Signing both Monroe(my #1 target all along) and West would be huge. Zings & Monroe will learn some much about how to be a professional from West. He will hold down the fort for when Zings shines as a starter. Not crazy about Affalo but like others have said we are not prying Carroll and Butler away from their current teams. You do the best you can with what's out there. I actually rather have Affalo than Danny Green. More athletic and better fit IMO. If he can regain his form. Still only 29.

Let's do it:
C Monroe/Cole/Hernan(2016-17)
PF West(MLE)/Zings/Amundson
SF Melo/Early/Thanasis/Thomas
SG Affalo/Shved
PG Grant/Galloway/Calderon(deadline trade)

I think we drafted the 2nd best player in the draft. Certainly the 2nd best fit. We needed a top do it all big in this system. And that was Towns and Porzingis. We didn't need ball dominant guards like Russell and Mudiay. Grant is the perfect PG for this system. We need big/athletic defensive unselfish wings. I see a lot of Derek Harper and Clyde in this kid who I loved after what I saw in the tournament. Had him picked around 9. To get him at 19 for THJ is a steal. He gives us a lot of what we lost in Shumpert on the wing. He has the makeup to be successful in New York. Big, defends, a basketball player, doesn't need to score 20 a night to be effective and plays with pride. New York will love this kid.

Drafting Hernangomez was nice too because Zings will be comfortable with him around. It will help making am the massive transition into the states and the NBA easier on the 19yr old.

If this all pans out we just took a big step towards becoming a year in year out contender in the East. The youth assures that this current group will be able to grow together and have longevity. Then every year you fill in the gaps as all contenders do. Can't wait for summer league and the season to start! Much better than the dread going into the past few seasons.

IMO David West's impact on teaching this team how to be professional and prepare themselves mentally and physically to give it their all and reach their full potential as he did with the youngsters in Indiana is undeniably invaluable.

He will play he role of LJ & Oakley which this young team desperately needs if they want to reach their full potential. How are you going to do better thaN David West for the full MLE? He is the PERFECT stop gap. I really believe Zings will reach his full potential learning from David West. Same way hibbert, Stephenson, George & Hill did. He will push every single player on this this team to give max effort 100% of the time. He might even get Melo to play harder which would be worth it's wait in gold. All the same things LJ, Oakley & Ewing did for guys like Ward, Childs, Camby and H20. Without West this is a young team of pieces thrown together who will have to go through a few years of growing pains and maybe never reach its full potential of the playoffs for that matter. With West, the glue, development time will be sped up like it was in Indiana. Zings, Monroe & Grant will reach their highest potential. There would be no doubt in my mind. The Knicks would truly finally be back

gunsnewing wrote:So who you want at SG? Or are you ok with Galloway and Svhed? IMO Affalo when right will be more impactful night in night out than both those guys. You need an excellent bench and that bench and rotation will be one of the if not the best in the league. Melo needs to stay fresh.

IMO David West's impact on teaching this team how to be professional and prepare themselves mentally and physically to give it their all and reach their full potential as he did with the youngsters in Indiana is undeniably invaluable.

He will play he role of LJ & Oakley which this young team desperately needs if they want to reach their full potential. How are you going to do better thaN David West for the full MLE? He is the PERFECT stop gap. I really believe Zings will reach his full potential learning from David West. Same way hibbert, Stephenson, George & Hill did. He will push every single player on this this team to give max effort 100% of the time. He might even get Melo to play harder which would be worth it's wait in gold. All the same things LJ, Oakley & Ewing did for guys like Ward, Childs, Camby and H20. Without West this is a young team of pieces thrown together who will have to go through a few years of growing pains and maybe never reach its full potential of the playoffs for that matter. With West, the glue, development time will be sped up like it was in Indiana. Zings, Monroe & Grant will reach their highest potential. There would be no doubt in my mind. The Knicks would truly finally be back

Do you think that West will opt out of $12M to sign for full MLE?

martin wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:So who you want at SG? Or are you ok with Galloway and Svhed? IMO Affalo when right will be more impactful night in night out than both those guys. You need an excellent bench and that bench and rotation will be one of the if not the best in the league. Melo needs to stay fresh.

IMO David West's impact on teaching this team how to be professional and prepare themselves mentally and physically to give it their all and reach their full potential as he did with the youngsters in Indiana is undeniably invaluable.

He will play he role of LJ & Oakley which this young team desperately needs if they want to reach their full potential. How are you going to do better thaN David West for the full MLE? He is the PERFECT stop gap. I really believe Zings will reach his full potential learning from David West. Same way hibbert, Stephenson, George & Hill did. He will push every single player on this this team to give max effort 100% of the time. He might even get Melo to play harder which would be worth it's wait in gold. All the same things LJ, Oakley & Ewing did for guys like Ward, Childs, Camby and H20. Without West this is a young team of pieces thrown together who will have to go through a few years of growing pains and maybe never reach its full potential of the playoffs for that matter. With West, the glue, development time will be sped up like it was in Indiana. Zings, Monroe & Grant will reach their highest potential. There would be no doubt in my mind. The Knicks would truly finally be back

Do you think that West will opt out of $12M to sign for full MLE?

I actually think this is somewhat possible. He was miserable in Indiana. If he gets the full 4yr MLE - 4yr $28M or so, with the expectation that he'd be more of a coach from the bench in the last two years of the deal...

Though the word is he wants to go to a team where he can compete for a title. I think he'll have more compelling options.

I sort of think Dallas might be where he lands - I think Dallas will whiff on DeAndre and LMA.

fishmike wrote:Guns, Im with you on West.. remember I started a thread about him for that role some time ago. Agree there. Affalo just isnt good enough for the money, so I would rather play two PGs and try to fill that spot with stop gaps etc..

I think our best scenario is to simply overpay Monroe and Carrol.

If we have a shot at a bigger fish like Jordan or Gasol great. Hopefully we can get that big that the Wolves have rights to also, but I think this is a very good step in the right direction:
Starters:
G Jose/Galloway
F Melo/Carrol
C Monroe
bench: Grant/KP/Thanasis/etc etc

I expect Jose to come back strong. He's a stabalizing player in the SL. Galloway/Carrol give you two guys who's primary roles will be to defend opposing scorers, and both are excellent shooters providing floorspacing. That line up lacks rim protectors, but Melo/Monroe are excellent rebounders. Maybe KP or Grant get their way into the starting line up but I dont see the point or the rush. The first guard off the bench will get 30 minutes and I can def see Grant getting those minutes. Im not sure if we have the money for Shved after Monroe/Carroll and so be it. I like Grant better anyway... I think thats all a step in the right direction

I agree with this - I'd prefer Carroll over Afflalo for sure. Though I don't know if we can get Carroll. A lot of this is still about who we can get. Marc Gasol isn't even meeting with any teams other than the Grizzlies. He's off the board. I think we might have an outside shot at DeAndre Jordan. It's a slim slim slim chance - but the Knicks need to make their pitch to him. Same with Carroll.

After that, I'd be fine adding Monroe and Afflalo. I'd try to pursue West with the MLE - but again, I think somewhere like Dallas is more likely where he'll go.

martin wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:So who you want at SG? Or are you ok with Galloway and Svhed? IMO Affalo when right will be more impactful night in night out than both those guys. You need an excellent bench and that bench and rotation will be one of the if not the best in the league. Melo needs to stay fresh.

IMO David West's impact on teaching this team how to be professional and prepare themselves mentally and physically to give it their all and reach their full potential as he did with the youngsters in Indiana is undeniably invaluable.

He will play he role of LJ & Oakley which this young team desperately needs if they want to reach their full potential. How are you going to do better thaN David West for the full MLE? He is the PERFECT stop gap. I really believe Zings will reach his full potential learning from David West. Same way hibbert, Stephenson, George & Hill did. He will push every single player on this this team to give max effort 100% of the time. He might even get Melo to play harder which would be worth it's wait in gold. All the same things LJ, Oakley & Ewing did for guys like Ward, Childs, Camby and H20. Without West this is a young team of pieces thrown together who will have to go through a few years of growing pains and maybe never reach its full potential of the playoffs for that matter. With West, the glue, development time will be sped up like it was in Indiana. Zings, Monroe & Grant will reach their highest potential. There would be no doubt in my mind. The Knicks would truly finally be back

Do you think that West will opt out of $12M to sign for full MLE?

Damn I forgot he had another year left. Me and Fish were talking about adding him for $10-12mil earlier in the season

We really need him man but you can't pay him $12+
He would really have to want to be here in New York to take the MLE. Indy will be good next year so he probably stays in Indy.

gunsnewing wrote:

martin wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:So who you want at SG? Or are you ok with Galloway and Svhed? IMO Affalo when right will be more impactful night in night out than both those guys. You need an excellent bench and that bench and rotation will be one of the if not the best in the league. Melo needs to stay fresh.

IMO David West's impact on teaching this team how to be professional and prepare themselves mentally and physically to give it their all and reach their full potential as he did with the youngsters in Indiana is undeniably invaluable.

He will play he role of LJ & Oakley which this young team desperately needs if they want to reach their full potential. How are you going to do better thaN David West for the full MLE? He is the PERFECT stop gap. I really believe Zings will reach his full potential learning from David West. Same way hibbert, Stephenson, George & Hill did. He will push every single player on this this team to give max effort 100% of the time. He might even get Melo to play harder which would be worth it's wait in gold. All the same things LJ, Oakley & Ewing did for guys like Ward, Childs, Camby and H20. Without West this is a young team of pieces thrown together who will have to go through a few years of growing pains and maybe never reach its full potential of the playoffs for that matter. With West, the glue, development time will be sped up like it was in Indiana. Zings, Monroe & Grant will reach their highest potential. There would be no doubt in my mind. The Knicks would truly finally be back

Do you think that West will opt out of $12M to sign for full MLE?

Damn didn't realize he had another year left

We really need him man but you can't pay him $12+
He would really have to want to be here in New York to take the MLE. Indy will be good next year so he probably stays in Indy.

He's definitely leaving Indy. He opted out. He wants to go somewhere to contend.

I think if the Knicks made some moves and seemed like they could contend he might come here. But I think other teams will offer him more money.

I think if the Knicks were to land Monroe and Afflalo-or-Carroll-or-Green they could at least present that to David West as a team that could contend, at least in the East.

Who knows though.

Monroe 2yr $30M
Afflalo 4yr $44M
West 2yr $12M

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2015/6/30/8868203/nba-free-agency-predictions-kevin-love-lamarcus-aldridge

Affalo at 12mil no way but he would be a good fit IMO for under 10 on a 2 yr deal.