Barkley: "I think the Knicks, they’re gonna be there,” Barkley said on a conference call Thursday to promote the upcoming All-Star Game. “I think, listen, Carmelo has had a solid year. I think he’s really been trying to fit into the system they’re running. (Kristaps) Porzingis has shocked everybody. He’s shocked everybody. Right now, he’s right there, him and Karl-Anthony Towns, they’re the two leaders in the clubhouse as far as Rookie of the Year. It could go either way.

“But the one thing that surprised me was their point guard. I thought the (Jerian) Grant kid would be playing a lot more, earlier. But let me tell you something, I hear there are rumors they can get Jeff Teague. If they can get Jeff Teague, the playoffs are a lock. I love Jeff Teague. If you put him with Porzingis and (Arron) Afflalo and Carmelo, they will make the playoffs. That’s the one weak spot they have to fix in the next year, the point guard."

What's interesting here is Barkley is making the point that most of us have been making the entire year. Why isn't Jerian playing more and earlier in games? I understand he's lacking confidence right now with his outside shot and he's been tentative and hesitant in making decisions lately in the triangle, but he really is our best option at the point guard position and it would behoove the franchise to play him more, let him make his mistakes and develop into a potential starter (or see if he can be one before making an assessment).

The second point is that if we get a point guard like Teague, we are a playoff lock. I agree with this, although I don't think we have the assets to obtain a player like Teague without mortgaging our future (KP or future 1st rounders),which I wouldn't do. However, it points out our one glaring weakness that is keeping us from being a legit playoff team in the east: a point guard. It needs to be addressed in some way hopefully before the trade deadline.

I think Barkley is kinda admitting that Grant has struggled, not saying he should be playing more.

Teague would be very interesting to me. You could also just keep him til 2017 and let him go when the Westbrook FA class comes up, if Westbrook is indeed an option.

Teague would be a really good stopgap for the next two seasons though.

The thing is what would we give up to get Teague? I'd have to guess it's a 3 way trade if it ever happened.
Anything straight up with NY with what we would give up, I'd think Atlanta can get better elsewhere.
It leads me to believe that the Knicks will need to get some pieces from a 3rd team, and make it work that way. If they can at all.

Jeff Teague would be a huge upgrade, just don't see it happening easily. I'd give up anyone but Melo or Porzingis for him. Again, doubt Atlanta wants to do the deal straight up. Unless they are really high on a Derrick Williams/Jerian Grant combo deal (which I doubt).

newyorker4ever wrote:Barkley said at the beginning of the year that he guaranteed the Knicks would be a playoff team this year and now he's saying with a point guard we're a playoff team.

He said he thought the Knicks could be in the playoffs and are much improved, which is what they were showing before Melo got injured and all the other injuries happened as well. He did think Jerian Grant would be playing more and making a bigger impact, which is what has been a big let down.

my 13 yr old nephew said the same thing. lol

And what realistic scenarios, without jeopardizing the team and its future, would Sir. Charles suggest. I'm sure the man, who has claimed many times that he wants to be a GM, has a brilliant idea.

It's not happening this season. We have to live with Grant and Calderon, whether we like them or not.

It's almost as dumb as saying "Ohh, the Knicks have to trade Melo." Yeah? To who and who are we getting back and what team will Melo accept going to that has assets?

OK... lets say we get to playoffs (unlikely).
So what then? 0-4 and out. What the point?

nyknickzingis wrote:

newyorker4ever wrote:Barkley said at the beginning of the year that he guaranteed the Knicks would be a playoff team this year and now he's saying with a point guard we're a playoff team.

He said he thought the Knicks could be in the playoffs and are much improved, which is what they were showing before Melo got injured and all the other injuries happened as well. He did think Jerian Grant would be playing more and making a bigger impact, which is what has been a big let down.

He did say that and he also guaranteed that they'd make the playoffs on Inside the NBA when Kenny was messing with him.

SocraticBallin22 wrote:Barkley: "I think the Knicks, they’re gonna be there,” Barkley said on a conference call Thursday to promote the upcoming All-Star Game. “I think, listen, Carmelo has had a solid year. I think he’s really been trying to fit into the system they’re running. (Kristaps) Porzingis has shocked everybody. He’s shocked everybody. Right now, he’s right there, him and Karl-Anthony Towns, they’re the two leaders in the clubhouse as far as Rookie of the Year. It could go either way.

“But the one thing that surprised me was their point guard. I thought the (Jerian) Grant kid would be playing a lot more, earlier. But let me tell you something, I hear there are rumors they can get Jeff Teague. If they can get Jeff Teague, the playoffs are a lock. I love Jeff Teague. If you put him with Porzingis and (Arron) Afflalo and Carmelo, they will make the playoffs. That’s the one weak spot they have to fix in the next year, the point guard."

What's interesting here is Barkley is making the point that most of us have been making the entire year. Why isn't Jerian playing more and earlier in games? I understand he's lacking confidence right now with his outside shot and he's been tentative and hesitant in making decisions lately in the triangle, but he really is our best option at the point guard position and it would behoove the franchise to play him more, let him make his mistakes and develop into a potential starter (or see if he can be one before making an assessment).

The second point is that if we get a point guard like Teague, we are a playoff lock. I agree with this, although I don't think we have the assets to obtain a player like Teague without mortgaging our future (KP or future 1st rounders),which I wouldn't do. However, it points out our one glaring weakness that is keeping us from being a legit playoff team in the east: a point guard. It needs to be addressed in some way hopefully before the trade deadline.

He didn't ask why Grant wasn't playing more, he said he thought he'd be playing more and it sounds to me like he's saying that Grant has struggled.

Why would we play him more up to this point if we're trying to win games?? I can see him playing more when we're out of the running for the playoffs and think he should but he's really bad right now and we're still in the race for a playoff spot. I'm hoping Phil will find a way to make a trade to get us a player or players that can help us make the playoffs and if he can't then i think it would be best to put everyone but Melo/KP and Rolo on the trade block and get whatever we can for each player in draft picks and young players on cheap contracts.