VDesai wrote:

BigDaddyG wrote:

technomaster wrote:How does thanasis compare with a freshly drafted Trevor Ariza years ago?

I think Thanks is ahead, but it's not a clear cut comparison. Ariza was three years younger than Thanios when we drafted him.

Ariza could play on the NBA level pretty effectively his rookie season. He couldn't shoot the bball at all, but the guy had serious energy and could run the floor. I think Thanassis is still a little too raw and didn't look great finishing at the rim in Summer League. However Thanassis is much stronger and has an NBA ready body.

Still I have to say this is pretty surprising. Guy could've made 550K for a top Italian team vs. 25K for the Knicks DLeague affiliate. However what this allows him to do is 2 things

1) Develop in the Knicks system with a Knick affiliated coaching staff at Westchester.
2) Allow him to be signed by the Knicks midseason should a roster spot open up.

I think Phil in all his zen wisdom convinced him the latter would happen and he'd get the cash to make up for it. When you think about it- its pretty likely the Knicks make some sort of move at the deadline involving the expiring deals, so this makes sense. I love the idea that we get to develop Thanssis in a triangle like O. I really want him to work on his point forward skills and I want him to be taught NBA style defense. I hope it works out for him as the kid is giving up a lot of money.

http://www.imdb.com/news/ni57652897/

We can safely assume that Thanasis has a contract waiting for him once we clear a roster spot. It is pretty clear the guy wouldn't have just passed up on 500k for 25k.
Looking forward to him being on the team. Can you imagine practice with him and Acy out there? Gonna be contagious.

Taking a risk and investing in yourself is pretty cool! My take is he has no guarantee of being with Knicks but if he stays in Westchester he can practice with them and learn the triangle.
IN an era where the guys go for the money (I don't fault them btw!!) its refreshing to read this guy wants in the big league! Some say "willing to do what it takes", well sometimes its not just the words, or extra gym time, but putting your money on the table and going for it!!

"THAN" the man!!!!! Need to work on that. Anyone know his nickname????

blkexec wrote:I guess I'm the only one that loves this kids energy. I love how he affects others around him on defense, and his drive to get better. He's also competing with his brother to make the NBA, so I'm not too surprised he turned down that money. It was 500k over two years, with an NBA out after 1 year.....I would've taken that deal, along with anybody else. But money is not a driving force for him. And he trust his ability to get better and eventually earn that money in the NBA hopefully next year with the Knicks or some other team.

He's NBA ready right now, and will only get better over time. There are plenty of NBA Guards / SF's that can't shoot, but he actually has nice form and just needs some seasoning to be more consistent. He has what we are lacking, and that's energy on the defensive end, which is also contagious....as we saw in the summer league. Say he played overseas for a year, then left....That's 250K......His brother is making enough money now to give him the difference for that one year. Plus he's learning the triangle and now is available for a mid season add on or trade.

It's risky if you think you will only make 500K for your entire career. Obviously, he has bigger dreams than the average fan!

I agree, he will be a fan favorite for his energy and DEF, it will be contagious, "TENACIOUS to TENACITY"
If we can pair him up with another PG for both OFF and DEF, as well as some versatile 2 way players, it will have a great multiple effect
He could be Ariza like in terms of production and development, yet Phil was able to tap in his potential, totally use his versatility/fit, something we would have NEVER done under The Marbury/Isiah years in NYK

Because he was the 51st pick, he is only eligible to be signed to a 2 year deal, unless we use our cap space/exemptions to offer him more money and longer contract
Now, if we sign him this summer, which I think we could use him, it would also limit us to the possiblity of "poisoning" ourselves when his deal is up like Lin/Asik
I think mainly for those reasons, as well as roster spots, is why we haven't signed him though we could surely use his energy/DEF/youth on our roster
So if we can moniter him in the D League, helping his development for the Triangle, let it be, while in the mid sesaon we could still sign him depending on how we do and how he develops
If this coming year is just a stoppage year or if we have the ability to actually contend and make some noise in the play offs to further develop our roster/attract FA's to consider coming to NYK as part of the change of a "winning culture"

RonRon wrote:

blkexec wrote:I guess I'm the only one that loves this kids energy. I love how he affects others around him on defense, and his drive to get better. He's also competing with his brother to make the NBA, so I'm not too surprised he turned down that money. It was 500k over two years, with an NBA out after 1 year.....I would've taken that deal, along with anybody else. But money is not a driving force for him. And he trust his ability to get better and eventually earn that money in the NBA hopefully next year with the Knicks or some other team.

He's NBA ready right now, and will only get better over time. There are plenty of NBA Guards / SF's that can't shoot, but he actually has nice form and just needs some seasoning to be more consistent. He has what we are lacking, and that's energy on the defensive end, which is also contagious....as we saw in the summer league. Say he played overseas for a year, then left....That's 250K......His brother is making enough money now to give him the difference for that one year. Plus he's learning the triangle and now is available for a mid season add on or trade.

It's risky if you think you will only make 500K for your entire career. Obviously, he has bigger dreams than the average fan!

I agree, he will be a fan favorite for his energy and DEF, it will be contagious, "TENACIOUS to TENACITY"
If we can pair him up with another PG for both OFF and DEF, as well as some versatile 2 way players, it will have a great multiple effect
He could be Ariza like in terms of production and development, yet Phil was able to tap in his potential, totally use his versatility/fit, something we would have NEVER done under The Marbury/Isiah years in NYK

Because he was the 51st pick, he is only eligible to be signed to a 2 year deal, unless we use our cap space/exemptions to offer him more money and longer contract
Now, if we sign him this summer, which I think we could use him, it would also limit us to the possiblity of "poisoning" ourselves when his deal is up like Lin/Asik
I think mainly for those reasons, as well as roster spots, is why we haven't signed him though we could surely use his energy/DEF/youth on our roster
So if we can moniter him in the D League, helping his development for the Triangle, let it be, while in the mid sesaon we could still sign him depending on how we do and how he develops
If this coming year is just a stoppage year or if we have the ability to actually contend and make some noise in the play offs to further develop our roster/attract FA's to consider coming to NYK as part of the change of a "winning culture"

Thanasis is hoping to get Toure's contract....turn down 500k....hoping to get 2mm. It's a gamble, but if he improves his offense, I think he will get a similar contract.