We do not need Durant at all, he would add very little to our team. Porzingis, Melo, and Durant all play virtually the same position and all occupy the same spaces on the floor. Yes, that's right, our two best players occupy the same role on a team as Kevin Durant. So why exactly do we need ANOTHER ball-dominant scoring forward? We need a top tier GUARD plain and simple. Chasing Durant because he's the sexy name will be the worst thing this franchise could do. We tried fitting a square peg in a round hole with the stat-melo pairing and it failed. Let's not make the same mistake twice of acquiring talent for talent's sake without actually thinking about how pieces fit together. Also, Durant was simply awful in this warriors series anyway, it's unclear whether he's still an mvp level player.

Dagger wrote:What is up with all these articles about "Knicks being a long shot for Durant", "could porzingis lure Durant to NY?", "Durant will only consider Knicks if they sign a guard".

We do not need Durant at all, he would add very little to our team. Porzingis, Melo, and Durant all play virtually the same position and all occupy the same spaces on the floor. Yes, that's right, our two best players occupy the same role on a team as Kevin Durant. So why exactly do we need ANOTHER ball-dominant scoring forward? We need a top tier GUARD plain and simple. Chasing Durant because he's the sexy name will be the worst thing this franchise could do. We tried fitting a square peg in a round hole with the stat-melo pairing and it failed. Let's not make the same mistake twice of acquiring talent for talent's sake without actually thinking about how pieces fit together. Also, Durant was simply awful in this warriors series anyway, it's unclear whether he's still an mvp level player.

I expect Phil to do his due diligence by approaching KD like he did with LMA and Monroe to keep the media (and casual fans) satisfied and then go about filling the holes on the roster with solid players like last summer. The best chance the knicks have to go after a star is 2017 and they need to be a playoff team to even have a chance.

C--KP
PF--Melo or Durant
SF--Durant or Melo

Then they could either trade Rolo for a guard or just keep him and he could still play 25/30 minutes off the bench. I know this isn't happening so don't get all crazy i'm just saying that if by some crazy chance we did somehow get him there is plenty of ways that everyone could still get plenty of floor time.

newyorker4ever wrote:Actually in a small ball lineup it would be:

C--KP
PF--Melo or Durant
SF--Durant or Melo

Then they could either trade Rolo for a guard or just keep him and he could still play 25/30 minutes off the bench. I know this isn't happening so don't get all crazy i'm just saying that if by some crazy chance we did somehow get him there is plenty of ways that everyone could still get plenty of floor time.

This is what I envision when I day dream. A small ball lineup featuring a 7'3 c, a 6'8 PF, a 6'9 SF, a 6'6 SG and a 6'5 pg.

KrisP
Melo
KD
Wroten
Grant

Obviously, if you could upgrade the guards you would (like Teague for Rolo), but that team is sick. The floor spacing would be as good or better than GS.

EwingsGlass wrote:

newyorker4ever wrote:Actually in a small ball lineup it would be:

C--KP
PF--Melo or Durant
SF--Durant or Melo

Then they could either trade Rolo for a guard or just keep him and he could still play 25/30 minutes off the bench. I know this isn't happening so don't get all crazy i'm just saying that if by some crazy chance we did somehow get him there is plenty of ways that everyone could still get plenty of floor time.

This is what I envision when I day dream. A small ball lineup featuring a 7'3 c, a 6'8 PF, a 6'9 SF, a 6'6 SG and a 6'5 pg.

KrisP
Melo
KD
Wroten
Grant

Obviously, if you could upgrade the guards you would (like Teague for Rolo), but that team is sick. The floor spacing would be as good or better than GS.

We have max player on one leg so adding another one on one leg will give us a player on 2 legs... for double max...
Interesting math...

EwingsGlass wrote:

newyorker4ever wrote:Actually in a small ball lineup it would be:

C--KP
PF--Melo or Durant
SF--Durant or Melo

Then they could either trade Rolo for a guard or just keep him and he could still play 25/30 minutes off the bench. I know this isn't happening so don't get all crazy i'm just saying that if by some crazy chance we did somehow get him there is plenty of ways that everyone could still get plenty of floor time.

This is what I envision when I day dream. A small ball lineup featuring a 7'3 c, a 6'8 PF, a 6'9 SF, a 6'6 SG and a 6'5 pg.

KrisP
Melo
KD
Wroten
Grant

Obviously, if you could upgrade the guards you would (like Teague for Rolo), but that team is sick. The floor spacing would be as good or better than GS.

A small ball line up with all tall players

NYKBocker wrote:Isn't Durant 6'11"?

Said 6'9 when I looked him up.

reub wrote:Too much hero ball. I want a SG who doesn't need the ball and can shoot lights out.

Like who?

nixluva wrote:KD on this team would be in a totally different environment from how he's existed playing along with Westbrook. I think KD would benefit from playing with a less shot happy PG. Everything Phil believes in is about more TEAM than selfish Hero Ball. I suspect things would be a lot more balanced and KD would be in a better role. Knicks would actually have effective post players and passers so that KD would not have to worry about getting great shots as opposed to having to force shots. I believe that is the kind of team Phil is looking to build.

IMO Westbrook is a LOT like Harden. Who reminds me of an Allen Iverson type. Just surround them with defenders, shooters and finishers and let him do his thing. that's the only way it works with players like that. They are mostly effective WITH THE BALL.