jskinny35 wrote:A) Keep taking our lumps and hope to add small pieces via the draft and trading expendables for role players (eg Knox)B) Swing for the fences/gut our roster/picks (bye RJ, Top, Mitch, picks) and go for Big Name Player to make Randle our 1B guy (eg Beal)
C) Focus on Randle and part with RJ (and Toppin) for a better outside shooting wing to complement Randle?
D) Part with Mitch and/or Toppin to acquire more supportive talent around Randle and RJ
E) Trade Randle for a similarly productive player or chance at high draft pick and see what Toppin has to offer
What would I do if I was in charge?
1) I would, obviously, pick up Randle's team option and let him play it out. See if this rise was somewhat sustainable or see where he regresses or what balances out and make the determination on a long term contract. Or not. A max contract could impact this team for the next decade, in both good or bad ways, so it's a careful decision to make. Not enough data from just this season, and his first season as a Knick was pretty ugly to boot. I've seen some people say "Super Max" which I don't understand. Knicks didn't draft him nor trade for his rights on his rookie deal. If you determine he can't help you long term based on his team option year, then hope you can sign and trade him for anything later.
2) I will be happy to let Frank N go. Good luck to him on his next team. I was patient for 2 and a half seasons and he just didn't grow and he didn't perform. Actually, while this will not be popular, I think he's kind of an *******. Not because he didn't produce, some players don't produce, but because it's clear what he needed to do to be more productive and he simply chose not to do it. There are rare bursts of aggressive play, so it's in there, he just chooses not to turn it on. My personal experience is occasionally you'll run into a quietly arrogant player who won't change, even if it hurts their team. Dwight Howard was this way for a long time. Great at certain things, but played in a way that hurt his teams because he saw himself as a type of player that didn't fit in reality on the court. If it's not working, you have to humble yourself enough to change. That's the bottom line. It's also a function of self preservation. I was patient for a long time for Frank N, but good luck to you son, get out and maybe a new team can help you. So long, thanks for none of the fish. I'm not all NY Giants and Jets QBs in all of NFL history handed off the ball as much as Frank N.
3) Rent the cap space. Lots of teams want to make big moves so be the 3rd / 4th team and sponge up some contracts and take the picks/young players as payment for being part of a larger deal.
4) Focus less on free agency from Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 types and just focus on trying to draft well. ( Remember these Tiers are broken down based on whats AVAILABLE, not against the entire NBA talent pool. For example, Fred Van Vleet was a Tier 1 free agent previously. Because he was one of the best available at the time, but against the entire league, he's not a Tier 1 type franchise player)
5) Assess a price point and AAV and total years for the veteran free agents in tow ( Noel, Burks, Bullock, etc) And if they exceed that point, be willing to let them walk. I appreciate what many of those guys did this season, but there's a point where you can't overpay folks past their projectible long term value.
6) Trade Knox for anything. It's unfortunate the pandemic did not help him. But he didn't help himself. A lot of the time, he looks like he doesn't give a ****. I can accept some draft picks don't make it, but if you fail, then fail fighting hard. Don't fail by shuffling around and giving inconsistent effort. Not acceptable. Wearing the Knicks jersey should mean something - Relentless. Passionate about the game. Non stop pursuit of greatness. Pure grit and fight all the time. You don't want to do that? Get the **** out.
7) I would keep MRob unless a good trade offer came. I'd be willing to let him walk as a free agent later if it came down to that versus overpaying him. He's just not durable. Maybe it's bad luck with those injuries but bad luck can cost you a big contract. That's just how it works. It's not always fair.
8) I would, as I stated before, use Toppin as an attack guard/lead guard to run some 2nd unit offense. He's got no shot as an effective NBA big man. I don't see long term upside in rim protection, floor spacing or running a defense. Let him handle the rock ( he's actually a pretty good passer but not that great with his handles) and hope he can improve his ball security and let him try to initiate the offense. He was a point guard at one point ( way lower level but at least it's something compared to nothing) I never wanted the team to draft him, but he's here and that's where I can see some pathway to doing something, even marginally as useful.
This was a good season for the entire franchise. But the idea that this team is ready to make a big leap into a contender very soon is just not realistic. These things take time. This team still needs to accumulate assets and they desperately need to start hitting on more draft picks ( RJB is working out and Quickley looks like an incredible value but you can't miss on Frank N, Knox and carry a luxury like Toppin and not suffer for that long term)
9) In terms of "big trades", other teams will want RJ Barrett as a centerpiece. And that's just not a good idea unless that player is Jokic, Doncic, AD or Curry. They 'll also want a stockpile of draft picks and the Knicks can't afford that either. The Knicks literally cannot afford the loss of draft capital in a big trade. This years pick will be early 20s most likely. So if it's not lottery picks, then you must give volume and the Knicks can't survive losing a volume of future first round picks.
This team needs to live or die or win or lose each offseason in the draft. The system was designed to reward those who draft well. If the Knicks don't draft well, nothing else matters.
