TripleThreat wrote:nyvector16 wrote:
I think my concern is we win meaningless games when Derrick Rose gets back and miss out on maximizing our opportunity to add a top talent in the draft.
That boat sailed and went when the team went out and signed a bunch of "more than fringe" veterans to free agent contracts.
https://dailyknicks.com/2020/11/20/knicks-free-agency-live-updates-news-rumors/
SIGNING: Knicks sign Austin Rivers
New York is adding Austin Rivers to the roster on a three-year deal worth $10 million, per ESPN. A solid addition on its own, but even better after learning from Ian Begley of SNY that the final two years are non-guaranteed, giving the Knicks added cap flexibility.
SIGNING: Knicks sign Nerlens Noel
The Knicks added Nerlens Noel on a one-year, $5 million deal, per ESPN...
SIGNING: Knicks bring back Elfrid Payton
Well, not exactly the veteran point guard Knicks fans were hoping for, but Elfrid Payton will return to the Knicks on a one-year, $5 million deal, as first reported by ESPN.
SIGNING: Knicks sign Alec Burks
The New York Knicks are finally on the board. They have signed 29-year-old wing Alec Burks to a one-year, $6 million deal, as first reported by ESPN.
"Captain Beyblade" Randle: Four years, $117.09 million... Includes $15,966,720 in incentives, a fourth-year player option, and a 15% trade kicker. Starts in 2022/23....
Evan Fournier: Four years, $73MM. ...
Derrick Rose: Three years, $43.56MM. ...
Alec Burks: Three years, $30.04MM. ...
Nerlens Noel: Three years, $27.72MM. ...
Kemba Walker: Two years, $17.89MM. ...
Taj Gibson: Two years, $10.07MM. ...
The difference between Leon Rose's first offseason and his 2nd are pretty dramatic. They also had RJ Barrett and Quickley still on their rookie deals who were key in helping the team last year. Quickley's rookie slotting is a pittance for his level of production. Taj Gibson was on a veteran's minimum level contract. Derrick Rose was not making the money last year than he is making with his extension. The team was not weighted down by the threat of a long term Randle contract that looked like it would blow up in the team's faces ( it does now)
If you want to "tank" then you want to "organically tank", which means you trade off all the inexpensive but hopefully useful veterans on short contracts or one year deals who might edge you towards more wins. The the roster has NOTHING LEFT but rookies and developmental types and that's all the coach has left to put on the floor. There is no more conflict that way. The coach can't argue about wanting to play his veterans if there are no veterans on the roster. The front office isn't in conflict about demanding a coach eat up losses by playing a roster less likely to win, which helps the entire team long term but not the coach in the short term ( i.e. he'll eventually get fired and those losses will still be held against them)
I said last offseason that the Knicks should trade for one huge big bad contract that another team wants off of their roster so badly they'll give picks and maybe a few young players to do it. Then sign fringe guys again in FA. To hopefully churn in trade deadline deals. ( Expecting to get first round picks like for Morris is not realistic to happen consistently, but the Ed Davis type trades applied to the deadline, where the team got some 2nds, that's not so bad)
If the Knicks had done that, Toppin and McBride and Grimes and Sims and Quickley would all be getting some extended burn. And if Reddish walked into the team as such, so would he as well.
While I wish Thibs was more flexible, because this is clear a dick measuring contest at this point with Leon Rose, I can't blame him for trying to win as many games as he can. That's his job. It's not his job to be complicit in a tanking. Some coaches do that, but it will tend to always work against them long term. While there might be a few outlier situations with that, it doesn't negate the rule in general.
Leon Rose put himself and the franchise into this position. He signed a bunch of guys to deal that can't be moved and are road blocking younger players who need developmental type minutes on the court. And he's making an "organic" tank job to be impossible.
Team would have been better of hiring a Rich Cho or a Troy Weaver type to be the true decision maker for the personnel side of the franchise. But they aren't "brand names" and Dolan apparently loves brand names more than he loves common sense.
2/21/2022 9:07 AM
