Finestrg wrote:yellowboy90 wrote:I see Middleton and Early handling about the same. Also, out of Delfino and Outlaw you cut Outlaw. That's a given.Also, Middleton will be available next year
No guarantee Middleton will be available next year. He has a QO in place after this upcoming season -- Milwaukee would make sure they remain in the driver's seat by making sure he becomes a restricted FA. Middleton's become too good a player not to. Milwaukee would then have the right to match any offer sheet. If nobody signs him to an offer sheet, they get him back for his QO.
Delfino over Outlaw is debatable. Delfino might be the slightly better overall player but it's negligible (Delfino strikes me as a guy that has even less left in the tank than Outlaw at this stage). Outlaw's 2 years younger for what that's worth -- less miles on Outlaw's body, he could be more attractive over the older Delfino in any potential trade (Outlaw has more years in the NBA but Delfino has equal or even more time abroad + NBA) although the best move would probably be to just let either guy expire to ensure optimum cap room...Plus I don't think Melo cares for this guy Delfino. They've had their little run-ins -- why take a chance on ruining any chemistry we hope to establish for this year? What if we really do have a shot at having a decent year coming up this season? Chemistry could take an immediate hit adding a guy that our top banana doesn't care for. Waiving Delfino might be the way to go here..
Great deal for the Knicks because it would ensure optimum cap space next year -- that's the name of the game for us. If we want an opportunity to make a big splash in FA next off-season, shedding JR's contract would be ENORMOUS. PLUS we'd we getting a pretty darn good young player to boot in Middleton. For those 2 huge positives alone, I might offer to sweeten this deal somehow, putting a variety of our lower assets on the table: Thanasis, the trade exception, a future 2, cash, the rights to Labeyrie...maybe even Cleanthony Early. Just how I see it.
Question on Middleton -- if we got him in a trade, would we inherit his Bird rights or early Bird rights from Milwaukee (or Detroit)? Where would we stand with him? If we made this trade I'd want the following couple of assurances: that we do in fact free up enough cap room to add two tier 1/semi tier 1 FAs (Bledsoe/Monroe, Bledsoe/Vucevic?) and also have money left over to offer Khris Middleton fair market value as I'd want to keep him around obviously.
The thing about Milwaukee is that I doubt they would match for a back up player. They really have no room for him and their younger franchise players. Also, the knicks can put a poison pill on his offer sheet or structure it in away to prevent them from mathing. The knicks will be in the driver's seat for a player like Middleton if they like him.
I know we are debating right now but Outlaw is terrible. Delfino is a much better player. He can give you defensively what Outlaw gives you and want be a total zero on offense. I'd cut Outlaw right now and fill his slot without Delfino right now.
The space you create by releasing JR you would basically replace it with Middleton so the gain is not that great. Yes, you would get his bird rights in any trade. I think as the season goes Middleton can be had for less because he will be stuck on the bench.
The bucks have Mayo and Bayless at the 2. Giannis probably playing up and down the 2/3 positions and Parker playing the 3/4 position. Ilyasova also a 4/3 man. Henson at the 4/5 and Sanders at the 5. The minutes might not be there if they want Parker and Giannis to develop.
The bucks do not even need JR if you want to get down to it although JR is better than both in a down year than they are on average.(slight exaggeration).
Remember Afflalo was traded for Fournier and the 56th pick. The Bucks are looking to build so I unless the Knicks want to take back a bad contract Mayo, Sanders, and Ilyasova(I'd risk it with him)
