Anyway, Monroe is basically a slightly worse Version of Cousins. cousins and Monroe are only months apart and would make similar money. They both do their best work around the basket and are good passers, rebounders, plus each player possess quick hands that causes steals. Monroe is the better dreb and shot blocker. He also gets to the line at an extremely high level and shoots it at a more than respectable rate for a big over his career(very good this yr). He is also the better defender which is why he is the better player.

Even though the Knick would be getting the lesser player at the same price that doesn't make it a bad move because of the draft pick and the potential for Monroe to be a better player in an offense that caters to his strength. Greg needs low post touches and the opportunity to be a play maker from the high post the tri.gives him that. It has made Cole Aldrich look like a goofy Vlade at times so what could it do for Monroe?

yellowboy90 wrote:I'd rather keep the draft pick and sign Monroe(FAs). That is the more prudent way to use the cap. Why waste the chance at having multiple players on your cap, especially when one of those players could become a bargain locked into a rookie deal? It will be very hard to find a FA that will have the same level of upside for around $4m+, the cap money the knicks would gain by not keeping their pick.

Anyway, Monroe is basically a slightly worse Version of Cousins. cousins and Monroe are only months apart and would make similar money. They both do their best work around the basket and are good passers, rebounders, plus each player possess quick hands that causes steals. Monroe is the better dreb and shot blocker. He also gets to the line at an extremely high level and shoots it at a more than respectable rate for a big over his career(very good this yr). He is also the better defender which is why he is the better player.

Even though the Knick would be getting the lesser player at the same price that doesn't make it a bad move because of the draft pick and the potential for Monroe to be a better player in an offense that caters to his strength. Greg needs low post touches and the opportunity to be a play maker from the high post the tri.gives him that. It has made Cole Aldrich look like a goofy Vlade at times so what could it do for Monroe?

I never really thought of that option but I do prefer it from a talent standpoint. I've always been a fan of Greg's game in spite of his deficiencies and I think he'd fit in exceedingly well in the triangle. But financially speaking, I don't see how having Monroe and our pick instead of Cousins is more advantageous. In all likelihood, Monroe will command max money, which I'm presuming is about $14 million per to start. If you combine that with the $4-$5 million per that a top 3 pick will command, our total bill would come up to about $20 million. According to Hoopshype, DeMarcus Cousins is only on the books for $14.7 million which is approximately $5 million less than your plan. And the beauty about Cousins' contract is that he's locked into a similar figure until the 2017-2018 season which will make him one of the best value players in the league once the salary cap explodes in 2016. And as much as I like Cousins, I'm more concerned with posturing. I suspect that Anthony Davis might become imminently available, which would make a chip like Cousins especially crucial. My ultimate goal would be to use Cousins a year or two from now to acquire Anthony in a sign and trade deal, to pair with Melo (and Monroe). I know it is quite a reach to fathom but the New Orleans situation has all the makings to produce a malcontent superstar and I think we should ready ourselves for that possibility.