MS wrote:Putting the right pieces in place has always been this teams problem.

RJ statistically dealt with the worst spacing in the entire league last year, which is amazing. His skill set was obvious and they put him in a position to fail.

Which is why it’s so surprising we brought back Payton who consistently looked him off. Need to get him off this team ASAP. Rivers is going to help once he gets back as well.

RJ literally didn’t miss a shot when Quickley was running point last night

StarksEwing1 wrote:

wargames wrote:After how we loss KP, I am down with this. I just don’t see how we do it outside the draft..... even FA is thin as hell this year.

Plus outside of RJ we really don’t got decent trade assets except the draft picks.

Just keep building through the draft. That’s why it’s so important that we have many draft picks coming.

What also helps is that the days of only top 3 picks being relevant is over. Knicks got Mitch in the 2nd round and Quickley at 27

KnickDanger wrote:I remember an ESPN douche questioning if RJ was a bust after his second summer league game. Seriously.

#lazyknickshate

One reason why I thought we had a great great chance to get a second one with Woods. But we didn’t go that way. I do not think we will be a lower 5 team this year — somewhere between the 16-24 area.

We need both a front court player and another ball handling big—- all on the level of Barrett to take the next step

I do not think quickly or Toppin are either of those but that’s ok. We need to build up the quality of our younger players to parlay into another franchise player.

BRIGGS wrote:I agree with this 100%
Everything you said is right
Barrett is what I would call a tier two franchise player and a guy a team can build around

One reason why I thought we had a great great chance to get a second one with Woods. But we didn’t go that way. I do not think we will be a lower 5 team this year — somewhere between the 16-24 area.

We need both a front court player and another ball handling big—- all on the level of Barrett to take the next step

I do not think quickly or Toppin are either of those but that’s ok. We need to build up the quality of our younger players to parlay into another franchise player.

I agree with Barrett as a tier 2 franchise player. We still can’t expect him to be the best player on a contending team. But hopefully he can be the best player on a playoff team eventually and our next #1 guy comes and Barrett turns into an elite #2.

Jmpasq wrote:

wargames wrote:After how we loss KP, I am down with this. I just don’t see how we do it outside the draft..... even FA is thin as hell this year.

Plus outside of RJ we really don’t got decent trade assets except the draft picks.

We keep picking the wrong players too. Obi was not a good pick. Once again I like the players the Knicks take later in the draft.

EwingsGlass wrote:Gotta say, Barrett is showing real improvement in the areas I have been critical of. He is markedly improved at the FT line. He is taking better threes. He is working on his defense. I hope he keeps it up.

Small sample size but very much encouraged by his play thus far. If his defence can get near an elite level we got a perennial all star here.

Knixkik wrote:

Philc1 wrote:When RJ can play with an actual pg he looks like Larry Bird

People tend to forget Barrett reclassified up to Duke and should have been a college freshman last year. Barrett is the perfect example of media bias towards the Knicks (deservingly so though.) He was the consensus #1 pick coming into college , he had a great year alongside Zion. This was considered a 3 player draft until the Knicks got #3, then it suddenly became a 2 player draft. Then after an up and down rookie year at age 19 with a poorly constructed surrounding cast, Barrett is no longer considered a good young prospect. I really hope he proves everyone wrong this year. That would be a big win above anything else.

This makes me happy

EwingsGlass wrote:

Knixkik wrote:

Philc1 wrote:When RJ can play with an actual pg he looks like Larry Bird

People tend to forget Barrett reclassified up to Duke and should have been a college freshman last year. Barrett is the perfect example of media bias towards the Knicks (deservingly so though.) He was the consensus #1 pick coming into college , he had a great year alongside Zion. This was considered a 3 player draft until the Knicks got #3, then it suddenly became a 2 player draft. Then after an up and down rookie year at age 19 with a poorly constructed surrounding cast, Barrett is no longer considered a good young prospect. I really hope he proves everyone wrong this year. That would be a big win above anything else.

This makes me happy

Agreed. RJ is the shining light on a bleak horizon. Build around him / surround him with Players that compliment his skill set? Absolutely. When is the right time to implement a solid strategy for us to compete?