If the Knicks decline their option on Fournier and clear their cap holds, and work out an extension with OG similar to Hart’s where he opts in to his 19mm option, there’s a world where they have 27mm in cap space this offseason. I mean, they are a haircut away from signing Donovan Mitchell outright. Cavs would be inclined to sort out a deal sooner rather than later.

And if we are watching the CAA vs Klutch battle, I’d make a guess that JJJ is gonna come back on the Knicks radar in the short-term. I note Julius left CAA in September. Classic foreshadowing?

Last thought is that I like Precious Achiuwa. Raw power in this guy. 24 years old. Could use some fundamentals but wow does he add some athleticism to this team.

LivingLegend wrote:On record as liking the trade — not going to miss RJ and/or IQ much tbh.

No grand illusions of OG greatness but I always said Julius/RJ were clunky as hell and neither defended —- OG fits better, defends and spaces.

Hoping we somehow uncover something in Precious but Thibs is either going to use him or bury him - TBD.

I’ve never been the guy sniffing around on the likes of Embid and what he’d cost and I did NOT like the proposed trades we heard on Mitchell.

With the recent CAA and Klutch mentions of a potential pow-wow to clear air —- rumor seemed to focus around D-Murray Knicks interest but also wonder if meeting could unlock Option to sneak in on LaVine and get him cheap. I like both LaVine / Murray and depending on trade would be kind of a fun group to see how they would do. Murray is cheaper and can take pressure off Brunson handling so much plus defend better - just not sniper Zach is - prefer Murray of the 2.

I’m more in the entertain me with good/competitive basketball & players vs. I want championship at any cost. My ideal championship would be a team that nobody thinks can do it vs loaded star team - kind of like the Spree/Houston/Camby years.

I think IQ ànd RJ needed to be traded but am worried they got traded together for another roll player. Wondering if IQ in a separate trade couldn't have gotten us a wing on his own. And RJ and the a Detroit second rounder and a first couldn't have gotten us OG just worried we no longer have anything of real value to trade with picks ans Fornier to get another piece. Unless Murray or another player is forcing a trade to us as we speak for primarily picks and Evans expiring deal. For the remainder of the season unless we make another deal, I'd expect we just go with what we have and may not make the playoffs. If we don't we have our picks and Dallas to trade or use to bolster the roster.

Alpha1971 wrote:

LivingLegend wrote:On record as liking the trade — not going to miss RJ and/or IQ much tbh.

No grand illusions of OG greatness but I always said Julius/RJ were clunky as hell and neither defended —- OG fits better, defends and spaces.

Hoping we somehow uncover something in Precious but Thibs is either going to use him or bury him - TBD.

I’ve never been the guy sniffing around on the likes of Embid and what he’d cost and I did NOT like the proposed trades we heard on Mitchell.

With the recent CAA and Klutch mentions of a potential pow-wow to clear air —- rumor seemed to focus around D-Murray Knicks interest but also wonder if meeting could unlock Option to sneak in on LaVine and get him cheap. I like both LaVine / Murray and depending on trade would be kind of a fun group to see how they would do. Murray is cheaper and can take pressure off Brunson handling so much plus defend better - just not sniper Zach is - prefer Murray of the 2.

I’m more in the entertain me with good/competitive basketball & players vs. I want championship at any cost. My ideal championship would be a team that nobody thinks can do it vs loaded star team - kind of like the Spree/Houston/Camby years.

I think IQ ànd RJ needed to be traded but am worried they got traded together for another roll player. Wondering if IQ in a separate trade couldn't have gotten us a wing on his own. And RJ and the a Detroit second rounder and a first couldn't have gotten us OG just worried we no longer have anything of real value to trade with picks ans Fornier to get another piece. Unless Murray or another player is forcing a trade to us as we speak for primarily picks and Evans expiring deal. For the remainder of the season unless we make another deal, I'd expect we just go with what we have and may not make the playoffs. If we don't we have our picks and Dallas to trade or use to bolster the roster.

Toronto definitely wanted Quickley over anyone. I wonder if Knicks could have gotten the same package for Quickley, Fournier and picks if anything, but the Knicks clearly wanted to clear the rotational glut as well. Considering no first round picks were included, which is surprising since Toronto likely won’t have one this year , this deal probably made the most sense for the Knicks. I personally would have preferred Barrett, Grimes and multiple picks, and keep Quickley because he’s the best, but this deal wasn’t getting done without Quickley. He’s their PG of the future.

EwingsGlass wrote:

DLeethal wrote:Knicks are starting to look like a functional "fit". Losing IQ hurts the most but RJ was always the odd man out in the starting lineup.

DDV looking like one of the best shooters in the league probably made it easier to lose IQ as well.

I agree.

Brunson/McBride/Flynn
DDV/Grimes
OG/Hart
Randle/Gibson
Hart/Achiuwa/Sims
/(Robinson)

Roster looks a little in flux. The McBride extension makes me think they are going to allocate extra minutes to him and wanted to lock him up to a reasonable contract.

I think Sadiq Bey would be another good add here.

Yea I think on paper it looks like we are lacking in the scoring dept now but we really beefed up on defenders around Brunson and Randle, by re-entering McBride into the lineup and probably increasing Grimes/DDV minutes by 50% and adding an all NBA defender for 30mpg.

- I wonder if OG has another level of offense to his game. Wouldn't be shocked if he steps up in a way that hasn't been seen. All the guys we trade for seem to produce better than they did at their respective stops like Brunson, Hart, and DDV.

- Elite 3&D multi-positional forwards are some of the most coveted pieces to get nowadays. You can probably count the guys better than OG on one hand.

- DDV might be coming into his own as a 6MOY caliber player himself.

- I have a feeling Precious is going to feel like much more than a throw-in. We needed a big athletic defensive body who can pound the offensive boards with Mitch out.

Yea I think on paper it looks like we are lacking in the scoring

We have always been a scoring team that lacks defense. That’s the strength of our OLD big 3.

Now we have more balance. Only 2 chuckers and many supporters. OG is a perfect 3rd wheel ON PAPER. I wish Grimes was still starting just to see him and OG together.

Thibs must be wetting the bed with this defensive versatility on both ends. Don’t sleep on DDV defense. And no more Hart playing PF.

Why has Toronto been so bad?

It’s a lot to give up for someone there’s not signed

MS wrote:Bridges is the better player more durable and is on a great contract. He;s making 21, 23, 24MM, imagine having to pay someone 35-40MM that doesn;t rebound as good as Jalen Brunson. Youre 6'7 and can;t grab 4rbs what is going on?

Why has Toronto been so bad?

Its a lot to give up for someone there;s not signed

Rebounds or not, there's no way he's worth $40m. I would not pay him more than JB and Randle. How does that make sense?

MS wrote:Bridges is the better player more durable and is on a great contract. He’s making 21, 23, 24MM, imagine having to pay someone 35-40MM that doesn’t rebound as good as Jalen Brunson. You’re 6’7 and can’t grab 4rbs what is going on?

Why has Toronto been so bad?

It’s a lot to give up for someone there’s not signed

Bridges is better. But in that mold of player who is next between Bridges and OG? OG is probably the next best thing in that mold of player still in their mid 20s.

Toronto is a bad team. Not sure why you keep harping on this. Plenty of really good players on bad teams all over the league.

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