Phil is trying to build a team that can excel playing a team game. It's not an easy task. Not every player he has is a great passer. He has improved the number of players who can play without the ball effectively. That's a start. Guys who can move and get open, catch and shoot or finish at the basket. Of course we also need guards who can handle the ball and create plays, but also play effectively without the ball. So far he's improved the roster in these key areas. For all our players they will have to get better at the fundamentals and ball and player movement. I think this summer's moves were a good start tho.

mreinman wrote:Draft A
Lopez A-
Afflalo B-
Williams D
O'quinn C

you like afflalo over o'quinn?

Means that Phil and Fisher have seen some things in him that other coaches have missed or misused, and believe they can make use of those skills within the Triangle.

We will see, but I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt on this signing.

Jerian Grant-A Best point guard available, his BB IQ was desperately needed on this dumb team

Hernangomez-B Smart to bring in a teammate of KP, think he could develop into a decent role player, put up good numbers for his Euro team

Afflalo-B+, not the best SG available, but at a good price considering the current market (10mm/yr for Chumpert)

Lopez-C+ was really hoping we could do better than him and I think we are significantly overpaying but his interior defense was definitely an area of need. If he can average close to 10/10 every night I'll be satisfied.

Derrick Williams-C, has potential but has many holes in his game, not thrilled to be giving him 10 million, needs to actually play defense and not shy away from physicality to be of value

O'Quinn- B+, good pick-up, nice to have more than one serious defensive presence on the roster, the right to swap second round picks isn't a big deal IMO.

Porzingis: B-

Grant: A

Hernangomez: B

Arron Afflalo | A-
Are we forgetting that Afflalo was an 18/3/3 guy on the Magic and was being considered for an All-Star spot? He was in a terrible situation in Denver and his role was greatly reduced on Portland. If he can come anywhere close to those Orlando numbers which he should given his increased load we got a steal given the market. This guy works hard and is the epitome of a team player. He is a great shooter and a fine on-ball defender, also has an underrated post game and is a decent playmaker. If that bum Shumpert can get $10M a year, DeMarre Carroll can get a $60M contract we definitely got a bargain.

Derrick Williams | D+
Dude is trash we signed him solely off potential high risk, high reward signing. I would have preferred we pursue Brandon Bass. Hell, Jonas Jerebko signed the same deal and he's a better player on both ends.

Robin Lopez | B-
Well I think we overpaid although Omer Asik did get $60M. The man is a very good rim protector and P&R defender. Big time upgrade and a potential transformative defensive piece. He has good hands and is a good finisher at the rim he's a very solid player on both ends. Really I'd be thrilled with 12/8 on 50-55% FG with borderline All-NBA level defense in 30 minutes a game.

Kyle O'Quinn | A+
This was a steal. Another + defender, can block shots, racks up steals nicely for a big. He's a problem on the offensive glass with his putbacks. He has range to the 3PT line and has a decent midrange game, very smart player and a good passer. A Queens kid, at $4M he'll be a STEAL down the line.

This team should be miles better defensively next year. Galloway, Afflalo, Grant, Antekoumnpo, Lopez, O'Quinn all + defenders. If Phil gets rid of Calderon this was a tremendous off-season. I don't mind bringing in David Lee. I wouldn't mind if Alexey Shved or Ricky Ledo returned.

Looking as the moves as a whole and not the individual players, I really like the new team.

I'm a bit perplexed with the Williams move due to his lack of defense, but let's see what Phil has in mind. But the money is not crazy (in this crazy money world of basketball, especially with the cap going up huge. 4 year deals and ok salaries now are going to be huge breaks going forward.)

I love the Lopez signing and tbh, he is who I really wanted, even ahead of Monroe (the lack of defense would have come with a huge cost imo.)
I love the recent O'Quinn move as do most. I think he will shine here.
The Affalo move is risky. Like him as a player but hope he doesn't continue to fall off. Stop gap move perhaps.
I absolutely love the Porzingis pick. We took the huge upside guy who fits this system well.

I really hope we resign Shved at PG with some SG responsibilities. And I hope we can trade Calderon as his defense is going to hurt.

So far, I'd say Phil is sitting around a B grade. You can't control where FA's go, I mean look at how many teams have done essentially nothing and we really retooled and have a good team identity that plays defesne.

Draft: Overall A-

The Zing pick was high risk/high reward, but after watching the videos, it seems clear this kid can play. He, however, is going to need at least a 2 years of adding weight and getting used to the physicality of the NBA before he is ready for starters minutes. If he can stay healthy and add about 20 pounds over the next 2 years, he is going to be at least a 15 pts, 7 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, .380% 3 pt shooter, which would be borderline all-start. I still give the pick though a B+, because the kid is not going to help much this year.

Getting Grant was a A+. This kid is the real deal. If he was a sophomore instead of a senior, he would have been a top-10 pick. This kid should be starting by December, and I would groom him to be our point guard for the next 10 years. The kid can shoot, he can drive, and he can defend.

Getting Guillermo Hernangomez was a solid move. He looks like solid center prospect. We will have to wait and see what he becomes but he is a guy that if he came out next season, could have been a high draft pick, so getting him the second round was a good move. THis was an A pick.

Free Agency: Overall B+

AA was a A+ move. We could have overpaid for Green or Matthews, but AA was a near-all star player just two seasons ago. We got him on a very cheap deal, and I think he will be better than any shooting guard we have had since Allan Houston. He is a better shooter than Tim Haradaway Jr and Shumpert, and he is more consistent than JR Smith. Very solid move.

R. Lopez was a A move. We needed rebounding and defense and outside of Jordan, Lopez was the best center to provide those two skills. In the long run, we may be better off not overpaying Monroe. We have Lopez on a decent contract for four years.

Derrick Williams - C+ move. While it is nice to have a young guy on the roster with potential, Williams main flaws are things we do not need on the team: lack of hustle and no defense. The coaching staff already needs to work on developing Zing and Grant, and we have young guys in Langston and Early. Did the team need yet another project? Unless this kid has decided to change his whole mindset as a NBA player, we grossly overpaid for him, and if the deal is for 4 years, then I think there is a good chance the Knicks regret this signing. I hope the kid decides to grow a pair, because he has a ton of talent.

Kyle O'Quinn was an A move. The kid is a solid prospect that has proven that he is an NBA player. He might end up being our starter at PF, if the team decides to play Melo at the 3. The kid can rebound, defend, and hit an open shot. SOlid pickup.

Overall I give Phil an A-. I don't blame Phil for the FAs who decided not to come here, and I honestly think it may have been a blessing in disguise. We can now focus on building our bench and a solid frontcourt, and then prepare to make a play for Durant next year. A team of Grant, AA, Durant, Melo, and Lopez, with Zing coming off the bench would be one of the better teams in the league.