Keep team chemistry. Keep our players for 2-3 years. Look for a player who can help starting pg without docking over Rose— cuz rose has 3-4 years left ez. We don’t need to spend 30 mm on a starting pg— we just need a bit of an upgrade from Payton ( although at the right price I’d keep him)
We’re gonna need to draft a center with one of our picks.
I’d like to find 1-2 younger vets in the league than can help enhance without changing or capping out

1) Rose (early bird)
2) Noel (non-bird)
3) Bullock (early bird)
4) Burks (non-bird)
5) Gibson (Vet Min)

Ball/Rose/Vildoza
Barrett/IQ
Powell/Burks/Bullock
Randle/Toppin/Knox
Robinson/Noel/Pelle/Gibson

Only thing about this roster is that it leaves zero room for rookie draft picks. They will need to consolidate assets to some degree or draft foreign players in stash moves.

I think it would be a mistake to not make a move on Ball and/or Powell as both are more developed but within the growth cycle of this team and likely ok playing next to Randle. Long wingspans that can shoot decent from 3 (Both have been regressing from 3 lately which is a concern)

EwingsGlass wrote:My my focus would to try and get Ball and Powell in sign and trades and then use cap hold and exceptions to re-sign. Their signing power can exceed the cap if they are clever about ordering and other teams are incentivized to not lose FAs for nothing.

1) Rose (early bird)
2) Noel (non-bird)
3) Bullock (early bird)
4) Burks (non-bird)
5) Gibson (Vet Min)

Ball/Rose/Vildoza
Barrett/IQ
Powell/Burks/Bullock
Randle/Toppin/Knox
Robinson/Noel/Pelle/Gibson

Only thing about this roster is that it leaves zero room for rookie draft picks. They will need to consolidate assets to some degree or draft foreign players in stash moves.

I think it would be a mistake to not make a move on Ball and/or Powell as both are more developed but within the growth cycle of this team and likely ok playing next to Randle. Long wingspans that can shoot decent from 3 (Both have been regressing from 3 lately which is a concern)

Like the thought process here. The composition of our roster should not remain static. We have to keep trying to supplement our core ( Randle & RJ ) in search of improvements? I would speculate that there are already plans in place regarding our draft assets. Depending upon how the chips fall.

FA players we need to pursue- Lonzo, Brunson and Powell ( younger burks ).

BRIGGS wrote:Sometimes others may look sexy and you realize you have a hot wife who can do everything the others can do— but yiu already know her.

Keep team chemistry. Keep our players for 2-3 years. Look for a player who can help starting pg without docking over Rose— cuz rose has 3-4 years left ez. We don’t need to spend 30 mm on a starting pg— we just need a bit of an upgrade from Payton ( although at the right price I’d keep him)
We’re gonna need to draft a center with one of our picks.
I’d like to find 1-2 younger vets in the league than can help enhance without changing or capping out

Knixkik wrote:I agree about prioritizing our own guys. I'd like to add 1 player who we feel would bring this team to the next level, while we make sure to bring back the majority of our free agents.

Having this cap space AND your core players signed to undervalued deals is the chance to strike and land a player. Even if its just one guy and you spend the rest on Noel, Burks, Bullock, etc

You gotta land a blue chip guy. You cant have $70mm in cap space and bring back the scrap heap guys you signed on 1 year deals because they got you to the 4th seed. Thats pure emotion and poor planning

fishmike wrote:totally fool hardy and fools gold. The formula is ride RJ/Randle, protect the rim and lean on your depth. I love guys like Bullock/Burks but the simple truth is those players are easy to acquire and if the roster is loaded with high end talent they will be even easier, because low tier veteran FAs will be happy to come and play here.

Noel is the only Knick FA that is really critical to sign. The other guys are NOT AS GOOD as Conley/Powell/Derozon/Schroder and you would be stupid to waste an opportunity like $60-$70mm whatever in cap space to bring back inferior players than whats currently on the market

Makes ZERO sense.

Think chemistry and familiarity trump just being able to replace key pieces. The fact is Bullock has been exceptional defensively and has accepted his role on the team. As has Burks. Something that is not easy to predict or find. Can't underestimate the importance of not only adding vets that one thinks would fit a team and system but keeping the ones that actually do. For me, it is absolutely crucial that we finally stick with the pieces that are working. We have been the turnstile of the NBA the last few years and our record has reflected that. The theory behind these one-year deals was to find out which vets fit. Well, these guys fit. Why go after replacements that we do not know will buy in, fit in or work well together, when we already have ones that do. I also think that Burks is one of those fringe guys that are on the brink of next-level stuff.

IF we look at what we all wanted at the beginning of the year, it was more 3pt shooting, good defense and a solid PG. Knicks have shown they are now a very good 3pt shooting team(4th in the NBA and almost 2nd if not for small clicks). They have Rose who is playing exceptional basketball at PG spot and a top-ranked defense. Think its reason enough to make keeping the core roster together a priority. Sure, if we can add a decent PG and another shooter like Powell, I am all in. But again, think this is a roster that you just trim some fat ( Frank, Knox, Pinson, Pelle, and Payton), add a draft asset, and a couple of value FA's to an already well put together core.

But id still look to package both picks for Brogdon if he became available. And still looked to sign Ball as a FA.

The tough part of the business Burks/Bullock and Robinson/Noel. Would love to keep all, but some duplication here, and at some point you have to be careful about overpaying your roll players. Bullock has been locked in lately as a 3 pt shooter- consistently giving us like 3-4 a game. Burks was a key contributor before he got sick in terms of another option who can get his own shot. I think it might be easier to find someone with Burks skill set, but its not an easy call at all.

Robinson...durability, fouls...feels like this Noel/Gibson duo is more reliable and even more fearsome defensively. But you hate to give up on a guy that young who still has way more upside.