newyorker4ever wrote:nyknickzingis wrote:Even if his values rises, I trust DWill to realize that he's got a home now. He's moved around, had many coaches and systems. Phil has identified a role for him, one that he can better and better at. All of Phil's great teams have had that ballhandling big forward come in. Lamar Odom for the Lakers. Kukoc for those Bulls. He can be in that role, and is given the freedom to do things in the Triangle and this team that he wouldn't in other situations. If some idiot gives Williams 10 million per, you let him walk. However I think GM's and executives are weary of Williams. He has a track record. While his numbers and impact look good in NY, many won't see beyond his past. I would be surprised if Williams got contract offers in excess of 32 million/4 years. That's the absolute most I see him getting and even that's a stretch. I think 28 million over 4 years, or 22/3 keeps Williams in NY. Question is whether he is worth that investment. The way he has fit in and the way he has played, hard to argue against that. He's only 25 and has so much talent, you think that if he can add a 3 point shot, and keep working on his mental approach to the game, he can peak at 26-27 years old and be a heck of a 6th man.
On the other hand, Afflalo, I can't see get much more than the 8 million a year he is making. He's showing why. He's good on some nights, but not a star or a reliable 2nd or 3rd option. I think at best he gets 20 million/2 years. I think we can keep him at 20/2 or 24/3. I'd stick with a shorter contract because of age.
If say Williams takes 7 million of capspace and Afflalo 10, we still have enough left over to add a quality stater, or sign 2 quality players for the bench. Our biggest weakness is that we don't have players that can sustain a level once starters go out and we're too heavily realiant on old starters like Melo, Afflalo and Calderon. Some depth will go a long way for this team. And I really believe that there's only one way to getting back to the very top, that's draft picks and young players like Porzingis, Williams and Grant improving. We're getting almost nothing from Grant this year (Aside from 2 big games, there hasn't been much). KP's still a foul machine and needs a post game. DWill has to work on his 3 point shot. If we can get these 3 to work on their weaknesses over the summer and come back next season better, that's major value added without even making a change.
If this team had 2 more solid (Not even good or great) guards to work with, I honestly think we'd be top 4 in the East right now. We'd be about 4 wins better which put us at 26-20, and a 45-47 wins type of team. With a young KP and Grant still able to improve. I take this entire team plus 2 quality guards added with capspace next season and trust that they can do far better. If they don't, then I move Melo for longterm assets. It's all about getting to the top, and you won't get to the bottom spending 25 million a year on Batum or DeRozan caliber players.
So you see DW growing and becoming a great 6th man but you don't think GM's see that?? DW is playing himself into a bigger contract and i can't even get started with how many players got contracts that they weren't worth at the time.
I don't think he'd be given the freedom to do what he is in NY. He'd be silly to leave. And if he is, good for us, means we didn't have a player that was committed to the program and winning.
If you offer a player an upgraded salary, a pay raise, and they can go out and get far more than that elsewhere, I would wish that player good luck.
The Knicks are going to be a player in 2017 free agency as well. There's no way I want them blowing all their capspace or too much of it on guys like Derrick Williams, Afflalo or the like. We've got enough to be competitive so long as we have Melo, Porzingis and Lopez. Grant is on contract for a few years. If these guys want to leave, so be it. I'm not suggesting it's at all a good idea to invest major money in players that won't put you at that next level. If we invest major money, it needs to be on guys that put Porzingis and Melo in better situations on the court. Guys that can draw defensive attention or knock down shots playing off them. On defense, we need lockdown man defenders at the perimeter. I don't think anyone else is really worth investing significant money in. The core is there with Melo/Porzingis/Lopez and possibly Grant to be competitive. It's so important that the Knicks not do what the Knicks have always done in the Dolan era. Overpay and invest in players that are popular or look good on paper. Just fit in guys to your program, get them on good contracts. Like we did with Lopez. If guys can keep being brought in who both fit in and also have a solid/good contract, we'll be set for both the short run and longrun.
1/24/2016 9:21 PM