holfresh wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

holfresh wrote:

knickscity wrote:

holfresh wrote:

Nalod wrote:After years of mismanagement Dolan hired Mckinsey and since then he fired Grunwald and committed to Phil.

The "come to Jesus" moment we as fans can hope will change the franchise for along time. Its not a starphuch and does not mean stars flock to Knicks and no. 1 picks grow on trees, but a single decision can have long lasting effects.

If a rotting head will infect the rest of the body, Jim Dolan not involved in basketball is a good thing!!
http://nypost.com/2013/11/30/can-the-mba-crowd-save-the-knicks-rangers/

This was as big a starphuck as you have seen by Dolan ..Phil is the highest paid GM ever...And with zero experience at building a team...This is all from name recognition..He was brought in as a concurring hero to restore the Garden to the glory days...By definition it's a starphuck...

My problem is that the "culture" Phil is building isn't sustainable...You can't introduce the triangle if you are thinking about building the franchise for the long term...Not every coach or GM will want to run the triangle going forward..Why limit yourself to the small percentile that are willing to run it..It's why you get coaches like Fisher...Do we only hire Phil's disciples going forward??..How is that a good foundation going forward..It's a short sighted move...

Fisher has to run his own show..It's the only way the players will believe in him and want to run thru walls for him...Right now it's all about Phil...And by the way, how is that a good culture to foster??

I do agree that the Phil hire was the ultimate starphuck move. Where I disagree and I think you may be contradicting yourself is the system. I agree that talent wins, you do as well, so why be concerned with what system is being ran as far as the future? If the team has true talent, it should adapt to any system going forward in the event of a system change, right?

I'm not sure what is meant was by true talent..I don't think Phil is looking at the best talent available and he said as much...He is looking at guys with good personalities..He says guys from good families..Also guys suited for the system which Phil and Mills have said..

I think he tried to bring in guys with talent and character. This isn't Layden bringing in second round guys that overachieved and overpaying them.

Lopez is not over paid at 13.5 per??..Jordan Hill just got 4 mil from Indy...Seems like we outbid ourselves...Lopez was the 5/6 best player on Portland who was bumped in the first round of the playoffs...At that salary, he should be the 2/3 best on the team...And he is far from being that type of talent...

Even so, the money looks just about right, if a tiny touch high. Lopez was a strong value at $6.1 million last season and his new deal rewards him a substantial raise, even when adjusted for the rising salary cap. Lopez's $13.5 million average annual value is in a similar ballpark to Tyson Chandler ($13 million) and Omer Asik ($12 million), and he has a strong chance to be the best producer of those three over the full lifetime of this contract. There also aren't any major red flags to cause concern about the length of this agreement. Aside from a hand injury last season, Lopez enjoyed very good health for three-plus seasons after two tough-luck seasons in Phoenix to start his career. He's now firmly in his prime and his effectiveness, from a physical standpoint, should remain level for the entirety of the deal.

CrushAlot wrote:

holfresh wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

holfresh wrote:

knickscity wrote:

holfresh wrote:

Nalod wrote:After years of mismanagement Dolan hired Mckinsey and since then he fired Grunwald and committed to Phil.

The "come to Jesus" moment we as fans can hope will change the franchise for along time. Its not a starphuch and does not mean stars flock to Knicks and no. 1 picks grow on trees, but a single decision can have long lasting effects.

If a rotting head will infect the rest of the body, Jim Dolan not involved in basketball is a good thing!!
http://nypost.com/2013/11/30/can-the-mba-crowd-save-the-knicks-rangers/

This was as big a starphuck as you have seen by Dolan ..Phil is the highest paid GM ever...And with zero experience at building a team...This is all from name recognition..He was brought in as a concurring hero to restore the Garden to the glory days...By definition it's a starphuck...

My problem is that the "culture" Phil is building isn't sustainable...You can't introduce the triangle if you are thinking about building the franchise for the long term...Not every coach or GM will want to run the triangle going forward..Why limit yourself to the small percentile that are willing to run it..It's why you get coaches like Fisher...Do we only hire Phil's disciples going forward??..How is that a good foundation going forward..It's a short sighted move...

Fisher has to run his own show..It's the only way the players will believe in him and want to run thru walls for him...Right now it's all about Phil...And by the way, how is that a good culture to foster??

I do agree that the Phil hire was the ultimate starphuck move. Where I disagree and I think you may be contradicting yourself is the system. I agree that talent wins, you do as well, so why be concerned with what system is being ran as far as the future? If the team has true talent, it should adapt to any system going forward in the event of a system change, right?

I'm not sure what is meant was by true talent..I don't think Phil is looking at the best talent available and he said as much...He is looking at guys with good personalities..He says guys from good families..Also guys suited for the system which Phil and Mills have said..

I think he tried to bring in guys with talent and character. This isn't Layden bringing in second round guys that overachieved and overpaying them.

Lopez is not over paid at 13.5 per??..Jordan Hill just got 4 mil from Indy...Seems like we outbid ourselves...Lopez was the 5/6 best player on Portland who was bumped in the first round of the playoffs...At that salary, he should be the 2/3 best on the team...And he is far from being that type of talent...

Hill shouldn't have been traded for cap space because D'Antoni wouldn't play him on an under 30 win team but he doesn't command true center money. From SI,

Even so, the money looks just about right, if a tiny touch high. Lopez was a strong value at $6.1 million last season and his new deal rewards him a substantial raise, even when adjusted for the rising salary cap. Lopez's $13.5 million average annual value is in a similar ballpark to Tyson Chandler ($13 million) and Omer Asik ($12 million), and he has a strong chance to be the best producer of those three over the full lifetime of this contract. There also aren't any major red flags to cause concern about the length of this agreement. Aside from a hand injury last season, Lopez enjoyed very good health for three-plus seasons after two tough-luck seasons in Phoenix to start his career. He's now firmly in his prime and his effectiveness, from a physical standpoint, should remain level for the entirety of the deal.

http://www.si.com/nba/2015/07/03/robin-lopez-new-york-knicks-free-agency-grades-phil-jackson

U do know I can post several articles saying the Knicks wildly overpaid for Lopez, right?

holfresh wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

holfresh wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

holfresh wrote:

knickscity wrote:

holfresh wrote:

Nalod wrote:After years of mismanagement Dolan hired Mckinsey and since then he fired Grunwald and committed to Phil.

The "come to Jesus" moment we as fans can hope will change the franchise for along time. Its not a starphuch and does not mean stars flock to Knicks and no. 1 picks grow on trees, but a single decision can have long lasting effects.

If a rotting head will infect the rest of the body, Jim Dolan not involved in basketball is a good thing!!
http://nypost.com/2013/11/30/can-the-mba-crowd-save-the-knicks-rangers/

This was as big a starphuck as you have seen by Dolan ..Phil is the highest paid GM ever...And with zero experience at building a team...This is all from name recognition..He was brought in as a concurring hero to restore the Garden to the glory days...By definition it's a starphuck...

My problem is that the "culture" Phil is building isn't sustainable...You can't introduce the triangle if you are thinking about building the franchise for the long term...Not every coach or GM will want to run the triangle going forward..Why limit yourself to the small percentile that are willing to run it..It's why you get coaches like Fisher...Do we only hire Phil's disciples going forward??..How is that a good foundation going forward..It's a short sighted move...

Fisher has to run his own show..It's the only way the players will believe in him and want to run thru walls for him...Right now it's all about Phil...And by the way, how is that a good culture to foster??

I do agree that the Phil hire was the ultimate starphuck move. Where I disagree and I think you may be contradicting yourself is the system. I agree that talent wins, you do as well, so why be concerned with what system is being ran as far as the future? If the team has true talent, it should adapt to any system going forward in the event of a system change, right?

I'm not sure what is meant was by true talent..I don't think Phil is looking at the best talent available and he said as much...He is looking at guys with good personalities..He says guys from good families..Also guys suited for the system which Phil and Mills have said..

I think he tried to bring in guys with talent and character. This isn't Layden bringing in second round guys that overachieved and overpaying them.

Lopez is not over paid at 13.5 per??..Jordan Hill just got 4 mil from Indy...Seems like we outbid ourselves...Lopez was the 5/6 best player on Portland who was bumped in the first round of the playoffs...At that salary, he should be the 2/3 best on the team...And he is far from being that type of talent...

Hill shouldn't have been traded for cap space because D'Antoni wouldn't play him on an under 30 win team but he doesn't command true center money. From SI,

Even so, the money looks just about right, if a tiny touch high. Lopez was a strong value at $6.1 million last season and his new deal rewards him a substantial raise, even when adjusted for the rising salary cap. Lopez's $13.5 million average annual value is in a similar ballpark to Tyson Chandler ($13 million) and Omer Asik ($12 million), and he has a strong chance to be the best producer of those three over the full lifetime of this contract. There also aren't any major red flags to cause concern about the length of this agreement. Aside from a hand injury last season, Lopez enjoyed very good health for three-plus seasons after two tough-luck seasons in Phoenix to start his career. He's now firmly in his prime and his effectiveness, from a physical standpoint, should remain level for the entirety of the deal.

http://www.si.com/nba/2015/07/03/robin-lopez-new-york-knicks-free-agency-grades-phil-jackson

U do know I can post several articles saying the Knicks wildly overpaid for Lopez, right?

dk7th wrote:

holfresh wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

holfresh wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

holfresh wrote:

knickscity wrote:

holfresh wrote:

Nalod wrote:After years of mismanagement Dolan hired Mckinsey and since then he fired Grunwald and committed to Phil.

The "come to Jesus" moment we as fans can hope will change the franchise for along time. Its not a starphuch and does not mean stars flock to Knicks and no. 1 picks grow on trees, but a single decision can have long lasting effects.

If a rotting head will infect the rest of the body, Jim Dolan not involved in basketball is a good thing!!
http://nypost.com/2013/11/30/can-the-mba-crowd-save-the-knicks-rangers/

This was as big a starphuck as you have seen by Dolan ..Phil is the highest paid GM ever...And with zero experience at building a team...This is all from name recognition..He was brought in as a concurring hero to restore the Garden to the glory days...By definition it's a starphuck...

My problem is that the "culture" Phil is building isn't sustainable...You can't introduce the triangle if you are thinking about building the franchise for the long term...Not every coach or GM will want to run the triangle going forward..Why limit yourself to the small percentile that are willing to run it..It's why you get coaches like Fisher...Do we only hire Phil's disciples going forward??..How is that a good foundation going forward..It's a short sighted move...

Fisher has to run his own show..It's the only way the players will believe in him and want to run thru walls for him...Right now it's all about Phil...And by the way, how is that a good culture to foster??

I do agree that the Phil hire was the ultimate starphuck move. Where I disagree and I think you may be contradicting yourself is the system. I agree that talent wins, you do as well, so why be concerned with what system is being ran as far as the future? If the team has true talent, it should adapt to any system going forward in the event of a system change, right?

I'm not sure what is meant was by true talent..I don't think Phil is looking at the best talent available and he said as much...He is looking at guys with good personalities..He says guys from good families..Also guys suited for the system which Phil and Mills have said..

I think he tried to bring in guys with talent and character. This isn't Layden bringing in second round guys that overachieved and overpaying them.

Lopez is not over paid at 13.5 per??..Jordan Hill just got 4 mil from Indy...Seems like we outbid ourselves...Lopez was the 5/6 best player on Portland who was bumped in the first round of the playoffs...At that salary, he should be the 2/3 best on the team...And he is far from being that type of talent...

Hill shouldn't have been traded for cap space because D'Antoni wouldn't play him on an under 30 win team but he doesn't command true center money. From SI,

Even so, the money looks just about right, if a tiny touch high. Lopez was a strong value at $6.1 million last season and his new deal rewards him a substantial raise, even when adjusted for the rising salary cap. Lopez's $13.5 million average annual value is in a similar ballpark to Tyson Chandler ($13 million) and Omer Asik ($12 million), and he has a strong chance to be the best producer of those three over the full lifetime of this contract. There also aren't any major red flags to cause concern about the length of this agreement. Aside from a hand injury last season, Lopez enjoyed very good health for three-plus seasons after two tough-luck seasons in Phoenix to start his career. He's now firmly in his prime and his effectiveness, from a physical standpoint, should remain level for the entirety of the deal.

http://www.si.com/nba/2015/07/03/robin-lopez-new-york-knicks-free-agency-grades-phil-jackson

U do know I can post several articles saying the Knicks wildly overpaid for Lopez, right?

so phil believes in system basketball and is trying to get all the players on the d-league roster and nba roster to run the triangle. and he does not pursue players who he does not believe will fit in that system, and in fact has given the heave-ho to those who he felt could not or would not participate properly in the system.

basically the anti-isaiah approach, which is to acquire talent willy-nilly and place the burden on the coach to figure how to make it all work, or better yet, the woodson approach of putting the ball into the best player's hands and get out of the way.

well, if nothing else, at least we get to see you throw a tantrum in every thread.

knickscity wrote:

dk7th wrote:

holfresh wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

holfresh wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

holfresh wrote:

knickscity wrote:

holfresh wrote:

Nalod wrote:After years of mismanagement Dolan hired Mckinsey and since then he fired Grunwald and committed to Phil.

The "come to Jesus" moment we as fans can hope will change the franchise for along time. Its not a starphuch and does not mean stars flock to Knicks and no. 1 picks grow on trees, but a single decision can have long lasting effects.

If a rotting head will infect the rest of the body, Jim Dolan not involved in basketball is a good thing!!
http://nypost.com/2013/11/30/can-the-mba-crowd-save-the-knicks-rangers/

This was as big a starphuck as you have seen by Dolan ..Phil is the highest paid GM ever...And with zero experience at building a team...This is all from name recognition..He was brought in as a concurring hero to restore the Garden to the glory days...By definition it's a starphuck...

My problem is that the "culture" Phil is building isn't sustainable...You can't introduce the triangle if you are thinking about building the franchise for the long term...Not every coach or GM will want to run the triangle going forward..Why limit yourself to the small percentile that are willing to run it..It's why you get coaches like Fisher...Do we only hire Phil's disciples going forward??..How is that a good foundation going forward..It's a short sighted move...

Fisher has to run his own show..It's the only way the players will believe in him and want to run thru walls for him...Right now it's all about Phil...And by the way, how is that a good culture to foster??

I do agree that the Phil hire was the ultimate starphuck move. Where I disagree and I think you may be contradicting yourself is the system. I agree that talent wins, you do as well, so why be concerned with what system is being ran as far as the future? If the team has true talent, it should adapt to any system going forward in the event of a system change, right?

I'm not sure what is meant was by true talent..I don't think Phil is looking at the best talent available and he said as much...He is looking at guys with good personalities..He says guys from good families..Also guys suited for the system which Phil and Mills have said..

I think he tried to bring in guys with talent and character. This isn't Layden bringing in second round guys that overachieved and overpaying them.

Lopez is not over paid at 13.5 per??..Jordan Hill just got 4 mil from Indy...Seems like we outbid ourselves...Lopez was the 5/6 best player on Portland who was bumped in the first round of the playoffs...At that salary, he should be the 2/3 best on the team...And he is far from being that type of talent...

Hill shouldn't have been traded for cap space because D'Antoni wouldn't play him on an under 30 win team but he doesn't command true center money. From SI,

Even so, the money looks just about right, if a tiny touch high. Lopez was a strong value at $6.1 million last season and his new deal rewards him a substantial raise, even when adjusted for the rising salary cap. Lopez's $13.5 million average annual value is in a similar ballpark to Tyson Chandler ($13 million) and Omer Asik ($12 million), and he has a strong chance to be the best producer of those three over the full lifetime of this contract. There also aren't any major red flags to cause concern about the length of this agreement. Aside from a hand injury last season, Lopez enjoyed very good health for three-plus seasons after two tough-luck seasons in Phoenix to start his career. He's now firmly in his prime and his effectiveness, from a physical standpoint, should remain level for the entirety of the deal.

http://www.si.com/nba/2015/07/03/robin-lopez-new-york-knicks-free-agency-grades-phil-jackson

U do know I can post several articles saying the Knicks wildly overpaid for Lopez, right?

so phil believes in system basketball and is trying to get all the players on the d-league roster and nba roster to run the triangle. and he does not pursue players who he does not believe will fit in that system, and in fact has given the heave-ho to those who he felt could not or would not participate properly in the system.

basically the anti-isaiah approach, which is to acquire talent willy-nilly and place the burden on the coach to figure how to make it all work, or better yet, the woodson approach of putting the ball into the best player's hands and get out of the way.

well, if nothing else, at least we get to see you throw a tantrum in every thread.

The large portion actually is what all nba teams do. Sure, they have a system, but what coach wouldnt give the ball to it's best player? Jordan didnt take 20+ plus shots because of the triangle. Shaq and Kobe havent racked up the amounts of points they've scored due to "triangling". They got the ball and got it alot and it wasnt just in the fourth quarter.

The use of the Triangle isn't for the team Star players. They're great and don't need a system. The Triangle is for the rest of the team and it enhances the way that your team plays with your Star player. Since the Triangle has so much off ball motion it forces opponents to have to pay defensive attention to the movements of your role players which creates BETTER looks for your star players.

It's not supposed to make your stars less impactful. It enhances the role players by making things easier for them and keeping them engaged at all times. The famous statement is that in the Triangle "you're always in the offense".

“Pete Carril thinks the triangle’s easy because that’s how the game was taught,” Calhoun said. “Today the kids don’t know the game he knew. Not a lot of back screens today.”

Jackson and Winter, Calhoun said, had achieved less sway than Auerbach because of these times.

“What the triangle gave the Bulls and the Lakers was an organized way to put five players on the same page,” he added. “It’s not a miracle cure. It creates freedom.”

knickscity wrote:

nixluva wrote:What we paid RoLo isn't really the issue. To get stuck on that misses the point of what RoLo can give this team.
We know he's not the sexy pick but in terms of filling the role as the defensive anchor, screen setter, roll man and Triangle Post big he fits the needs the team had very well. He's not flashy but he's functional and effective.
He also is impactful without needing the ball.

RoLo also helps Melo and KP by doing the grunt work and physical things on the floor. Melo and KP can save their bodies for the scoring they can bring. At the same time RoLo does have the ability to hold his position in the post in the side Triangle and he's an Excellent Offensive Rebounder. This system will give him some additional touches and opportunities to expand his game.

Sorry, but you just described a totally different player. Robin Lopez has never been a "defensive anchor". How can you be if you dont average even 30 minutes per game. You dont need to pay 15 mil for a big that can roll to the basket and set screens. he is good on the offensive glass, but thats more indicative of a team that shoot and offensive rebounding is grossly overrated. The worth of a center will always be his defensive boards and Lopez is dismal on that end. He';ll be the biggest disappointment on the Knicks and the team is stuck with him for a full four years. Doubling his yearly salary was a gross overpay.

Sorry but you're wrong about RoLo. He is a defensive anchor and he has the ability to fill that role at a high level. He does need to be a bit more aggressive on the defensive boards but if he was perfect we'd have to have paid even more for him. I think he will help this team a lot as he did for the Blazers.

RoLo was excellent in 2013-14. He held opponents to just 42.8% at the rim.

                                                        Total   Opp FGM Opp FGA Opp FGP
Player	          Team	GP	MPG	STL 	BLK	BLK	at Rim 	at Rim 	at Rim
Serge Ibaka	  OKC	81	33.2	0.5	2.7	219	4.1	9.1	45.0%
Anthony Davis	  NOP	67	35.4	1.3	2.8	189	3.2	6.6	48.8%
DeAndre Jordan	  LAC	82	35.3	1.0	2.5	203	5.1	10.2	49.8%
Roy Hibbert	  IND	81	29.9	0.4	2.2	182	4.0	9.8	41.1%
Robin Lopez	  POR	82	31.9	0.3	1.7	139	4.4	10.2	42.8%
Tim Duncan	  SAS	74	29.3	0.6	1.9	139	4.4	9.1	47.6%
Dwight Howard	  HOU	71	34.0	0.8	1.8	128	4.2	8.7	48.1%
Andrew Bogut	  GSW	66	26.6	0.7	1.8	118	3.5	7.6	45.6%
Joakim Noah	  CHI	80	35.4	1.2	1.5	121	3.6	7.7	47.2%
Marcin Gortat	  WAS	80	32.9	0.5	1.5	120	4.7	9.3	49.9%

RoLo had an off year last year which was marred by a broken hand, but still he was a force for the Blazers even if not as good as the year before.

After two years of steady growth on the defensive end anchored by center Robin Lopez, the Trail Blazers head into the 2015-16 season relying on a new crop of big men to protect the basket.

Lopez was credited as the key factor in the Blazers' transformation into a top 10 defense over the past two seasons. In addition to Lopez, the Blazers will be tasked with replacing LaMarcus Aldridge's defensive prowess, the side of the court where his contributions were often overlooked.

Lopez fit perfectly in the Blazers' conservative defensive approach. He walled off the paint and protected the basket, contesting 50.3 percent of shots at the rim when he was on the court, according to Seth Partnow of Nylon Calculus. Aldridge limited opponents to 45.1 percent shooting at the rim, but didn't contest nearly as many attempts as Lopez. Opponents shot 48 percent at the rim when Lopez challenged their attempts last season. His activity around the basket helped save an estimated 1.47 points a game compared to an average center, the tenth best mark in the league according to Nylon Calculus.

CrushAlot wrote:

holfresh wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

holfresh wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

holfresh wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

holfresh wrote:

knickscity wrote:

holfresh wrote:

Nalod wrote:After years of mismanagement Dolan hired Mckinsey and since then he fired Grunwald and committed to Phil.

The "come to Jesus" moment we as fans can hope will change the franchise for along time. Its not a starphuch and does not mean stars flock to Knicks and no. 1 picks grow on trees, but a single decision can have long lasting effects.

If a rotting head will infect the rest of the body, Jim Dolan not involved in basketball is a good thing!!
http://nypost.com/2013/11/30/can-the-mba-crowd-save-the-knicks-rangers/

This was as big a starphuck as you have seen by Dolan ..Phil is the highest paid GM ever...And with zero experience at building a team...This is all from name recognition..He was brought in as a concurring hero to restore the Garden to the glory days...By definition it's a starphuck...

My problem is that the "culture" Phil is building isn't sustainable...You can't introduce the triangle if you are thinking about building the franchise for the long term...Not every coach or GM will want to run the triangle going forward..Why limit yourself to the small percentile that are willing to run it..It's why you get coaches like Fisher...Do we only hire Phil's disciples going forward??..How is that a good foundation going forward..It's a short sighted move...

Fisher has to run his own show..It's the only way the players will believe in him and want to run thru walls for him...Right now it's all about Phil...And by the way, how is that a good culture to foster??

I do agree that the Phil hire was the ultimate starphuck move. Where I disagree and I think you may be contradicting yourself is the system. I agree that talent wins, you do as well, so why be concerned with what system is being ran as far as the future? If the team has true talent, it should adapt to any system going forward in the event of a system change, right?

I'm not sure what is meant was by true talent..I don't think Phil is looking at the best talent available and he said as much...He is looking at guys with good personalities..He says guys from good families..Also guys suited for the system which Phil and Mills have said..

I think he tried to bring in guys with talent and character. This isn't Layden bringing in second round guys that overachieved and overpaying them.

Lopez is not over paid at 13.5 per??..Jordan Hill just got 4 mil from Indy...Seems like we outbid ourselves...Lopez was the 5/6 best player on Portland who was bumped in the first round of the playoffs...At that salary, he should be the 2/3 best on the team...And he is far from being that type of talent...

Hill shouldn't have been traded for cap space because D'Antoni wouldn't play him on an under 30 win team but he doesn't command true center money. From SI,

Even so, the money looks just about right, if a tiny touch high. Lopez was a strong value at $6.1 million last season and his new deal rewards him a substantial raise, even when adjusted for the rising salary cap. Lopez's $13.5 million average annual value is in a similar ballpark to Tyson Chandler ($13 million) and Omer Asik ($12 million), and he has a strong chance to be the best producer of those three over the full lifetime of this contract. There also aren't any major red flags to cause concern about the length of this agreement. Aside from a hand injury last season, Lopez enjoyed very good health for three-plus seasons after two tough-luck seasons in Phoenix to start his career. He's now firmly in his prime and his effectiveness, from a physical standpoint, should remain level for the entirety of the deal.

http://www.si.com/nba/2015/07/03/robin-lopez-new-york-knicks-free-agency-grades-phil-jackson

U do know I can post several articles saying the Knicks wildly overpaid for Lopez, right?

Cool. Post the articles that said the Knicks wildly overpaid for Lopez because I am a bit of a freak when it comes to the Knicks and I haven't seen them.

http://www.rantsports.com/nba/2015/07/03/new-york-knicks-wildly-overpay-for-robin-lopez/
New York Knicks Wildly Overpay For Robin Lopez

he New York Knicks have had a rough go of it lately.

They recorded the second-worst record in the NBA last season, only to fall to the fourth pick in the NBA Draft, where they selected Kristaps Porzingis, a 19-year-old project from Latvia that was greeted with boos by the fans who clearly disliked the selection.

In free agency, they were rebuffed by DeAndre Jordan, Greg Monroe and basically anyone not named Arron Afflalo who probably viewed them as a very unstable team in the midst of a tumultuous period right now. As a result of this, the Knicks appear desperate to get anyone, and have now vastly overpaid big man Robin Lopez in the form of a four-year, $54 million contract.
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This is not to be seen as a shot at Lopez, who is by all accounts a solid big man whose interior defense will help, but he is nowhere close to being worth $54 million. Granted, this is a strange time for NBA free agency, where the salary cap is projected to go up by a lot next season thanks to the new TV deals. But it does not take a genius to figure out that the Knicks paid way too much money to acquire a player like Lopez when they probably could have gone after a player like Kosta Koufos for half the amount.

The market the Knicks are in is brutal, and the team has suffered as a result of being placed under tremendous pressure despite not being that great on paper. Team president Phil Jackson has his work cut out for him, and Lopez is far from the answer to the team’s many problems. And now they will have less money going into the future as they try valiantly to acquire that coveted second superstar player next to an aging, unhappy Carmelo Anthony.

It is not an enviable situation to be in, and it does not promise to get better anytime soon.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/mitchlawrence/2015/07/10/nba-free-agency-ranking-the-top-overpaid-players-of-2015/

NBA Free Agency: Ranking the Top Overpaid Players of 2015

LeBron James will be making $24 million this coming season in Cleveland, which might be a bargain for the best player in the world but still falls way short of his target number. He’s told associates that he wants to set the all-time record and make $40 million for one season, a figure he should achieve in his next long-term deal with the Cavs. Yes, the money is going to go through the arena roof in the next couple of seasons via the NBA’s new $24-billion TV deal. But it’s already started with some of the whopping contracts being given out in 2015 free agency. “It’s a new era,’’ said one Eastern Conference scout. “Anyone with any talent is getting way over-paid.’’ Here are the top over-paid players of the summer, in the estimation of several NBA GM’s and scouts, with their new contract numbers and the salaries that they should have been paid:

Enes Kanter, Oklahoma City – After losing LaMarcus Aldridge to the Spurs, the Blazers went whole hog on the 6-11 Kanter, tendering a crazy, enormous offer sheet worth $70 million over four years. Next season he’ll make around $12 million more than Tim Duncan, who will play for a mere $5 million. But he’ll stay with the Thunder, who matched the absurd figure to keep its restricted FA. He’s averaged only 10 ppg and 6.4 rebounds in his four NBA seasons but now is going to translate into a major luxury tax bill. Once Oklahoma City unloaded James Harden in a trade to the Rockets because they didn’t want to pay taxes. Kanter is no Harden. “He doesn’t defend and he doesn’t pass,’’ said one GM. “He’s yet to show that he can really help you win.’’ While the Thunder think he’s worth over $17 mil per, a more realistic contract would be for $11-$12 million per season.
DeMarre Carroll, Toronto _ Carroll pocketed $5 million the last two seasons, but now is making a whopping $60-million over four years, thanks to the Raptors. He’s a top athlete and a valuable “glue player’’ who raised his stock in Atlanta’s run to the East Finals. But he can’t get his own shot, so a more realistic price-tag had him making $10 million per.
Reggie Jackson, Detroit – There were no bidders for Jackson’s services outside of his own team, but instead of getting him for a very reasonable $8-10 million per, the Pistons ended up paying a steep price to re-sign their starting point guard. He signed a five-year, $80-million deal. “He struggles in the halfcourt and is a shoot-first guy,’’ one personnel man said, stressing that he needs to prove he can make teammates better, starting with emerging big man Andre Drummond.

The Blazers signed restricted FA Enes Kanter to a massive $70-million offer sheet, so now the Thunder has to figure out if it will match the contract. Photo:images.designntrend.com.

4. Khris Middleton, Milwaukee _ Strangers to free agency, the Bucks went on a spending spree for former Piston forward Greg Monroe (three years, $50 million) and their own top free agent, Middleton. The former second-round pick averaged just 13 ppg last season, but cashed in with a jaw-dropping five-year, $70-million deal. One assistant GM called Middleton’s deal “an inside job,’’ referring to the fact that his agent, Jeff Schwartz, also represents Bucks coach Jason Kidd. Before free agency began, Middleton was seen as an $8-10 million player. 5. Robin Lopez, New York – When the Knicks shockingly lost out to the Bucks on Monroe, their primary free-agent target, team president Phil Jackson rushed in to give the defensive specialist and ex-Blazer center a four-year, $54-million contract. Lopez won’t do much for the Knicks at the offensive end _ he’s averaged 8.2 ppg in 465 games _ which is why he was slotted as a $7-million player. 6. Cory Joseph, Toronto _ The Raptors brought home a local product in Joseph, but the 23-year old point guard didn’t give them any hometown discount. After averaging only 15 minutes per game in four seasons with the Spurs, he cashed in with a four-year, $30-million deal. He was viewed as a $2.5-million back-up. 7. Al-Farouq Aminu, Portland _ In his first move to start free agency, Blazers GM Neil Olshey secured Aminu, easily out-bidding any potential rivals. The surprising four-year, $30-million deal was for a player Olshey drafted in 2010 when he ran the Clippers. Since then, Aminu has played only 22 minutes per game in five seasons and has averaged a scant 6.4 ppg. Most teams saw Aminu as a $4-million player. 8. Kyle O’Quinn, New York – This Jackson signing for $16 million over four seasons had everyone scratching their heads, especially in Orlando. A back-up on some bad lottery teams the past three seasons, the 6-10 O’Quinn averaged 5.4 ppg in only 15 minutes per game. He’s seen as a $2 million player. 9. Derrick Williams, New York _ The Knicks have always overspent on free agents and did it again, handing out $10 million over two seasons to the former No. 2 pick overall in the 2011 draft. Without a position up front, the 6-8 tweener is now with his third team in five seasons after failing in Minnesota and Sacramento. He should get $2.5 mil per.

Wow. Forbes even went after the O'Quinn signing. I wonder if the article was ghost written by Sheridan? At least Schultz talked about the current market but I disagree with the take that the Knicks were desperate to get anyone. I think after the draft PJax wanted Jordan more than any other free agent. He signed Lopez once it was clear that wasn't happening.

It was Mitch Lawrence who wrote it...

knickscity wrote:

dk7th wrote:

holfresh wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

holfresh wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

holfresh wrote:

knickscity wrote:

holfresh wrote:

Nalod wrote:After years of mismanagement Dolan hired Mckinsey and since then he fired Grunwald and committed to Phil.

The "come to Jesus" moment we as fans can hope will change the franchise for along time. Its not a starphuch and does not mean stars flock to Knicks and no. 1 picks grow on trees, but a single decision can have long lasting effects.

If a rotting head will infect the rest of the body, Jim Dolan not involved in basketball is a good thing!!
http://nypost.com/2013/11/30/can-the-mba-crowd-save-the-knicks-rangers/

This was as big a starphuck as you have seen by Dolan ..Phil is the highest paid GM ever...And with zero experience at building a team...This is all from name recognition..He was brought in as a concurring hero to restore the Garden to the glory days...By definition it's a starphuck...

My problem is that the "culture" Phil is building isn't sustainable...You can't introduce the triangle if you are thinking about building the franchise for the long term...Not every coach or GM will want to run the triangle going forward..Why limit yourself to the small percentile that are willing to run it..It's why you get coaches like Fisher...Do we only hire Phil's disciples going forward??..How is that a good foundation going forward..It's a short sighted move...

Fisher has to run his own show..It's the only way the players will believe in him and want to run thru walls for him...Right now it's all about Phil...And by the way, how is that a good culture to foster??

I do agree that the Phil hire was the ultimate starphuck move. Where I disagree and I think you may be contradicting yourself is the system. I agree that talent wins, you do as well, so why be concerned with what system is being ran as far as the future? If the team has true talent, it should adapt to any system going forward in the event of a system change, right?

I'm not sure what is meant was by true talent..I don't think Phil is looking at the best talent available and he said as much...He is looking at guys with good personalities..He says guys from good families..Also guys suited for the system which Phil and Mills have said..

I think he tried to bring in guys with talent and character. This isn't Layden bringing in second round guys that overachieved and overpaying them.

Lopez is not over paid at 13.5 per??..Jordan Hill just got 4 mil from Indy...Seems like we outbid ourselves...Lopez was the 5/6 best player on Portland who was bumped in the first round of the playoffs...At that salary, he should be the 2/3 best on the team...And he is far from being that type of talent...

Hill shouldn't have been traded for cap space because D'Antoni wouldn't play him on an under 30 win team but he doesn't command true center money. From SI,

Even so, the money looks just about right, if a tiny touch high. Lopez was a strong value at $6.1 million last season and his new deal rewards him a substantial raise, even when adjusted for the rising salary cap. Lopez's $13.5 million average annual value is in a similar ballpark to Tyson Chandler ($13 million) and Omer Asik ($12 million), and he has a strong chance to be the best producer of those three over the full lifetime of this contract. There also aren't any major red flags to cause concern about the length of this agreement. Aside from a hand injury last season, Lopez enjoyed very good health for three-plus seasons after two tough-luck seasons in Phoenix to start his career. He's now firmly in his prime and his effectiveness, from a physical standpoint, should remain level for the entirety of the deal.

http://www.si.com/nba/2015/07/03/robin-lopez-new-york-knicks-free-agency-grades-phil-jackson

U do know I can post several articles saying the Knicks wildly overpaid for Lopez, right?

so phil believes in system basketball and is trying to get all the players on the d-league roster and nba roster to run the triangle. and he does not pursue players who he does not believe will fit in that system, and in fact has given the heave-ho to those who he felt could not or would not participate properly in the system.

basically the anti-isaiah approach, which is to acquire talent willy-nilly and place the burden on the coach to figure how to make it all work, or better yet, the woodson approach of putting the ball into the best player's hands and get out of the way.

well, if nothing else, at least we get to see you throw a tantrum in every thread.

The large portion actually is what all nba teams do. Sure, they have a system, but what coach wouldnt give the ball to it's best player? Jordan didnt take 20+ plus shots because of the triangle. Shaq and Kobe havent racked up the amounts of points they've scored due to "triangling". They got the ball and got it alot and it wasnt just in the fourth quarter.

no.

look at the assist numbers and the ratio of usage to assist rate. jordan, bryant, and shaq were able to increase their effectiveness by playing in the triangle. they don't get those assists or move the ball as they learned to do without the prinicples of the triangle, which relies on cutting, motion, passing.

holfresh wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

holfresh wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

holfresh wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

holfresh wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

holfresh wrote:

knickscity wrote:

holfresh wrote:

Nalod wrote:After years of mismanagement Dolan hired Mckinsey and since then he fired Grunwald and committed to Phil.

The "come to Jesus" moment we as fans can hope will change the franchise for along time. Its not a starphuch and does not mean stars flock to Knicks and no. 1 picks grow on trees, but a single decision can have long lasting effects.

If a rotting head will infect the rest of the body, Jim Dolan not involved in basketball is a good thing!!
http://nypost.com/2013/11/30/can-the-mba-crowd-save-the-knicks-rangers/

This was as big a starphuck as you have seen by Dolan ..Phil is the highest paid GM ever...And with zero experience at building a team...This is all from name recognition..He was brought in as a concurring hero to restore the Garden to the glory days...By definition it's a starphuck...

My problem is that the "culture" Phil is building isn't sustainable...You can't introduce the triangle if you are thinking about building the franchise for the long term...Not every coach or GM will want to run the triangle going forward..Why limit yourself to the small percentile that are willing to run it..It's why you get coaches like Fisher...Do we only hire Phil's disciples going forward??..How is that a good foundation going forward..It's a short sighted move...

Fisher has to run his own show..It's the only way the players will believe in him and want to run thru walls for him...Right now it's all about Phil...And by the way, how is that a good culture to foster??

I do agree that the Phil hire was the ultimate starphuck move. Where I disagree and I think you may be contradicting yourself is the system. I agree that talent wins, you do as well, so why be concerned with what system is being ran as far as the future? If the team has true talent, it should adapt to any system going forward in the event of a system change, right?

I'm not sure what is meant was by true talent..I don't think Phil is looking at the best talent available and he said as much...He is looking at guys with good personalities..He says guys from good families..Also guys suited for the system which Phil and Mills have said..

I think he tried to bring in guys with talent and character. This isn't Layden bringing in second round guys that overachieved and overpaying them.

Lopez is not over paid at 13.5 per??..Jordan Hill just got 4 mil from Indy...Seems like we outbid ourselves...Lopez was the 5/6 best player on Portland who was bumped in the first round of the playoffs...At that salary, he should be the 2/3 best on the team...And he is far from being that type of talent...

Hill shouldn't have been traded for cap space because D'Antoni wouldn't play him on an under 30 win team but he doesn't command true center money. From SI,

Even so, the money looks just about right, if a tiny touch high. Lopez was a strong value at $6.1 million last season and his new deal rewards him a substantial raise, even when adjusted for the rising salary cap. Lopez's $13.5 million average annual value is in a similar ballpark to Tyson Chandler ($13 million) and Omer Asik ($12 million), and he has a strong chance to be the best producer of those three over the full lifetime of this contract. There also aren't any major red flags to cause concern about the length of this agreement. Aside from a hand injury last season, Lopez enjoyed very good health for three-plus seasons after two tough-luck seasons in Phoenix to start his career. He's now firmly in his prime and his effectiveness, from a physical standpoint, should remain level for the entirety of the deal.

http://www.si.com/nba/2015/07/03/robin-lopez-new-york-knicks-free-agency-grades-phil-jackson

U do know I can post several articles saying the Knicks wildly overpaid for Lopez, right?

Cool. Post the articles that said the Knicks wildly overpaid for Lopez because I am a bit of a freak when it comes to the Knicks and I haven't seen them.

http://www.rantsports.com/nba/2015/07/03/new-york-knicks-wildly-overpay-for-robin-lopez/
New York Knicks Wildly Overpay For Robin Lopez

he New York Knicks have had a rough go of it lately.

They recorded the second-worst record in the NBA last season, only to fall to the fourth pick in the NBA Draft, where they selected Kristaps Porzingis, a 19-year-old project from Latvia that was greeted with boos by the fans who clearly disliked the selection.

In free agency, they were rebuffed by DeAndre Jordan, Greg Monroe and basically anyone not named Arron Afflalo who probably viewed them as a very unstable team in the midst of a tumultuous period right now. As a result of this, the Knicks appear desperate to get anyone, and have now vastly overpaid big man Robin Lopez in the form of a four-year, $54 million contract.
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This is not to be seen as a shot at Lopez, who is by all accounts a solid big man whose interior defense will help, but he is nowhere close to being worth $54 million. Granted, this is a strange time for NBA free agency, where the salary cap is projected to go up by a lot next season thanks to the new TV deals. But it does not take a genius to figure out that the Knicks paid way too much money to acquire a player like Lopez when they probably could have gone after a player like Kosta Koufos for half the amount.

The market the Knicks are in is brutal, and the team has suffered as a result of being placed under tremendous pressure despite not being that great on paper. Team president Phil Jackson has his work cut out for him, and Lopez is far from the answer to the team’s many problems. And now they will have less money going into the future as they try valiantly to acquire that coveted second superstar player next to an aging, unhappy Carmelo Anthony.

It is not an enviable situation to be in, and it does not promise to get better anytime soon.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/mitchlawrence/2015/07/10/nba-free-agency-ranking-the-top-overpaid-players-of-2015/

NBA Free Agency: Ranking the Top Overpaid Players of 2015

LeBron James will be making $24 million this coming season in Cleveland, which might be a bargain for the best player in the world but still falls way short of his target number. He’s told associates that he wants to set the all-time record and make $40 million for one season, a figure he should achieve in his next long-term deal with the Cavs. Yes, the money is going to go through the arena roof in the next couple of seasons via the NBA’s new $24-billion TV deal. But it’s already started with some of the whopping contracts being given out in 2015 free agency. “It’s a new era,’’ said one Eastern Conference scout. “Anyone with any talent is getting way over-paid.’’ Here are the top over-paid players of the summer, in the estimation of several NBA GM’s and scouts, with their new contract numbers and the salaries that they should have been paid:

Enes Kanter, Oklahoma City – After losing LaMarcus Aldridge to the Spurs, the Blazers went whole hog on the 6-11 Kanter, tendering a crazy, enormous offer sheet worth $70 million over four years. Next season he’ll make around $12 million more than Tim Duncan, who will play for a mere $5 million. But he’ll stay with the Thunder, who matched the absurd figure to keep its restricted FA. He’s averaged only 10 ppg and 6.4 rebounds in his four NBA seasons but now is going to translate into a major luxury tax bill. Once Oklahoma City unloaded James Harden in a trade to the Rockets because they didn’t want to pay taxes. Kanter is no Harden. “He doesn’t defend and he doesn’t pass,’’ said one GM. “He’s yet to show that he can really help you win.’’ While the Thunder think he’s worth over $17 mil per, a more realistic contract would be for $11-$12 million per season.
DeMarre Carroll, Toronto _ Carroll pocketed $5 million the last two seasons, but now is making a whopping $60-million over four years, thanks to the Raptors. He’s a top athlete and a valuable “glue player’’ who raised his stock in Atlanta’s run to the East Finals. But he can’t get his own shot, so a more realistic price-tag had him making $10 million per.
Reggie Jackson, Detroit – There were no bidders for Jackson’s services outside of his own team, but instead of getting him for a very reasonable $8-10 million per, the Pistons ended up paying a steep price to re-sign their starting point guard. He signed a five-year, $80-million deal. “He struggles in the halfcourt and is a shoot-first guy,’’ one personnel man said, stressing that he needs to prove he can make teammates better, starting with emerging big man Andre Drummond.

The Blazers signed restricted FA Enes Kanter to a massive $70-million offer sheet, so now the Thunder has to figure out if it will match the contract. Photo:images.designntrend.com.

4. Khris Middleton, Milwaukee _ Strangers to free agency, the Bucks went on a spending spree for former Piston forward Greg Monroe (three years, $50 million) and their own top free agent, Middleton. The former second-round pick averaged just 13 ppg last season, but cashed in with a jaw-dropping five-year, $70-million deal. One assistant GM called Middleton’s deal “an inside job,’’ referring to the fact that his agent, Jeff Schwartz, also represents Bucks coach Jason Kidd. Before free agency began, Middleton was seen as an $8-10 million player. 5. Robin Lopez, New York – When the Knicks shockingly lost out to the Bucks on Monroe, their primary free-agent target, team president Phil Jackson rushed in to give the defensive specialist and ex-Blazer center a four-year, $54-million contract. Lopez won’t do much for the Knicks at the offensive end _ he’s averaged 8.2 ppg in 465 games _ which is why he was slotted as a $7-million player. 6. Cory Joseph, Toronto _ The Raptors brought home a local product in Joseph, but the 23-year old point guard didn’t give them any hometown discount. After averaging only 15 minutes per game in four seasons with the Spurs, he cashed in with a four-year, $30-million deal. He was viewed as a $2.5-million back-up. 7. Al-Farouq Aminu, Portland _ In his first move to start free agency, Blazers GM Neil Olshey secured Aminu, easily out-bidding any potential rivals. The surprising four-year, $30-million deal was for a player Olshey drafted in 2010 when he ran the Clippers. Since then, Aminu has played only 22 minutes per game in five seasons and has averaged a scant 6.4 ppg. Most teams saw Aminu as a $4-million player. 8. Kyle O’Quinn, New York – This Jackson signing for $16 million over four seasons had everyone scratching their heads, especially in Orlando. A back-up on some bad lottery teams the past three seasons, the 6-10 O’Quinn averaged 5.4 ppg in only 15 minutes per game. He’s seen as a $2 million player. 9. Derrick Williams, New York _ The Knicks have always overspent on free agents and did it again, handing out $10 million over two seasons to the former No. 2 pick overall in the 2011 draft. Without a position up front, the 6-8 tweener is now with his third team in five seasons after failing in Minnesota and Sacramento. He should get $2.5 mil per.

Wow. Forbes even went after the O'Quinn signing. I wonder if the article was ghost written by Sheridan? At least Schultz talked about the current market but I disagree with the take that the Knicks were desperate to get anyone. I think after the draft PJax wanted Jordan more than any other free agent. He signed Lopez once it was clear that wasn't happening.

It was Mitch Lawrence who wrote it...

CrushAlot wrote:

holfresh wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

holfresh wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

holfresh wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

holfresh wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

holfresh wrote:

knickscity wrote:

holfresh wrote:

Nalod wrote:After years of mismanagement Dolan hired Mckinsey and since then he fired Grunwald and committed to Phil.

The "come to Jesus" moment we as fans can hope will change the franchise for along time. Its not a starphuch and does not mean stars flock to Knicks and no. 1 picks grow on trees, but a single decision can have long lasting effects.

If a rotting head will infect the rest of the body, Jim Dolan not involved in basketball is a good thing!!
http://nypost.com/2013/11/30/can-the-mba-crowd-save-the-knicks-rangers/

This was as big a starphuck as you have seen by Dolan ..Phil is the highest paid GM ever...And with zero experience at building a team...This is all from name recognition..He was brought in as a concurring hero to restore the Garden to the glory days...By definition it's a starphuck...

My problem is that the "culture" Phil is building isn't sustainable...You can't introduce the triangle if you are thinking about building the franchise for the long term...Not every coach or GM will want to run the triangle going forward..Why limit yourself to the small percentile that are willing to run it..It's why you get coaches like Fisher...Do we only hire Phil's disciples going forward??..How is that a good foundation going forward..It's a short sighted move...

Fisher has to run his own show..It's the only way the players will believe in him and want to run thru walls for him...Right now it's all about Phil...And by the way, how is that a good culture to foster??

I do agree that the Phil hire was the ultimate starphuck move. Where I disagree and I think you may be contradicting yourself is the system. I agree that talent wins, you do as well, so why be concerned with what system is being ran as far as the future? If the team has true talent, it should adapt to any system going forward in the event of a system change, right?

I'm not sure what is meant was by true talent..I don't think Phil is looking at the best talent available and he said as much...He is looking at guys with good personalities..He says guys from good families..Also guys suited for the system which Phil and Mills have said..

I think he tried to bring in guys with talent and character. This isn't Layden bringing in second round guys that overachieved and overpaying them.

Lopez is not over paid at 13.5 per??..Jordan Hill just got 4 mil from Indy...Seems like we outbid ourselves...Lopez was the 5/6 best player on Portland who was bumped in the first round of the playoffs...At that salary, he should be the 2/3 best on the team...And he is far from being that type of talent...

Hill shouldn't have been traded for cap space because D'Antoni wouldn't play him on an under 30 win team but he doesn't command true center money. From SI,

Even so, the money looks just about right, if a tiny touch high. Lopez was a strong value at $6.1 million last season and his new deal rewards him a substantial raise, even when adjusted for the rising salary cap. Lopez's $13.5 million average annual value is in a similar ballpark to Tyson Chandler ($13 million) and Omer Asik ($12 million), and he has a strong chance to be the best producer of those three over the full lifetime of this contract. There also aren't any major red flags to cause concern about the length of this agreement. Aside from a hand injury last season, Lopez enjoyed very good health for three-plus seasons after two tough-luck seasons in Phoenix to start his career. He's now firmly in his prime and his effectiveness, from a physical standpoint, should remain level for the entirety of the deal.

http://www.si.com/nba/2015/07/03/robin-lopez-new-york-knicks-free-agency-grades-phil-jackson

U do know I can post several articles saying the Knicks wildly overpaid for Lopez, right?

Cool. Post the articles that said the Knicks wildly overpaid for Lopez because I am a bit of a freak when it comes to the Knicks and I haven't seen them.

http://www.rantsports.com/nba/2015/07/03/new-york-knicks-wildly-overpay-for-robin-lopez/
New York Knicks Wildly Overpay For Robin Lopez

he New York Knicks have had a rough go of it lately.

They recorded the second-worst record in the NBA last season, only to fall to the fourth pick in the NBA Draft, where they selected Kristaps Porzingis, a 19-year-old project from Latvia that was greeted with boos by the fans who clearly disliked the selection.

In free agency, they were rebuffed by DeAndre Jordan, Greg Monroe and basically anyone not named Arron Afflalo who probably viewed them as a very unstable team in the midst of a tumultuous period right now. As a result of this, the Knicks appear desperate to get anyone, and have now vastly overpaid big man Robin Lopez in the form of a four-year, $54 million contract.
Advertisement
Privacy
Powered By Genesis

This is not to be seen as a shot at Lopez, who is by all accounts a solid big man whose interior defense will help, but he is nowhere close to being worth $54 million. Granted, this is a strange time for NBA free agency, where the salary cap is projected to go up by a lot next season thanks to the new TV deals. But it does not take a genius to figure out that the Knicks paid way too much money to acquire a player like Lopez when they probably could have gone after a player like Kosta Koufos for half the amount.

The market the Knicks are in is brutal, and the team has suffered as a result of being placed under tremendous pressure despite not being that great on paper. Team president Phil Jackson has his work cut out for him, and Lopez is far from the answer to the team’s many problems. And now they will have less money going into the future as they try valiantly to acquire that coveted second superstar player next to an aging, unhappy Carmelo Anthony.

It is not an enviable situation to be in, and it does not promise to get better anytime soon.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/mitchlawrence/2015/07/10/nba-free-agency-ranking-the-top-overpaid-players-of-2015/

NBA Free Agency: Ranking the Top Overpaid Players of 2015

LeBron James will be making $24 million this coming season in Cleveland, which might be a bargain for the best player in the world but still falls way short of his target number. He’s told associates that he wants to set the all-time record and make $40 million for one season, a figure he should achieve in his next long-term deal with the Cavs. Yes, the money is going to go through the arena roof in the next couple of seasons via the NBA’s new $24-billion TV deal. But it’s already started with some of the whopping contracts being given out in 2015 free agency. “It’s a new era,’’ said one Eastern Conference scout. “Anyone with any talent is getting way over-paid.’’ Here are the top over-paid players of the summer, in the estimation of several NBA GM’s and scouts, with their new contract numbers and the salaries that they should have been paid:

Enes Kanter, Oklahoma City – After losing LaMarcus Aldridge to the Spurs, the Blazers went whole hog on the 6-11 Kanter, tendering a crazy, enormous offer sheet worth $70 million over four years. Next season he’ll make around $12 million more than Tim Duncan, who will play for a mere $5 million. But he’ll stay with the Thunder, who matched the absurd figure to keep its restricted FA. He’s averaged only 10 ppg and 6.4 rebounds in his four NBA seasons but now is going to translate into a major luxury tax bill. Once Oklahoma City unloaded James Harden in a trade to the Rockets because they didn’t want to pay taxes. Kanter is no Harden. “He doesn’t defend and he doesn’t pass,’’ said one GM. “He’s yet to show that he can really help you win.’’ While the Thunder think he’s worth over $17 mil per, a more realistic contract would be for $11-$12 million per season.
DeMarre Carroll, Toronto _ Carroll pocketed $5 million the last two seasons, but now is making a whopping $60-million over four years, thanks to the Raptors. He’s a top athlete and a valuable “glue player’’ who raised his stock in Atlanta’s run to the East Finals. But he can’t get his own shot, so a more realistic price-tag had him making $10 million per.
Reggie Jackson, Detroit – There were no bidders for Jackson’s services outside of his own team, but instead of getting him for a very reasonable $8-10 million per, the Pistons ended up paying a steep price to re-sign their starting point guard. He signed a five-year, $80-million deal. “He struggles in the halfcourt and is a shoot-first guy,’’ one personnel man said, stressing that he needs to prove he can make teammates better, starting with emerging big man Andre Drummond.

The Blazers signed restricted FA Enes Kanter to a massive $70-million offer sheet, so now the Thunder has to figure out if it will match the contract. Photo:images.designntrend.com.

4. Khris Middleton, Milwaukee _ Strangers to free agency, the Bucks went on a spending spree for former Piston forward Greg Monroe (three years, $50 million) and their own top free agent, Middleton. The former second-round pick averaged just 13 ppg last season, but cashed in with a jaw-dropping five-year, $70-million deal. One assistant GM called Middleton’s deal “an inside job,’’ referring to the fact that his agent, Jeff Schwartz, also represents Bucks coach Jason Kidd. Before free agency began, Middleton was seen as an $8-10 million player. 5. Robin Lopez, New York – When the Knicks shockingly lost out to the Bucks on Monroe, their primary free-agent target, team president Phil Jackson rushed in to give the defensive specialist and ex-Blazer center a four-year, $54-million contract. Lopez won’t do much for the Knicks at the offensive end _ he’s averaged 8.2 ppg in 465 games _ which is why he was slotted as a $7-million player. 6. Cory Joseph, Toronto _ The Raptors brought home a local product in Joseph, but the 23-year old point guard didn’t give them any hometown discount. After averaging only 15 minutes per game in four seasons with the Spurs, he cashed in with a four-year, $30-million deal. He was viewed as a $2.5-million back-up. 7. Al-Farouq Aminu, Portland _ In his first move to start free agency, Blazers GM Neil Olshey secured Aminu, easily out-bidding any potential rivals. The surprising four-year, $30-million deal was for a player Olshey drafted in 2010 when he ran the Clippers. Since then, Aminu has played only 22 minutes per game in five seasons and has averaged a scant 6.4 ppg. Most teams saw Aminu as a $4-million player. 8. Kyle O’Quinn, New York – This Jackson signing for $16 million over four seasons had everyone scratching their heads, especially in Orlando. A back-up on some bad lottery teams the past three seasons, the 6-10 O’Quinn averaged 5.4 ppg in only 15 minutes per game. He’s seen as a $2 million player. 9. Derrick Williams, New York _ The Knicks have always overspent on free agents and did it again, handing out $10 million over two seasons to the former No. 2 pick overall in the 2011 draft. Without a position up front, the 6-8 tweener is now with his third team in five seasons after failing in Minnesota and Sacramento. He should get $2.5 mil per.

Wow. Forbes even went after the O'Quinn signing. I wonder if the article was ghost written by Sheridan? At least Schultz talked about the current market but I disagree with the take that the Knicks were desperate to get anyone. I think after the draft PJax wanted Jordan more than any other free agent. He signed Lopez once it was clear that wasn't happening.

It was Mitch Lawrence who wrote it...

http://www.rantsports.com/write-for-us/

So Rantsports and Mitch Lawerence isn't credible?..Didn't you post an a pro Knicks article from a kid in his dorm room recently?