BRIGGS wrote:1 view

Draft Karl Towns #1 C 6-11 250

Trade a 2018 restricted(top 15)pick to Philidelphia for picks 35 and 37

#35 Rashaud Vaughn SG 215

#37 Jordan Mickey PF 6-8 235

Trade Cleanthony early for pick 42(Dakari Johnson)

Sign Enes Kanter PF 6-11 260 to a max contract offer sheet with a no trade clause and a max trade kicker.(I think we will have better than 50% chance to execute this)

Sign Demarre Carrol to a 3 year 22.5mm $ contract

Release and stretch PG Jose Calderon

Sign Alex Shveyd to a 2 year 8mm contract

Resign Cole Aldrich to a 3 year 6mm $ contract
Vet minimum Thomas Admundson

Line up

C-Towns - 6-11 250

PF Kanter 6-11 260

SF Carmelo Anthony SF 6-8 230

SG Demmare Carroll 6-8 225

PG Langston Galloway 6-1 200

C Cole Aldrich 6-11 260

F Jordan Mickey PF 6-8 230

F Lance Thomas F 6-8 220

G Tim Hardaway JR 6-6 200

G Alexy Shveyd 6-6 190

Rashaud Vaughn
Lou Admundson
Thanis 2 year minimum
1 year vet minimum PG
Dakari Johnson

I would NOT like that off-season : (

I think that he is something between Al Horford and Al Jefferson. He has some Duncan on offense but hes more Jefferson on defense. If you look back at McD and early in the season he had NO big leg brace on. He did for the last half of the season. His lift at the beginning was more towards an Al Horford--not a great shotblocker--not 7 feet tall but long armed semi explosive and powerful.

People ten to watch players towards the end--so they forget the start--and thats ok players should trend up not down. But Ok4 had so much high usage--he was actually hurt twice and then sported a leg brace. To me he can be "part" of a new frontline at pick #2 without hesitation or thought of any other player there. Hes a team player and a good kid. I think he will show very well in the NBA and for me I truly hope we get pick 1 or 2 and if NOT I hope someone takes a PG before Ok4 is off the board.

BRIGGS wrote:The more I watch Okafor in film--mainly towards the BEGINNING of the season--the more I am excited about getting pick 1 or 2. I really do think Okafor kind of let down towards the end a bit--but look at what everything he done prior??

I think that he is something between Al Horford and Al Jefferson. He has some Duncan on offense but hes more Jefferson on defense. If you look back at McD and early in the season he had NO big leg brace on. He did for the last half of the season. His lift at the beginning was more towards an Al Horford--not a great shotblocker--not 7 feet tall but long armed semi explosive and powerful.

People ten to watch players towards the end--so they forget the start--and thats ok players should trend up not down. But Ok4 had so much high usage--he was actually hurt twice and then sported a leg brace. To me he can be "part" of a new frontline at pick #2 without hesitation or thought of any other player there. Hes a team player and a good kid. I think he will show very well in the NBA and for me I truly hope we get pick 1 or 2 and if NOT I hope someone takes a PG before Ok4 is off the board.

StarksEwing1 wrote:Obviously we dont know where we will draft or who we will sign but what type of realistic moves will make most fans satisfied in this very important summer

My basic take on things, for an "acceptable offseason"

1) Phil Jackson shifts to a figurehead role, a la Jerry West in Golden State, basically shows up for the draft and big press conferences and lends that "name brand" air of credibility to the entire production, but leaves the day to day operations to a true grinder. That grinder should be a hired young gun from a winning franchise, someone with experience and well versed in an NBA front office, with a background in scouting, dealing with agents, the media and has paid their dues in blood in the front office trenches. Sometimes the smart decision is to accept you need to hire someone even smarter than you. The Knicks need a young front office gun who can give them a potential 20 years of serious high level burn if he works out.

2) Trade Melo for future assets. He's the "Herschel Walker" of the Knicks, if the original Walker was a lazy, shot jacking wannabe Willy Wonka CEO 2.0 fraud who was one dimensional, couldn't stop saying stupid things to the press and was a horrific leader. Keeping Melo on this team makes as much sense as that late 80s Cowboys team keeping Herschel Walker.

3) Wait to see what pick the Knicks get. Get the best player available. If it's a wash point between two players, pick the safer player with the higher positional value ( Pivot > Wing > Point Guard > Power Forward ) Pick a US college trained player over some Euro stash. And yes, pick a black guy over a white guy. The point is PLAY IT SAFE. You've got ONE FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICK IN A THREE YEAR SPAN, this is not the time to take some oddball risk. Play the percentages, play the odds, be respectful of NBA DRAFT HISTORY. There's a reason why Jimmer Fredette and Adam Morrison and Jan Vesley didn't make it. There's a reason teams were leery of Exum and why guys like Milicic should raise red flags.

4) In free agency, wait until the Tier 1 and Tier 2 guys are gone, the Knicks need QUANTITY as well as QUALITY. Then try to mine that Tier 3,4 and 5 aspects of free agency using basic VORP theory ( Value Over Replacement Player, i.e. can I get Player Y to give me 75 percent of the production of Player X, but at 20-25 percent of the cost) Blowing a huge chunk of cap on anything other than a rim protecting pivot with true defensive pedigree, IMHO is a waste. The Knicks desperately need roster depth and with so few other assets in place, they need to hit those lower tiers of FA hard.

5) Accept that the "process" is really going to be a 5-7 year plan, if the Knicks start making the hard sacrifices now. All the teams currently in contention, they took a long time to get there. It wasn't overnight. There are no quick fixes in the NBA. There is no magic formula of bizarre low odds trade rapes and strokes of luck in bunches of 5-7 separate events all falling in favor of the Knicks at once to make some kind of movie type turnaround. A true rebuild takes time. Anything worth building and having takes time to develop.

BRIGGS wrote:The more I watch Okafor in film--mainly towards the BEGINNING of the season--the more I am excited about getting pick 1 or 2. I really do think Okafor kind of let down towards the end a bit--but look at what everything he done prior??

I think that he is something between Al Horford and Al Jefferson. He has some Duncan on offense but hes more Jefferson on defense. If you look back at McD and early in the season he had NO big leg brace on. He did for the last half of the season. His lift at the beginning was more towards an Al Horford--not a great shotblocker--not 7 feet tall but long armed semi explosive and powerful.

People ten to watch players towards the end--so they forget the start--and thats ok players should trend up not down. But Ok4 had so much high usage--he was actually hurt twice and then sported a leg brace. To me he can be "part" of a new frontline at pick #2 without hesitation or thought of any other player there. Hes a team player and a good kid. I think he will show very well in the NBA and for me I truly hope we get pick 1 or 2 and if NOT I hope someone takes a PG before Ok4 is off the board.

newyorker4ever wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:The more I watch Okafor in film--mainly towards the BEGINNING of the season--the more I am excited about getting pick 1 or 2. I really do think Okafor kind of let down towards the end a bit--but look at what everything he done prior??

I think that he is something between Al Horford and Al Jefferson. He has some Duncan on offense but hes more Jefferson on defense. If you look back at McD and early in the season he had NO big leg brace on. He did for the last half of the season. His lift at the beginning was more towards an Al Horford--not a great shotblocker--not 7 feet tall but long armed semi explosive and powerful.

People ten to watch players towards the end--so they forget the start--and thats ok players should trend up not down. But Ok4 had so much high usage--he was actually hurt twice and then sported a leg brace. To me he can be "part" of a new frontline at pick #2 without hesitation or thought of any other player there. Hes a team player and a good kid. I think he will show very well in the NBA and for me I truly hope we get pick 1 or 2 and if NOT I hope someone takes a PG before Ok4 is off the board.

If you think OK4 faded towards the end of the season in college, which he did, then how much do you think he'll fade in the much longer NBA season and if we made the playoffs then even more fading??

He has a 19 year old body and he was OVER used by his team--EVERY game he had double triple teams pounding him. I GUARANTEE if he was on Kentucky hed be pick 1 and there would be no discussion. I think Okafor starts off the bench and will have the ability to avg 12-14 and 7 55-57% as a third bgi who can switch 4-5 depending on match ups. He will be too much for most second line interior players. As his game and body mature--he can move up in usage. As his range and FT shooting improve--hes going to be one of the better frontcourt players in the NBA--and will start off as a really good positive off the bench My theory is we "rebuild" the frontline--for example kanter Okafor and Mickey--that would give us 23-20-19. Kanter to help melo in the SU and those guys to help off the bench. The C's have done it smart--they stockpiled talent and now they made the playoffs and own multiple player assets and draft picks they can use to barter or to just continue to build. We just need good high quality players and build out. Going back to Okafor--I would expect with 22-23 minutes a night he can stay very fresh. he wont face nearly what he faced in CBB where teams designed their defense to stop him

TripleThreat wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:Draft Karl Towns #1 C 6-11 250

Trade a 2018 restricted(top 15)pick to Philidelphia for picks 35 and 37

Trade Cleanthony early for pick 42(Dakari Johnson)

Sign Enes Kanter PF 6-11 260 to a max contract offer sheet with a no trade clause and a max trade kicker.(I think we will have better than 50% chance to execute this)

Sign Demarre Carrol to a 3 year 22.5mm $ contract

Release and stretch PG Jose Calderon

Sign Alex Shveyd to a 2 year 8mm contract

IMHO, it's following the above kind of plan that got the Knicks into their current hell in the first place

1) Overpay for a no defense power forward with questionable morale fit into the locker room. Classic Dolan/Zeke era strategy of the Knicks outbidding themselves. Check.

2) Trade your young players already on the roster. Why bother developing anyone? Check.

3) Sacrifice future assets, esp draft picks, for long shot grasps for some kind of instant "quick fix" magic that defies all known NBA draft history. Check.

4) Hope on a wing and prayer for some player to take a contract far less than what his market value will actually bear. ( This is what I call an "Inception Level Trade Rape", where it's a trade rape within a trade rape within a trade rape. ) Overpay for some short burst of recent production and attempt to lowball/underpay against players who will likely have better contract/circumstance options. Check.

5) Keep adding non defenders into the mix. Not like YOU ACTUALLY NEED DEFENSE TO WIN BASKETBALL GAMES, RIGHT? Check.

Well it's your opinion and you are free to it. I just fail to see how the "quick fix" methodology will actually and truly help the Knicks build something worthwhile and sustainable over time.

This is another answer that doesn't have basketball acumen behind in which to forward a response.

Almost the entire basis of this plan is centered around defense and rebounding.

Players

Karl towns-- elite level defender in the post
Jordan Mickey-- one of the most unheralded elite level defenders in cbb
Rashuad vaughn -- a high level big 2 g who plays excellent man defense
Demare Carroll already a solid nba defender
Enes Kanter already proven elite nba rebounder who can give you 20-25 points a night production
Dakari Johnson. I think he has more upside for a team than C Early who is a dime dozen d league player

This would make us one of the biggest nba teams and give us the interior level play of a potential one day championship level team. I'm not going to sit and explain why I would trade a future 1 for 2 high 2 s since most people have no idea who the heck I'm talking about but believe me if it was the case we got these two guys and I would only do it for these two then the first in 2018 is well spent.

Also Carroll is a solid player but at nearly 8 mm a year I don't think that's under paying I think it's fair.

And it's funny you say anything about questionable character when you just said you'd give up 3 number 1 picks and our young guys for cousins who might be the worst locker rom guy in the nba. I want to attach our fortunes in a way that 12 Guys have a role I believe in 12-14 guys having a role in a multi faceted balanced two way basketball attack. I'm not throwing my money on two guys cousins and Anthony who will turn out to be a disaster area. But again you know all tell all😉😉😘

callmened wrote:1. Karl Towns (Id settle for Okafor) - young post who can play stretch 4 and play defense
2. young PF Free agent (15Mill) - whether thats a stretch 4 like Tobias Harris/post like Monroe or Kanter
3. 3&D wing defender (8 mill) - ideally Carroll or Danny green or G.Henderson
4. Stop gap PG (5mill)- Ramon sessions/Mo williams (get the REAL PG in 2016)
5. Back up Big (5 mill) = Ajinca/B.Wright
6. Resign Shved - I'll admit i was wrong with this guy; hes got game
7. Sign athletic young wings who play defense (3 mil)= KJ MCDaniels
8. stretch and waive Jose Calderon
9. sign a cheap hard working PF (2mill) = Lavoy allen/dante cunningham
10. Look for offers to trade Hardaway for a late 1st rd draft pick
11. resign the rest of the scrubs that played in 2014-15 to fill out the roster

PG Mo williams
SG D.Green
SF Melo
PF Harris/Monroe
C Towns
-------------
Bench
PG Shved
SG Galloway/Hardaway
SF McDaniels/Ledo
PF Allen
C Ajinca/Wright
----------------
Scrubs
PF L. Thomas
C Aldrich
PF Amundsen
SF Early

Overall - im not looking to win a championship in one yr. this is team good enough to win at least 40 games and get swept in the 1st rd. baby steps. the following yrs 2016 and 2017 they can get more free agents

^^^Any post that starts off with "Trade Carmelo" cant be taken seriously. LOL. Please realize that the knicks (Dolan more than phil) want this guy to be the face of the franchise. hes not going anywhere any time soon for better of for worse. were stuck with the 20ppg scorer.

***I love and watch NCAA bball more than the NBA. As much as i love it, I can admit that these kids ARENT ready. any pick beyond a #10 is a gamble and to be should not be relied on to contribute or event make the team. He belongs in this league but his development might take time.

***I still believe in early (as a back up)not a superstar. im not sure what fans were expecting with a 2nd rd pick

***Im a big fan of Ledo and the DLeague in general. like i said, these NCAA kids arent ready (except for the cant miss talent in the top 5). But some do improve after playing in the DLeague. This was the case with Ledo. Plus it humbles them and lights a fire under them

Great post, Ned. Pretty damn close to what I was thinking as well...I guess My patience has worn thin with Melo a tad more than most around here (I've seen too many signs that he's just not the leader this team could desperately use--and I think it would make a difference, esp. with the younger players--problem is his personality prohibits him from delivering here) but yeah he's not going anywhere -- gotta try to make it work with him, just as long as we don't approach building around him too shortsighted -- I wanna see us target guys that can jump in and produce now that are also young enough to be part of the future should we need to move on from Melo at any point. Please no short term, past their prime/overpaid vets, ok phil...we've got some minor differences in personnel but by in large, I agree with a lot of what you're saying. That's a very realistic off-season. Nice job. Man, would I kill for pick 1 or 2, boy. I want one of those top 2 big men BAD!!

Question: who's the eventually PG upgrade you'd like to see after next year? I haven't really looked into it past this summer. Have you? Who are you thinking about?