I'm thinking there are a few positives this year, but I'd like to hear from you folks that get to watch a lot more than I do.

1) RJ Barrett looks like he will be at least a solid pro with potential to be more.
2) Mitch is an impact player and just needs to figure out how to stay in the game.
3) Frank is a disruptive defensive force and is showing some signs of life on the offense end.

What do you think of these three?

Would also like feedback on Dennis Smith, Randle and Knox. Everyone else I view
as low ceiling players or rentals - or both.

Thanks for any insights.

arkrud wrote:Not convinced about Smith and Randle... they have issues which they may not be able to overcome.
See then as future trade bites.
RJ, Mitch, and Frank are already no-brainers. I want to see Knox and Dot more.
Trier is tricky. To get something from him you need to play him a lot but he juts takes time out of team development.
Not sure if he worth it. Something anything for him will be cool but unlikely.
The rest of vets are there transitionally. We will see a lot of this placeholders next 2-3 seasons.

OldFan wrote:

arkrud wrote:Not convinced about Smith and Randle... they have issues which they may not be able to overcome.
See then as future trade bites.
RJ, Mitch, and Frank are already no-brainers. I want to see Knox and Dot more.
Trier is tricky. To get something from him you need to play him a lot but he juts takes time out of team development.
Not sure if he worth it. Something anything for him will be cool but unlikely.
The rest of vets are there transitionally. We will see a lot of this placeholders next 2-3 seasons.

All of this sounds very close to my thinking - still hoping Knox, Smith and Randle show something.

Honestly, I'm encouraged by the steps Knox has taken. He went from historically bad to a legit bench producer. He still needs to improve, but he's trending up. Trier already does one thing at NBA level, and that's score. There have been plenty of games where we could've used him and he can't get off the bench. Smith looks like he's getting his mojo back. Randle...I like him, but it's getting hard to defend him.

Reasons to be cheerful is perhaps things could be worse:

1. FIBA FRANK. He is here. FIBA Frank in the tournament did not kill it every game either. WE see he is improving on offense especially when he has the ball and is penetrating/Creating. Since this is "Signs of hope" thread not "whats wrong" we can stop there. Given we have one healthy PG of 4 is not optimum but at least frank is getting good minutes. No he is not allstar championship caliper PG.

2. Randle. Glass full or empty? What was the expectation? He is not allstar nor used to the crush of being the Alpha on offense. That shot looks like Willis Reed or Zach Randolph. Julius is a good 3-4th option. We need 1 and 2.

3. Morris. See Randle.

4. RJ Barrett. We should be more excited. He won't be 20 until Mid June. This is a kid who basically spend his biological senior year in high school at Duke. Built like a brick shythouse this is a big reason to be hopeful. The fact we are not hyping him more is a good sign. He might not be Zion, but imagine how that would have felt. WE get the top pick and then that? This early there was a big drop off in top 3 picks on down. We consider ourselves fortunate.
5. Mitch.
6. Knox. I like him off the bench. He plays well he stays. Not like last season when there was few alternatives and we just let him rack up "experiences". Bigger, stronger and a higher standard.
7. Our picks, Dallas' picks and cap space. Its opportunities.

How does this all add up? Hopeful. Dolan could have panicked fired Fiz. All of KP's prognostications would have been true as for free agents fears be realized that was are not stable. Im not as down on Fiz as some of you but that's not really an endorsement as much as not wanting to fire a guy after one season and 10 games with a team not that much in disarray as could be. I think you have a team with big salary and expectations coming off a failed playoff run with improvements made and after 10 games the lingering problems from previous year carry over and worse. The the effect you lost the lockerroom. THEN, you fire the coach in the first month.

Nothing is convincing but I don't make changes until the off season when I have more metrics to evaluate this team and the progress of youth. I don't expect all players to stick and would see it as progress to move or release. If Trier is not up to the task we should cut him loose. Thats not a failure to develop, that actually a progress that others are!!! Trier was not drafted for a reason.

If Frank plays more or less at this level all season, same output on offense. A step up from last season. My only concern would be how much to pay him. Im assuming Frank will be a reserve. If for whatever reason Smith jr. doesnt work out, believe mgmt will try to find a starting PG in the draft who can have an immediate impact. Who doesnt need years of seasoning. Not easy to find, but we do have those extra draft picks. More chips on the table.

knicks1248 wrote:We need a more impactful PG, that continues to be a big deal.

When Bullock and Payton are ready, 2 players minutes will be heavily impacted, KNOX and FRANK.

Bullock can shoot and play decent D, payton play's solid D, pushes the pace, and gets to the basket..

I just think that they way this roster is constructed, it's going to be difficult for most of our young guys to get consistent minutes which is detrimental to their development..

we can not keep frank on the floor avg 5pp, plus he is having a hard time guarding fast players, knox is a turnstile on defense.

Mitch and RJ are legit NBA players

Trier and Dotson need a define role, and will benefit from better pg play.

Morris and TAJ are solid players

Randle is confused and putting too much pressure on himself, probably in the wrong role as well.

The thread is called "Reasons for hope".

knicks1248 wrote:

Nalod wrote:

knicks1248 wrote:We need a more impactful PG, that continues to be a big deal.

When Bullock and Payton are ready, 2 players minutes will be heavily impacted, KNOX and FRANK.

Bullock can shoot and play decent D, payton play's solid D, pushes the pace, and gets to the basket..

I just think that they way this roster is constructed, it's going to be difficult for most of our young guys to get consistent minutes which is detrimental to their development..

we can not keep frank on the floor avg 5pp, plus he is having a hard time guarding fast players, knox is a turnstile on defense.

Mitch and RJ are legit NBA players

Trier and Dotson need a define role, and will benefit from better pg play.

Morris and TAJ are solid players

Randle is confused and putting too much pressure on himself, probably in the wrong role as well.

The thread is called "Reasons for hope".

see mitch and RJ

Im sure you exercised every bit of restraint!

OldFan wrote:

SupremeCommander wrote:I think the single greatest source of hope is the Rangers. While they haven't won a chip with Dolan as owner, they have went from laughingstock, to Stanley Cup contender, to announcing to the fans they were going to rebuild, to installing a new coach, a new GM, and a new president... the Rangers by and large are viewed as an organization that does things right. I think Dolan likes to play around with the Knicks so it is easier said than done. That said, a team Dolan owns has done quire well outside of the Knicks

This is a good point, considering I was thinking we were doomed by Dolan.

That is a very good point.

I'm not familiar with the Rangers operation, the coach, GM or the Prez, but I'm going to go out on a limb here and state that he has much more experience people running the Rangers, and not his BFF