With his maturity and age, he likely will be able to contribute more and faster than many other players that we would likely be selecting, maybe WCS depending on which team/system
He would fit well IMO with their style of play and talents they have, especially with Kemba PnR and Battum
Don't know what to expect of Al Jefferson at his age but Biyombo *improved much and solid defender/rebounder and built chemistry already* and Maxiell *for vet min type money* are both solid players as well

I don't think he passes 12 for sure
In fact I agree, he won't even pass the Bobcats with the trades they made, he would fit in with Kemba's ability to penetrate, along with the defenders/versatility of

The addition of Battum and MKG gives them 2 VERY GOOD WING DEFENDERS in addition to the development of PJ Hairston and a BIG PG in Brian Roberts that also needs to work on his 3pt shot and maybe some post up's
They kind of both can give similiar skill sets to a Pippens role together, though Pippen was able to play POINT/PF, Battum is highly skilled but just had a bad year due to torn ligaments in his shooting wrist

Battum (his worst career year due to injury to shooting wrist)
Very solid verastile player that can defend multiple position, play point/forward as 2nd/3rd ball handler as a Triple double threat with a pair of steals and blocks

MKG, needs to fill out his body and get stronger without losing quickenss/speed/athleticism, and work on a LEGIT WIDE OPEN 3pt game, possibly even add a mid range post game like Jordan

I think we will have a tough time matching up vs Bobcats this year, but lets see how we will out our roster, as they have many returning players with chemistry already as we likely will have new lineups that need to build chemistry and exectue a different system together
I really like PJ Hairson as well and Jeff Taylor has a qualifying offer that could be let go *had domestic abuse issues last season*

Think Jeff Taylor and Jeff Adrien could both be solid pickups for us, for the cheap
I also really agree with Briggs that we should look to acquire Shabazz Muhammad, along with some of their other younger talents like Dieng, with 2 early 2nd rounders as well in this draft
Twolves really are interested in KP and I believe they would have no problem drafted him had they slipped to 3 and allowing him to develop with their young core

Rubio has been injured much but if he can turn it around like Curry had earlier in his career, his ability to penetrate/finish/facilitate would open things up if their young athletic talents like Wiggons/KAT/Lavine could elevate their games and hit a wide open 3pter, with Pekovic/Dieng playing Center
Had Rubio stayed healhty, I believe Thad Young would have if in nicely, playing off the ball as a lefty/versatile F
Justin Hamilton due to injuries was starting to be a solid plyaer for a couple of games before he got injured and was picked up off waivers
Then there is also Kevin Martin, though I think he is a luxury that I wouldn't want for us till we are contenders, but not worth his salary currently for us...

They have a lot of young talent and likely would want to trade Pekovic to get rid of his salary
I would be interested in a player like Pekovic if we are not trying to contend next season and can obtain many pieces to get him, even Budinger, as he is a solid post presence/rebounder if healhty
Though I still would consider Pekovic and Budinger negative contracts, if we can trade Calderon, and acquire assets *only if there is a likely chance of having another amnesty in the works after next season, if things do not turn out right* Maybe they even would take our pick and give us their #1 and allow KP to develop with KG developping him and Flip Saunders along with talents like

Shabazz Muhammad
Dieng
picks 31 (1st pick in 2nd round)
picks 37

future draft picks

015 second round draft pick from Sacramento
Sacramento's 2015 2nd round pick to Minnesota (via Houston) [Houston-Sacramento, 9/17/2014; Houston-Minnesota-Philadelphia, 12/19/2014]

2016 second round draft pick from Houston
Houston's 2016 2nd round pick to Minnesota protected for selections 31-45 (if this pick falls within its protected range and is therefore not conveyed, then Houston's obligation to Minnesota will be extinguished) [Houston-Minnesota-Philadelphia, 12/19/2014]

2017 second round draft pick from New Orleans
New Orleans' 2017 2nd round pick to Minnesota protected for selections 31-55 (if this pick falls within its protected range and is therefore not conveyed, then New Orleans' obligation to Minnesota will be extinguished) [Minnesota-New Orleans, 7/13/2012]

2019 second round draft pick from Miami
Miami's 2019 2nd round pick to Minnesota (via Charlotte) [Charlotte-Miami, 6/26/2014; Charlotte-Minnesota, 2/10/2015]

http://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/future_drafts/detailed

We need many upgrades and young talent if we are going to sign veterans on controlled salaries and with KP, there is a possiblity that both Twolves and Knick's could come to a deal
IF Philly does not select KP themselves

I think they have to draft KAT over OK4 as they have 2 solid centers already and KAT is more versatile just like Wiggons/Parker last season
Some say Russell could be the 2nd pick, which I find very hard to believe, I think Lakers are just trying to see if a team is willing to overpay for whoever they can get with the 2nd pick to speed up their rebuilding process and they were very lucky to be able to develop Jordan Clarkson last year as a LATE 2nd rounder and possibly the steal of the draft

Twolves are very interested in KP as they view him as a possible KG type talent and I do not think it is possible for them to trade with us due to the difference of salaries of #1 pick and #4 pick
They know they need 1-2 more season and together as they have a young core and it would allow KP to develop as well

So maybe there is just a 2% chance or so of acquiring KAT, though we would likely need to acquire Pekovic in the process, and again, would need assets to come with it, along with the swap of Calderon on a lower salary

Unlike Thanasis or even Galloway, there are not many years in which Sanchez can possibly get a decent contract while he is in his prime and possibly EARN a contract like Copeland
Sanchez is playing for Toronto Raptors this summer league, so not sure if he burned the bridge to play for NYK's
He is a bit undersized however, I think he actually fits the Triangle and could be a player such as a poor mans Jared Sullinger/Boris Diaw/Channing Frye/McRoberts type of talent that could play in the high/deep post, and hit the 3pter, put the ball and penetrate if defended by PF's and facilitate/finish, along with finishing in the paint/mid post on PnR's with a SF defending him

I posted and reposted the D Leager's that I really like in my other threads, I hope the Knick's or somebody would pick those guys up
There are many solid players left, especially shooters, and some F's like Covington

1- Jerrelle Benimon SF, SF/PF, strech 4, maybe a Lamor Odom/Robert Covington type player as a triple double threat
2- Jarell Eddie, G/F, a Danny Green/Eddie Houste *not chucker though* type talent on shooting
3- Scotty Hopson, G/F, another G/F that can shoot and score/penetrate/facilitate, decent versatile game as well

3 IMO, are must adds to our roster, to 2year deals and 3year deals with leverage with partial guarantee for year 1 and unguaranteed after

Then there are shot blockers such Thabeet who obviously were not ready for the NBA but has worked his ass off the past couple of seasons and could be a defender that Roy Hibbert once was for CHEAP
Along with Jared Cunningham *improved his 3pt shooting much and was once regarded as Westbrook like for size/athleticism/pentration/finish*
Even Nate Walters as a backup sniper for a Steve Kerr like role that Briggs thought would be Steve Nash...

or some more traditonal PG's as solid backups as well

While I do think think there is another Whiteside, I believe we need to give much more attention to the D League, as many solid callups have been made the past couple of season by many teams, as we found one in Galloway, missed out on quite a few including Covington, Whiteside, Jabari Brown, Tyler Johnson, and a few others LAST SEASON ALONE

some others of recent success include

Brandon Wright
James Johnson *especially with Lebron and many SF's playing PF's now*

Gereld Green

I thought Jeremy Tyler was a solid player that has motor issues but had good potential, he just didn't have the work ethic/willingness to improve both his body/NBA shape/ and skills/weakness's
Tyler along with Copeland/Kmart all played PF/C for us and fit very well with CA with their mobility/shot blocking/rebounding, even with our 54 game win season, with CA playing the 4 or 2 mobile PF/C's with one being able to spread the floor and put it on the floor like KP could possibly do

even Captain Jack aka Stephen Jackson was from the D League prior to his arrival for his 1st ring with The Spur's and he was a solid player throughout his career that had a clutch gene and that toughness/underdog that NYK's was once associated with

Keep in mind, Wesley Matthews is saying he wants 15m a year despite coming off an injury, and though I do not think he will get it, I think we can all agree that we might want to lock up some YOUNG CHEAP TALENT while we still POSSIBLY can, for some roster spots, so we can afford to acquire a Durant or/and Whiteside, next year

Ed Davis opting out of a vet minish contract, demanding 8m - 10m per year, despite being a 3rd string PF/C
Really wonder what would Koufus cost this off season along with Brandon Wright

the MLE next season would be above 8m with the rise of the cap going up 20m each year following th TV Deals
So poison pills this year could be a solid way to acquire a FA such as Mike Muscula if possible, making him peannuts, by year 3, in which we would have 2 season to acquire talent and hopefully contend with a roster in place already

http://www.ultimateknicks.com/forum/topic.asp?t=51180

wh4t wrote:

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://twitter.com/Knicklyn1981/status/614137624958246912

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://twitter.com/Knicklyn1981/status/614138168598728705

http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/106901/behind-kaminsky-iiis-consistently-improving-statistics

Frank Kaminsky III’s career started off humbly. Wisconsin and Northwestern were the only major-conference programs to offer him a scholarship. He was not ranked in the top 100 in his class in in ESPN’s recruiting ranks. His statistics have improved every season, however, and he was the consensus national player of the year this past season and a potential lottery pick in the NBA draft.

What was the turning point?

Kaminsky III put his name on the map in the fourth game of his junior season, scoring a career-high 43 points on 16-of-19 shooting against North Dakota. He averaged less than 10 minutes per game before that game and more than 30 per game after it. His points per game and rebounds per game grew by more than four times, and his field goal shooting went from 43 percent before that game to 54 percent after it.

What sets Kaminsky III apart?

Kaminsky III’s biggest strength is his polished perimeter game, which is expected to translate well to the NBA, especially as part of a pick-and-pop set. He could fill the role of a stretch 4, the type of player who has become more valuable in today’s NBA with the ability to pull an interior defender to the perimeter.

Kaminsky III has been a perimeter threat in his college career, with 27.5 percent of his attempts coming from behind the 3-point line. He shot 36.9 percent from long range for his four-year career, including 41.6 percent his senior year.

Last season, only one 7-footer in the NBA made at least 100 3-pointers and shot better than 35 percent from deep: Dirk Nowitzki. Kaminsky III’s playing height was measured at 7 feet, ¾ inches at the NBA combine.

Moreover, Kaminsky III led the nation in Player Efficiency Rating last season.

In fact, his 34.4 PER ranks sixth among all players from the 2009-10 season to the present, according to CBB Reference.

Can he defend?

Kaminsky III was the tallest measured player at the NBA combine this year. Of 63 participants, though, 31 had a longer wing span than Kaminsky III.

Kaminsky III’s wing span was three-quarters of an inch shorter than his height without shoes. Beginning with the 2000 draft, there have been two other big men who were first-round draft picks whose wing span was shorter than his height without shoes: Mason Plumlee and Kelly Olynyk.

Moreover, Kaminsky III trailed eight other players in the standing reach, a good measurement for rim protection because it measures the player’s highest reach without jumping.

Players with the highest standing reach at the combine have been some of the NBA’s premier rim protectors. Rudy Gobert, DeAndre Jordan and Hassan Whiteside each were measured with a standing reach of at least 9 feet, 5 inches, 3.5 inches longer than what Kaminsky III was measured at.

Beginning with the 2000 draft, two draftees since 2000 have measured at least as tall as Kaminsky III and had a shorter standing reach: Meyers Leonard and Aaron Gray. Those two players have combined to average 0.3 blocks per game in their careers.

According to Synergy Sports, among 118 players who defended at least 75 post-up plays last season, Kaminsky ranked 84th in opponent points per play (0.83) and 97th in field goal percentage (47.5 percent). He will need to improve in that area to become a better two-way player.

Good company

As a recipient of the Wooden, Naismith and the Associated Press Player of the Year awards, Kaminsky III is in good company. Among the 27 former players to have won all three awards in the same season, all but one were taken in the lottery. Jameer Nelson was the exception.

Among those 27 players, there have been five big men who stayed in college for four seasons: Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Ralph Sampson (swept the awards twice), Christian Laettner and Kenyon Martin.

Kaminsky Nurkic a 2016# 1 from Denver and Ill be happy. Trey Lyles would be waste--there are 2-3 6-9 240 pound PF sitting in the 30s who are just as good on offense and better on D. Kaminsky is 7-1 and hes a drop dead 3 point shooter in a league where thats important.