WaltLongmire wrote:BRIGGS wrote:WaltLongmire wrote:I have no doubt that OK4 will be a fine offensive player in this league.The question with him still concerns his defensive presence as a big man.
Here is the simple Catch-22 for the Knicks and OK4...
If he plays 4 for us, Anthony is at 3, and you have the makings of a defensively challenged frontline with at least two players who are very slow for their respective positions. (Also means you have to find a 5 to clean up their mess.) Both of them will score, but will they give up more than they put in?
If he plays 5 you have a potentially weak defender at the position where we are desperate for a rim protector. This problem is further exacerbated if Anthony has to move to the 4- you then have two weak rim protectors in the positions you depend on for shot blocking.
The most important aspect of OK4s development once he is in the league will be his progress as a defender.
I can go back and there are 50 of these posts about Blake Griffin. Its pretty simple its either you see it or you don't. I don't see any logic drafting a player based on what I have--you take the bets long term prospect at 2-3. Carmelo is 30 coming off knee surgery and Ok4 is 19. One reason why I have been touting Christian Wood(or a player like him) is that we can find a mobile 4-5 who can block shots--something like what OKC has with Ibaka to pair with Ok4. Ok4 can come off the bench to start whatever---Im in no rush as a fan--I just want the thing built right. I DO NOT want an express train rebuild just to get an 8th seed. I will be VERY surprised if Okafor is not a top 3 or even the best player in this draft when all is said and done. I can just see how effective he will be with his skill level for a team in the post--he'll be a tough guard and he is a willing passer--I just think hes going to be great.
Blake has Jordan on his team, helps him out and allows him to be more aggressive on D in some ways because he knows Jordan can clean many of his mistakes.
Kanter, a limited defender, has Ibaka. Ibaka will also allow guys like Durant and Westbrook be more aggressive playing the passing lanes at times, because he's a good shot blocker.
So you would take OK4 over Towns at this point??
I'd be more than happy if we ended up with OK4, but I'm not ready to close my eyes to the potential issues that arise on the defensive end if we have him, and I believe he will end up being a center when all is said and done.
As for being in "no rush as a fan," you and I don't run the team. I think Phil would rather see some significant movement in terms of our record next year. I don't think he's going to be foolish and attempt to build a team that will never be better than the 7th or 8th seed in the East, but I also believe that he cares about his short term legacy, and doesn't want to step away and let another GM start another rebuild.
His biggest "move" so far was resigning Anthony to a contract that many (myself included) did not like, and he is wed to that decision and its consequences. This draft has to take Anthony into consideration, so in this way, I disagree with you here.
The Knicks have many holes to fill, but Anthony is here for at least the next 3 years, and you have to take into consideration his presence and his strengths and weaknesses, in one way or another
I would take
1. Towns
2. Okafor
All teams should want to improve but not at the expense of going back to the NBA treadmill. I think the fans would respect the process of building a winner vs building a team like we had 3 years ago that won 54 times but never had a chance of really winning and then burned out quick.
Yep if we get Okafor we need a C and if we get Towns we still need a C or PF--same thing. Id rather use assets towards picking up a 2nd pick in this draft full of interesting big men to pair together.
