Does Grunweld really not ANYONE making the roster, or is it for financial reasons?
There is still considerable talent that is not signed and courted by many teams.
Are there veteran min players that Grunweld already has in mind?
I just don't see why he is not actively adding players to our summer league to get a better a look.
Especially if we can sign Undrafted FA's to 2 year deals at their minimum, which I was unaware of. I thought we needed to dip to our exemptions to sign them to over a year.

Scott MaChado has had plenty of invites from the league, but he seems to be waiting for The Knicks to call him.
I really believe there are still more 2 way players, that will fit better than our current team.

Unless they have tricks up their sleeves, a reason why they might not want to add salary, and why they did not select DJO.
It is still NOT IMPOSSIBLE, for the Knicks to still have their full 5m MLE and maybe LLE by having Lin/Novak take slightly less money so the Knicks can improve their roster, with a few trades scenarios with their 3m cash they can use in a few days. Every dollar could be the difference, inviting only 2 players to the summer league so far, with Chris Smith being one of them. Although inviting players would not cost the Knicks anything, they don't have to sign them.

Lets be honest, JR Smith is worth more than the 2.8m 1 year deal, but I am not not sure a team would give Smith's younger brother, Chris Smith a contract. So basically using Chris Smith as leverage so he can get a NBA contract, so JR Smith will resign for the 1 year 2.8m deal. The new CBA, will change the market and price for many players/contracts, and we will get a sense of how value for players have dropped because of it soon.

Even with the new CBA, JR Smith is worth no less than 3-5m+ for a multi year deal, even though not many teams are willing to go over the luxury tax bracket at 74m.
By giving his brother, Chris Smith, a contract, it would make up for some of the $, while getting JR Smith's early bird rights, with a 1 year deal.
They would be able to offer a fair deal next year, with his early bird rights, at a contract starting at 5m. I think there are plenty of players that can be used in our rotation and fit better than our younger current role players that have team options or that are under contract for this year. Assuming everyone returns, there are 2 roster spots, I would like to get rid of these 3 players, to open 5 roster spots, and sign 2-3 players that are went undrafted, although one could be for Smith's brother if JR returns. If not there could be 4-7 roster spots open.

REMOVE DEAD WEIGHT, saving salary and roster spots
=============================================================

Jerome Jordan or Jorts, I think only one of these player should be kept, most likely Jorts, even though Jordan spent much $ to buy his pick and had a buyout.

TD - There are pure PGs in Machado and Scoop Jardine, with good shooter in Tu Holloway, if we do sign Machado, I think it would make sense to sign Kidd as a mentor, so he can pass down some of his skills as a veteran. Of course it has to be at the right price, I do not think he is worth the 3m min MLE, maybe the LLE at under 2m, preferring a 1year vet min, really isn't much of a price difference since old veterans get much more with for 10 year+ vets is $1,352,181. He can mentor Lin and Machado if we go this route, can spread the floor, and he would instantly be our best passer. He no longer is a #1 or #2 penetration threat though, a reason why I wanted DJO so bad to play JJ Barea's role when Dallas won.

Fields - Hoopshype shows his salary for 2.8m+, I think its way over his value. There are good G/F's, while Fields is only a SF which probably won't get much playing with with Melo. He is one of our weak links at SG, defensively and offensively with his shot. He has improve every year and his shot is something that can be learned and improved. It comes down to roster spots and how much he would stay for, I think anything over 1.5m is too much for a SF that will not get many minutes. With Hollis Robinson and Alex Young, both with good size, shooting ability, and better Guard skills. They can play G/F something Fields just cannot, even with Will Buford. There are also many forwards undrafted, and many veteran min players in this FA class. Shurna, is a forward that has good size with a great shot to spread the floor, although not very athletic.

Jordan - Henry Sims is a legit PF/C that has good size, length, athleticism, and post moves. He could be used to back STAT up and could compliment Tyson Chandler much better. There are plenty of forwards that have been legit rebounders, defenders, with good athleticism with players compared to Haslem/Kenyon Martin in Kevin Jones, Drew Gordon, and Tony Mitchell.
With Turiaf opting out, I wonder if we can steal the draft rights of Justin Hamilton with Jordan/Jorts.

I would love to add 3 players that are undrafted depending on who we can target and sign with our Mini MLE or MLE if we can get rid of some salaries with trades.
There has been rumors, with AI a writer for the Knicks that is credible, that they have plans to somehow keep Lin, Novak, and JR Smith, while having the full 5year MLE to use.
The stronger the FA we sign with the MLE, with their versatility, the more roster spots we save. We can break up the MLE with 2 players, with one getting 3m and the other 2m if we do not feel there isn't anyone worth the full MLE to target and DO NOT OVERPAY.

Undrafted FA's with talent
============================

PG/G
----------

Machado
Scoop Jardine
Tu Holloway

G/F
----------

Hollis Robinson
Alex Young
Willam Buford

F
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John Shurna
Kevin Jones
Drew Gordon
Tony Mitchell
JaMychal Green

F/C
----------

Henry Sims
Yancy Gates

http://nbadraft.net/2012mock_draft

JamesKPolk wrote:This is a win-now team. We are no position to be trying out undrafted guys to be part of our rotation. We need veterans.

Tony Mitchell is there. We can use veterans, but there are only so many good veterans that are can be signed with veteran minimum deals.
We need players that we can build on a philosophy and style of play, with this deep draft, there are many players that can contribute now, and be part of our yoots in our near future.
We need consistency, with players with multiple skill sets. No more scrubs like Bibby, he was our 2nd best PG in the playoffs, that is SAD.
The only way we can get them cheap is with undrafted players, with a combination of vets and youth.

NOT drafting DJO with his combine results, career 3point shooting at college, athleticism, strength, ability to penetrate and finish strong with contract was a big mistake.
There is low risk with high reward, with pick 48. With Iman out and JR Smith not a lock to return, we have no legit SGs, and lack many shooters to spread the floor.

We already went ALL IN, with the contracts of Melo, Amare, and Tyson Chandler, we are built to win compete in this 2-3 year span.
Our roster is composed of players that is either good at defense or on offense, without much skill sets, and that makes us predictable to stop.
Outside of Tyson Chandler, Iman *out*, JJ, and JR Smith *not a lock* are our best defenders. We need 2 way players that can at least shoot the 3pointer and play defense.
Preferably some players with more skill sets, a reason why many of us wanted Lamar Odom to be our glue player.

RonRon wrote:we must be proactive and getting the #1st choices between the undrafted players in this deep draft.
There are players that fall out of the draft that are ready to contribute in the NBA and become good role players.
With the Summer League, we can get a better look to decide, will we be able to fight for the players and find the gem.
Their agents, along with the players, want a contract ASAP, we should be showing interest with the spots we have now, and the room we can make by removing dead weight to improve our roster.

JamesKPolk wrote:The Cavaliers are headed to the lottery once again. They can afford to make these kinds of leaps of faith.

" Marc Cornstein, the New York-based agent for Greek small forward Kostas Papanikolaou, said he expects his client will play for the Knicks in 2013-14, despite a two-year contract with Olympiacos.

"He definitely wants to play in the NBA, it's a lifelong dream of his,'' Cornstein told The Post. "He's playing at the highest level in the Greek League and it's the next step. He's anxious to play sooner than later. He wanted the right fit with the right team and the Knicks we would've handpicked.'"

VCoug wrote:

RonRon wrote:what does a roster spot on the summer league cost for further evaluation?
Showing interest right now, could be the difference of these players that want contracts, and the opportunity to play with a competitor vs a team like Cleveland.

In all likelihood, these guys don't want to play for a competitor; they want to play for a team that they can get minutes on so they can continue their career after that contract is up. Also, which of these guys are going to choose a spot on the Summer League, and no contract past that, over a partially guaranteed 3-year deal.

oh come on, how can you really believe that?

ATrain wrote:

VCoug wrote:

RonRon wrote:what does a roster spot on the summer league cost for further evaluation?
Showing interest right now, could be the difference of these players that want contracts, and the opportunity to play with a competitor vs a team like Cleveland.

In all likelihood, these guys don't want to play for a competitor; they want to play for a team that they can get minutes on so they can continue their career after that contract is up. Also, which of these guys are going to choose a spot on the Summer League, and no contract past that, over a partially guaranteed 3-year deal.

oh come on, how can you really believe that?