TripleThreat wrote:

Philc1 wrote:

Or we can simply do both. sign Ball and draft a guy like Josh Giddey

Ball is a RFA and will cost a draft pick or draft picks to facilitate a Sign And Trade. So no, odds are, you can't do both. While the Knicks have extra draft picks the next few years, they don't have enough picks to go pushing a Sign And Trade and still keep adding draftees to help the holes in the roster. This year was successful but it was built on older veterans who could all leave and there are young drafted players like Knox and Frank N who have busted and won't help this team long term.

The Knicks can't afford to trade off draft picks. And that's what the Pelicans would want, draft picks.

We have 4 first rd picks next 2 years. We have the trade bait to get Lonzo and still draft

Lonzo is 23. Trading a pick or 2 for him is essentially like drafting a young player

Philc1 wrote:

TripleThreat wrote:

Philc1 wrote:

Or we can simply do both. sign Ball and draft a guy like Josh Giddey

Ball is a RFA and will cost a draft pick or draft picks to facilitate a Sign And Trade. So no, odds are, you can't do both. While the Knicks have extra draft picks the next few years, they don't have enough picks to go pushing a Sign And Trade and still keep adding draftees to help the holes in the roster. This year was successful but it was built on older veterans who could all leave and there are young drafted players like Knox and Frank N who have busted and won't help this team long term.

The Knicks can't afford to trade off draft picks. And that's what the Pelicans would want, draft picks.

We have 4 first rd picks next 2 years. We have the trade bait to get Lonzo and still draft

Lonzo is 23. Trading a pick or 2 for him is essentially like drafting a young player

1) How bad do the Knicks want Ball? Is he one of their top options or is he a "must have" player? Personally, I think the Knicks are interested but don't think they'll move heaven and earth to get him. If they can get him at the right number and not have to give up much (or anything) they may do it.

2) How much do the Pels actually want to keep Ball. I think their public interest in him is a big smoke screen. I don't think they would lose any sleep letting Ball walk. They just don't want to lose him and get nothing in return.

3) The number. What is the line the Pels won't cross to match a Lonzo offer sheet? There is no way you're going to convince me that the Pels will match any and all offers Lonzo gets. So if the Knicks are truly interested the front office needs to figure out the lowest number Ball will accept that the Pels likely won't match.

4) The sign and trade is the easiest approach but the Pels don't have a ton of leverage as long as the Knicks aren't desperate to get Lonzo. The Knicks can structure a deal that will negatively affect their cap and dare them to match. Just like any business deal, you have to be willing to walk away. Lonzo is not Kevin Durant. He's not a franchise free agent. If the Pels are OK taking on another potential Eric Bledsoe situation, let 'em. We have other PG options we can pursue.

So I don't think we would or should have to give up much (or anything) to get Ball. However, we will likely have to pay him more than he's worth. Not sure how I feel about doing that. But just because the Pels may want to work out a sign and trade doesn't mean we have to play along. The key is being willing to walk away from Ball. He can certainly help us but he's never going to be the piece that puts us on the next level.

BillTheButcher wrote:I am pretty much a conductor on the Lonzo train , would love him on the Knicks ..Would get Randle and RJ easy buckets , Obi & Mitch lobs all day can defend and hit 3s and IMHO is not even a finished product yet ...Would make this team so much better .

Bigger PGs is where the nba is headed and he’s part of that