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Knicks off season moves
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SergioNYK
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7/7/2025  4:03 PM
I know I'm in the minority but I wouldn't mind Payne back. He won us some games during the regular season and even a playoff game! He's a great teammate and locker room guy.
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VDesai
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7/7/2025  4:45 PM
MaTT4281 wrote:
VDesai wrote:
MaTT4281 wrote:
VDesai wrote:
VDesai wrote:
martin wrote:

Ok but a 2.29mm veteran minimum only gets us a veteran with 2 yrs NBA experience according to Spotrac

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/cba/minimum

You can sort this by years of experience. To me this looks like McCullar or bust as there aren't any players here that make a lot of sense unless we free even more space.

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/free-agents/_/year/2025

Interesting, good catch! I think you're right, must be McCullar. But you know the FO already know who their guy is - they didn't arrive at that number by accident.


I think they can basically watch Summer League and decide if he should get a full deal or a 2-way deal. Not just games, but the practices, etc. and see how ready they think he is and how healthy. If not, they can free up more space. I'm sure they are gonna keep taking the temperature of quality guys that are available - Simmons, Exum etc. make sense b/c they either have a blue chip background or at least one blue chip skill. Once we start scraping for the Cody Martin (who btw, I like a lot) then it probably makes more sense to just go with McCullar because what McCullar is bringing you is a Cody Martin type skillset with more upside.

Correction on the vet min. This opens things up further, and after the Jazz trade, it sounds like Kevin Love is going to hit FA for what it's worth.

Ah my bad, so for clarification, the exact cap hit of a player 3 + years or more counts as a player with 2 years experience, which is exactly that 2.29 mm slot:

Because the NBA doesn’t want teams to avoid signing veteran players in favor of cheaper, younger players, the league reimburses clubs who sign veterans with three or more years of experience to one-year, minimum-salary contracts. Those deals will only count against the cap – and against a team’s bank balance – for $2,296,274, the minimum salary for a player with two years of experience.

For instance, Mason Plumlee, who has 12 seasons of NBA experience, will reportedly sign a one-year, minimum-salary contract with the Hornets, who will only be charged $2,296,274 for Plumlee’s contract. He’ll earn $3,634,153, but the NBA will make up the difference. This rule only applies to one-year contracts, not to multiyear deals.
https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2025/06/nba-minimum-salaries-for-2025-26.html

So asking a valid question - if he was so important in the locker room last year, than why wouldn't it be PJ Tucker?

LivingLegend
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7/7/2025  5:36 PM
I want Marcus Smart starting next to Jalen.

Hoping for buyout and Smart wanting Knicks --- another ball handler, passer and defender.

Josh to bench.

Brunson/Clarkson
Smart/Deuce
Mikal/Hart
OG/Yabu
Kat/Mitch

Nalod
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7/7/2025  8:50 PM
Smart is only 31 but played only 68 games the last two seasons.
What version do we want staring?
Is he still a defensive demon or hampered by his injuries?
Career .324 3pt shooter. At 6-3 do we not have a better version smart with Deuce here and now?
I'm thinking more length and pure shooter to open things up on offense next to Brunson. I like Smart off the bench if we used Duece as trade bait. Bottom line is Smart can start as center if we floating a parade down the canyon of heroes!
martin
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7/7/2025  9:20 PM
VDesai wrote:So asking a valid question - if he was so important in the locker room last year, than why wouldn't it be PJ Tucker?

Cause he was always going to be a short term voice and hopefully the guys learned from it. Was Tucker the solution or an example to learn from? Probably the later. KAT and Brunson gonna need to fill as much of that as they can, that’s where it comes in best. Plus, just roster limitations.

The Knicks lacked alpha dudes. I don’t know if Yabu or Clarkson bring those attributes but I’d guess some.

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KEEPCAMBYNY
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7/8/2025  5:09 AM
SergioNYK wrote:I know I'm in the minority but I wouldn't mind Payne back. He won us some games during the regular season and even a playoff game! He's a great teammate and locker room guy.

I wouldn't be against it, as long as theres no better options out there, and he's not ahead of Kolek on the depth chart. Personally I would rather bring back Delon Wright. For as long as I can remember TJ McConell has bust the ass of every defender we ever tried to throw at him, even Deuce, Mikal, and OG. Wright is the first player that I can remember that ever had that dude completely locked up. I would like to keep him around as a luxury to throw at scoring guards. Still can't believe that Thibs never used him against Cade in Detroit.

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VDesai
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7/8/2025  7:23 AM
I think Amir Coffey would be good business at this point. 41 pct from 3 at 6'7"?

Chris Boucher is still interesting, but less needed with Yabusele.

Honestly if its your 10th or 11th guy - Delon Wright is so good as a spot minute defensive specialist who can play a steady if unspectacular PG. He can play 3 mins a game, have 7 DNP, but you can trust him to be ready for any situation. I think that is an important quality for someone who is not likely gonna have a consistent role.

GP2 is another player like Wright who can fill that sort of role.

GustavBahler
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7/8/2025  7:40 AM    LAST EDITED: 7/8/2025  7:45 AM
KEEPCAMBYNY wrote:
SergioNYK wrote:I know I'm in the minority but I wouldn't mind Payne back. He won us some games during the regular season and even a playoff game! He's a great teammate and locker room guy.

I wouldn't be against it, as long as theres no better options out there, and he's not ahead of Kolek on the depth chart. Personally I would rather bring back Delon Wright. For as long as I can remember TJ McConell has bust the ass of every defender we ever tried to throw at him, even Deuce, Mikal, and OG. Wright is the first player that I can remember that ever had that dude completely locked up. I would like to keep him around as a luxury to throw at scoring guards. Still can't believe that Thibs never used him against Cade in Detroit.

I was as big a cheerleader for Cam to get PT in the playoffs as anyone. Cam and Shamet. But of the two, I thought Shamet made a better case for bringing back. Was buried on the bench, and produced when Thibs hit the panic button.

Knixkik
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7/8/2025  8:02 AM
We can wait out the buyout market and see who shakes free. Smart makes sense but I’d love some more shooting on the roster. Maybe someone unexpected gets bought out. Kris Middleton ? Otherwise I’m still a fan of resigning Shamet. Coffey would be good too but he’s probably looking for a clear rotation role that might not be available here. Our 9-man rotation is pretty set unless there’s a trade or a player added that’s a lot better than Coffey. And getting back to Smart, I wonder how impactful he really is right now.
LivingLegend
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7/8/2025  9:45 AM    LAST EDITED: 7/8/2025  9:48 AM
Nalod wrote:Smart is only 31 but played only 68 games the last two seasons.
What version do we want staring?
Is he still a defensive demon or hampered by his injuries?
Career .324 3pt shooter. At 6-3 do we not have a better version smart with Deuce here and now?
I'm thinking more length and pure shooter to open things up on offense next to Brunson. I like Smart off the bench if we used Duece as trade bait. Bottom line is Smart can start as center if we floating a parade down the canyon of heroes!

I have same concerns with Smart physically but I think if Knicks deem him still viable physically it's his ball handling, passing that would be more important to starting 5.

Plus if you move Smart/Hart to bench - now you have 3 non-shooters (including Mitch) coming off bench.

It comes down to whether or not Smart is physically washed but this is a guy that has already proved to be a key cog on big time teams not because of his shooting but everything else he brings. I'd leave Deuce coming off the bench as a shooter next to Clarkson.

I do think many of the games he missed past 2 years were due to Memphis throwing in towel post Ja injury/issues and Wizards tanking last year -- though yes injuries are still a concern with Smart. Watching his highlights he didn't look great physically but wonder what a winning environment does to a guy like him.

martin
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7/8/2025  8:54 PM
Ha like it

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LivingLegend
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7/8/2025  9:53 PM
martin wrote:Ha like it

They left out Big Body Brunson braids.

Chandler
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7/8/2025  10:47 PM
Let’s see what happens in SL. We definitely need a pass first pg. does Kolek step up?

I don’t see that coming from deuce or clarkson.

(5)(7)
BigDaddyG
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7/9/2025  1:40 PM
Welcome Romeo Langford. Hope he kills it for Westchester.

Always... always remember: Less is less. More is more. More is better and twice as much is good too. Not enough is bad, and too much is never enough except when it's just about right. - The Tick
LivingLegend
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7/9/2025  4:45 PM
BigDaddyG wrote:Welcome Romeo Langford. Hope he kills it for Westchester.

Loved him coming out of college - disappointed me.

LivingLegend
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7/9/2025  4:46 PM
Posted in the Brown thread but adding here as well.

I wonder if Brown might have wondering eyes for some of he former players who may or may not be available for a price.

Fox, Sabonis, Monk, K Murray

Nalod
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7/11/2025  10:04 AM
Sabonis makes 43mil per. Even if you you traded Sac Mitch and Josh, you still need 10mil more in salary.
OG gets you mostly there but can't see Sac doing that as Sabonis is their main big.
Sabonis is the top rebounder in the NBA but not a rim protector. OG is neither but is demon on defense and keeps his assignments well covered.
Intriguing as it might be it does create other deficits. We need a Mitch who is healthier and at least shoot 70% from the line.
Fox is well situated in SAS. Monk and Murray? Perhaps.
one would think Perry and Leon would get on just fine any convo.

Im mostly on board with running it back with greater chemistry/familiarity with the new coach. Does Mitch start? Does Mitch Finish?
What of Josh? He off the bench with significant minutes?

Of the McCullar thing? Im not sold on his upside as much as giving Dadiet his opportunity to earn a rotation spot off the bench. I know Thibs gave him a window early on but he was not physically ready. Perhaps after a year and off season of strength training he can handle it. He got a taste to give him the baseline he needs to get to. While there is much to anyone's NBA game it starts with getting the shot off and in the basket. Same for Kolek. He has attributes that translate but he needs the be respected and draw the defense in. Similar to Deuce on offense actually.

martin
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7/11/2025  6:55 PM
Can’t tell if this is Bondy dropping the subtle hints or just posting for clicks

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martin
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7/13/2025  6:03 PM
HmmmmK

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BigDaddyG
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7/13/2025  7:19 PM
martin wrote:HmmmmK

That something that gets done could be a trade

Always... always remember: Less is less. More is more. More is better and twice as much is good too. Not enough is bad, and too much is never enough except when it's just about right. - The Tick
Knicks off season moves

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