I expect next year he will really take a huge step forward, and by year three the league should be scared.

my question now is, what time of team do you build around porzingis?

Ignoring any names of real players, I just want to think about what types of players you'd want to put around this guy?

What type of player should be his second fiddle? an all star PG who pushes tempo and facilitates? a wing player who can create his own shot?

Should we build a small ball team with KP at the 5?

Or do we surround him with defensive players, enforcers and grinders? In that case would the #2 all star player be best as back to the basket guy on the blocks who plays high-low with KP?

Phil like big players. Not sure the past teams are the exact way to go but he likes point forwards (pippen/odom). Pippen was unusual because he could guard both Magic and isiah effectively. Odom at 6-10 was a problem for teams.
The anchor of the Laker teams was Shaq, but also the tandem of Bynum and Pau. Two skilled big men!

With no pick this year but Hernangomez in the wings we at least pick up another big. I can't say the future includes Ropez but if healthy he is very tradable but the key is getting an upgrade to replace him. Until then he'll be OK.

Free agents or those players that can flourish in a triangle are not clearly apparent to us. Jose is a naturally back up. I root for his success and prefer he light it up making him attractive to a contender who needs a backup due to injury and can give us future asset. Its not a home run move but they add up.

"Adding up" is not a starphuch move nor is it very sexy to post but I suspect this is the key to success. That or Durant signs here!!!!

I think you try to add one piece at a time though. The cap goes up this off-season and also the 2017 off-season, so the Knicks can add two high level players - one per summer.

I'd love to add Batum or Conley in the off-season this coming summer.

Conley could slide right into at PG.

Batum could be the starting SG and let Afflalo come off the bench. Batum could also play some minutes at SF and let Melo play something more like 28-30mpg going forward.

I think Batum might be the guy to target - Conley is supposedly happy in Memphis. Batum is French and NYC is an international city. Also he has former Portland teammates RLopez and (briefly) Afflalo here.

Phil's team always had one on his teams. One that can stretch the D, one that can play 2 man game with big, one that can post and toast, one that can survey the floor and find the open man, one that can play excellent man to man D without help from bigs.

Whether it'd be Jordan, Pippen, Kobe, or even Odom at 6'10(guy could play 1 through 5)...Knicks are definitely lacking this.

Don't know who that could be at the moment. A middle tier Batum? A hopefully healthy Durant? An undersized Westbrook?

Once you pair an elite wing in their prime with KP....

Talent.

Just talent.

newyorknewyork wrote:We lack a long athletic wing defender in the Posey/Ariza mold behind Melo and Affalo. And a consistent big to mix in with Lopez and KP. I like Seraphins improvement but he is kind of short and ploddy. Would prefer more size.

Also need development from Grant and Galloway. Or An upgrade from Calderon with a big 2 way guard who can shoot.

Agree. I have no idea how long Afflalo is going to last, once whatever elevation he has left on his jumper is gone, he wont be much use as a starter. Dont know if AA can last the season.

For the next season or two Id like to see the team continue to build a winning tradition, dont want to see the team gutted for some possible big time FA. We are getting KP's buddy next year so that hopefully will shore up the front court. Seraphin is feast or famine, we need some more speed to go along with size IMO.

The Knicks will have a real shot at contending when guys like Afflalo, Calderon, and Sasha, are replaced with very good players who are still in their prime. Want to see the team build a winning attitude while KP progresses, make the big trades when he is closer to a finished product.

WaltLongmire wrote:A lot depends on Grant, IMO. You are seeing some good signs, but he is still not the confident leader you got to see when he was on ND. Changes your FA philosophy if he has a strong second half. Don't think we will make a serious push for Conley.

Need to groom someone to replace Anthony at some point. Like many around here, I'm a Batum fan because he can swing between 2/3. Gives you a lot of flexibility in the present and in the future. He can pass, play D, and is an efficient scorer in the right situation.

Putting out a small lineup of KP, Melo, Batum, Aflalo, and Grant would be an option against certain teams, especially if the trend toward smaller lineups continues. The flexibility factor is paramount for me, though, and you need to have a power or small unit available.

Perhaps the greatest irony of all is that KP, who, during the FA period, some around here criticized as not being a draw for FAs, has easily become our biggest FA magnet...THE guy on this team for future FAs to consider playing with. It continues to amaze me how much he was underestimated...even by those who wanted him here like myself.

Hernangomez might end up being a better and more consistent player than KOQ or Seraphin...at least that's what I'm anticipating and hoping for. Have not seen any action from him this year, although the team he's playing with is not the kind of team who is just going to give a 21 yr old the keys to the team.

Just wish we had that Bargs #1 available- might have really helped us a lot and maybe Phil would have been in for a total rebuild if we had control over it.

I was a bit disappointed at the time that Knicks did not select Mudiay who was my second wish behind Towns but glad that Okafor and Russell were off the board and that KP and Herzongia were available at 4 spot. Knew nothing about him other than tapes and reports but encouraged that some like Bobby Marks felt he was best player in draft. The Knicks selecting KP spoke volumes to me of their conviction in his potential because it would have been easy to have drafted another after the Bargani fiasco. Reading about Gaines opinion and solid background in international scouting was also reassuring. Still shocking how much KP has improved since summer ball. He showed great feet on D in SL but was being pushed around, grabbed few rebounds, mistimed jumps on rebounds and blocks and showed bad hands and a certain awkardness at times on passes to him. He also fouled excessively. Got excited about his SL play vs Okafor but thought it would take considerable time to adjust to pace and physically develop and did not see this surge at all. His abiliy and impact on D is what is most impressive to me, he not only holds his ground now down low but his moves so fluidly on help and recovery and has become intimidating. He now times his jumps well on both ends and already boards better than any forward projections. His post game is still a work in progress and outside J has been inconsistent but you can see it getting better weekly. Lot of hyperbole but kid is the goods and maybe, just maybe Durant would consider us

anrst wrote:i was at the game last night. First time seeing him in person. wow. we are so blessed. he is so big and so smooth and athletic. wow.

I expect next year he will really take a huge step forward, and by year three the league should be scared.

my question now is, what time of team do you build around porzingis?

Ignoring any names of real players, I just want to think about what types of players you'd want to put around this guy?

What type of player should be his second fiddle? an all star PG who pushes tempo and facilitates? a wing player who can create his own shot?

Should we build a small ball team with KP at the 5?

Or do we surround him with defensive players, enforcers and grinders? In that case would the #2 all star player be best as back to the basket guy on the blocks who plays high-low with KP?

The same team we currently have with a better coach

fishmike wrote:

Rookie wrote:While the focus is on guard play since it is our biggest weakness, spending our cap on a true big like Whiteside this off-season would give us a true presence in the paint on both ends of the court. Having a stretch 4 like KP allows us to add a true big man w/o competition for the same shots (ala Gasol/Bynum)

Having Grant brought along slowly this season will benefit him in his sophomore year and hopefully he blossoms into the starting play making PG we all hope he is.

I think the bold point is single handedly the fastest way to accelerate the building of this team. If Grant starts to show he can handle that your FA shopping switches to complimentary players.

Whiteside is a nice piece, but 1) I think he simply stays in Mia and 2) we have Rolo and Seraphin and KOQ and while those guys arent all stars they are servicable players good enough to address other areas.

There is SOOOO much time. I suspect many things change including our opinions of the current roster. For all I know we dont do anything and simply improve from within. That would be ideal

When we make our FA wish list, I think he should be option one. He would be such a good complimentary player to KP and an upgrade at starting C over Rolo because he is more athletic and can score. If we can get him, we can figure out Lopex, KOQ and Seraphin...not a bad problem to have!

ChuckBuck wrote:Ideally an elite 2 way wing player at the 2 or 3. Knicks don't have that at the moment.

Phil's team always had one on his teams. One that can stretch the D, one that can play 2 man game with big, one that can post and toast, one that can survey the floor and find the open man, one that can play excellent man to man D without help from bigs.

Whether it'd be Jordan, Pippen, Kobe, or even Odom at 6'10(guy could play 1 through 5)...Knicks are definitely lacking this.

Don't know who that could be at the moment. A middle tier Batum? A hopefully healthy Durant? An undersized Westbrook?

Once you pair an elite wing in their prime with KP....

At least your consistent........