BRIGGS wrote:Many of u guys were bashing me when I said Phil was taking WCS maybe even at 1 but I think the Knicks have a plan and that's that.

Also how funk stupid can u be to give tells like Carmelo and Phil have done already? you think Sam him kid lets his players announce any intentions?

This is going to be scary either its gowns stein or trade it

yeah, i'm starting to agree.

I still think there's a chance they offer the pick to Cleveland for Kevin Love.

I've been saying it - Melo and Phil don't care where this franchise is in five years. They need to validate their legacies in the next two years. They will go for a win now move if they can.

WaltLongmire wrote:I wonder about the relationship between Phil and Anthony, and the communication they have with each other.

Anthony can serve as a sounding board and perhaps make suggestions, but also be a kind of de facto spokesperson for Phil.

Tough to read the tea leaves, here.

I've made comments about a time frame for action based on the respective "shelf lives" of Phil and Anthony, and the style of ball Phil wants us to play, and I've been shot down by a number of posters, but if there is any validity to Anthony's comment about a 19 year old PG not being part of the plan, that would make me think Phil might push aside the BPA philosophy and look for a pick who can have an immediate impact and play in the system he wants us to play.

I think it is a legitimate plan to go against a traditional BPA pick, and take the player who best serves the needs of the team, and if you believe that your teams "needs" involve the lifespan of your star, you might just have to take it into consideration.

I think Phil is looking at Towns if we have the #1 pick (assuming that all the visits to KU's practices showed us Towns is ready, and probably OK4 if we are at #2 (I'm less sure of this because of his poor D and some other issues), but I could see us taking a more NBA ready player if we don't pick 1/2.

Which players in the draft are physically and mentally ready to play? Kaminsky and Winslow moved up during the tournament. Don't think that Russell is ready day one, and he might not be a system player. Have not seen enough of Mudiay, but if Anthony's words mean anything, he is also a 19yr old PG, so he would not be a consideration. Not sure the two Euros are ready yet, and the guys outside of these players are worth a top 5 pick.

If we end up 3-5, I think we might take Kaminsky first, and then Winslow. Kaminsky will put on some muscle for the NBA, and has an intriguing skills set. He also played in a fairly disciplined offense. I thought he also showed some defensive ability in the final two games of the tournament. Winslow already has an NBA body, can play D, and has some offensive ability. He also had to control his game at Duke, so he knows about playing as a team.

We will see.

Good post. I think BPA/most ready to contribute right away and best fit for the Triangle will absolutely be Phil's metric for the draft.

I think he will heavily investigate trading the pick, too, which is just so stupid I can't stand it.

Hard to know what Phil's relationship is to Melo here - but you have to think they are somewhat on the same page and talked about it before Melo re-signed last summer.

fishmike wrote:

crzymdups wrote:
http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/knicks/former-coach-says-carmelo-anthony-wants-rajon-rondo-on-the-knicks-1.6555975

that article is 3 years old.

I think taking interview comments and translating those comments into "Melo as the same pull as Phil" is beyond a stretch. He's a max guy with a no trade clause on sport/team where a dozen guys make up the roster. I mean of course he's going to have say.

Likability and chemistry have never been Melo's problems. The year he took the 2nd most shots on his team (Iverson #1) was always his most EF% year. Go find an a quote from a former player saying they didnt like playing with Melo. I can show you plenty from guys who says they did.. from Jason Kidd to Langston Galloway. His leadership problems stem from him wanting to be more buddy buddy with teammates rather then being the tough guy who challenges and brings it. Listen to any of the old vets they all say the same.. they loved playing with him.

There it is in black and white.. the guy says he would take a #2 role.

It's from 18 months ago.

Who are we going to get that Melo would play #2 to? Realistically - who is that person?

My worry for a while is that off-season would boil down to - trade the pick for Kevin Love and sign Rondo.

Who else is out there that Melo would play second fiddle to?

crzymdups wrote:

fishmike wrote:

crzymdups wrote:
http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/knicks/former-coach-says-carmelo-anthony-wants-rajon-rondo-on-the-knicks-1.6555975

that article is 3 years old.

I think taking interview comments and translating those comments into "Melo as the same pull as Phil" is beyond a stretch. He's a max guy with a no trade clause on sport/team where a dozen guys make up the roster. I mean of course he's going to have say.

Likability and chemistry have never been Melo's problems. The year he took the 2nd most shots on his team (Iverson #1) was always his most EF% year. Go find an a quote from a former player saying they didnt like playing with Melo. I can show you plenty from guys who says they did.. from Jason Kidd to Langston Galloway. His leadership problems stem from him wanting to be more buddy buddy with teammates rather then being the tough guy who challenges and brings it. Listen to any of the old vets they all say the same.. they loved playing with him.

There it is in black and white.. the guy says he would take a #2 role.

It's from 18 months ago.

Who are we going to get that Melo would play #2 to? Realistically - who is that person?

My worry for a while is that off-season would boil down to - trade the pick for Kevin Love and sign Rondo.

Who else is out there that Melo would play second fiddle to?

Melo will play second fiddle to no one..Media like to ask him that because it's what most fans want to hear..Will you play 2nd fiddle but who is a better scorer we can get??

Vmart wrote:The player with the least learning curve is Okafor. He is good at his craft and plays mature beyond his years. While I think Towns will be a good player he will have a major learning curve in the NBA. Okafor is already physically NBA ready. Okafor has to work on his free throws and get better at them. But the luxury of knowing that you can dump the ball into the post knowing that there is a capable player who can handle his position speaks volumes. Your going to get production.

Agreed on this point.

I think the take away from this Melo quote is at the least that the Knicks will be looking at the most "NBA ready" talent in the draft.

To me, in the top five range that list is something like:

Okafor
Justice Winslow
Willie Cauley Stein

Before I get bent out of shape we need to know:

1. Lottery status
2. Projected potential free agent signing.

Start with the comment about Town's butt by Phil's friend...

add Anthony's comment about a 19 yr old PG...

and top with this photofrom January.

Draw your own conclusions.

gunsnewing wrote:

crzymdups wrote:Melo the GM doubting Melo the GM?

@Al_Iannazzone: Melo said there were times when he second-guessed himself about whether he made the right decision re-signing with Knicks.

LOL

The gift that keeps on giving

Melo the GM for President if that happens.