Knixkik wrote:Knicksfan wrote:Maybe it was the good stretch before last season’s playoffs, but I really was rooting for Towns to finally integrate and see the team jump to that next level we’ve all seen in small glimpses. A trade including him for Giannis seemed like an ill-advised move for a team that just needs time to jell.Now, I’m not only for a move, but I honestly think that not many of the players are untouchable anymore. KAT has all the potential in the world, but sometimes you have to admit that some people are content in staying under it instead of pushing through their weaknesses in order to reach it. Ten years of people saying the same thing about KAT just tells you he is who he is. And maybe on another team that’s not a problem, but this one seems to have many underachievers or inconsistent players that lead to KAT’s antics being magnified.
OG, for all the hustle to get that huge contract, is overall a disappointment as well. Why? Because he also has all the talent of the world and his impact on defense is on an elite level. All of which renders his inconsistent play, his sometimes inexplicable disappearing acts all the more frustrating. Unfortunately for him, he seems to represent our defense, which has been overall very poor this season. Don’t get me wrong, he still have some good stretches where he seems ready to get to the next level in his evolution, but it all reverts back to the point that, like KAT, you start to understand that he is who he is.
Mikal is another mystery. He sometimes seems to be the glue guy that silently keeps the engine going and his defense sometimes is amazing. But then, like the previous two, sometimes disappears or sometimes doesn’t take a step forward when he is needed in a bigger role.
Josh, believe it or not, to me is a bit of an untouchable. To me he represents the best qualities of the Knicks teams that I and many of us have grown up loving: that grit, that “me against the world” pride and the fact that he gets things done on all aspects even with his many limitations. He is definitely part of the equation to our heart and soul, but we have too many bad things going on right now.
Unfortunately, both KAT and Wingstop have been overrated and too inconsistent for this team to be a true championship contender. Somewhere in between lies our problems on both sides of the court. At this point, I don’t think there is any chemistry to protect by avoiding a big trade. I would’ve thought there would be one after some time, but things seem to be deteriorating and something seems off in the locker room.
Make the trade for Giannis if possible. See if there is any possibility of getting Ja too, who could maybe have a Spreewell renaissance after some controversial years in Memphis. I don’t know what, but this group doesn’t seem to be the final form that will win a real championship.
I still believe in the core of Brunson, Mikal, OG, Hart and even Deuce as the mainstays. I think they all represent the qualities that can maintain a consistently good team. Within that of course there will be ups and downs. But those are the guys who should and will get paid. The goal is to continue to keep an open mind on how to round this out into a championship team. Maybe it includes KAT, maybe not, but I think continuity overall helps more than it hurts. If we can get Giannis, perfect. If not, we just have to be okay with this still being a really good team until the next move comes along.
I think I agree with the core players. Brunson, Mikal, OG, Hart, and even Deuce. KAT should be a core player but it's his play over 2 seasons that are leaving doubt. And his salary, performance, and disposition don't match or add up. At $50M you need to be an impact player. You can be a flawed impact player - like Brunson - but the impact with your elite skills needs to be elite and it ain't with KAT, and for way too long. And he exacerbates the other things that he is not elite at and and they are VERY flawed.
Knicks don't seem to have enough cohesion or the right fit yet. IMHO Deuce, OG, and Mikal are outlet players. They need help in getting the ball in their sweet spots. For OG, it's line drive stuff, it's cuts, it's 3 point shooting. Mikal is a bit different with the middy fallback but similar. Deuce got some simple moves but he ain't a dribble drive guy unless it's mostly straight line stuff. Brunson is a scorer first and an elite closer. His gravity does help EVERYONE else on the offensive court but his priority (mostly) is scoring for himself versus getting others involved to elevate their games (this is a generalization), namely guys like Mikal, OG, Deuce. For years we have watched Brunson not see alley oops.
IMHO Brunson should prioritize the team for 3 quarters, but he often goes into ISO mode, that's his default. He is slow af bringing the ball up the court and then it's 14 or less seconds left on clock and he is trying to see what's up and goes into ISO mode if anyone isn't moving. For me, the simple answer to why Mikal, OG, and sometimes Deuce **** up their dribbling is because the Knicks as a team don't have other options for ball handlers. Brunson is not that guy; he only goes into god mode with his handle to score, not really pass.
KAT should help the other core guys because of his spacing. It does help immensely against a lot of teams. I'd guess that the coaching staff wants KAT to be a hub player more, so just not scoring but passing or facilitating or picking in PnR. Those things don't seem to be working and KAT has literally told us that. As well, smarter teams have figured out how to slow him down on offense with PF or wing and just harassing him. He and 2 different coaching staffs have not figured out the adjustment after that. And KAT is having a career worst shooting season for one of THE best big man shooters in the history of the league. KAT is only shooting better from 3 than slumping OG and Clarkson, and then also Kolek Yabu. That SUCKS.
Deuce should be a starter with Mikal and OG, but his handle as a SG is not good enough under pressure, hasn't been since day 1, and although it has gotten better, against good teams it is not good enough. You can say that about the 3 wing stop type players in Deuce OG Mikal, all flawed in that dribbling and dribble drive capacity as well as passing. All 3 of those players seem to be willing passers but not very good at it under pressure, along with KAT and Brunson too. Hart helps all of those guys out with his grit and mentality but he is also a straight line drive guy with his dribble, he is not a navigate and expose defenses with his dribble guy but he can fly up the court and get to rim like none of the other guys.
Between Brunson, Mikal, OG, Deuce, KAT, Hart... it's a mismatched group of players whose elite talents have not fully meshed at a high level or get exposed against better team. Not fully meshed yet? Or do they just not mesh at an elite level?
Outside of Hart, you do not have a "force of will" guy who brings physicality everywhere. KAT should be but he fouls too much. OG is physical on defense. Hart gets physical on defense and rebounding but he is not a physically imposing offensive player. Brunson brings it on offense. Mikal is a butterfly kiss in the wind. Knicks do not have an enforcer though, no rough and tumble get in your face dudes like iHart or DDV.
Mitch could be a physical dude but can only play 20 minutes a game and is limited in the back-to-backs and whatnot. It's better than last year but the in and out of lineup can't be easy for team or Mitch.
1/16/2026 12:08 PM