blkexec wrote:

nixluva wrote:

meloshouldgo wrote:

newyorker4ever wrote:Actually in a small ball lineup it would be:

C--KP
PF--Melo or Durant
SF--Durant or Melo

Then they could either trade Rolo for a guard or just keep him and he could still play 25/30 minutes off the bench. I know this isn't happening so don't get all crazy i'm just saying that if by some crazy chance we did somehow get him there is plenty of ways that everyone could still get plenty of floor time.

The problem isn't floor time, the problem is sharing the ball. By the time Melo and Durant get their touches you are looking at a repeat of OKC.

I actually think they would have less of a problem blending than you suggest. Melo and KD have been able to play with other top players and fall back a bit. I think the difference is that we will likely add more ball movers to the roster so that things would have the right balance. If you have KP, Melo and KD of course they'll take the majority of the shots tho.

The only time it's a problem is if you throw Westbrook in the mix.

Right, because a PG who's the first legit triple double machine since Oscar and is second in the league in added wins for PG behind some idiot named Curry should truly prove to be a problem.
I'd much rather wait patiently for Grant or Galloway to get to that level.

If Phil ever managed to pull off a KD + Westbrook-level starphucque, he could retire on the spot and run for NYC Mayor Governor POTUS Zen Emperor of the Solar System.

SwishAndDish13 wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:LOL how can the Knicks even consider signing Durant. They only have 19mill to play with. With what money people?!!

If anything he's signing a 1 year deal with OKC and getting a SUPERMAX contract when the cap balloons even more.

I think most assume Williams and Afflalo will opt out. If that is the case the Knicks will have closer to 30 mil in space. That's more realistic then signing a player to the max who doesn't address our core need (the backcourt) and wants to compete for a Championship.

Exactly. Though signing KD would be a coup, it doesn't address the glaring hole in the backcourt at all.

Also KD would be leaving redunkulous amounts of moolah:

You simply don't pass up $200 mill in GUARANTEED DINERO. Being 1 win away from upsetting the champs and the NBA finals also another considerable factor that makes KD to KNICKS a negative probability.

newyorker4ever wrote:Actually in a small ball lineup it would be:

C--KP
PF--Melo or Durant
SF--Durant or Melo

Then they could either trade Rolo for a guard or just keep him and he could still play 25/30 minutes off the bench. I know this isn't happening so don't get all crazy i'm just saying that if by some crazy chance we did somehow get him there is plenty of ways that everyone could still get plenty of floor time.

Like you, I know this aint happening but Durant is 6'11"/7', and as he gets older he's going to be better suited as a stretch 4. So I could see that lineup working.

EnySpree wrote:Let's put Durant in NY against the final 2 in the east:

Love. Scola. Melo
LeBron. Carroll Durant
Tristan Biyombo KP
Kyrie. Lowry. Jerian
JR Smith Derozen Wroten

Our backcourt has above average defenders with great size. They both can get to the rim when they want to. After that you are talking about an elite level of talent in the front court. Willing passers and good outside shooters . If they buy in, they could run teams off the court. They would also have good of muscle off the bench. We can compete with the top two teams. I would argue that the Knicks would be better, on paper.

I mean, I'm Mr. Ultimatehomer, but Grant and Wroten are part of making us better on paper in any way shape or form than those two back courts? You're reaching an awful lot for two guys who haven't proven they can shoot their way out of paper bag.

KD would be a huge quantum leap forward offensively, but we lose Rolo's half of the rim protection. We better get much better backcourt help if we are going to be even approaching the level of better than either of those squads.

nixluva wrote:

Vmart wrote:If OKC adds Evan Turner they become a championship team. They need a smart ball mover at sg and Turner really fits.

That's an excellent observation. I wonder if they make that move?

or both turner and durant come to new york.

jrodmc wrote:

blkexec wrote:

nixluva wrote:

meloshouldgo wrote:

newyorker4ever wrote:Actually in a small ball lineup it would be:

C--KP
PF--Melo or Durant
SF--Durant or Melo

Then they could either trade Rolo for a guard or just keep him and he could still play 25/30 minutes off the bench. I know this isn't happening so don't get all crazy i'm just saying that if by some crazy chance we did somehow get him there is plenty of ways that everyone could still get plenty of floor time.

The problem isn't floor time, the problem is sharing the ball. By the time Melo and Durant get their touches you are looking at a repeat of OKC.

I actually think they would have less of a problem blending than you suggest. Melo and KD have been able to play with other top players and fall back a bit. I think the difference is that we will likely add more ball movers to the roster so that things would have the right balance. If you have KP, Melo and KD of course they'll take the majority of the shots tho.

The only time it's a problem is if you throw Westbrook in the mix.

Right, because a PG who's the first legit triple double machine since Oscar and is second in the league in added wins for PG behind some idiot named Curry should truly prove to be a problem.
I'd much rather wait patiently for Grant or Galloway to get to that level.

If Phil ever managed to pull off a KD + Westbrook-level starphucque, he could retire on the spot and run for NYC Mayor Governor POTUS Zen Emperor of the Solar System.

On paper, you are 100% right.....Just like Marbury on paper, was the top PG in the league averaging 20 & 10.....but for some reason, he couldn't find a job in the United States. Stats / Analytic's never tell the entire story.

There was a debate on this topic......Did Westbrook hold back OKC? He dominated all the touches and dominated the ball. So he was controlling the offense, since he led the team in touches. It's the same questions that surrounded Marbury, because on paper he was a beast.

I don't care what the stats say, Westbrook best position is not PG right now. His best position would be similar to Alen Iversons position in Philly, with a passing PG to play next to him. He's a scoring machine and a beast that needs to be unleashed (in Skip's voice from 1st take).

Kemet wrote:

StarksEwing1 wrote:

nixluva wrote:KD on this team would be in a totally different environment from how he's existed playing along with Westbrook. I think KD would benefit from playing with a less shot happy PG. Everything Phil believes in is about more TEAM than selfish Hero Ball. I suspect things would be a lot more balanced and KD would be in a better role. Knicks would actually have effective post players and passers so that KD would not have to worry about getting great shots as opposed to having to force shots. I believe that is the kind of team Phil is looking to build.

IMO Westbrook is a LOT like Harden. Who reminds me of an Allen Iverson type. Just surround them with defenders, shooters and finishers and let him do his thing. that's the only way it works with players like that. They are mostly effective WITH THE BALL.

im a durant fan but im not sure he fits here unless we move lopez or melo.

I wish we could sign n trade Melo for Durant every day of the offseason

Yup yup, because from anyone's viewpoint with any brain cells at all, that would make perfect sense.

Maybe you could wish OKC would give us some of Philly's 1st round draft picks, too. But only do that on weekends, okay?

blkexec wrote:

jrodmc wrote:

blkexec wrote:

nixluva wrote:

meloshouldgo wrote:

newyorker4ever wrote:Actually in a small ball lineup it would be:

C--KP
PF--Melo or Durant
SF--Durant or Melo

Then they could either trade Rolo for a guard or just keep him and he could still play 25/30 minutes off the bench. I know this isn't happening so don't get all crazy i'm just saying that if by some crazy chance we did somehow get him there is plenty of ways that everyone could still get plenty of floor time.

The problem isn't floor time, the problem is sharing the ball. By the time Melo and Durant get their touches you are looking at a repeat of OKC.

I actually think they would have less of a problem blending than you suggest. Melo and KD have been able to play with other top players and fall back a bit. I think the difference is that we will likely add more ball movers to the roster so that things would have the right balance. If you have KP, Melo and KD of course they'll take the majority of the shots tho.

The only time it's a problem is if you throw Westbrook in the mix.

Right, because a PG who's the first legit triple double machine since Oscar and is second in the league in added wins for PG behind some idiot named Curry should truly prove to be a problem.
I'd much rather wait patiently for Grant or Galloway to get to that level.

If Phil ever managed to pull off a KD + Westbrook-level starphucque, he could retire on the spot and run for NYC Mayor Governor POTUS Zen Emperor of the Solar System.

On paper, you are 100% right.....Just like Marbury on paper, was the top PG in the league averaging 20 & 10.....but for some reason, he couldn't find a job in the United States. Stats / Analytic's never tell the entire story.

There was a debate on this topic......Did Westbrook hold back OKC? He dominated all the touches and dominated the ball. So he was controlling the offense, since he led the team in touches. It's the same questions that surrounded Marbury, because on paper he was a beast.

I don't care what the stats say, Westbrook best position is not PG right now. His best position would be similar to Alen Iversons position in Philly, with a passing PG to play next to him. He's a scoring machine and a beast that needs to be unleashed (in Skip's voice from 1st take).

When exactly was Marbles a triple double threat? And Marbles was averaging 20 and 10 with the Celtics? With the Knicks? I forget when that was happening before he went to China. When did Marbles get to a conference finals? When did Marbles ever carry a team on his back when the alpha dog went down? When could Marbles even lead starving rats into a garbage can? <-- this ain't mine, but I forgot who said it.

I'd take Westbrook's stat filling BS at this stage in his career next to Melo, KP and possibly KD. No matter what position he plays. Comparing Westbrook to Marbles is like comparing a grizzlie bear to a weasel.