fwk00 wrote:BigDaddyG wrote:fwk00 wrote:BigDaddyG wrote:fwk00 wrote:It sure looks to me like we *could* assemble a Knicks squad that resembles Woody's best squad. Do we really say no to that?
We're don't have nearly as many assets as we had when we built that squad Woody built. That was a good stretch when we hit on a good majority of our picks. David Lee,
Channing Frye, Wilson Chandler, Gallinari etc. Heck, even Landry Fields was a valued prospect. And they hadn't squandered all of their draft picks. This squad isn't their. It's at least a year or two away.
Let's just play with a few ideas.
Prioritize signing Harrell or Wood.
What's Minny want for Beasley? (our trade exception and a future second-rounder?) (S&T Pinson?) or trade for Hield
Westbrook and House for Randle, Ellington, Payton, DSJ, Knox
I think all this stuff is doable more or less. I'm not seeing major youth degradation.
I'm not seeing draft pick depletion.
Pretty strong first and second units to my eye.
Doesn't that leave a decent team before even signing another FA (beside Harrell)?
Not sure what Houston's situation is in terms of coach and GM, but I think you'll have to throw in a first-round pick. I'm not sure what Beasley's market is now, but isn't unrestricted. That deal has a few moving parts that would need to be resolved. I've seen it mentioned that Wood's market is somewhere around the mid-level. How much would the Knicks need to overpay to make Detroit buckle. None of these moves are easy to map out. They might be doable, but that doesn't mean realistic.
I think this is the disconnect. I don't think the FO would trade a pick - certainly not a first-rounder. And if you believe other posters, they think a pick might be coming our way.
Westbrook I think is a player there for anyone's best offer with that offer not having to be very good. This is even Alan Hahn's belief - Houston will take what they get and be grateful.
Beasley is a RFA who I think Minny would move in a sign and trade.
Wood or Harrell is simply a bidding war. The Clips being so ham-strung in terms of picks might do a sign and trade for one of the Dallas picks. Might be worth it.
What I don't understand about the objections to, say, Westbrook (but it could be any number of post-peak names) is that if we surround him with some reasonable assets Thibs should be able to get us to the playoffs. Once that winning habit starts kicking in and although Westbrook might begin a decline, we would still have a decent core of players and picks going forward.
Can anyone describe how two or three years from now Mitch, Barrett, Frankie, the next three Knicks best picks, and whoever we sign and resign will ALL suddenly forget how to play basketball?
I look at it like this, peak Westbrook was 2016-17. 28 years old, played 81 games, averaged 31+ppg, 10+ assists, 10+ rebs, was league MVP. That Westbrook had Oladipo, Steven Adams, all-defense Andre Roberson and Kanter off the bench averaging 14 ppg, 7 rebs playing 24 mpg. Westbrook led that squad to 47 wins and a first round playoff exit. That was prime Westbrook at his career best. How much "winning" would you expect 32 year old Westbrook to accomplish here? Maybe a couple of wins over .500?
I think we should continue to develop the young core, continue accumulating young talent and assets, THEN look at a free agent (hopefully younger then 32 years old) to team with the core and (hopefully) make a move in the standings that will be long term.
10/20/2020 8:19 PM LAST EDITED: 10/20/2020 8:24 PM