martin wrote:Been thinking about this tweet. Knicks got GTA and Kolek, both of whom I’m assuming Knicks FO love and would be glad to keep.

But if Alvarado doesn’t extend, do you think about drafting Ebuka Okorie if he drops?

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/levakabas/status/2064931087642456183

Big veteran guard Bruce Brown is available as a FA. Might be had for vet min as a fall back option depending on what happens with Deuce, Alvarado, Shamet.

newyorknewyork wrote:

martin wrote:Been thinking about this tweet. Knicks got GTA and Kolek, both of whom I’m assuming Knicks FO love and would be glad to keep.

But if Alvarado doesn’t extend, do you think about drafting Ebuka Okorie if he drops?

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/levakabas/status/2064931087642456183

Big veteran guard Bruce Brown is available as a FA. Might be had for vet min as a fall back option depending on what happens with Deuce, Alvarado, Shamet.

I do wonder about a few other paths forward that are much more tantalizing. I have no idea the mindset of NBA players who have already earned $100-200M in their playing time but let's give this a try.

CJ McCollum has earned $250M over the past 15 years and will be 35 soon. Does someone like him watch the Knicks finals run and think about a 1 year flier cause that is some lifetime level **** to be a part of as a vet min player off the bench? Super upgrade from Clarkson, etc.

Or does LeBron think about creating father-son moments in his last year in the league at the vet min because **** it, all the trophy hunting labels don't even come close to spending time with your son and playing in MSG regularly?

Not likely but also not unthinkable

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/BuckAnalytics/status/2065154445231477083

DLeethal wrote:If we are resigning Mitch for 2 years we need a 3rd string C that can reliably step in if Mitch is injured or getting hack a Mitch'ed. The best way to fill that role is with a talented rookie contract. And reserve bigs are usually easy to find in the 20s.

Ejiofor or Reed at 24 or 31.

I think he’d be a home run. He can sit for a year if he’s not ready. But we’d potentially have a guy to lead our bench and even play with Brunson. Alvarado and Kolek have looked good with Brunson. Imagine how good Okorie could be with Brunson

He’s a shorter guard at 6’2” but has a 6’8” wingspan and an insane first step. Averaged 23 pts/game as a freshman. Shot 47/35/83. He used all his energy on offense bc his team wasn’t great, but he has the the tools to be a plus defender

My dream draft:

Use Deuce, future 2nds and / or Dadiet to acquire a late teens / early 20’s pick to get Okorie

24: Zuby
31: Reed (we can trade up a few slots to guarantee we get him)

I love Mitch but I think the combo of Zuby / Reed could outperform him as soon as next year. Mitch is injury prone, a head case and unable to improve. His game is 100% based on athleticism and he’s not going to age gracefully. I’m ok going over the 2nd apron to keep him, but I think we’d be better off with Zuby and Reed and not going over

Not including vets who want to be a Knick next year on the cheap, our team can be:

Starters: Brunson, Bridges, Hart, OG, KAT
Bench: Alvarado, Shamet, McCullar, Diawara, Zuby / Reed
Deep Bench: Okorie (pushes Alvarado for mins), Kolek, Dadiet(if not traded for Okorie), Huk (or a vet)

I think Diawara can be a positive bench piece based on what we saw this year. Tons of potential with his insane size / length. McCullar is another guy who deserves a chance to be in the rotation as a solid all around player.

martin wrote:

PatCummings wrote:I’ve been reading lots of mock drafts and there is a chance that a stud PG prospect, like Ebuka Okorie, drops into the 20’s. There’s a lot of really good PG’s in this draft and someone will drop

I think he’d be a home run. He can sit for a year if he’s not ready. But we’d potentially have a guy to lead our bench and even play with Brunson. Alvarado and Kolek have looked good with Brunson. Imagine how good Okorie could be with Brunson

He’s a shorter guard at 6’2” but has a 6’8” wingspan and an insane first step. Averaged 23 pts/game as a freshman. Shot 47/35/83. He used all his energy on offense bc his team wasn’t great, but he has the the tools to be a plus defender

My dream draft:

Use Deuce, future 2nds and / or Dadiet to acquire a late teens / early 20’s pick to get Okorie

24: Zuby
31: Reed (we can trade up a few slots to guarantee we get him)

I love Mitch but I think the combo of Zuby / Reed could outperform him as soon as next year. Mitch is injury prone, a head case and unable to improve. His game is 100% based on athleticism and he’s not going to age gracefully. I’m ok going over the 2nd apron to keep him, but I think we’d be better off with Zuby and Reed and not going over

Not including vets who want to be a Knick next year on the cheap, our team can be:

Starters: Brunson, Bridges, Hart, OG, KAT
Bench: Alvarado, Shamet, McCullar, Diawara, Zuby / Reed
Deep Bench: Okorie (pushes Alvarado for mins), Kolek, Dadiet(if not traded for Okorie), Huk (or a vet)

I think Diawara can be a positive bench piece based on what we saw this year. Tons of potential with his insane size / length. McCullar is another guy who deserves a chance to be in the rotation as a solid all around player.

This would be an A+ draft scenario for me and could totally see it hypothetically happening

Would you let OKC have Deuce and 31 for 17?

PatCummings wrote:I’ve been reading lots of mock drafts and there is a chance that a stud PG prospect, like Ebuka Okorie, drops into the 20’s. There’s a lot of really good PG’s in this draft and someone will drop

I think he’d be a home run. He can sit for a year if he’s not ready. But we’d potentially have a guy to lead our bench and even play with Brunson. Alvarado and Kolek have looked good with Brunson. Imagine how good Okorie could be with Brunson

He’s a shorter guard at 6’2” but has a 6’8” wingspan and an insane first step. Averaged 23 pts/game as a freshman. Shot 47/35/83. He used all his energy on offense bc his team wasn’t great, but he has the the tools to be a plus defender

My dream draft:

Use Deuce, future 2nds and / or Dadiet to acquire a late teens / early 20’s pick to get Okorie

24: Zuby
31: Reed (we can trade up a few slots to guarantee we get him)

I love Mitch but I think the combo of Zuby / Reed could outperform him as soon as next year. Mitch is injury prone, a head case and unable to improve. His game is 100% based on athleticism and he’s not going to age gracefully. I’m ok going over the 2nd apron to keep him, but I think we’d be better off with Zuby and Reed and not going over

Not including vets who want to be a Knick next year on the cheap, our team can be:

Starters: Brunson, Bridges, Hart, OG, KAT
Bench: Alvarado, Shamet, McCullar, Diawara, Zuby / Reed
Deep Bench: Okorie (pushes Alvarado for mins), Kolek, Dadiet(if not traded for Okorie), Huk (or a vet)

I think Diawara can be a positive bench piece based on what we saw this year. Tons of potential with his insane size / length. McCullar is another guy who deserves a chance to be in the rotation as a solid all around player.

I don't follow college ball or dig into draft selections so I don't know the players referenced, but I like the overall framework to your approach.

There is a way to continue upgrade this roster by moving some players and using the draft.

Mitch and Deuce are not essential and we can replace Mitch with a good draft or free agency.

Deuce has faded badly this playoffs and it may be due to his surgery recovery since he was shooting out the lights earlier this year.

All backcourt decisions going forward should be 100% built off pairing with Brunson and backup up Brunson with ball handlers.

Jose could stay, but Kolek is really the better player long-term so I'd rather follow your idea and draft a backup PG in a PG-rich draft and roll with Kolek instead of Jose.

McCullar, Diawara and Kolek are next up to gain rotation minutes so losing some players now won't weaken us as long as the pipeline keeps being built.

The big question about Diawara will be can he matchup well on either end of the court with a wide range of bigs or is he just a SF with a big wingspan.

The answer to this question may dictate future decisions about front court construction, but for now they still should prioritize drafting a legit PF who can defend both F and C positions, especially if they move on from Mitch.

If they re-sign Deuce and Mitch and blow out the cap for two years then there is still roster room to feed the pipeline with new talent.

Dadiet is a big question mark in the Knicks future plans. If they don't plan on moving him into the rotation next season they have to move him.

Lots of slots to consider with the futures of Huk, Sochan, Jemison, Jones, Shamet and Clarkson in the lineup.

It should be easy to swap out multiples of these players with high quality draft picks and developmental players and see the Knicks get stronger over the next 2-3 years.

Personally, the one player I'd prioritize for a 2-year deal is Shamet. Then maybe Mitch after that. Deuce we should move for some value now IMO.

his foot speed is way way too low.

aggo wrote:not a fan of Allen graves

his foot speed is way way too low.

And he played against low level competition. He didn’t do nearly as well during the handful of time when playing better competition