NardDogNation wrote:

BigDaddyG wrote:

NardDogNation wrote:

Knixkik wrote:

NardDogNation wrote:

Knixkik wrote:

BigDaddyG wrote:

Caseloads wrote:If we could get Cam Johnson, would be great, using salary only

You're willing to pay Cam $18-$20M? The ramifications are possibly no Hart and IQ.

I’m paying hart and Quickley no matter what. However, I’m wanting to move Barrett to a rebuilding team with cap space that can absorb his contract. There will be a lot of those teams this summer and a weaker free agent class. Houston in particular will have more money than they know what to do with. Hopefully a team like that can take him and give us a protected first to add to the asset chest. After that , Knicks can use Fournier’s expiring to facilitate a deal for a player like Anunoby (in addition to picks) or hang tight and replace Barrett’s minutes with the MLE and sign a guy like Bruce Brown off the bench. A guy like that who fits better. Barrett’s starting spot goes to Hart, while Quickley, Brown, Toppin and Hartenstein are the bench rotation. I would be willing to sign Johnson instead of Brown but I think that’s less likely. But if we can’t get a star player to add, I just want to build a better team with fitting players. Barrett can still be good, but this just doesn’t seem like the best fit anymore.

I know a lot of people will get on their soapbox for me saying this but I think Miles Bridges would be an obvious upgrade over RJ Barrett and should be someone we pursue. He'll have to serve a 10 game suspension after he officially signs with a team and then undergo a steep re-acclimation process to shake off a year of rust but he has the talent of a perennial all-star and worth the backlash. I think he could be this generation's Sprewell in that regard, which could be good enough to put us into the conversation with the Bucks and Celtics of the East. If not, simply dumping RJ's contract for a soon-to-be friendly Miles Bridges deal is a win.

I think the issue with Bridges from a basketball standpoint is similar to Barrett. He’s not an ideal fit because he’s a fast break player who needs to play in a system with a guard like Ball. I think he wouldn’t be nearly as good here. He’s a downhill player on a team that doesn’t get downhill much when you’re built around Brunson and Randle.

I understand and respect the logic involved in your POV but I'm not sure I entirely agree. Bridges is a pretty good rebounder from the other forward spot (7rpg) and also showed improved decision making with the ball in his hands (4apg). If anything, he IS the fastbreak off the rebound if he returns to form. It is far from a perfect match but I compared him to Sprewell for that reason. With the steals a defensive team like us could generate, that threat could only be enhanced. If not, he's still a good enough shooter and cutter to Josh Hart his way into some points in a halfcourt set.

I like Bridge's fit as a player and he's more of reasonable acquisition. I think he's lucky if get a deal for $15M per. I just don't have the stomach for the ensuing media circus.

Am I being pollyanne-ish in thinking that people will drop their fawx-outrage the minute this guy starts producing? Can the average NBA fan even pick him out of a lineup? I'm geniunely asking because I recall there being similar outrage (albeit pre-social media) with Jason Kidd and Kobe Bryant (both imminently bigger stars) and they seemed to be well past their controversies by season-2. Bridges has already done that time and then-some.

Phoenix and LA are way softer media markets than NY. I can just see that first Bondi column on the hypocrisy of the Knicks and Anucha... It would need some major massaging.

Miles was restricted entering this past season. Not sure how this plays out or how both Hornets and him feel about each other.
Most likely he returns to Charlotte but there needs to be a repair on his image and thats never easy with corp. sponsers and fan base. Move to a new city AFTER season ticket are renewed might help a transition.
The kid can play. He will no doubt be under a microscope.

My take is fan base is “anyone but RJ has to be better”. Fact is never that easy. Change is, but results have to be proven.