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What do we do with the 15th Roster spot [2/12 Jeremy Sochan for the win!]
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martin
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2/13/2026  9:23 AM
nycericanguy wrote:
SergioNYK wrote:Adding a wing defender like Sochan for the minimum at this point in the season is really lucky. He also has some dawg in him which we still needed. I just hope this doesn't mean Diawara ends up like Kolek glued to the bench. I don't like it when young players get demoted for no fault of their own!

To play devil's advocate, if Sochan cuts into MO's minutes, is that really the worst thing considering MO's RFA status? Maybe it helps us hide MO a bit more while not losing much.

Mo and Sochan play different roles on the team even though they are the same height and may play the same position.

No one is complaining that GTA will take away minutes from Brunson or Deuce. He is a good addition to them too.

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Chandler
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2/13/2026  9:25 AM
nycericanguy wrote:
martin wrote:Noted

crazy that Hart is shooting 3's so much better than KAT and on same volume. Hart has legitimately been very good and consistent from 3.

I suspect he "turned around" Mitch's free throws too.

this gives Brown another wrinkle - something he has shown he is willing to do. he might eat into Hart's minutes too. I love Hart but the truth is sometimes he's just too small eg Siakam

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Chandler
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2/13/2026  9:42 AM
Mitch OG Sochan Mikal would be fun to watch

depending on the situation add KAT or Brunson

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martin
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2/13/2026  9:43 AM
Sochan could have stayed in San Antonio and gotten the same minutes as he did in NY.

Or he could have gone to LA to play with LeBron before he retires.

Or gotten more minutes with a young hustle team like Charlotte.

Or the summer sun in Phoenix.

But he chose NY. Wonder if it just wanted to hang in NYC for a bit or something else.

Jeremy Sochan situation in a nutshell:

Spurs pulled him from the rotation to put the ball in their guards’ hands more + concerns about his shooting.
They explored trades, but teams weren’t giving up assets with him hitting FA next summer.

Then he gets waived. Knicks and other playoff teams circle immediately:

Phoenix Suns
Boston Celtics
Los Angeles Lakers
Charlotte Hornets

But he chose the New York Knicks.

6’9”. Physical. Switchable defender. Playoff-ready motor.

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martin
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2/13/2026  10:09 AM
Knicks trade Obi for 2 late second round picks. You know, in the 50's where Mo Huk McCullar were drafted. Knicks fans go nuts over that trade.

Spurs waive Sochan. Crickets.

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Knixkik
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2/13/2026  10:14 AM
martin wrote:Knicks trade Obi for 2 late second round picks. You know, in the 50's where Mo Huk McCullar were drafted. Knicks fans go nuts over that trade.

Spurs waive Sochan. Crickets.

So true

Panos
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2/13/2026  10:43 AM
martin wrote:Knicks trade Obi for 2 late second round picks. You know, in the 50's where Mo Huk McCullar were drafted. Knicks fans go nuts over that trade.

Spurs waive Sochan. Crickets.

Crickets where? We're not Spurs fans. F them. They have Wemby.
Check the Spurs fan site

Panos
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2/13/2026  10:44 AM
Also multiple championships in recent decades unlike our beloved Knicks
LivingLegend
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2/13/2026  12:14 PM
martin wrote:
BlueKnickers wrote:Sochan was picked up to improve our matchups with teams like DET and, ironically, SA, where big, young, athletic squads give us issues.

OG was out for the massacre by DET, but generally we need depth where a tough 6'8" grinder forward can handle some of those assignments.

He's essentially OG insurance. Even though MO can start in place of OG, he is not at this point a physical bruiser defensively.

And when Mitch sits on back to backs, Knicks get a small ball C. Who can dribble, switch, but not shoot from distance

Mitch out, Kat in foul trouble --- need some stops late -- OG (c), Sochan (PF), MO-D (SF), Mikal (2G) and Jose (PG).

With options like Deuce/Shamet/Hart still available.

martin
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2/13/2026  12:19 PM
LivingLegend wrote:
martin wrote:
BlueKnickers wrote:Sochan was picked up to improve our matchups with teams like DET and, ironically, SA, where big, young, athletic squads give us issues.

OG was out for the massacre by DET, but generally we need depth where a tough 6'8" grinder forward can handle some of those assignments.

He's essentially OG insurance. Even though MO can start in place of OG, he is not at this point a physical bruiser defensively.

And when Mitch sits on back to backs, Knicks get a small ball C. Who can dribble, switch, but not shoot from distance

Mitch out, Kat in foul trouble --- need some stops late -- OG (c), Sochan (PF), MO-D (SF), Mikal (2G) and Jose (PG).

With options like Deuce/Shamet/Hart still available.

Feel like Sochan will be the break in case of emergency guy.

Cade feeling himself, put Sochan on him in 5 minute stretches and tell him to guard 90 feet.

Jason Tatum? Same.

Harden? Same.

Maxy? Same.

Saves OG, Deuce and whatnot for a bit.

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LivingLegend
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2/13/2026  12:27 PM
Swishfm3 wrote:This is who I was hoping the Knicks drafted in 2022. Aside from highlights and articles, haven’t seen much of him in the NBA but I am excited the Knicks were able to pick him up.

My only concern is that the Spurs were willing to just let him go for nothing.

…and what sucks is that this means McCullar will be left off the playoff roster. Big fan and hope the Knicks keep him up for next year.

Weird that 4 first round players (3 lottery picks), from the 2022 Lottery draft were traded, or waived, during this most recent trading deadline.

Yes - was with you at the time he was drafted. Saw him as a Rodman lite type player with more skill handling/passing.

It is a BIG CONCERN that Spurs walk away from a 22 year old former high draft pick. Is it all due to offense? Not sure I buy that.
Did he rebel some post Pop retiring and his role changing? Maybe some of that. Does he have some personality or off-the court issues? Maybe - not sure.

Are we getting another talented young player like Cam Reddish who will just flame out and be out of league in a few years? Hope not.

I really, really wanted this kid -- he just fits exactly where we struggle when we lose (defense/engery/intensity) and I'm really hoping he comes in - makes some solid contributions and somehow he plays for Knicks another 8-10 years (wouldn't that be great).

LivingLegend
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2/13/2026  12:32 PM
martin wrote:
LivingLegend wrote:Do we have his bird rights or no go?

Definitely no bird rights, non bird rights

So, like only 120% or exceptions

So there has been talk of Knicks (especially if Greek is acquired) going over the 2nd apron next year and have heard that in theory would allow them to re-sign the likes of Mitch, Deuce. Wonder if that were the case if we could also give longer term deal to Sochan that is +120% of his current $7M.

Assuming he plays up to us wanting to keep him.

LivingLegend
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2/13/2026  12:33 PM
nycericanguy wrote:
martin wrote:Noted

crazy that Hart is shooting 3's so much better than KAT and on same volume. Hart has legitimately been very good and consistent from 3.

Will only really matter when we get into extended series and teams keep forcing him to step up and make.

Hopefully he's up to the task -- seems new coach has him being more decisive when he does shoot.

LivingLegend
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2/13/2026  12:36 PM
martin wrote:Knicks are suddenly a very good 3pt shoot team again, and it's their best players - Mikal OG Brunson KAT - who are under 40% which is just wild

                                         
Rk Player G 3P 3PA 3P%V
1 Jose Alvarado 3 3.3 7.3 .455
2 Landry Shamet 30 2.2 5.1 .422
3 Miles McBride 35 2.9 6.9 .420
4 Mohamed Diawara 45 0.6 1.4 .413
5 Josh Hart 43 1.6 3.9 .407
6 Mikal Bridges 55 2.1 5.6 .386
7 Jalen Brunson 50 2.9 7.8 .374
8 OG Anunoby 41 2.1 5.6 .370
9 Tyler Kolek 48 0.8 2.1 .364
10 Kevin McCullar Jr. 16 0.4 1.1 .353
11 Karl-Anthony Towns 51 1.6 4.5 .351
12 Jordan Clarkson 51 1.2 3.6 .333
Team Totals 55 15.0 39.8 .378

Kat is the tough one - not sure what's going on with him but could snap out of it post break.

I think with Jalen/Mikal/OG they've tried to get more attempts up this year and some of the attempts have been forced/poor in terms of quality. So maybe % effected by trying to get more attempts up and get them up earlier in clock.

Hart at +40 on 4 attempts is crazy.

LivingLegend
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2/13/2026  12:41 PM
nycericanguy wrote:
SergioNYK wrote:Adding a wing defender like Sochan for the minimum at this point in the season is really lucky. He also has some dawg in him which we still needed. I just hope this doesn't mean Diawara ends up like Kolek glued to the bench. I don't like it when young players get demoted for no fault of their own!

To play devil's advocate, if Sochan cuts into MO's minutes, is that really the worst thing considering MO's RFA status? Maybe it helps us hide MO a bit more while not losing much.

I don't know that his FA would be dinged at all by sitting BUT I also don't think this is any kind of worry.

If they view him as absolutely legit -- he'll get minutes.

Me personally I think our (my) expectations for Mo were so low that anything positive is simply blowing my mind. He's been very solid and playing with in his limitations and he's been good defensively.

In terms of Sochan I don't think Mo can provide what Sochan can bring in terms of guarding the perimeter in heavy traffic and moving his feet on the ball. If Mo sits - he just needs to keep putting time in the gym and keep ready.

Another thought - OG could be out longer than anticipated or they may just want to really baby guys prior to playoffs so everyone is as close to 100% as possible. All kinds of ways for Mo to get his minutes and also keeping him fresh over long rookie year.

LivingLegend
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2/13/2026  12:43 PM
Chandler wrote:
LivingLegend wrote:
martin wrote:

Per previous post --- another body to throw at Cunningham, Brown, Mitchell, Franz, Harden...etc.

this is on the money. our path through the playoffs will encounter a lot of big guards, and if we make the finals we're talking SGA or Castle

the loser in this move, unforunately, is Jose. His minutes will be scarcer

I don't see that at all in terms of Jose being impacted unless it's for 1 or 2 late possessions where they want more size.

I can see Clarkson being banished, Mo being impacted and just more time mgmt with likes of Mikal, OG, Mitch, Hart - etc.

LivingLegend
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2/13/2026  12:46 PM
Chandler wrote:
nycericanguy wrote:
martin wrote:Noted

crazy that Hart is shooting 3's so much better than KAT and on same volume. Hart has legitimately been very good and consistent from 3.

I suspect he "turned around" Mitch's free throws too.

this gives Brown another wrinkle - something he has shown he is willing to do. he might eat into Hart's minutes too. I love Hart but the truth is sometimes he's just too small eg Siakam

I think Josh issues are is his body feeling fresh and is he focused. When he is locked in on certain games he is a cannon ball flying around -- keep him fresh and I think we get good Josh. Wear him down mentally/physically and we get sloppy, falling asleep off ball, sloppy TO Josh.

Hopefully we use the depth heavily against some of these tanking teams to manage key player minutes for bigger regular season games.

LivingLegend
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2/13/2026  12:52 PM
Knixkik wrote:
martin wrote:Knicks trade Obi for 2 late second round picks. You know, in the 50's where Mo Huk McCullar were drafted. Knicks fans go nuts over that trade.

Spurs waive Sochan. Crickets.

So true

Well Obi at least showed incremental gains each year with the theory Thibs was holding him back some with heavy minutes going to Julius. Obi also proved himself usable on a playoff team in NY and showed solid 3 point range as well -- he went on to be a valuable piece for Indy in their run last year.

With Sochan he's seemingly gone the other way from starter, to bench player to DNP's. So Spurs fans not even losing a rotation players and have oodles of other young players to draw their attention.

Really wanted Sochan but what scares me is I really wanted Cam Reddish and thought Frank N would eventually turn it around - GULP.

Nalod
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2/13/2026  12:53 PM
One mans Kevin Knox is another mans happy place?
We talking up this guy who kind of can't shoot in a league wheare its important.
"he picked ups". Thats nice.
His videos, all high lights.
He was untradable. He was not playing. SAS did him a favor which is nice.
9th pick. Thats not a good place for us.
Sas is doing well the last three years so its ok to wiff on one or two.
I don't know why he picked us, or what what knicks have in store for him.
Comps? I thought the euros can all shoot? He really polish? From the UK, went to high school in USA, has a polish spelling middle name? "Juliusz"! Got to love that!

Good handle, passer, rebounder, he is Josh Hart?
This the guy Pop stroked out over? Sorry, that was bad. He about started two years, a good deal of it at PG. It did not work or it worked great as he was the MVP for the tank?

Hope this kid is the revelation we all hoped he can be. Its a nice opportiunity.

LivingLegend
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2/13/2026  12:54 PM
martin wrote:
LivingLegend wrote:
martin wrote:
BlueKnickers wrote:Sochan was picked up to improve our matchups with teams like DET and, ironically, SA, where big, young, athletic squads give us issues.

OG was out for the massacre by DET, but generally we need depth where a tough 6'8" grinder forward can handle some of those assignments.

He's essentially OG insurance. Even though MO can start in place of OG, he is not at this point a physical bruiser defensively.

And when Mitch sits on back to backs, Knicks get a small ball C. Who can dribble, switch, but not shoot from distance

Mitch out, Kat in foul trouble --- need some stops late -- OG (c), Sochan (PF), MO-D (SF), Mikal (2G) and Jose (PG).

With options like Deuce/Shamet/Hart still available.

Feel like Sochan will be the break in case of emergency guy.

Cade feeling himself, put Sochan on him in 5 minute stretches and tell him to guard 90 feet.

Jason Tatum? Same.

Harden? Same.

Maxy? Same.

Saves OG, Deuce and whatnot for a bit.

I have to think he will be something more than just break in case of emergency.

Just don't believe he came here to see the city (maybe) and we have issues guarding guys in theory he should be able to help with.

I could see him guarding Cade next Thursday -- will that happen? Who knows but I'm hoping so because we've seen all year we need more defense vs more offense.

What do we do with the 15th Roster spot [2/12 Jeremy Sochan for the win!]

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