1- ONE contract in the price range of 10 - 12m range for starting salary
A) Even possibly instead of 1 contract in 10-12m, 2 contracts in the range of 8-10m of starting salary with raises, maybe just even 1 contract

2- IF only one contract in the range of 8-10m
A) 2-3 contracts in the price range of 4-7m

3- USE 1m in cap space to sign Thanasis to a 3 year deal with raises

HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE FULL 6m MLE vs only the 2-3m BAE

4- Pay Cole Aldrich a front loaded contract, his cap hold is for the v-min, and we have his early birdrights, so similar to what Nick Collison did a couple years back with OKC to go over the cap and get the 6m MLE

5- With the MLE, use it on 2 very solid role players

Like Wesley Johnson/Ed Davis/KJ McDaniels/Gary Neal/Randy Foye *team option*

Many contracts in the past 2 years, range from 2m - 3.5m, were signifigantly upgrades versus vet min players and both Ed Davis/Wesley Johnson are making the vet min, who are very solid young defenders with length and have been developing their games with Kobe and the losing Lakers with bigger roles on OFFENSE, Wesley Johnson and KJ McDaniels would be great compliments and mentors to Thanasis as well

Some other cheap contracts given last summer include Kris Humphries/ Bayless/Sessions who are playing very important roles to their respective teams and success as rotation players/backups
There are many also at about 5m, Robin Lopez was given a 3 year team option contract and traded around before he had success in Portland with Kaman with a 2 year deal and 2nd year team option
In general players that were drafted based upon potential but were given up on at one point but have developed nicely given time, like the above, and Brandon Wright, Billups at one point of his career

Danny Green/Gary Neal
Gereld Green
DeMarre Carroll
Pero Antic
Jeremy Evans could he translate his athletic abilities like Gereld Green has ?

and many others in the 2m-5m range, some are just defenders and some scorers from

Shelvin Mack
Thabo Sefelosha
Stuckey, Drew Gooden, and Rasuel Butler (vet min)
Trevor Booker
Serephin
Charlie V

Lou Williams/James Johnson

There simply could be a lot of talent from vet min and 2-5m, as the pool dries up, the steals are forced to sign something, so keeping some roster spots, not overpaying for talent, and watching every contract in dollars and length is very important

6- We still have the player exemption of 3.6m in the Tyson Chandler trade but only 1year from the date the trade took place b4 it expires
Like Meyers Leanard, Randy Foye, Tony Wroten maybe just an unguaranteed contract we could use to buy time since it will expire before we can probably target some players in trades

7- Purchase 1-2 picks with (mid 2nd rounders or 1 early 2nd rounder or late 1st rounder *likely more possible as early 2nd rounders actually hold more value than late 1st rounders)

8- Consider trading down for our only pick in the next 2 years, see if teams are willing to go in a bidding war

IF PICK # 1-3
Anywhere from 3 middle/late 1st rounders, 3 2nd round picks with 2 being early picks
Lets not forget 2 years in a row, how Chicago attained McBuCkets, pick 10, for pick

2014 NBA DRAFT
PICK 11 Doug McDermott for Pick 16 Jusuf Nurkic and 19 Gary Harris

2013 NBA DRAFT
9th pick Trey Burke for 14th pick Shabazz Muhammad and 21st pick Gorgui Dieng.

9- THINGS TO CONSIDER
A) Trading Iman/Tim Hardaway/Acy/Larkin/Jason Smith *could resign him to a 2 year vet min* for other younger players or picks, with Tim Hardaway JR neededing more in return, everyone else ranging from 2nd rounders, we can keep Iman however, it would be for a short term deal that is UNDER his qualifying offer as we need more time to reavuluate his game and fit with a real roster/changes

B) Will JR Smith OPT OUT? Pablo? Can we send them out and get back a future late 2nd rounder and unguaranteed contracts/trade exemptions
Consider offering Pablo another job in either scouting or some BS title so his cap hold is removed from the partial guarantee, I don't mind keeping him for another year if we add some BIG PG's are good combo guards like Lance Stephenson or Tony Wroten

C) Calderon and JR SMith, consider trading them and then do we consider using the stretch provicison on them?
1- For Calderon, I wonder if we even offered him for Josh Smith before he was waived by the Pistons, also if Bobcats would be interested in Calderon and another SG for Lance Stephenson, NO PICKS
2- For JR Smith, I have mixed feelings about him, I feel we should just get rid of him but if he DOES NOT opt out, he likely will come out and have a great contract year and maybe a team will pay us either a late 1st rounder or 2 early 2nd rounders. However, I have no interest in him moving forward, he has that "losers" mentality though he has the talent to be a very good player some nights

D) doing sign and trades for STAT, AB, Jason Smith, Dalembert, etc.. If we can get a future 2nd rounder great but I want mainly trade exemptions/unguaranteed contracts, with possible some role players that are underpaid or value cap friendly contracts
1- Do any of these guys get traded this season for a trade exemption?

E) Early, was Cleanthony in fact a steal in the draft? Should we keep him moving forward? I personally think Thanasis was the steal for us and have to find players that will match his intensity of DEFENSE and help guide his development with similar skillsets, I would say Wesley Johnson could be a great for his development and be able to play with him as well *Johnson is a player I would look to pay about 2-3m or about half the MLE

F) For Travis Wear and his The Knicks D League, who will we likely bring in

1- Thanasis (obviously) 6-6/7, 220pds

2-Do we bring back Wear? his cap hold would be about under 1m, unless we do not pick up his 2nd year, but could still resign him (though we lose his bird rights I think, however, it was be 500k more in cap space if it makes a difference

3- I think both these guys would have been better than players on our roster
NONE of these guys are TRUE rookies and will have expereince with the Triangle, they will be like having 2nd round picks and be able to contribute right away
Do we consider using part of the salary cap to sign Sanchez or all of Thanasis/Orlando Sanchez/ and Galloway?
Of course with unguaranteed contracts but if they do become solid contributers, we would be able to lock them in to 3year deals if we want, on cheap deals
I think we will do it for Thanasis since he took less money to stay in the U.S. so we could moninter is development and I think Sanchez is quite talented and is a good fit

A) Orlando Sanchez 6-9 PF
see his game somewhere in between Channing Frye/Jared Sullinger, very under rated and would fit in the system as a nightly with a nice mid range game and some abilities to rebound/post up

B) Langston Galloway 6-2 PG/ COMBO GUARD
He isn't very tall but he has GREAT LENGTH/LONG ARMS and is a willing defender, can hit the wide open 3pter, and with his length/long arms could defend the PG very well and some SG at times
Just a solid player, is like a bigger Chris Duhon *before he came to the NYK's, with longer arms, and is healthy

Decided to list some players in the D League on The Knicks and other teams

NYK (D LEAGUE)
==================

1- Markeith Cummings 6-6 240pds, G/F

2- Ben STrong 6-11, 220pds PF/C

3- Darnell Jackson 6-8, 240pds PF

4- Andre Barrett 5-11, 175pds, undersized veteran PG, solid D League but dont think he can be anything more than a 4th string PG and is not young, probably great D League PG that would continue to help our farm system develop, he is one of the leaders on our D Leage Knicks

5- TODD MAYO (OJ MAYO's younger brother) undersized SG, another GUNNER

D LEAGUE other players
============================

Guards

1- Seth Curry
2- Brady Heslip
3- Bryce Cotton
4- Peyton Silva

David Stockton *Tim Hardaway and John Stockton*
Aaron Craft

Forwards

1- Elijah Millsap *Millsap brother, obviously we can use him as leverage to target Millsap* G/F

Jack Cooley
Renaldo Balkman, after watching in in the Olympics, I see why Thomas drafted him *just not at that pick* he can run, rebound, defend, and his athletic
Ivan Johnson

F/C
1- Eric Moreland *if Kings let him go*
2- Hassan Whiteside *in contract with Heat

Willie Reed
Hassam Thabeet

If the Knicks remain in the top 3 of the draft they can address one of either the PG or C position. Then in FA we can address the other core need. I think with smart signings we should be able to round out the rest of the roster in terms of role players.

Draft Pick - OK4 (Mudiay, Towns or Stein)
Free Agent - Reggie Jackson (Brandon Knight or Goran Dragic Or if we draft Mudiay try to sign Robin Lopez or Kosta Koufos
Danny Green or Wesley Matthews for SG

gunsnewing wrote:

nixluva wrote:This team is missing the right mix of talent in particular 2 way players. This team needs a guard that can break a defense down and create havoc in addition to pass and defend at a decent level. A reliable big who can post and pass and defend the paint. Once we address those CORE NEEDS then you can really build around that with a solid structure to the team. IMO that's how i'd start to build any team I was looking to build. You want strength right up the middle of your team.

If the Knicks remain in the top 3 of the draft they can address one of either the PG or C position. Then in FA we can address the other core need. I think with smart signings we should be able to round out the rest of the roster in terms of role players.

Draft Pick - OK4 (Mudiay, Towns or Stein)
Free Agent - Reggie Jackson (Brandon Knight or Goran Dragic Or if we draft Mudiay try to sign Robin Lopez or Kosta Koufos
Danny Green or Wesley Matthews for SG

Thats a good plan. We gotta hope for the best

nixluva wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:

nixluva wrote:This team is missing the right mix of talent in particular 2 way players. This team needs a guard that can break a defense down and create havoc in addition to pass and defend at a decent level. A reliable big who can post and pass and defend the paint. Once we address those CORE NEEDS then you can really build around that with a solid structure to the team. IMO that's how i'd start to build any team I was looking to build. You want strength right up the middle of your team.

If the Knicks remain in the top 3 of the draft they can address one of either the PG or C position. Then in FA we can address the other core need. I think with smart signings we should be able to round out the rest of the roster in terms of role players.

Draft Pick - OK4 (Mudiay, Towns or Stein)
Free Agent - Reggie Jackson (Brandon Knight or Goran Dragic Or if we draft Mudiay try to sign Robin Lopez or Kosta Koufos
Danny Green or Wesley Matthews for SG

Thats a good plan. We gotta hope for the best

Thanks. I actually am not very good at this kind of thing, but it seems to me that if Phil plans well he should come out of this summer with a decent start to a new team. There's no excuse for failure this summer. If it's not there then hold on to the space and try to get a pick for the 2016 draft. Actually he's gotta try to get a 2016 pick regardless.

Agreed we need to show patience for once. So far i've seen more patience out of Phil than any previous leader

nixluva wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:

nixluva wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:

nixluva wrote:This team is missing the right mix of talent in particular 2 way players. This team needs a guard that can break a defense down and create havoc in addition to pass and defend at a decent level. A reliable big who can post and pass and defend the paint. Once we address those CORE NEEDS then you can really build around that with a solid structure to the team. IMO that's how i'd start to build any team I was looking to build. You want strength right up the middle of your team.

If the Knicks remain in the top 3 of the draft they can address one of either the PG or C position. Then in FA we can address the other core need. I think with smart signings we should be able to round out the rest of the roster in terms of role players.

Draft Pick - OK4 (Mudiay, Towns or Stein)
Free Agent - Reggie Jackson (Brandon Knight or Goran Dragic Or if we draft Mudiay try to sign Robin Lopez or Kosta Koufos
Danny Green or Wesley Matthews for SG

Thats a good plan. We gotta hope for the best

Thanks. I actually am not very good at this kind of thing, but it seems to me that if Phil plans well he should come out of this summer with a decent start to a new team. There's no excuse for failure this summer. If it's not there then hold on to the space and try to get a pick for the 2016 draft. Actually he's gotta try to get a 2016 pick regardless.

Agreed we need to show patience for once. So far i've seen more patience out of Phil than any previous leader

2010 was a DUD. This time we have to get it right. Phil sounds like he isn't going down the same road as before. 2015 can be a more patient approach and much smarter use of resources. There are players who can provide really good production and smart play rather than the dumb players we have had up til now.

Yea DO NOT repeat 2010 and settle. Even if there is pressure from Melo & Dolan. Wait it out if you have to and stock pile assets for game changing FA's and trades

StarksEwing1 wrote:The mistake walsh made was giving amare a 5 year deal and then not amnesty him was a even bigger mistake

I believe that Phil is going to be looking for smart 2 way players that can understand team BB. It's what he always talks about so I can't imagine him not trying to add players that he thinks can execute at a higher level than the players we have now. He made a point of talking about the energy Shump showed on D after that game last year. He loves Thanasis. Now neither guy is a strong offensive player but Phil can get those kinds of guys this summer. The core guys have to be 2 way and team oriented. The kind of players the Spurs target is pretty much what Phil has said he wants to go after. He just has to do it.

Reggie Jackson, Danny Green, Robin Lopez are all guys off winning teams. If we try to go after players who hustle, execute and sacrifice for the team, we should be alright.

TPercy wrote:Hmmmm how do I put this...
you've lost your mind?
You are talking about underpaying the likes of Reggie jackson(3 years 2mill?????), Khawi Leanord, T-Rob, Brandon knight, and Corey Joseph. Why in the hell would they make pebbles to play in a hell hole like NY?
Get a hold of yourself there is no chance in hell of any opf this happenening.

Who said anything about underpaying Reggie Jackson. We can afford to pay him a top contract. Perhaps you misunderstand what we're talking about. His max is not the same as an older players max. Reggie will want to have his own team rather than be behind Westbrook. Why not NY? We'd have a high draft pick, Melo and all the playing time he could want.

knickscity wrote:Phil isnt gonna sign a player like Reggie jackosn for several reasons....

1) Phil is hell bent on force feeding the triangle

2) he wont invest double digit millions in yearly salary on a pg

3) Reggie wants to have his own team and that cant happen with Carmelo on it.

I agree with #1 & #2

but who is Reggie Jackson to demand his own team?