jrodmc wrote:Uptown wrote:jrodmc wrote:Uptown wrote:jrodmc wrote:It's great. People saying to get Simmons and watch him improve on his game. Which he's refused to do for the last 4 years. And directly because of which stance he now doesn't feel like playing. Yes, this is exactly the type of player we need to be a better franchise. Forget the media. Forget the fact he's a maxed out player not playing because it's more conducive to his personality to sulk.
Does anyone remember watching him run away from the ball in the playoffs? Anyone? Anyone? Tell me how you want to sign up for that.
He looked awful the last several games against Atlanta; no denying that. But let me counter by asking the following. After watching how awful Randle was in the playoffs, why did this franchise feel a need to extend him when he had another year left on his contract? That playoff performance didn't raise a half dozen red-flags?
IMHO, Randle got the contract as an award for an MVP type year, for being the face of the up and coming franchise. 4th seed. We here.
Yes, the playoffs sucked indeed, and not just for Randle. Be our FO for a second. If you don't extend him, don't you appear to be listening to and heeding the media who were all off the rails predicting a downturn for Randle? Maybe Leon didn't want to play into that with what appeared to be more than fool's gold, despite the playoff dud?
And I'll ask another question. If you have a problem with Randle's contract for playoff performance, do you have any issues with the $171 million for playoff-version Ben, plus his obviously unique baggage? This is like flopping to the extreme. You really want to build a team around a prima donna who can't handle criticism, and doesn't feel any need to improve something as fuhucking middle school as foul shots?
Randle's got ugly ****ing warts; Simmons has squamous cell carcinomas. What's Ben going to contribute to the franchise? Me fear? Plane to the hotel?
One of the problems with this franchise is the love of narratives. "We here", "Face of the pandemic Knicks" and other narratives should not have factored into extending a player that had an outlier of a season in an abnormal year. Just the year before, we were discussing shipping this player to the Hornets for a contract dump (Batum) and other minor pieces. 5 years worth of Randle stats should have been more than enough to make this FO hit the pause button on an extension, and wait and see if Randle had indeed arrived or if, like I said, last year was an aberration. Negotiating based on what the media is saying or not saying? Is that good business?
As far as Simmons is concerned, I mentioned the 2 concerns that I would have with acquiring him are his contract and his inability to hit freethrows. Of course there's warts, otherwise he wouldn't be available. Is it worth the risk? Honestly, I can't say I'm a 100% sure. But what I am sure of is Simmons is a better all around player and I think if we swapped out Randle for Simmons, we would be a better team. Title contender? Of course not. Better? Yes, IMO....
You say the FO should have cut bait on any extension for Randle based on his stats, but we're "sure Simmons is a better all around player" with 4 years of stats showing non-improvement, hitting 5 whole threes in 4 seasons and now he's decided not playing is the perfect answer to being butt hurt by his coach and teammates because of his glaring shortcomings. How does that equate to better all around in this league, with the way the game is played now?
You really think a head case like this is what this team full of yoots needs? That Simmons is going to make EF and Kemba better? That he singlehandedly is going to what? Make us the number 1 defense by himself? I get it, and I've watched enough Sixers games to appreciate what Simmons is, but I can't put "better all around player" in the same sentence with someone who's fine not shooting threes or learning how to hit free throws?
I honestly think you'd be making a decision to bring in an overpaid chucklehead versus keeping the COY in Thibs. I doubt the two could co-exist, defensive excellence aside.
In any event, if Morey trades him, it will probably be out west to SacTown.
You say the FO should have cut bait on any extension for Randle based on his stats, but we're "sure Simmons is a better all around player" with 4 years of stats showing non-improvement, hitting 5 whole threes in 4 seasons and now he's decided not playing is the perfect answer to being butt hurt by his coach and teammates because of his glaring shortcomings. How does that equate to better all around in this league, with the way the game is played now?
Didn't say cut-bait, said I wanted Randle to prove that last season's abnormal year wasn't an outlier. Didn't see the need to rush but like I said, this franchise seems to prioritize good narratives. If you don't think Simmons is a better all around player than Randle, then you've never seen him play. Simmons is a 3xs allstar and 2xs all NBA defensive player. I'm going to repeat what I said a few posts up....he is 10xs the passer that Julius is (Julius passes to the open man, Simmons passes players open that didn't even know they were open), he is a better ballhandler, better decision maker, better pg, he is just as good of a rebounder as Julius perhaps better when you consider that he can get it off the board and start the break and get into the open court which he does much better than Julius. He also has better court awareness and understanding of the game. Despite his inability to shoot from the perimeter, he still a 56% EFG% which is better than Julius's.
You really think a head case like this is what this team full of yoots needs? That Simmons is going to make EF and Kemba better? That he singlehandedly is going to what? Make us the number 1 defense by himself? I get it, and I've watched enough Sixers games to appreciate what Simmons is, but I can't put "better all around player" in the same sentence with someone who's fine not shooting threes or learning how to hit free throws?
Headcase? I am not privy to what's going on behind the scenes in philly, but what we do know is Simmons shares the same agent as Anthony Davis an we all saw what Davis pulled to get out of New Orleans. Harden turned into a headcase to get out of Houston. Not condoning it, but its the same playbook several players have used to get out of dodge.
Not sure why you bring up Kemba when he's not in the rotation. Simmons would make players like Obi, RJ, IQ, Grimes, Mitch, etc better players. He solves the decade long pg issue we've had, he ups the bb IQ of the team, he would increase the tempo and he helps us become better defensively. Number 1 defense in the league? When and where did I say that? Exaggerate much?
I honestly think you'd be making a decision to bring in an overpaid chucklehead versus keeping the COY in Thibs. I doubt the two could co-exist, defensive excellence aside.
Instead of thinking, why not ask? No I wouldn't bring in, as you say a "Chucklehead" (whatever that means)coach. Clearly, you are not familiar with my posts and you are lumping me in with some of the so-called "chucklehead" posters that post every single knick-related thought that comes to their minds, idiotic or not.
With that said, I highly doubt we trade Randle at any point this season....
12/14/2021 10:55 AM
