martin wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:

martin wrote:Now imagine him and Brunson with OG Mikal and a cutter

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/crumpledjumper/status/1840487618792091860

Good stuff. Are there any stats on KAT setting screens to free up a teammate?

Like in a situation where you pick the ball handler’s guy off of him and pop out to the 3point line to get the ball back after he frees up?

Where Kat sets a screen that frees up the ball handler to get to the rim or shoot off the dribble. Isnt the stat about KAT hitting a 3?

BigDaddyG wrote:

Rookie wrote:

BigDaddyG wrote:

Rookie wrote:

BigDaddyG wrote:

Rookie wrote:

BigDaddyG wrote:

Knicksfan wrote:

martin wrote:

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/knicksmuse/status/1840437467209429302

How can anyone hate this trade?

Hold on, yes, I loved Randle and Donte. That three against the Sixers runs rent-free in my mind. I wish them luck in their new situation.

But man! MAN! Remember many seasons ago when we were hoping for a star Point Guard and we finally got our star in Brunson? And his connection to the Knicks was clear since the beginning as a young NY fan?

What about a stretch 5 to truly compete in this era, a very talented and legit 7-footer who has played at his best as a Center and has the shot to rival guards! And the guy was a Knicks fan as a kid as well?! And his reasons to appreciate the franchise even beyond his fan hood are solid. He must be conflicted because he really seems to love Min and who wouldn’t after 9 years, but he is indeed coming home. He now has a chance to get his game to a new level while playing for his childhood team?

I’m very excited about this! Yes, people have questions and I’m glad there are because that means there is potential for better days from him. Just like it was with Brunson, so many doubting him and calling him a bench player and nothing more.

This is such a cool team to represent New York! I’m very excited about what this all could lead to!

The issue I have with the trade is that KAT isn't a center, IMHO. If the trade is Randle/Divo for a legit stretch "5", I can get behind the vision. Randle/Divo for another 4 who isnt substantially better seems like a lateral move, at best.

Would you consider Jokic a good defender? If not, then I guess it would be impossible for Denver to win a chip with him playing center or to make deep playoff runs. I really don’t get the argument. Towns does a lot of things at an elite level but that’s not good enough for you. Maybe you just really wanted to keep the status quo with Randle and Divo. Towns is a VERY good basketball player. Hating on him because maybe he’s not a plus defender is illogical. There’s a video on this thread of Towns bombing 3’s, then further in it details how he gets to the basket. There is so much to like there. It’s such a mute improvement over putting your head down and dribbling into 3 guys guarding the basket. Our floor spacing is going to give teams nightmares. No more 5-10 minute stretches where we can’t score. Our team got better. We upgraded talent. It’s all good. DDV can be replaced. His replacement might even already be on the team. What we really need is a healthy Mitch which isn’t Towns’s fault

Are you suggesting KAT is in the same stratosphere as Jokic? KAT shoots at an elite level. That's not a lot of things. KAT is a flawed star, like many in the league. Heck, Jokic is flawed. But he's still miles ahead of KAT in terms of impact. Yes, I'm hating on Towns because he's not a plus defender. The premise I'm hearing is that KAT is this stretch 5 who will lead the team to the promise land. But, how accurate is that if you can't defend the position full-time. The reason KP works is that he provides elite rim protection. As of now, all I can say is that team traded a borderline All NBA PF and a starting level SG for a borderline All NBA PF. I don't think it moves the needle.

Yes, I am suggesting Towns is in the same stratosphere as Jokic on the defensive end. Are you suggesting Jokic is in the same stratosphere as Towns from 3pt range?

No, but I'm suggesting Jokic is a better player. A way better player. Imma go out of my way and say the words "KAT for MVP have never been uttered. This is like saying DDV is close to Devin Booker because he's a better three point shooter. Jokic functions at such a high level on offense that it more than makes up for his defense. KAT isn't at that level.

Maybe you watched this already, it was posted earlier in this thread but I dunno. Look what Towns brings with his offensive skillset and tell me that this isn’t a great fit for this team.

I'm not arguing KAT is a scrub. My thing is, I don't really see him as center. If he's not a center, then what's the point? Even if you argue he's better than Randle, I'll pushback on anyone who says he Donte and a fake first round pick levels better than Randle. So what if Donte is unhappy. Trade him for a pick it a legit backup center. This move is lateral. We traded a borderline All NBA PF for another borderline All NBA PF. The difference is we're stuck with a borderline All NBA PF making $50M a year. You know what happens if he doesn't workout? The team is stuck with him. He's untradable for the next 3 years. Even if you extend Randle for 3/$40M, Randle and Donte combined still wouldn't take up as much cap space. If you're going to push all your chips in, I'd expect morenthan KAT.

The real question is would you rather have Randle at 5O mil per or KAT at 5O mil per?

technomaster wrote:

ramtour420 wrote:Biggest point is would you rather have a frontcourt player that's is the best 3 point shooter at his position who is a better rebounder and blocker and actually performs in the playoffs vs a guy who is worse from the 3, is not a blocker, worse rebounder and melts every time in the playoffs?

The stats clearly point toward KAT being a better player than Randle from a plug-and-play standpoint. And the physical numbers (height/weight/length) say he should give us better positional versatility as a PF/C at a time where we have a lot of center minutes available for the taking.

Any argument of Randle over KAT really just comes down to loyalty and appreciating his contributions in helping to pilot us out of dark times. But we already ripped the proverbial bandaid off when we traded away RJ and Quickley - I was about as sick as anyone could be after that trade. I hadn't felt that bad about a trade since Mason for LJ. (Camby for McDyess is just a notch lower!)

I miss DDV more and more as I think about how much he evolved in his time with us, and his gutty late season and playoff performances. It was like the Starks career arc compressed into 1 season. That 3 to sink the Sixers was sort of like his signature dunk moment. I was mentally prepared to have DDV as our starting SG for the next few seasons.

I feel the same way. Figured Randle wouldn’t make it to extension without some hefty concession. But Donte seemed like an absolute keeper with the NovaKnicks identity.

Spot on analysis.

BigDaddyG wrote:

blkexec wrote:

EwingsGlass wrote:

I think people overstate his “bad” on defense. I love this guy’s takes on tape. I don’t expect him to be Tyson Chandler good at defense. But he can hold his own.

I absolutely love this video take, including the human sound affects (boosh…boosh). I forgot how agile Kat is on his feet guarding pick and rolls. Looks like we have him at the perfect time in his career at 28 yrs old. Seems like his defensive issues was not ability but effort. And in this series under the bright lights of the playoffs against the champs while guarding an MVP caliber player, (on an island) Kat stepped up. Now image what he looks like under a defensive genius name Thibs. I’m not worried. Health is my ONLY concern at this point.

This guy is schizophrenic. Showers people with praise and the treats them like the anti-christ later. That said, these clips only confirm what I've stated. KAT is probably better defensively at the 4. He doesn't do drop coverage well and he doesn't really protect the rim well anymore. The Gobert thing doesn't really pass the smell test. In theory, Gobert would have allowed KAT more weak side block opportunities. He couldn't even get a block per game.

How stubborn can you be? Its apparent that you dislike Towns and refuse to see anything positive about him. In the video he IS guarding Nikola Jokić who if I am correct plays center. He is playing GREAT defense against him. How many Minnesota games have you actually watched???

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://twitter.com/kyleburndley/status/1840222528783970702

HofstraBBall wrote:

BigDaddyG wrote:

EwingsGlass wrote:I could see KAT taking the next step here in NY. Yes. Same stratosphere as Jokic and Embiid? Not yet. But not out of realm of possibility.

It's not out of the realm of possibility that KAT can make some gradual steps. But he's entering season 10. I can say it's highly unlikely that KAT enters the Jokic/Embiid. I know, but Jalen! The difference is that KAT was given unlimited minutes and rostered built to his needs.

Crazy to think a guy who will be making $60 needs to take the “next step”?

We did not trade just Randle for KAT.
Which one can still argue who is better. Including value of contracts.
Worry is that we traded two shot creators for a guy that enjoys pitting up 30 footers.
Can be argued Bridges will be the number two shot creator.
Which means our $60M final piece is a number three?

Next step for KAT is from All NBA to league MVP. There is always a next step.

KAT is easily the #2 scoring option based on simple metrics.

Mikal is secondary ball handler. 3&D++.

This is happening with or without you. Might as well climb aboard.

BigRedDog wrote:

BigDaddyG wrote:

blkexec wrote:

EwingsGlass wrote:

I think people overstate his “bad” on defense. I love this guy’s takes on tape. I don’t expect him to be Tyson Chandler good at defense. But he can hold his own.

I absolutely love this video take, including the human sound affects (boosh…boosh). I forgot how agile Kat is on his feet guarding pick and rolls. Looks like we have him at the perfect time in his career at 28 yrs old. Seems like his defensive issues was not ability but effort. And in this series under the bright lights of the playoffs against the champs while guarding an MVP caliber player, (on an island) Kat stepped up. Now image what he looks like under a defensive genius name Thibs. I’m not worried. Health is my ONLY concern at this point.

This guy is schizophrenic. Showers people with praise and the treats them like the anti-christ later. That said, these clips only confirm what I've stated. KAT is probably better defensively at the 4. He doesn't do drop coverage well and he doesn't really protect the rim well anymore. The Gobert thing doesn't really pass the smell test. In theory, Gobert would have allowed KAT more weak side block opportunities. He couldn't even get a block per game.

How stubborn can you be? Its apparent that you dislike Towns and refuse to see anything positive about him. In the video he IS guarding Nikola Jokić who if I am correct plays center. He is playing GREAT defense against him. How many Minnesota games have you actually watched???

BigDaddyG wrote:No, but I'm suggesting Jokic is a better player. A way better player. Imma go out of my way and say the words "KAT for MVP have never been uttered. This is like saying DDV is close to Devin Booker because he's a better three point shooter. Jokic functions at such a high level on offense that it more than makes up for his defense. KAT isn't at that level.

Jumping in on this thread.
Jokic has been the best in the game for the past 4 years. Only a handful of players are even in that argument, and Towns isn't one of them. And that's okay.

With the versatile talent on our team, I don't expect anyone to put up MVP numbers. Everyone on our roster is already getting paid. We're just asking players to do their part, move the ball and get the high % shot. He'll have some big games from time to time, but I don't think it'll be the norm. We're looking at Towns to do his part. And if we run into injuries at other positions, we'll ask him to do a little more.

ToddTT wrote:Hoop Collective podcast not overly impressed with the trade, and the final results for all the assets we had stockpiled in recent years.

Call the Knicks top heavy, lacking the depth we used to have. Injury prone. And not a lock to reach the ECF.

The consensus was Minny made out a little better in the trade.

Bontemps calling it a gigantic bet on Towns.

I was hoping they were going to change my mind.

That's a weird take from them. How are the knicks top heavy but not the celtics? We probably have a better bench than them.
I'm on the fence on this trade but i don't understand why they're saying this.