martin wrote:

Nalod wrote:

VDesai wrote:

Knixkik wrote:

VDesai wrote:Im also confused at the report - are they talking about hiring a new G League head coach that is better at player development than Diop (talk about a player that never developed) or are they talking about bringing someone on the bench on the main Knicks team to focus on that?

Anyway I think people are focused on the wrong thing. The Knicks have 4 veterans - Payne, Achiuwa, Deuce, Shamet that are meant to take minutes, and fill out the rotation. Add to that a 5th veteran in Mitch who hasn't played yet this year and it still weeks away. What people forget is that these guys have all collectively missed a fair amount of time while the starters haven't missed any games. So the starters have played more and these guys have underproduced.

Yes the Knicks have Hukporti/Kolek/Dadiet, but 2 of those guys were 2nd rounders and the first rounder is 19, raw and was brought in with the expectation of not playing that much yet. Is the solution to play these guys or play the 4 vets above, that are now finally getting healthy, more minutes?

The problem is, only McBride is a player who is worth more than the minimum on the open market. Everyone else came here for cheap because it was the best option. Filling out the roster with quality vets on minimum deals is extremely valuable, but not as expected high level rotation players. We made the big trades and that’s done, so now they need to really get creative to upgrade the bench outside of Deuce and a healthy Mitch.

In a 2nd apron league, where the Knicks have 5 premium starters, there's not gonna be a budget for $10-$15mm guys on peoples benches. Our $15mm bench guy is Mitch who isn't playing. Thats why there's such a push to trade him because the bench budget is tied up in a guy who can't reliably give you minutes and his role wouldn't be that of someone who could "lead" the bench anyway.

But my main point is we are harping on the rotations/mins etc., but we're in a weird situation where everyone on the bench has missed extended time and the starters have not. So The 6-9 man minutes have been inconsistent or non-existent, and man 10-12 were not intended to have a big role this year.

Good point. We have 15mm in unproductive bench time tied up in Mitch.. The comical "Knicks fielding calls about Sims" implies we gonna get something even better in return? Perhaps if a 2nd is added. Shamet played little last night but was that a "must win" situation or was he given extended minutes recently to see measure his contribution level? He is quick and defense is good. Maybe we rested him last night? Or, the Deuce is back loose and there are his minutes??
The Matt Ryan Experience seems to have come and gone.
Im fairly confident there is a disconnect to fans desires and how Thibs views his bench? LOL, "Yah Think"?
Mitch gives us some flexibility for Kat to play the 4 on offense.

Could also be as simple as he dislocated his shoulder 2 months ago and is suddenly wearing K-tape on his shoulder and maybe just needs the night off to rest up AND Deuce was back and Knicks had good enough margin.

Yes, those would be reasons. Knicks have to believe that shoulder would hold up. He is here to perform and on a min contract.