wargames wrote:

gradyandrew wrote:The most obvious window for Obi to get more minutes closed when the Knicks signed Hartenstein. Thibs has been reluctant to play Obi and Randle together and that more or less sealed it. Obi doesn't make 3's or protect the rim necessitating the signing of Hart next to him.

Cam had a short run before injury. Let's not read too much into Thibs wanting him to learn the defense for 10 games before throwing him into the rotation. From Feb 7- March 7 he got steady 16 minutes a game. Then he got injured.

I could see a scenario where Grimes, IQ, Reddish, and Toppin average about 20 minutes a game and play longer whenever the start ahead of them is having a bad night. You know like normal NBA rotations… this year the Knicks should have a very strong bench and Thibs would be smart to utilize them.

Times 2! He needs a shorter leash for when things are going sideways. Most importantly a plan to get whoever is playing well in during the last 5 minutes of games. There were a bunch of them where the bench had some good momentum only to watch Randle brick and turnover us into defeat. There were plenty of times when Obi outplayed Randle. I felt like IQ closed more games as a rookie than as a sophomore.

Knixkik wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:I made a mistake last year overestimating the two new acquisitions and I thought Randle would turn into a star and the reality is everything went south. We lost the guy who really was responsible for the previous year Derrick Rose and IQ Barrett slumped badly early in season when we started losing many games.

This year we start off with major league depth---quality depth and Tom T will have to be at his best to organize/utilize it. Getting the most out of Rose and Randle while limiting their minutes.

Each of our young guys--Grimes IQ and Obi are going to be IMPROVED. We have a new battle tested PG who will take charge and also make big shots. This team has great continuity(an important aspect) but also a shake in the arm with two great additions. We have decent size and length. We werent as bad as our record last year and we have guys getting better with major reinforcements. I think we can play w anyone

Completely agree. The Mitchell conversations have killed momentum but Brunson is a missing piece this team needed that should improve the whole group. My hope this summer was to keep everything the same but add Brunson and a healthy rose. Grimes is the X factor. Barrett obviously needs to take that next step but Grimes might be the complimentary piece that brings this team to another level as well. Hoping for this Brunson/ grimes backcourt to take off. Hoping for a recovery from Randle and the bench to continue to beat other benches.

The Mitchell drama could result in Brunson and co playing with a chip on their shoulder

All this “Mitchell to the Knicks” stuff in the media - 80% of it was a backhanded insult to the current roster

HofstraBBall wrote:

Philc1 wrote:

Knixkik wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:I made a mistake last year overestimating the two new acquisitions and I thought Randle would turn into a star and the reality is everything went south. We lost the guy who really was responsible for the previous year Derrick Rose and IQ Barrett slumped badly early in season when we started losing many games.

This year we start off with major league depth---quality depth and Tom T will have to be at his best to organize/utilize it. Getting the most out of Rose and Randle while limiting their minutes.

Each of our young guys--Grimes IQ and Obi are going to be IMPROVED. We have a new battle tested PG who will take charge and also make big shots. This team has great continuity(an important aspect) but also a shake in the arm with two great additions. We have decent size and length. We werent as bad as our record last year and we have guys getting better with major reinforcements. I think we can play w anyone

Completely agree. The Mitchell conversations have killed momentum but Brunson is a missing piece this team needed that should improve the whole group. My hope this summer was to keep everything the same but add Brunson and a healthy rose. Grimes is the X factor. Barrett obviously needs to take that next step but Grimes might be the complimentary piece that brings this team to another level as well. Hoping for this Brunson/ grimes backcourt to take off. Hoping for a recovery from Randle and the bench to continue to beat other benches.

The Mitchell drama could result in Brunson and co playing with a chip on their shoulder

All this “Mitchell to the Knicks” stuff in the media - 80% of it was a backhanded insult to the current roster

If anyone should have a chip on his shoulder it is DM.
We did not want to give up one more unprotected pick. One that may turn out to be another Kevin Knox.
Not looking forward to playing Cleveland. Won't be pretty if he has that game circled and he gets rolling.

Alpha1971 wrote:

franco12 wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:

smackeddog wrote:Get rid of Randle and this team makes a lot of sense, which I think (success or not) will be a fun team to watch and root for- I like that (Randle aside) they seem to like and enjoy playing with each other

Let’s give Randle another chance w a good mature pg. less more efficient minutes

Like 28 for Randle 20 for obi and if either is hot than go w that guy longer

I’d like to see that - I think 28 is too few- a hard 32, which will be hard for Thibs, but to get Randle to play all out, hustle would be great. I don’t see how Cam gets any time unless there are injuries.

I’m think we should try RJ, Randle, Obi, Hart & M Rob as the main guys to get majority of the minutes from 3, 4 & 5- go big or go small as needed.

Team should trade Rose, and the second unit should be IQ,Evan,Cam,Obi, and Heart.

For the Knicks to be a Win Win team they must trade RJ Barrett to Mavs for Reggie Bullocks ASAP !!!

BRIGGS wrote:

BingBong wrote:We basically have the same team as last year with another year of experience and growth with our youngsters. Then add Brunson and Hartenstein to the mix and I think we are better. I'd like to see Reddish get more opportunity to see what he can bring to the table. And who knows, maybe we even get to see Jokubaitis this year to see if he's the real deal. Regardless, we are better than last year IMO and barring injuries, we could surprise a lot of people. Sooooo glad we didn't give up the bulk of our very talented youngsters plus all of our draft capital for Mitchell.

I wouldve been disappointed w that trade. Its too much--notice 90% of fans think we did the right thing. Nobody on this board upset. Our team is set--now focus on first twenty games to see what is what

BRIGGS makes an important point here...

When was the last time we had near unanimity re: a starphuck? We made the smart move this time, and if we can be patient, we're heading in the right direction. The time for our Starphucking will be when it puts us into contention, but not a minute sooner.

Philc1 wrote:

HofstraBBall wrote:

Philc1 wrote:

HofstraBBall wrote:

Philc1 wrote:

Knixkik wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:I made a mistake last year overestimating the two new acquisitions and I thought Randle would turn into a star and the reality is everything went south. We lost the guy who really was responsible for the previous year Derrick Rose and IQ Barrett slumped badly early in season when we started losing many games.

This year we start off with major league depth---quality depth and Tom T will have to be at his best to organize/utilize it. Getting the most out of Rose and Randle while limiting their minutes.

Each of our young guys--Grimes IQ and Obi are going to be IMPROVED. We have a new battle tested PG who will take charge and also make big shots. This team has great continuity(an important aspect) but also a shake in the arm with two great additions. We have decent size and length. We werent as bad as our record last year and we have guys getting better with major reinforcements. I think we can play w anyone

Completely agree. The Mitchell conversations have killed momentum but Brunson is a missing piece this team needed that should improve the whole group. My hope this summer was to keep everything the same but add Brunson and a healthy rose. Grimes is the X factor. Barrett obviously needs to take that next step but Grimes might be the complimentary piece that brings this team to another level as well. Hoping for this Brunson/ grimes backcourt to take off. Hoping for a recovery from Randle and the bench to continue to beat other benches.

The Mitchell drama could result in Brunson and co playing with a chip on their shoulder

All this “Mitchell to the Knicks” stuff in the media - 80% of it was a backhanded insult to the current roster

If anyone should have a chip on his shoulder it is DM.
We did not want to give up one more unprotected pick. One that may turn out to be another Kevin Knox.
Not looking forward to playing Cleveland. Won't be pretty if he has that game circled and he gets rolling.

Wait Mitchell should feel insulted that we only offered RJ, IQ, Obi and 4 first round picks plus draft swaps. Wow, what a slap to the face!

Have not seen that offer reported? Allegedly, Knicks offered two contracts that were coming up on what was thought to be expensive extensions. (RJ, MR)plus Obi and 3 unprotected. Hard to believe since the last offer was rumored to be RJ (up for extension) IQ and 2 unprotected. Jazz wanted three unprotected.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sportingnews.com/us/amp/nba/news/knicks-donovan-mitchell-trade-offer-cavaliers-jazz/zntiambaujkem5vxjgaxvxjt

However, point was, both sides can make up some hurt feelings. Feeling is that they know it's a business but of course athletes are always looking for extra motivation. DM and some of the Knicks pieces mentioned will have a chance to go at it several times this year. Will be fun to see how it plays out.

Keyword: allegedly

Look, best we can do is do forensics and analyze compare the different rumors. It looks at least at one point Rose/Perry offered RJ, IQ and multiple picks. Utah countered RJ, Grimes and multiple picks. Knicks then countered RJ, IQ and even more picks plus swaps and Ainge continued to stonewall

No one can say, unless they are an ignorant Knick-hater, that the Knicks didn’t in good faith make multiple good offers and negotiated in good faith

And Mitchell doesn’t have to be motivated to crap all over us btw. He did just fine last year beating us without Gobert in a game Mitch played brilliantly in

Cough-cough……….Well said!