26 ppg from 32.
I think this is right and I think we still could end up being more successful this way. Less usage in the regular season too would be good for Brunson come playoff time.
Brunson creates easy shots for himself all the time
especially in the lane, when he stops and creates space and takes those 15 footers that is an easy shot, he is also incredible playingg off the ball and finding the open space to get free looks from 3..
I highly doubt he struggles this year to start the season, the team itself might but he is going to have so much space in the area hr likes to work in that the only way he struggles if his shooting is just off..
He was taking four fewer shots per game with Julius in the lineup, and all of those and then some will presumably go to KAT, plus still need to get Bridges involved.
Wouldn't be surprised if he dropped to closer to 26 ppg from 32.
He was averaging 29 ppg with Randle in the lineup post-OG trade. That was with Randle taking 18 shots a game and Donte taking 12. Towns took 15 shots a game last year so even if that number goes up a little, there's plenty of shots to go around with Brunson still putting up the same or even better numbers. The Knicks will in all likelihood score more points than they did during that stretch because there will be better looks.
RE: I don't think you watched the knicks last year.
Ian Begley
@IanBegley
Karl-Anthony Towns on Madison Square Garden: “This is not *my* home, it's *our* home. JB has been building something special here. This is our home, I'm here to amplify them and be the best teammate I can be."
but his effeciency will tick up and his assist numbers will go higher..
Its a simple play but if they run Brunson and Kat pick and pop, Brunson loves to refuse the pick, when he does that the big usually will go right to the rim to cut him off, if he does that with KAT, its a wide open 3...
Center stays home and Brunson turns the corner, help comes from one of the corners, its a kickout to Bridges or OG for a wide open 3..
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"I was kind of surprised ... at how many executives I talked to who felt like the Timberwolves won this trade." 👀
—@WindhorstESPN
on how Julius Randle and Donte Divencenzo will fit with Anthony Edwards and the Wolves 🔥
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NBA on ESPN
@ESPNNBA
"I was kind of surprised ... at how many executives I talked to who felt like the Timberwolves won this trade." 👀
—@WindhorstESPN
on how Julius Randle and Donte Divencenzo will fit with Anthony Edwards and the Wolves 🔥
Its going to take a little bit for Randle and Edwards to learn how to play with each other..
and it made the team better. The ball was in his hands all the time and he dominated.
But the Knicks were at their best when all hands were on deck last season.
Are we debating whether Brunson thrives with less talent around him? So you’re telling me Brunson and the Knicks were better off without Randle and with precious?
They were lethal when Randle and OG were healthy but will be even better with Kat because he’s a better player than Randle. Doesn’t mean Randle was a detriment, it’s just that Kat is a more gifted player
33% in February
64% in March
And finally went 6-2 in April, down the stretch.
Brunson will be fine when he has a full deck here. Also, Kat is literally one of the most efficient offensive bigs in the game. Randle, as good as he was, was not as efficient and he can’t shoot like Kat.
The team was elite with OG in the lineup and that was with or without Randle. When Randle went down, this became Brunsons team and it changed the trajectory of the season and ultimately the franchise, IMO. You can disagree, but I believe that we were better without Randle. We started to run a lot more and move the ball a lot more. We saw what this team could be.
That being said, we could have used Randle in the playoffs when everyone got hurt, but he clogged things up too much, IMO.
and it made the team better. The ball was in his hands all the time and he dominated.
But the Knicks were at their best when all hands were on deck last season.
Are we debating whether Brunson thrives with less talent around him? So you’re telling me Brunson and the Knicks were better off without Randle and with precious?
They were lethal when Randle and OG were healthy but will be even better with Kat because he’s a better player than Randle. Doesn’t mean Randle was a detriment, it’s just that Kat is a more gifted player
Brunson was at his best when OG returned and the floor was spaced more, Obviously they could of used Randle especially when OG got hurt but the Knicks without Randle should of been in the ECF..
You now replace in that lineup DD for Mikal and Ihart for Kat and the floor is spaced even more and the upside is hire, remember DD was their second leading scorer in the playoffs last year..
If Deuce improves like we all think he can and Precious can man the backup 5 and they can get anything from Payne or Shamet, this team is going to win close to 60 games
The team was elite with OG in the lineup and that was with or without Randle. When Randle went down, this became Brunsons team and it changed the trajectory of the season and ultimately the franchise, IMO. You can disagree, but I believe that we were better without Randle. We started to run a lot more and move the ball a lot more. We saw what this team could be.
That being said, we could have used Randle in the playoffs when everyone got hurt, but he clogged things up too much, IMO.
There’s middle ground.
Saying they were better without Randle is a huge stretch. They are just better with Kat than Randle.
Their record without Randle was 21–15 last season. They won 50. Do the math.
I’m not going down this road again but had to post the stats that back it up. He didn’t clog anything up. He’s a winning player as long as the coaching and system isn’t fizdale.
@malika_andrews
NEWS: New York Knicks legend Patrick Ewing is returning to the franchise as a basketball ambassador, sources tell ESPN. Ewing will be working directly with both head coach Tom Thibodeau and the front office.
24 years after last playing for NYK, Ewing is back in The Garden.
Randle isn’t the offensive player Kat is. But I don’t think the Knicks were giving Randle away or treating him as if they were better off without him. They kept him and paid him a lot of money for good reason. The guy is just really good.
RJB was the guy who clogged things up a bit too much here especially with so many other ball dominant iso scorers around him. Plus he was inconsistent. Randle wasn’t.
Randle will help the wolves. Kat will help the Knicks. Knicks are winning a title.
The team was elite with OG in the lineup and that was with or without Randle. When Randle went down, this became Brunsons team and it changed the trajectory of the season and ultimately the franchise, IMO. You can disagree, but I believe that we were better without Randle. We started to run a lot more and move the ball a lot more. We saw what this team could be.
That being said, we could have used Randle in the playoffs when everyone got hurt, but he clogged things up too much, IMO.
There’s middle ground.
Saying they were better without Randle is a huge stretch. They are just better with Kat than Randle.
Their record without Randle was 21–15 last season. They won 50. Do the math.
I’m not going down this road again but had to post the stats that back it up. He didn’t clog anything up. He’s a winning player as long as the coaching and system isn’t fizdale.
Again, thats not how it went down. The big loss was OG. We were elite with OG(with or without Randle) and after the trade we were eh without OG and Randle. Sure Randle would have helped after OG got hurt, but we were better with OG and without Randle, IMO. Again though, having another scorer when everyone got hurt would have been great, but a healthy Knicks team last year without Randle has a shot.
Don't forget one other huge aspect. Randle going down put Hart in the linuep. Hart was a HUGE reason the knicks had the success they had.
and it made the team better. The ball was in his hands all the time and he dominated.
But the Knicks were at their best when all hands were on deck last season.
Are we debating whether Brunson thrives with less talent around him? So you’re telling me Brunson and the Knicks were better off without Randle and with precious?
They were lethal when Randle and OG were healthy but will be even better with Kat because he’s a better player than Randle. Doesn’t mean Randle was a detriment, it’s just that Kat is a more gifted player
Brunson was at his best when OG returned and the floor was spaced more, Obviously they could of used Randle especially when OG got hurt but the Knicks without Randle should of been in the ECF..
You now replace in that lineup DD for Mikal and Ihart for Kat and the floor is spaced even more and the upside is hire, remember DD was their second leading scorer in the playoffs last year..
If Deuce improves like we all think he can and Precious can man the backup 5 and they can get anything from Payne or Shamet, this team is going to win close to 60 games
I agree I kept saying we needed OG back more than Randle. Once OG went down we were cooked last season. Knicks beat indy with OG healthy and give Boston fits.
I am not saying Randle was perfect by any means. He was upgradable but only with a deal (reasonable) like this one. They were only better off without Randle if they brought back something like Kat.
and it made the team better. The ball was in his hands all the time and he dominated.
But the Knicks were at their best when all hands were on deck last season.
Are we debating whether Brunson thrives with less talent around him? So you’re telling me Brunson and the Knicks were better off without Randle and with precious?
They were lethal when Randle and OG were healthy but will be even better with Kat because he’s a better player than Randle. Doesn’t mean Randle was a detriment, it’s just that Kat is a more gifted player
Brunson was at his best when OG returned and the floor was spaced more, Obviously they could of used Randle especially when OG got hurt but the Knicks without Randle should of been in the ECF..
You now replace in that lineup DD for Mikal and Ihart for Kat and the floor is spaced even more and the upside is hire, remember DD was their second leading scorer in the playoffs last year..
If Deuce improves like we all think he can and Precious can man the backup 5 and they can get anything from Payne or Shamet, this team is going to win close to 60 games
I agree I kept saying we needed OG back more than Randle. Once OG went down we were cooked last season. Knicks beat indy with OG healthy and give Boston fits.
I am not saying Randle was perfect by any means. He was upgradable but only with a deal (reasonable) like this one. They were only better off without Randle if they brought back something like Kat.
I dont think anyone is saying just take Randle out and dont replace him and the team is better, especially with Ihart gone..
I worry about the Knicks wing depth, but there might be some ways around those issues. KAT’s shooting might allow him to play far better alongside Precious than Mitch or iHart ever did. That could solve backup 4 minutes issues along with Josh Hart depending on the matchup. Playing Deuce (as well as Payne or Shamet) at the 2 would push Bridges down to the 3.
Kris Pursiainen is reporting the Marcus Smart trade talks
they want to clog minutes at the PG spot with Brunson, Deuce, Payne and Kolek already there. I'm not sure a past his prime Marcus Smart moves the needle.
RE: RE: Kris Pursiainen is reporting the Marcus Smart trade talks
that ajr mentioned a few days ago. He says nothing imminent at the moment though.
I jist dont see how they can make that work at least not right now
I think it could work in December when they can trade some other guys
The only guy that becomes eligible to trade in December/January is Precious, but I don't see any way they trade Precious and Mitch or Precious and Hart for Smart, and it would have to be both of them because Smart makes 20.
Shamet will most likely take one of those spots, than it depends on how much money they have left whether its warren or okeke or they turn a 2 way into a regular deal
He’s a point guard and the Knicks already have Payne and Kolek behind Brunson. I also think Smart’s best basketball is behind him. If the Knicks trade Mitch, they’ll need to hold onto Precious as the backup five and it would then make the most sense to trade him for a backup wing that can score. That’s the Knicks biggest need right now.
best way to hide KAT at center is probably to have the three of the top five/six best perimeter defenders in the league all on the same team. Good luck scoring on Smart/Mikal/OG.
I swear to god if they specifically signed Precious to a 6 mil deal to match with Mitch's 14 and get to exactly Smart's number, and planned this out 2 months ago, build the statue of Leon.
But also god help us for those 16 minutes per game against Embiid in the playoffs with KAT on the bench and Mitch and Precious in Memphis.
best way to hide KAT at center is probably to have the three of the top five/six best perimeter defenders in the league all on the same team. Good luck scoring on Smart/Mikal/OG.
I swear to god if they specifically signed Precious to a 6 mil deal to match with Mitch's 14 and get to exactly Smart's number, and planned this out 2 months ago, build the statue of Leon.
But also god help us for those 16 minutes per game against Embiid in the playoffs with KAT on the bench and Mitch and Precious in Memphis.
The Knicks already have OG, Bridges, and Deuce who are excellent on the ball defenders. Josh Hart is pretty good too. I just don’t see Smart as a need. Towns has also had a tendency to get into foul trouble. If that happened in a second round game against the Sixers and all you had behind him was Sims, the game would be over. There’s no way the Knicks can trade Mitch and Precious without adding a competent backup big. Smart shot 31% from three last year, his assists decreased, his turnovers went up. He’s got a lot of miles on him after those Celtics years. He’s a pass for me.
best way to hide KAT at center is probably to have the three of the top five/six best perimeter defenders in the league all on the same team. Good luck scoring on Smart/Mikal/OG.
I swear to god if they specifically signed Precious to a 6 mil deal to match with Mitch's 14 and get to exactly Smart's number, and planned this out 2 months ago, build the statue of Leon.
But also god help us for those 16 minutes per game against Embiid in the playoffs with KAT on the bench and Mitch and Precious in Memphis.
The Knicks already have OG, Bridges, and Deuce who are excellent on the ball defenders. Josh Hart is pretty good too. I just don’t see Smart as a need. Towns has also had a tendency to get into foul trouble. If that happened in a second round game against the Sixers and all you had behind him was Sims, the game would be over. There’s no way the Knicks can trade Mitch and Precious without adding a competent backup big. Smart shot 31% from three last year, his assists decreased, his turnovers went up. He’s got a lot of miles on him after those Celtics years. He’s a pass for me.
I don't disagree with most of this. But all of the issues you list with Smart are the only possible reason he'd be traded for a broken down Mitchell Robinson and spare parts. We're a year removed from the Celtics getting KP AND two firsts for Smart.
But I agree your center rotation can't be KAT/Sims/Hukporti
I haven't done the machinations but they're right up against the second apron and will need to give salary players to replace Sims and Payne on the roster. Not sure if it becomes prorated or they can do 10 day contracts or whatever, but that's the concern.
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In comment 16634494 Osi Osi Osi OyOyOy said:
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In comment 16634480 Enzo said:
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In comment 16634459 Osi Osi Osi OyOyOy said:
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right now the Celtics are the clear favorite, OKC is next and the favorite out West, and the Knicks are a pretty clear 3rd in terms of title odds. The Knicks haven't been Top 3 in pre-season title odds since what, 1995? Brunson is roughly 7th in terms of MVP odds and the fans love him.
I expect the Knicks to be awesome this year if everyone is healthy. I'll be rooting for them in the East. But I'll be interested to see how the fans react if Brunson plays like say Bucks Lillard last year for the first months and the Knicks are only 4th in the East around New Year's.
But I'm really looking forward to watching this team. Bridges in particular is actually who I'm most intrigued by on this team, feels like an ideal role for him.
in other words, the fans may be disappointed if this team underachieves? You're really going out on a limb there...
No, I'm actually predicting the Knicks will struggle a little more than expected early in the year as Brunson will have to adjust to brand new style of offensive supporting cast. Even if Towns/Bridges are great fits, I just think it will take some growing pains from Brunson especially before they finally click. And if those relative struggles happen, I'd just be interested to see how Knicks fans here and in general react.
So now you're expecting them to struggle more than some unnamed group of observers is expecting them to struggle. Good to know....
Of course there's going to be growing pains and of course NY fans can be impatient. Seems like you're dancing around what you really want to say.
What exactly do you think it is that I don’t want to say. I feel like I’ve been pretty clear.
The Knicks are going to have the best spacing on the floor in the NBA this season. Only the Celtics are in the same conversation. The pick and pop game between Brunson and KAT is going to be incredibly difficult to stop. Having two of the best wings in OG and Bridges will be an incredible advantage. I also think Bridges' offense is very underrated and he'll be able to thrive with teams focused on stopping Jalen and KAT. You can either have Hart play inside and dominate the offensive glass, or you go with McBride to add a fifth player who can knock down threes at a high percentage. I think this season is going to be so much easier for Brunson to score because he will never have had so much room to operate.
He was taking four fewer shots per game with Julius in the lineup, and all of those and then some will presumably go to KAT, plus still need to get Bridges involved.
Wouldn't be surprised if he dropped to closer to 26 ppg from 32.
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I think this is right. As a Knicks fan I love Brunson and I suspect by the end of the season, we're going to be fine and probably finish 2nd in the East or the like. But he is a guy who doesn't really get easy buckets; he's not uber athletic. He has to hit shots and typically harder shots. There's some variance with that type of player.
#1, good to interact with you again if you're "Ash".
But yea, he relies on being a great shot-maker. Like Luka and Harden who were also big-time "ball hogs" in the sense of time of possession, Brunson also has great start-stop but he's not a great athlete.
He's a great player and this should be a great team. I don't want people to think I'm somehow shitting on the Knicks. But I'm just preparing you guys for something that's a fairly likely scenario, which is Brunson starts getting flak for underperforming now that Randle is gone. I guess Towns is such a whipping boy for being "soft" that somehow he'd get some blame too no matter what, but this is Brunson's team pretty clearly.
Look, the guy lead the league in time of possession + missed field goals last year. If you don't think that style has the potential to backfire if the guy has a bad stretch, that's on you.
But that's it. My prediction is 58 wins and a clear Top 4 contender in the East with the Celtics/Sixers/Bucks. I know the Sixers vs. Knicks matchup is what a lot of people are hyped about, but Knicks vs. Bucks is what I'm wanting to see the most. I think the Knicks are the best built team to take out the Celtics, I think they're a real contender, and I think Brunson will finish Top 7 in the MVP voting at the end of the day. Good luck to you guys.
Thanks Osi--partial response in my response to Enzo's response to you.
He was taking four fewer shots per game with Julius in the lineup, and all of those and then some will presumably go to KAT, plus still need to get Bridges involved.
Wouldn't be surprised if he dropped to closer to 26 ppg from 32.
I think this is right and I think we still could end up being more successful this way. Less usage in the regular season too would be good for Brunson come playoff time.
I highly doubt he struggles this year to start the season, the team itself might but he is going to have so much space in the area hr likes to work in that the only way he struggles if his shooting is just off..
He was taking four fewer shots per game with Julius in the lineup, and all of those and then some will presumably go to KAT, plus still need to get Bridges involved.
Wouldn't be surprised if he dropped to closer to 26 ppg from 32.
He was averaging 29 ppg with Randle in the lineup post-OG trade. That was with Randle taking 18 shots a game and Donte taking 12. Towns took 15 shots a game last year so even if that number goes up a little, there's plenty of shots to go around with Brunson still putting up the same or even better numbers. The Knicks will in all likelihood score more points than they did during that stretch because there will be better looks.
It required him to score more. Didnt make him "better".
@IanBegley
Karl-Anthony Towns on Madison Square Garden: “This is not *my* home, it's *our* home. JB has been building something special here. This is our home, I'm here to amplify them and be the best teammate I can be."
Its a simple play but if they run Brunson and Kat pick and pop, Brunson loves to refuse the pick, when he does that the big usually will go right to the rim to cut him off, if he does that with KAT, its a wide open 3...
Center stays home and Brunson turns the corner, help comes from one of the corners, its a kickout to Bridges or OG for a wide open 3..
If no one helps it is a layup for Brunson
NBA on ESPN
@ESPNNBA
"I was kind of surprised ... at how many executives I talked to who felt like the Timberwolves won this trade." 👀
—@WindhorstESPN
on how Julius Randle and Donte Divencenzo will fit with Anthony Edwards and the Wolves 🔥
NBA on ESPN
@ESPNNBA
"I was kind of surprised ... at how many executives I talked to who felt like the Timberwolves won this trade." 👀
—@WindhorstESPN
on how Julius Randle and Donte Divencenzo will fit with Anthony Edwards and the Wolves 🔥
Its going to take a little bit for Randle and Edwards to learn how to play with each other..
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Thanks, Dan. He's obviously a fine young man and willing to work hard.
It's what was needed and it worked, but you cannot play that way for 82 games, and he doesn't *want* to play that way.
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Definitely the most straightforward answer. It shouldn't be that hard to stagger it so two of Bridges/Hart/OG are on the floor at the same time, too.
But the Knicks were at their best when all hands were on deck last season.
Are we debating whether Brunson thrives with less talent around him? So you’re telling me Brunson and the Knicks were better off without Randle and with precious?
They were lethal when Randle and OG were healthy but will be even better with Kat because he’s a better player than Randle. Doesn’t mean Randle was a detriment, it’s just that Kat is a more gifted player
33% in February
64% in March
And finally went 6-2 in April, down the stretch.
Brunson will be fine when he has a full deck here. Also, Kat is literally one of the most efficient offensive bigs in the game. Randle, as good as he was, was not as efficient and he can’t shoot like Kat.
That being said, we could have used Randle in the playoffs when everyone got hurt, but he clogged things up too much, IMO.
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and it made the team better. The ball was in his hands all the time and he dominated.
But the Knicks were at their best when all hands were on deck last season.
Are we debating whether Brunson thrives with less talent around him? So you’re telling me Brunson and the Knicks were better off without Randle and with precious?
They were lethal when Randle and OG were healthy but will be even better with Kat because he’s a better player than Randle. Doesn’t mean Randle was a detriment, it’s just that Kat is a more gifted player
Brunson was at his best when OG returned and the floor was spaced more, Obviously they could of used Randle especially when OG got hurt but the Knicks without Randle should of been in the ECF..
You now replace in that lineup DD for Mikal and Ihart for Kat and the floor is spaced even more and the upside is hire, remember DD was their second leading scorer in the playoffs last year..
If Deuce improves like we all think he can and Precious can man the backup 5 and they can get anything from Payne or Shamet, this team is going to win close to 60 games
That being said, we could have used Randle in the playoffs when everyone got hurt, but he clogged things up too much, IMO.
There’s middle ground.
Saying they were better without Randle is a huge stretch. They are just better with Kat than Randle.
Their record without Randle was 21–15 last season. They won 50. Do the math.
I’m not going down this road again but had to post the stats that back it up. He didn’t clog anything up. He’s a winning player as long as the coaching and system isn’t fizdale.
NEWS: New York Knicks legend Patrick Ewing is returning to the franchise as a basketball ambassador, sources tell ESPN. Ewing will be working directly with both head coach Tom Thibodeau and the front office.
24 years after last playing for NYK, Ewing is back in The Garden.
RJB was the guy who clogged things up a bit too much here especially with so many other ball dominant iso scorers around him. Plus he was inconsistent. Randle wasn’t.
Randle will help the wolves. Kat will help the Knicks. Knicks are winning a title.
Plus the contract and all signs pointed yo Randle being traded..
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The team was elite with OG in the lineup and that was with or without Randle. When Randle went down, this became Brunsons team and it changed the trajectory of the season and ultimately the franchise, IMO. You can disagree, but I believe that we were better without Randle. We started to run a lot more and move the ball a lot more. We saw what this team could be.
That being said, we could have used Randle in the playoffs when everyone got hurt, but he clogged things up too much, IMO.
There’s middle ground.
Saying they were better without Randle is a huge stretch. They are just better with Kat than Randle.
Their record without Randle was 21–15 last season. They won 50. Do the math.
I’m not going down this road again but had to post the stats that back it up. He didn’t clog anything up. He’s a winning player as long as the coaching and system isn’t fizdale.
Again, thats not how it went down. The big loss was OG. We were elite with OG(with or without Randle) and after the trade we were eh without OG and Randle. Sure Randle would have helped after OG got hurt, but we were better with OG and without Randle, IMO. Again though, having another scorer when everyone got hurt would have been great, but a healthy Knicks team last year without Randle has a shot.
Don't forget one other huge aspect. Randle going down put Hart in the linuep. Hart was a HUGE reason the knicks had the success they had.
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In comment 16634663 Kmed6000 said:
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and it made the team better. The ball was in his hands all the time and he dominated.
But the Knicks were at their best when all hands were on deck last season.
Are we debating whether Brunson thrives with less talent around him? So you’re telling me Brunson and the Knicks were better off without Randle and with precious?
They were lethal when Randle and OG were healthy but will be even better with Kat because he’s a better player than Randle. Doesn’t mean Randle was a detriment, it’s just that Kat is a more gifted player
Brunson was at his best when OG returned and the floor was spaced more, Obviously they could of used Randle especially when OG got hurt but the Knicks without Randle should of been in the ECF..
You now replace in that lineup DD for Mikal and Ihart for Kat and the floor is spaced even more and the upside is hire, remember DD was their second leading scorer in the playoffs last year..
If Deuce improves like we all think he can and Precious can man the backup 5 and they can get anything from Payne or Shamet, this team is going to win close to 60 games
I agree I kept saying we needed OG back more than Randle. Once OG went down we were cooked last season. Knicks beat indy with OG healthy and give Boston fits.
I am not saying Randle was perfect by any means. He was upgradable but only with a deal (reasonable) like this one. They were only better off without Randle if they brought back something like Kat.
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In comment 16634725 djm said:
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In comment 16634663 Kmed6000 said:
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and it made the team better. The ball was in his hands all the time and he dominated.
But the Knicks were at their best when all hands were on deck last season.
Are we debating whether Brunson thrives with less talent around him? So you’re telling me Brunson and the Knicks were better off without Randle and with precious?
They were lethal when Randle and OG were healthy but will be even better with Kat because he’s a better player than Randle. Doesn’t mean Randle was a detriment, it’s just that Kat is a more gifted player
Brunson was at his best when OG returned and the floor was spaced more, Obviously they could of used Randle especially when OG got hurt but the Knicks without Randle should of been in the ECF..
You now replace in that lineup DD for Mikal and Ihart for Kat and the floor is spaced even more and the upside is hire, remember DD was their second leading scorer in the playoffs last year..
If Deuce improves like we all think he can and Precious can man the backup 5 and they can get anything from Payne or Shamet, this team is going to win close to 60 games
I agree I kept saying we needed OG back more than Randle. Once OG went down we were cooked last season. Knicks beat indy with OG healthy and give Boston fits.
I am not saying Randle was perfect by any means. He was upgradable but only with a deal (reasonable) like this one. They were only better off without Randle if they brought back something like Kat.
I dont think anyone is saying just take Randle out and dont replace him and the team is better, especially with Ihart gone..
Nuggets and Celtics have zero depth as well, Celtics have nothing but scrubs off the bench besides Horford and maybe Prichard..
Nuggets have no one except Westbrook..
Even the Sixers have old man Lowry and Gordon and Andre Drummond..
Its amazing how its with the Knicks well they need another star to go with Brunson and now its well their starting 5 is good but no bench
I worry about the Knicks wing depth, but there might be some ways around those issues. KAT’s shooting might allow him to play far better alongside Precious than Mitch or iHart ever did. That could solve backup 4 minutes issues along with Josh Hart depending on the matchup. Playing Deuce (as well as Payne or Shamet) at the 2 would push Bridges down to the 3.
I jist dont see how they can make that work at least not right now
Yeah i dont see it, Knicks need a wing so if you can trade Mitch for a guy making 10 to 12 million that would be oerfect
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that ajr mentioned a few days ago. He says nothing imminent at the moment though.
I jist dont see how they can make that work at least not right now
I think it could work in December when they can trade some other guys
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In comment 16635690 bceagle05 said:
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that ajr mentioned a few days ago. He says nothing imminent at the moment though.
I jist dont see how they can make that work at least not right now
I think it could work in December when they can trade some other guys
The only guy that becomes eligible to trade in December/January is Precious, but I don't see any way they trade Precious and Mitch or Precious and Hart for Smart, and it would have to be both of them because Smart makes 20.
This one just doesn't make sense.
Shamet will most likely take one of those spots, than it depends on how much money they have left whether its warren or okeke or they turn a 2 way into a regular deal
I swear to god if they specifically signed Precious to a 6 mil deal to match with Mitch's 14 and get to exactly Smart's number, and planned this out 2 months ago, build the statue of Leon.
But also god help us for those 16 minutes per game against Embiid in the playoffs with KAT on the bench and Mitch and Precious in Memphis.
I swear to god if they specifically signed Precious to a 6 mil deal to match with Mitch's 14 and get to exactly Smart's number, and planned this out 2 months ago, build the statue of Leon.
But also god help us for those 16 minutes per game against Embiid in the playoffs with KAT on the bench and Mitch and Precious in Memphis.
The Knicks already have OG, Bridges, and Deuce who are excellent on the ball defenders. Josh Hart is pretty good too. I just don’t see Smart as a need. Towns has also had a tendency to get into foul trouble. If that happened in a second round game against the Sixers and all you had behind him was Sims, the game would be over. There’s no way the Knicks can trade Mitch and Precious without adding a competent backup big. Smart shot 31% from three last year, his assists decreased, his turnovers went up. He’s got a lot of miles on him after those Celtics years. He’s a pass for me.
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best way to hide KAT at center is probably to have the three of the top five/six best perimeter defenders in the league all on the same team. Good luck scoring on Smart/Mikal/OG.
I swear to god if they specifically signed Precious to a 6 mil deal to match with Mitch's 14 and get to exactly Smart's number, and planned this out 2 months ago, build the statue of Leon.
But also god help us for those 16 minutes per game against Embiid in the playoffs with KAT on the bench and Mitch and Precious in Memphis.
The Knicks already have OG, Bridges, and Deuce who are excellent on the ball defenders. Josh Hart is pretty good too. I just don’t see Smart as a need. Towns has also had a tendency to get into foul trouble. If that happened in a second round game against the Sixers and all you had behind him was Sims, the game would be over. There’s no way the Knicks can trade Mitch and Precious without adding a competent backup big. Smart shot 31% from three last year, his assists decreased, his turnovers went up. He’s got a lot of miles on him after those Celtics years. He’s a pass for me.
I don't disagree with most of this. But all of the issues you list with Smart are the only possible reason he'd be traded for a broken down Mitchell Robinson and spare parts. We're a year removed from the Celtics getting KP AND two firsts for Smart.
But I agree your center rotation can't be KAT/Sims/Hukporti
Issue is still going to be back up 5
Issue is still going to be back up 5
Let's say that is possible. Why make yourself even more vulnerable and less defensive at frontcourt where you are already light?
Issue is still going to be back up 5
I haven't done the machinations but they're right up against the second apron and will need to give salary players to replace Sims and Payne on the roster. Not sure if it becomes prorated or they can do 10 day contracts or whatever, but that's the concern.