Honestly guys, I really wouldn't discount the NBDL for help. Look at a guy like Quincy Miller for example. Very similar game to this Christian Wood if we like and think we need that type of player.. I think we could also look there for guard help (6'5" SG Elliot Williams and 6' PG Bryce Cotton wouldn't be terrible -- Williams is very talented and finally looks healthy and Cotton's a scoring point who can really shoot the ball and penetrate--Cotton's a guy that would be much more aggressive and effective over Shane Larkin, who for one reason or another has underwhelmed big-time and hasn't really brought it this year. I think these two would be two nice upgrades for the backcourt for next year) and I really like the look of this kid JaMychal Green. Dude's a 6'9" 235+ PF that seems real talented & polished. It might not be a bad idea to open up a few spots after the deadline if we have no luck unloading any of our expiring talent for low-level picks. At that point, simply buy out guys like Amar'e, Bargnani, Shumpert, Jason Smith etc. and call up some of these guys and let's see what they've got. We might find a few keepers for next year.

Really like the idea of targeting Goran Dragic. I like that he just had some positive things to say about NY recently--makes me feel optimistic. He'd be a significant upgrade at PG.

knickscity wrote:We cant absorb Javale's contract until free agency begins. The draft would be over by then.

Im sure they could agree to something and swap after the draft. Again just scenarios. If I was able or lucky enough to get OK4 a Camby-like C/PF would make the most sense. I would be willing to do even more than take back 12mm for the pick IF I knew what I was getting if the player was there and I had what I wanted above. Im a believer that this is a rebuild/retool--there is going to be some developmental time. This draft can potentially set us up with quality BIGS for 10+ years. Its not good for SG's or SF"s but it fits what we need.

BRIGGS wrote:Get lucky and win lottery take Okafor odds 20-25%

Sign Goran Dragic 4 years 62mm(starting at 14.5mm)

Trade with Denver and absorb Javalee MCgee's 12mm using cap space for the 11 pick and add Christian Wood 6-11 PF UNLV( a piece that I feel compliments Okafor's game)
Trade Tim Hardaway for a 2016 2nd rounder

Trade our 2017 pick top 7 restricted to any team 19-27 who wants out and the player we want is there 6-4 PG Tyler Harvey

That would give us

Okafor 6-10 270 PF/C
Mcgee 7-1 250 C(one year tryout)
Wood 6-11 225 PF

Dragic 6-4 200 PG
Harvey 6-4 190 PG

Renounce every player other than Aldrich Waive Stretch Calderon

The whole goal of my offseason is to completely rebuild the big men position and PG positions. Ill fill in everything else with minimum salary players.

It's not bad. We can't trade our 2017 pick (thank God) and I'm wholly against trading picks unless someone blows us away with an offer.

We could trade Bargnani's expiring for Javale but I don't think we'll get an unprotected pick this year. Nevertheless, I'm down if we can get a future 1st in the deal.

I'd like to believe that we could get more for THJr but I really don't believe that. Wish we had drafted Reggie Bullock.

TripleThreat wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:Sign Goran Dragic 4 years 62mm(starting at 14.5mm)

Trade with Denver and absorb Javalee MCgee's 12mm using cap space for the 11 pick and add Christian Wood 6-11 PF UNLV( a piece that I feel compliments Okafor's game)
Trade Tim Hardaway for a 2016 2nd rounder

Trade our 2017 pick top 7 restricted to any team 19-27 who wants out and the player we want is there 6-4 PG Tyler Harvey

James Dolan

- Always willing to trade future first round picks in an aborted attempt to quick fix the team. These attempts are nearly always doomed to failure
- Always willing to absorb other team's contract/player problems and make them Knick problems. Usually these moves have long term repurcussions
- Always willing to give up on young developing players that the Knicks did formerly draft, whether they ultimately pan out or not, doesn't change the issue that a culture of jettisoning your young players from the draft ruins any chance to build a core and stability that veteran winning teams have as a baseline.
- Always willing to pay or overpay a veteran player, who will likely not move the needle for the team as a whole, short term or long term.

Briggs

- Like Dolan, wants to keep up the trend of dumping future first round draft picks. To gain a player in the back half of the draft. While some pan out, how many don't? All while projecting prospects future when most of the actual NBA front offices wait until at least the NCAA tournament is over to try to balance out potential draft day value.

- Like Dolan, wants to take other team's contract/player problems. If the Knicks were lucky enough to win the lottery and get Okafor, how does putting him through even one year of headcase JaVale McGee help him? ( And yet again, only happens in a trade that Denver never makes, last time Briggs said Denver would give up Nurkic and a first to get out of McGees last year, now it's just one first rounder. Is that supposed to be seen as progress towards objective reality?)

- Like Dolan, wants to dump young drafted players, because they don't instantly produce, but yet believes mass acquiring THREE rookies at once will all produce, one in Okafor he claims will absolutely produce at a historic and HOF level, and that the other two will not bust at all and absolutely be stone cold locks for building a contender.

- Like Dolan, wants to open up the check book for a veteran who won't make a difference if this team was constructed ( You want him to roll with a team with three rookies and JaVale McGee and produce at his current clip?) But I guess it would be Dolan like to spend 60 million on a team president who uses a complex offensive system that negates the need for a ball dominant point guard, spend another 25 in a coach to teach it, then load up big money on point guards in Dragic and Calderon combined, at the brutal cost of not helping other parts of the roster.

Anyone ever know someone in high school who had an opportunity? I knew someone who did well and got a full scholarship offer plus room and board. They rejected it because they thought their high school relationship would go somewhere. With someone who was in a band. How do you think that turned out?

The high schooler who takes that scholarship, the longer road, goes to college, works hard, tries to lay groundwork for the future, it's not fast, it's not sexy, but it's trying to build something that lasts. It's not neon lights like hooking up with the next lead singer for the Beatles. Or saying you ditched a full college ride for a shot in the dark.

Briggs, your version of things would be for that kid to set that scholarship on fire then be a roadie/groupie for the band, while working some minimum wage dead end jobs on the side. Dolan thinks that way, which is why he's failed at everything except he was fortunate to be saved by his pops money. Quick fix, reactionary, taking the long shot and short cut.

I suppose my version is less cinematic. Take the scholarship. Pay the hard road now. Hope you establish a foundation even if it's not the sexiest looking option to start.

Thanks for keeping the spirit of Dolan here Briggs, as we ring in the New Year, I salute your continued homage to the Sure Shot himself.

Yes I would be willing to take on salary next year for the 10th or 11 pick in the draft because it will expedite the rebuilding process here--in fact I would be willing to pay Denver more. His salary is only next year and while its a lot 12mm doesnt change what I want in 2016 flexibility for a top tier maximum contract.

Yes I would swap my 2018 pic restricted for another 2015 round 1 FOR the right player--Im just moving the pick up in order to expedite rebuilding. If Im right my draft picks will have 3 years NBA experience before we would get a chance to draft again.

Yes I want to be aggressive using all assets at my disposal to rebuild this team through the draft as fast as possible

Spending 60-62 mm on Dragic gives us a REALLY good player from the PG who is just darn consistent. A high quality PG can make athletic bigs BETTER right away.

I feel a core of Okafor Carmelo and Dragic--filled in with a good synergistic cast is a high quality way to start turning this around. I think its a good plan. I think its much smarter than ANYTHING we have seen the Knicks do in 20 years.

I dont want Calderon and most people with basketball acumen dont want him here either--hes a disgrace. Hes aged he s been brutal to watch--what do I need to know about him that I dont already know--hes going to have an epiphany at 34?

This team scks--its TERRIBLE it needs to be eradicated and a whole new form of basketball needs to be brought in to bring us up to date with how to win in the NBA. That means high quality PG's and BIGS that means synergy length skills athleticism diversity IQ chemistry. That means making melo a aprt of something rather than a build around.

The knicks would get a quality back up sg that would solidify the bench after they likely cut JR Smith. Another carrot to dangle is to add another swap to the trade. The teams could include Thad Young and JR Smith. This saves Minny nearly 3 million. I know some are high on Thad but he been awful the past two years. In Ny he would become a bench player. In a lot of ways he reminds me of Jason Smith but he does play defense. I do not like Thad but next year will be a contract year and the knicks could still cut him and stretch his salary and actually come out a few 100k more in cap space if my calculations are correct.

SO in closing

NY- Kevin Martin

Minny- Calderon and THJr

or

NY- Kevin Martin Thad Young

Minny - Calderon, THJr, and JR Smith
If I am Minny I would then seek a buyout with JR. They have already saved money but may want the playing time to go elsewhere. Then again JR will be in a contract year and that might be a case where good JR shows up and gets them a pick at the deadline next year.

RonRon wrote:I just cannot justify stretching Calderon to gain about 5m in cap space, in which would be close to the price to acquire a solid backup G and shooter of Calderon's ability

Now if you told me we had a target that will join our team if we needed that 5m in cap space, then I would certainly reconsider
But to flat out stretching him in hopes of possibly having more money to use, I do not think that is a good move

If we are able to put a decent squad around Calderon, especially a POST PLAYER to actually initiate our OFFENSE and a BIG PG or SG that has the ability to penetrate/facilitate like a Tony Wroten
Then Calderon can do what he was brought to do, hit wide open 3pters, direct players where to go/be/with leadership qualities, a 2ndary ball handler/facilitator, punish anyone that is defending him that cheats on DEFENSE

I agree. I understand the issues with Calderon, but want to see him do what he was brought here to do with better players alongside him. Adding Dragic to put next to him and okafor or towns would be a great start. We will still have cap space to add another big man as well.

BRIGGS wrote:

Knixkik wrote:

RonRon wrote:I just cannot justify stretching Calderon to gain about 5m in cap space, in which would be close to the price to acquire a solid backup G and shooter of Calderon's ability

Now if you told me we had a target that will join our team if we needed that 5m in cap space, then I would certainly reconsider
But to flat out stretching him in hopes of possibly having more money to use, I do not think that is a good move

If we are able to put a decent squad around Calderon, especially a POST PLAYER to actually initiate our OFFENSE and a BIG PG or SG that has the ability to penetrate/facilitate like a Tony Wroten
Then Calderon can do what he was brought to do, hit wide open 3pters, direct players where to go/be/with leadership qualities, a 2ndary ball handler/facilitator, punish anyone that is defending him that cheats on DEFENSE

I agree. I understand the issues with Calderon, but want to see him do what he was brought here to do with better players alongside him. Adding Dragic to put next to him and okafor or towns would be a great start. We will still have cap space to add another big man as well.

Calderon is junk that needs to be taken out--he really is. I mean we are 1-20 with him as the starter. How can you justify paying him 7.7mm$ on avg when we have 90 holes? I don't like his style of play--I dont know what Phil was thinking but he was clearly way off. Hes bad money spent and we need to get out of it.

That is because he is suppose to be the 2ndary ball handler
He is suppose to play with players with talent
While he isn't a good penetrating PG, he needs to play with either a BIG combo guard, or a SG with the ability to penetrate/facilitate like Lance Stephenson

Tony Wroten would work
Archie Goodwin has the possiblity to work

Players that are unattainable but would work with Calderon

James Harden
Westbrook

John Wall

MCW
Evan Turner/Marcus Smart

If you want to talk about salaries he surely isn't the lowest or highest one
I wouldn't completely blame CA for all of our struggles either, it just isn't fair to blame one player for anything
This was why I didn't think we should have been looking to JUST RUN THE TRIANGLE when we do not have the talent to execute it
Briggs, if you are seriously going to point blame at salaries and our struggles look no further than our 126m man

Sad part is
Substitute CA and Lin, we would have many more win
We wouldn't be running the Triangle but it isn't like we are executing it right now either

But you know what, if we wind up getting a TOP 3 pick, it might not be such a bad year after all