This is the worst nba backcourt in the league. Thera no correct combination of players that need to be playing over the other. They still will be terrible.

Fast forward to the summer. Face it that's all we have to look forward to right now.

The Knicks must upgrade 3 of these players. Calderón should not be allowed to return next year. Sasha should be let go. Affalo should also be traded if he decides to opt in with the Knicks.

Right off the bat signing Jeremy Lin, Evan Fournier and Eric Gordon would make the Knicks a legit nba team. There are bigger name players, but we are kidding ourselves if we think Derozen is coming. Conley isn't coming. We can afford all 3 players. Jeremy Lin, Eric Gordon and Fournier.

Lin is unrestricted. 4-5 mil could bring him back. He's more of a scorer but is still way better than Calderón and Galloway in every facet if the game. He could start on day one or come off the bench.

Eric Gordon I believe wants to prove he belongs. Dude is a scorer. He'd be great playing the role that Galloway is supposed to be playing off the bench.

Evan Fournier I talked about before. Some say Orlando would match but they have alot of guards and forwards. Too many actually. Can they afford to throw another 6-8 million on another one? He would be the perfect starter for us.he can shoot and get to the basket. He's fundementally sound. He's a gamer.

I'm just throwing this out there. You can pick your 3 players. The moral of the story is the Knicks can't really get better until they upgrade the entire guard rotation. No way around it.

Orlando - traded Harris so that they could keep Fournier this summer (not available)
Gordon - made out of paper bones. Im sure some foolish team will pay him close to 15 mill
Jennings - ive been saying for months that he might be the most REALISTIC option (and i dont think hes that good) - hell cost around 12-14 mill
Batum - that would be cool. i like him. hes actually good and in his prime. so hell get above 15 mill
A Crabbe - nice 3 and d guy who improved on portland
Sh Mack - another realistic option and big guard that phil likes
Vazquez - cheap PG who is broken down and should be a back up

DREAM Backcourt
Conley and Batum

Realistic Backcourt
Jennings and Crabbe

Worst case Backcourt
Jose and Affalo

of course, once melo leaves like i think he will, that should open up some cap space. hopefully we spend wisely. overall, the next two yrs are simply auditions or placeholders to play with KP as he grows. The next two yrs ALL TEAMS will have money in the new cap - so i dont expect the knicks to beat out 13-15 teams for players. when 2018 hits and the cap settles down, hopefully we wouldve saved (or invested in short term contracts that end 2018) and KP is ready to be a superstar

callmened wrote:

EnySpree wrote:I think Orlando traded Harris because Scott Skies wanted his former players back in Jennings and Ilyosova (sp?).

that 2..but also cuz they believe in fournier. they have over 30 mil to spend on him

He is likely to be retained unless someone give him the max($23m). I do think Oladipo can be had in a trade if the knicks are willing to give up Lopez.

I Would also go after Crabbe and even overpay if need be. It's a major risk but all of the young RFA 2s are suspect defenders who barely rebound or pass.

Another option at guard for me would be to go after Harrison Barnes and move him to the two and see if his offense will take off like Jimmy Butler or khris Middleton did. Barnes also wants max or near max money. At 6-8 with his build he will have a definite size advantage over most guards in the east.

I think this franchise's horizon should be - the season that KP is strong enough to put up a consistent 20 & 8 with solid shooting %.

Is that in 2 years? 4?

That is season we need to build towards.

I'd honestly Hinkie my way through next season, and look to max out my draft position and hope like heck I can find a true stud PG or SG or SF- someone able to make an impact on the game.

Cause Jeremy Lin- who I love- isn't getting it down.

Mike Conley, if he came, is on the wrong side of his career when KP starts impacting the game on a consistent basis.

newyorknewyork wrote:

yellowboy90 wrote:

callmened wrote:

EnySpree wrote:I think Orlando traded Harris because Scott Skies wanted his former players back in Jennings and Ilyosova (sp?).

that 2..but also cuz they believe in fournier. they have over 30 mil to spend on him

He is likely to be retained unless someone give him the max($23m). I do think Oladipo can be had in a trade if the knicks are willing to give up Lopez.

I Would also go after Crabbe and even overpay if need be. It's a major risk but all of the young RFA 2s are suspect defenders who barely rebound or pass.

Another option at guard for me would be to go after Harrison Barnes and move him to the two and see if his offense will take off like Jimmy Butler or khris Middleton did. Barnes also wants max or near max money. At 6-8 with his build he will have a definite size advantage over most guards in the east.

Orlando has Vucevic, Lopez wouldn't make sense there. Olapido would be nice. Would probably have to give up that 2018 pick to get him though. And they would probably want a little more as well. Orlando has some good young talent they need that franchise player with the young talent they have to start being a top team. They need to keep drafting hoping someone breaks out, while looking to add some veteran leadership with the cap space they have. Also really comes down to Elfid Paytons development.

A move they could make is Elfid Payton for Conley S&T.

yellowboy90 wrote:

callmened wrote:

EnySpree wrote:I think Orlando traded Harris because Scott Skies wanted his former players back in Jennings and Ilyosova (sp?).

that 2..but also cuz they believe in fournier. they have over 30 mil to spend on him

He is likely to be retained unless someone give him the max($23m). I do think Oladipo can be had in a trade if the knicks are willing to give up Lopez.

I Would also go after Crabbe and even overpay if need be. It's a major risk but all of the young RFA 2s are suspect defenders who barely rebound or pass.

Another option at guard for me would be to go after Harrison Barnes and move him to the two and see if his offense will take off like Jimmy Butler or khris Middleton did. Barnes also wants max or near max money. At 6-8 with his build he will have a definite size advantage over most guards in the east.

Supposedly the Magic are trying to create room for two max deals. Chandler Parsons is one guy they've targeted. Not sure about who else they might chase.

I think Oladipo could be had... though I doubt for Rolo.

reub wrote:Lopez is a keeper in my opinion.

Agreed.

Failing that, assuming he stays with the Grizz, I like the idea of going hard after Brandon Jennings and Eric Gordon. I would keep Afflalo, but move him to a bench role. Keep Galloway. Keep Grant and hope he gets more confident with experience. Stretch Jose - I believe we can stretch the final year of his deal over 2 years, it'd create $3.5M in room for this year.

We need more guards so we can match up against teams like Boston and go smaller if need be.

I would also be in favor of letting Afflalo go and bringing in Courtney Lee - but I'm okay keeping Afflalo if his role is somewhat minimized and we don't have to depend on him as much to be consistent.

Keep our 2017 and 2018 picks at all costs and try to find depth at the 1,2,3 in the draft. I'm also hoping we use Melo at the 4 and KP at the 5 more often next season. Keep KOQ on the team for emergencies only because he's cheap and solid.

PG - Jennings, Grant
SG - Gordon, Afflalo, Galloway
SF - Melo, DWill
PF - KP, Lance
C - Rolo, KOQ

I'll add that I think it is absurd we haven't signed Tim Frazier or Tony Wroten to at least take a look at what they could do on the floor for this team.