knicks1248 wrote:Nalod wrote:The proof is on the court.
Im sure somewhere between chuck buck and Nixluva lies the truth.
exactly, my concern is the bench..
It's a weird team -- it could go great if guys rebound, have the comeback years we're hoping for and remain healthy for the most part (I'd say a win total somewhere in the 50s and a team capable of doing some real damage in the playoffs, even upsetting the Cavs in a 1st or 2nd round is a possibly 
) or it could all go to **** and we may not even be a .500 team. It really could go either way. Praying for the former of course. Got no choice now--this is the team Uncle Phil put together. Not what I would've envisioned but you know what--with Melo's window closing by the day, maybe it was the right thing to try to go for it now while he's still a good player. Again, I liked the Rose trade and think he was absolutely worth the risk (we didn't include a pick, to me RoLo was replaceable and I don't think Grant will ever be a star, and Rose is an expiring contract--if he doesn't work out, he's gone -- not much to dislike)--then you gotta like how the other big acquisitions came aboard shortly thereafter. Everything fell into place pretty quick and it's a roster that makes some sense on paper for the most part. The one big caveat: we just need our top guys to stay health and perform like they're capable of performing. Can they do that? We'll soon find out.
Agreed though--my concern is with the bench also. I think if you decide to take on risky players with their type of injury history, you better stack that bench with viable fill-ins all the way down to 15. And Phil has for the most part, I'll give him credit. But again, even 3rd string end of the bench players are important imo. Super important. I still say we could've done better than Sasha at 3rd string 2G and I want a talented backup PG, someone with upside and a future, not a has-been. There's a good chance Rose and/or Jennings don't work out and won't be back next year. Why not try to grab a good young PG like a Dinwiddie or a Bryce Cotton as an understudy (esp. in a year we didn't have a draft pick--I understand we added some youth, but still), throw them a modicum of guaranteed money (why not? for the little amount we're talking, if it didn't work out--we cut them and move on. It's worth the ultra minor monetary investment) and groom them for a possible larger role next year. Start the process now with a younger PG. I think that's the right thing to do. I don't want a has-been with no future (this is a young man's game as we've seen time and time again) and I don't care for the 'let's wait and see' approach or the 'let's keep the 15th spot open for now' approach. That's too passive for me. Finish the job strong now. Dinwiddie or Cotton -- both look like they could go to camp with Chicago and Atlanta respectively but if we came aggressive with what amounts to a modest sum of guaranteed money, we could get either guy. These guys are both looking for a guaranteed money gig and to stay in the show, even if it meant coming to NY as a 15th man for now, believe me. No agent would tell these guys to pass up guaranteed money from NY right now if Phil Jackson came calling. And a smart agent would tell them, 'look--Rose and Jennings may not stay healthy this year and may not work out there long-term. Take the guaranteed money, go to Westchester to start if you had to and stay ready--very good chance opportunity could come knocking there, either this year or next.' I don't think Randle or Baker is worth remaining passive by keeping this 15th spot open for either guy. Take a look around, Phil -- there are better options. Dinwiddie's close to Shaun Livingston/Vern Fleming and Cotton's very similar to Aaron Brooks/Patty Mills (better imo -- I like Patty Mills but he doesn't have a 40" vertical like Cotton does) -- both guy's have NBA experience and have performed well when they were given a chance. I've got either guy ahead of Randle and Baker. If we like Baker that much, we should've taken him for the Vujacic spot. I would've been OK with that. But not as a 3rd string PG that very well may have to see some game action this year behind Rose and Jennings. I want more of a surer thing there waiting in the wings. I'll continue to look at this as a pretty glaring oversight until there's some kind of resolution.
7/26/2016 11:24 PM