On defense, we were anchored by guys that played ELITE drop coverage; protecting the rim at all costs for 48 minutes a game, EVERY game.

We strayed away from that this season for financial reasons and as an asset play. That being said, I think key to what we do this off-season, should focus on getting rid of KAT and the money he's owed long-term. He simply does not fit the aforementioned identity that we need to aspire to and frustrates his teammates as well as the fan base with his inconsistent play and attitude. Our return should focus moreso on DEPTH than STARPOWER. IND and OKC advancing to the Finals is proof-concept that platoon rotations are the optimal strategy given the current landscape in the NBA. Contenders are so handicapped due to aprons that they are susceptible to being beat by teams that can simply overwhelm their opponent through attrition.

I mentioned this in another thread but I think KAT to BKN for Nic Claxton and Cam Johnson would work for me. It adds depth, size and synergy to the roster (since Claxton and Robinson are facisimiles to each other; Johnson a former teammate of Bridges). Longer-term, Claxton has a depreciating contract that will help us financial flexibility to add to the roster, while Johnson offers us cost-certainity at a reasonable, long-term price-point. I also wouldn't be opposed to expanding the deal to trade those two for Isiah Hartenstein (who will be too expensive for OKC to keep) and DDV.

The rest will work itself out with the youth we have currently in development. I wouldn't be surprised if we stumbled into a G-League gem next season, considering the growth I've observed from that program. I also think Kevin McCullar is WILDLY underappreciated and will start showing dividends immediately next season.

As far as free agent signings, we need CP3. I also wonder what the Wizards do with Saddiq Bey. I think he'd be useful to us off the bench as a forward and his pedigree as a Villanova grad should have its own appeal.

Knicksfan wrote:

martin wrote:Another issue the Knicks need to address:

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/djacenba/status/1929204080028647793

And how is this addressed?

I mean, this team did seem fundamentally flawed in many areas, but they aren’t youngsters. Do you give them all dribbling boot camps in the offseason?

I honestly wonder because sometimes it seems that players are just content in remaining flawed. OG for example should focus more on this than on how many touches he gets. KAT should take all the criticism on his defense and work on it.

Lots of basic stuff this team seemed to slack on. The more I think about it, the more I marvel at how talented this team is that won as many games as they did with poor coaching and some poor fundamentals.

I don’t think this is fixed by one particular player working on the handle. So it’s a roster thing, whether that means someone off bench or acquiring someone with that skill set. Knicks have had this problem from last year too but Randle helped some.

In playoffs, it’s a different story and teams can prep.

Deuce, OG, Mikal, Josh, Jalen are just not good enough in high level playoffs.

houston20 wrote:I would try to bring back Burks and bojan bogdanvic we missed those guys badly.

SupremeCommander wrote:I refuse to watch Josh Hart again with a key role. I'm sick of him producing ****ing dick when it comes time for meaningful playoff basketball

I wish we could flip him for IQ. I think another team that needs a starter would trade a legit sixth man for him. I want Lou William or Jamal Crawford (post Knicks)

Hart can't do it. In fact, all he does is dribble the ball into the teeth of a decent teams' defense

ramtour420 wrote:

SupremeCommander wrote:I refuse to watch Josh Hart again with a key role. I'm sick of him producing ****ing dick when it comes time for meaningful playoff basketball

I wish we could flip him for IQ. I think another team that needs a starter would trade a legit sixth man for him. I want Lou William or Jamal Crawford (post Knicks)

Hart can't do it. In fact, all he does is dribble the ball into the teeth of a decent teams' defense

Hart is extremely skilled with passing and taking it strong to the hoop. Elite at it. Rebounding too, but that's a diff story. Hart needs a SYSTEM where he could pick his spots and have a defined role. Same for Bridges. He would be amazing in a system. Towns too, the system can be built around his passing and driving. And then we would have Jalen's ISO as a fall back option late on the clock. Instead of it being the only option, after having dribbled the clock out....

Hart is NOT extremely skilled as a passer -- not in any way, shape or form. He's a piss poor decision maker #1 which instantly eliminates him from great passer status. Think back to how many passes he thru into the 4th row of the stands this year.

He was a guy who was given heavy minutes and heavy on ball time - he had some high assist games --- he's a poor decision maker with the ball and a less than good passer.

martin wrote:

SupremeCommander wrote:I refuse to watch Josh Hart again with a key role. I'm sick of him producing ****ing dick when it comes time for meaningful playoff basketball

I wish we could flip him for IQ. I think another team that needs a starter would trade a legit sixth man for him. I want Lou William or Jamal Crawford (post Knicks)

Hart can't do it. In fact, all he does is dribble the ball into the teeth of a decent teams' defense

Think of it completely flipped: Josh Hart was never meant to be a starter for the Knicks but he was forced to and stepped up big time until the tail end of the playoffs. Like, literally he was GOLD all year all things considered.

That’s how good of a bench player he was and how good the Knicks managed around that all season.

I don’t think that’s too far off from reality.

Josh tried to play over his head some in the ECF but if he played like this while coming off bench all year, he is considered best in league at exactly his role as 6th man. Where he should have been.

And that’s how good he was.

I don't think we need a bench player that 1) can't shoot and 2) doesn't defend 3) makes poor decisions over and over --- I don't think he's a valuable piece.

I'd like to buy into the thought he's a great clubhouse guy but I don't think he works particularly hard off the court and his habit of pointing at his teammates every time he makes a piss poor play irritates the hell out of me.

LivingLegend wrote:

martin wrote:

SupremeCommander wrote:I refuse to watch Josh Hart again with a key role. I'm sick of him producing ****ing dick when it comes time for meaningful playoff basketball

I wish we could flip him for IQ. I think another team that needs a starter would trade a legit sixth man for him. I want Lou William or Jamal Crawford (post Knicks)

Hart can't do it. In fact, all he does is dribble the ball into the teeth of a decent teams' defense

Think of it completely flipped: Josh Hart was never meant to be a starter for the Knicks but he was forced to and stepped up big time until the tail end of the playoffs. Like, literally he was GOLD all year all things considered.

That’s how good of a bench player he was and how good the Knicks managed around that all season.

I don’t think that’s too far off from reality.

Josh tried to play over his head some in the ECF but if he played like this while coming off bench all year, he is considered best in league at exactly his role as 6th man. Where he should have been.

And that’s how good he was.

I don't think we need a bench player that 1) can't shoot and 2) doesn't defend 3) makes poor decisions over and over --- I don't think he's a valuable piece.

I'd like to buy into the thought he's a great clubhouse guy but I don't think he works particularly hard off the court and his habit of pointing at his teammates every time he makes a piss poor play irritates the hell out of me.

That’s a particularly bonkers take IMO

SupremeCommander wrote:I refuse to watch Josh Hart again with a key role. I'm sick of him producing ****ing dick when it comes time for meaningful playoff basketball

I wish we could flip him for IQ. I think another team that needs a starter would trade a legit sixth man for him. I want Lou William or Jamal Crawford (post Knicks)

Hart can't do it. In fact, all he does is dribble the ball into the teeth of a decent teams' defense

I’m with you 100% on this. Hart’s role has surpassed his skill set.

He either takes the next step (corner/elbow 3’s) or relinquish the role.

Can’t watch another season of defender 5 feet away from him and he doesn’t shoot. No other team has this issue with such an important role. Don’t coddle this man.