VCoug wrote:Unfortunately, that isn't a rumor if what OKC is thinking. It's just speculation.

Boston has flat out come out and said theyll trade their pick for wallace--this makes a lot of sense. Ive said this before--if Kanter cost OKC 14-16mm to resign they will be 25 mm over the cap and the taxes will be nearly 60mm. They need to get rid of atleast 15mm in cap Their draft pick is 1.88mm and they have trade-able pieces of around 9-10mm. It s going to be difficult 3 of them in different ways because each will cost a different asset to get rid of. With 1 14 pick they have the power to get rid of all . .

Its pretty simple to me--picks 14 and 16 should be priority #1 for the Knicks and not even close. If they can be had--its a simple and easy answer.

NYKBocker wrote:I would love another 1st round pick and a 2nd rounder in this draft. Sign a couple of nice free agents and we have a chance

The bottom line is this--we are NOT getting an NBA star for free agency. Pick 14 and 16 could yield stars. Can you imagine having picks 2 14 and 16? Id give back 2nd rounders and 1.5 mm in cash to each team to beat out Philly to do it.

BRIGGS wrote:

VCoug wrote:Unfortunately, that isn't a rumor if what OKC is thinking. It's just speculation.

Boston has flat out come out and said theyll trade their pick for wallace--this makes a lot of sense. Ive said this before--if Kanter cost OKC 14-16mm to resign they will be 25 mm over the cap and the taxes will be nearly 60mm. They need to get rid of atleast 15mm in cap Their draft pick is 1.88mm and they have trade-able pieces of around 9-10mm. It s going to be difficult 3 of them in different ways because each will cost a different asset to get rid of. With 1 14 pick they have the power to get rid of all . .

Its pretty simple to me--picks 14 and 16 should be priority #1 for the Knicks and not even close. If they can be had--its a simple and easy answer.

As long as we don't mess with our own pick, yeah I agree it's a solid plan. Cap space doesn't mean too much at this point.

But Melo probably has other ideas.

NYKBocker wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:

NYKBocker wrote:I would love another 1st round pick and a 2nd rounder in this draft. Sign a couple of nice free agents and we have a chance

The bottom line is this--we are NOT getting an NBA star for free agency. Pick 14 and 16 could yield stars. Can you imagine having picks 2 14 and 16? Id give back 2nd rounders and 1.5 mm in cash to each team to beat out Philly to do it.

I agree with you to an extent. You will need good vets to lead the youngins. I don't trust Melo to lead the yoots.

If it cost us 20-23mmmm for both picks--we'd have 8-13mm to spend

if we cut Jose. Thats about all Id spend on Free agency if not less. Id rather have max space going 4 ward build my team improve and then let other players see a change in the Knicks.

BRIGGS wrote:

crzymdups wrote:I think this deal is less realistic.

Though with OKC's cap problems and recent coaching change and all that... it might give them serious pause if you make Kanter a max offer on the first day of FA. There's no real easy solution to their cap problem, unless they think they're winning a championship with Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka and Kanter next season and are willing to pay through the nose to do so and keep Durant happy.

Briggs, your plan of chasing Kanter may be the right plan. That said, I don't know if I like Kanter's game enough for a max. But I think OKC would do some serious blinking if the Knicks put pressure on them to match.

Kanter will get 5 years 65mm+ from OKC at the minimum.

I didn't realize their tax situation was so dire. If they're looking at the repeater tax next season and have a $50M tax bill... I think they may not match on Kanter. I don't love him as a player, but I think they may not match an offer like that.

It would put us in position to be able to offer Durant and FA's of 2017 to pair with him, so I doubt OKC will choose to deal with us out of all the other teams considering the circumstances

BRIGGS wrote:

RonRon wrote:Another reason I do not think OKC will trade with us is because of 2017 and Durant, in addition to us lacking EARLY 2nd rounders and mid 2nd rounders to give back in this draft and future drafts
Considering the salaries those guys make, it is too little for a pick at 16 in a strong draft class

It would put us in position to be able to offer Durant and FA's of 2017 to pair with him, so I doubt OKC will choose to deal with us out of all the other teams considering the circumstances

Ron if you owned a business and you were looking at a 50mm $ bill would you care who took that bill of your hands?

Considering their pick at 16 and the contracts are under 10m, they have plenty of seekers that they could deal with
Why deal with someone they will likely try to steal Durant from them?
Also they could get back 2nd rounders in this draft and future drafts in which we cannot offer them, so for Presti, they are better off dealing with anyone else as we lack the assets to make a trade and work with a team that is less likely to potentially take their most talented player away....
What are the chances that Durant signs with Philly over NYKs?

Splitter might be a good fit next to Okafor or Towns (he's been good next to Duncan)... if the Spurs threw in a first round pick to take the contract, that could work as one of these types of deals.

And Splitter's a player you actually want on your team.