I like this guy, I think we need another ball handler that could play PG/SG, to compliment Calderon and his inability to create/penetrate (as we only have Grant to do so on our roster)
On top of him being ambidextrous, HIGH IQ player, able to play both PG/SG, he has experience in the Triangle already, and has a great demeanor for TEAM basketball with maturity and appreciating the NBA like Copeland did...
Maybe we use the last of our 2.8m on 2 players that have no NBA experience but are not TRUE ROOKIES, at 1.4m with raises, on a 3year deal (while teams like Philly do 4year deal, totally using their leverage to the max) it would allow us to develop and keep talent on our roster on a "fair deal" It is hard in New York with the property/cost of living being so high, as NBA player with 0 experience get about 500k now, then get taxed, yes that is way more than most families make in a year combined, but the "NBA lifestyle" is different as well
With Thanasis taking "less money, last season" to play for the D League Knicks, do we reward him, to a 3year deal with another player?
Keeping players happy vs unhappy makes a huge difference, along with comfortable but NOT too comfortable *as in wanting to get better and pushing themselves both on the court and in the gym*
We even could split it 3, making it about 933k with raises, for 3 players with 0 NBA experience
With KP and Grant, getting players that know the Triangle and are WILLING teachers/mentors goes a long way, along with players that appreciate being in the league motivation...
KP has strong ethic and with these younger talents, could form a bond together with guys, as this years class will need some more young PINK schoolbags for their "rooks"
It really depends on what kind of value/targets our 2.8m can actually acquire, even with a trade, for James Johnson fits right in
If it would give us Alan Anderson, Carlos Boozer, or Lou Amundson, I would likely pass respectively especially if they want multiyear deals or player options
Both Affalo and Derrick William have PLAYER OPTIONS on year 2 of their contracts
While we gave a 4year contract for Lopez at that price with no TEAM OPTION, it should tell us that we do not intrigue talent to consider, that was why we signed these lower talents
I do not believe Derrick Williams had any leverage against us as no other team would likely give him 5m with lack of PT he has been getting the past 2 seasons
Vet min to 3m should be the highest for him, as Omri Casspi only got 3m per year on a 2year deal, that played ahead of Williams last season on The Kings
It is very possible that Affalo and Williams are following the JR Smith route, as an incentive to stay in New York, for them to OPT OUT NEXT YEAR, and resign to another 2year deal with a player option with a higher raise, After 2 seasons, we would own their EARLY BIRD RIGHTS, and would ink them to LONGER term deals if they prove to be fits, if not we let them walk and screw them....
Again, I like Derrick Wiliams as player just not with the player option and at that price
Wesley Johnson >>> Derrick Wiliams while Johnson also played with Derrick Williams and has experience in the Triangle, and he would be a cost efficient player that has the ability to become a 3 and D type player to defend SG, SF, and PF (against big SF's that plays PF at times) while he could also defend PG's on switches when needed
While Derrick Williams would still consider joining NYK's if we showed interest from him from the start of FA, and sign him with the room exemption, possibly even a 2year vet min deal with player option
I like Kyle O Quin who has shown that he could PASS/FACILITATE for a Center, which is why we targeted him, Ajincia/Brandon Wright even Lavoy Allen, Serephin *UFA* are all better shot blockers/defenders than Kyle O Quin, with Biyombo
Lopez is a decent role player but he is overpaid, while we likely could have signed him for less, as he could live with his brother Brook Lopez to save money, offering him a contract that would be 10-12m with raises would leave us with some extra money, with Asik as a measure of the market price for him, we also could have signed Koufous with backup money and he likely will choose NYK's with the ability to compete/start for us, with a 3year deal, possibly team option on 3rd
He showed he was capable of starting when he was in Denver, as George Karl preferred him over McGee and MosGoV (who I always felt was better than Koufus but management wanted MosGoV to be resigned for less money so Karl wouldn't give him much playing time)
Instead of Affalo, I would much rather take my chances on a younger prospect/versatility like Aminu which was one of the FIRST FA's that scored a deal with Portland to replace Battum
Aminu's combination of LENGTH/SIZE/STRENGTH/ATHLETICISM and VERSATILITY to defend SG's to PF would be better as he is younger and could continue to get better
He improved his 3pt shooting last season and played very well for the Mavs when he got starter minutes especially in the playoffs vs Houston
Along with signing Jeremy Evans to a 2year deal on a vet min contract is a steal when the cap will rise NEXT season, who has GREAT LENGTH/ATHLETICISM and was a slam dunk Champion as a SF/PF
Players like him with Aminu are still young, with their weakness being SHOOTING that could be taught, for great RISK/REWARD
Now adding players like Wesley Johnson UFA, James Johnson in a trade, in addition to Thanasis, would give us multiple versatile defenders from SG to PF, that would ALL COMPLIMENT each other, with a better defensive team with more YOUNG TALENT that could continue to improve
I think we were still better of signing Greg Monroe on a 15m deal, his MAX IS 15.5, than Lopez, and then make moves from there, with the rest of the room whether we are only able to add 1-3 players at most, in addition to the room exemption, then acquiring the talents I have above on cost friendly contracts, would give us a much better team moving forward
Greg Monroe isn't the best shot blocker but at Center, not many can defend him as he has speed/quickness/mobility/ mid range game and post game, that many Centers will have trouble defending
He can be a much better rebounder, passer/facilitator, and could defend MOST Centers with no trouble (he just can not constantly play HELP DEFENSE
But with the players I assembled above, those are ALL QUALITY defenders that we would not need Monroe to be our HELP DEFENDER
Then adding in these European talents, Summer League Roster, D League, and Undrafted FA's, would finish our roster, along with the UFA's the Knick's could bring back for experience in the system
7/6/2015 9:11 AM
