I expect Phil to do better now that he has more than minimum salary guys to play with

BRIGGS wrote:Its really all based on getting 1 of the two draft pivots. I think our odds at this point for 1 of 2 is 50-50 so it's a legitimate angle.

With a player who can demand great attention on the middle a player who can create great attention from the wing and a great qb who can score from the pg its sets the foundation for everything else. This is essentially the Hawks and spurs model. I can't NOT draft players or sign players because of a system we just need talent. If we had our base core of Karl towns Carmelo Anthony and mo Williams I'd project add have more than 25 mm to spend to fill it in or to continue to garner assets.

That's why I'm big on spending less. Finding guys who will cost less yet give me more. Guys like anjica Stuckey koufus derrick Williams d Carroll retaining bargs for 3-4 mm for a year etc.. It's almost exactly what Atlanta did and what sa does every year. This is the fastest way to be good high quality depth through 10 deep w 3 star types .

I want to add a guy i know can become a 2nd fiddle right away until Towns develops. Add monroe to Melo, Towns, and Mo Williams and now you are talking about a nice mix. Still some space to add quality guys after that on short deals as well. All of the guys you mentioned are nice, but you need a 2nd big time player, otherwise you are asking some of these guys to do too much and not be the role players they are.

FistOfOakley wrote:towns is a lot more ready than people think...

He's ready to contribute no doubt. As a weakside shotblocker he should be exceptional right away. As a post defender he will have to get a lot tougher. Needs 2 or 3 years before he can become a great post defender. His offense will come thru the flow of the triangle. Open jumpers, putbacks, and finishing plays. His passing and jump shot are ways he can contribute right away on the offensive end. But expecting him to be a #2 option as a rookie is unfair, its unfair for nearly any rookie. you hope as a rookie a player like Towns can be a rotation player, maybe start, and give you 8 points and 6 or 7 rebs a game. Best case is probably 10 points 8 rebs per game as a rookie, but that's pushing it.

these are the guys I like from nixluva list.... those 5 could beat the current knicks squad lol

nixluva wrote:Just look at some of the Unrestricted Free Agents and you can see where there aren't a lot of PG and SG options relative to big men. Phil is going to have to really be methodical in his approach to the draft and Free Agency. Danny Green's stock just went up with Matthews Achilles injury. Jeremy Lin starts to look better given the sparse options. As for Big Men there are a few decent players to choose from IMO.

PLAYER                  POS.    AGE     FROM    2014 CAP HIT  	STATUS
Kendall Marshall 	PG	23	MIL   	$915,243	UFA
Jeremy Lin	        PG	26	LAL  	$8,374,646      UFA      
Goran Dragic 		PG	28	PHX  	$7,500,000    	UFA
John Jenkins	        SG	23	ATL  	$1,312,920    	UFA
Austin River		SG	24	NOP  	$2,439,840    	UFA
Kyle Singler	        SG	26	DET  	$1,090,000    	UFA
Donald Sloan 		SG	26	IND  	$948,163	UFA
Danny Green	       	SG	27	SAS  	$4,025,000    	UFA
Marcus Thornton		SG	27	BOS  	$8,575,000    	UFA
Wesley Matthews		SG	28	POR  	$7,245,640    	UFA
Marco Belinelli		SG	28	SAS  	$2,873,750    	UFA
Luke Babbitt	        SF	25	NOP  	$981,084	UFA
Robbie Hummel		SF	25	MIN  	$880,000	UFA
Omri Casspi	        SF	26	SAC  	$915,243	UFA
Wesley Johnson		SF	27	LAL  	$915,243	UFA
Alonzo Gee	        SF	27	DEN  	$915,243	UFA
Jeremy Evans		SF	27	UTH  	$1,794,871      UFA
Gerald Green		SF	28	PHX  	$3,500,000    	UFA
DeMarre Carroll		SF	28	ATL  	$2,442,455    	UFA
Thomas Robinson		PF	23	POR  	$3,678,360    	UFA
Kevin Seraphin		PF	25	WAS  	$3,898,691    	UFA
LaVoy Allen	        PF	25	IND  	$915,243	UFA
Darrell Arthur		PF	26	DEN  	$3,457,149      UFA
Austin Daye	        PF	26	SAS  	$1,063,384    	UFA
Malcolm Thomas		PF	26	BOS  	$635,827	UFA
Amir Johnson		PF	27	TOR  	$7,000,000    	UFA
Dante Cunningham	PF	27	NOP  	$716,043	UFA
Jonas Jerebko		PF	27	DET  	$4,500,000    	UFA
Jeff Ayres	        PF	27	SAS  	$1,828,750    	UFA
Luc R Mbah a Moute	PF	28	PHI  	$4,382,576    	UFA
Jason Smith	        PF	28	NYK  	$3,278,000    	UFA
Aron Baynes	        PF	28	SAS  	$2,077,000    	UFA
Greg Monroe	        C	24	DET  	$5,479,933    	UFA
Greg Smith	       	C	24	DAL  	$948,163	UFA
DeAndre Jordan		C	26	LAC  	$11,440,123   	UFA
Robin Lopez	        C	26	POR  	$6,124,729    	UFA
Alexis Ajinca	        C	26	NOP  	$981,084	UFA
Brandan Wright		C	27	BOS  	$5,000,000    	UFA
Omer Asik	        C	28	NOP  	$8,374,646    	UFA

I am sure there is a strategy behind keeping the open roster spot but maybe the Knicks should bring in a Wolters or Fazier to see if they are keepers.