yellowboy90 wrote:This is a bad FA class for rebuilders. The Knicks should only look at below $8m guys or save the cap space to facilitate traded.

That's why I listed Shabazz. I don't think he gets more than $7M a season and he's 24 right now. Could be a good chip going forward.

Ian Clark, and shabazz are names to consider. Clark got some age on him now though.

franco12 wrote:1)Am I the only one who thinks a Melo trade might not happen?

2)And if it does, I think we're getting garbage/filler back.

3)Also - we don't have a lot of open roster slots - you had 2-3 draft picks, and there is basically no room unless you start letting some guys go - like Ron Baker, Kuz, etc.

3) Why I suggest we stand pat and build from within. Holiday prob goes to play with this bro the full MLE after they max out JRue. I like him but not for $8mm

yellowboy90 wrote:

crzymdups wrote:One good thing - while I think salaries will be higher again this summer, I don't think we'll see some of the craziness of last summer. A bunch of teams already regret giving guys like Evan Turner, Allen Crabbe, Tyler Johnson, Noah, etc big money. Crabbe should've gotten 4yr $40M... paying him $72M is absurd.

You are probably right but their are some rFAs that might inflate the market some. Otto Porter might make $20m

Yeah Otto Porter might get overpaid... but does he really move the needle for most teams? I think the reality will set in that the cap is higher, but not unlimited. You can't give Otto Porter 1/5 of your cap in the NBA and expect to compete.

yellowboy90 wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

yellowboy90 wrote:

crzymdups wrote:One good thing - while I think salaries will be higher again this summer, I don't think we'll see some of the craziness of last summer. A bunch of teams already regret giving guys like Evan Turner, Allen Crabbe, Tyler Johnson, Noah, etc big money. Crabbe should've gotten 4yr $40M... paying him $72M is absurd.

You are probably right but their are some rFAs that might inflate the market some. Otto Porter might make $20m

Yeah Otto Porter might get overpaid... but does he really move the needle for most teams? I think the reality will set in that the cap is higher, but not unlimited. You can't give Otto Porter 1/5 of your cap in the NBA and expect to compete.

Probably not but he is young and shot very well this year. Look what Harrison Barnes got last year and he was the 4th fiddle with GSW similar to how Porter is the 3rd/4th fiddle with Was.

Noel is another guy Dallas might lock up for a good chunk of money.

Noel to me is pretty worth it. I would've loved to get Noel to play alongside KP.

Man, look at what Dallas has been able to add to their roster over the past 12 months compared to us. They got Harrison Barnes, Nerlens Noel, Seth Curry - Barnes and Curry were cap room. Noel was a steal of a trade. They were all great moves for nice young players.

franco12 wrote:Am I the only one who thinks a Melo trade might not happen?

And if it does, I think we're getting garbage/filler back.

Also - we don't have a lot of open roster slots - you had 2-3 draft picks, and there is basically no room unless you start letting some guys go - like Ron Baker, Kuz, etc.

franco12 wrote:Am I the only one who thinks a Melo trade might not happen?

And if it does, I think we're getting garbage/filler back.

Also - we don't have a lot of open roster slots - you had 2-3 draft picks, and there is basically no room unless you start letting some guys go - like Ron Baker, Kuz, etc.

I think he's content to rot on this roster and stay in NY and cash his big checks and shotjack until someone finds the balls to bench him.

I don't see any possible way he could be traded without taking in AT LEAST one bad long term contract. His trade kicker plus his huge salary plus the limitations of teams where he'd waive his NTC would mean he's not going to a gutted team and the only way to get the salaries to work, even with some open cap space, is to shed an ugly contract.

This is where the "wash principle" has to happen for Phil Jackson to make a deal. He has to be OK with moving Melo for ZERO RETURN. The function of getting asset would be as the push/pull for dumping bad contracts onto the Knicks. I.E. Julius Randle is the booby prize for lifting the ugly Mozgov and Deng contracts off their books, Melo would just be "wash" incentive to make the salaries match. The positive asset has to function from the contract dump, not from Melo's own trade value, because his trade value is pretty much shot to hell ( not because of Jackson, but because of age, his style of play, his lack of defense, his poor fit on most rosters that accommodate a hero ball gunner who freezes out his team mates and has lousy shot selection.

I think the Knicks should go for Tony Allen and Thabo Selofosha. Two guys who can defend, not the way they used to defend, but they can operate on the perimeter. Won't give you offense, but maybe are in the Tier 4 FA range where they might short a short deal and give some non intrusive veteran help without the long term bite back of eating a lengthy decline phase commitment.

Once you hit the salary floor, you have ask yourself if you are just spending money to just spend money and say you tried to something/anything. It might help the marketing and buzz, but it's an irresponsible way to run a team.

With the #9 I would trade down with Portland for #15, #20, #26. Take Justin Jackson with #15. Trade #20 with Orlando for #33-#35 and a future first. Take Caleb Swanigan with #26 and Josh Hart with #33. Then use #35, #44, #58 to either acquire future picks or euro stash players that gains recommends. This isn't even counting our top 7 pick.

With KP, Top7, Willy, Jackson, Swanigan, Hart, 2018 first, Baker we would be able to establish a new long term core immediately. Lee, Mathews, Lance, Noah are all high character vet hold overs to steer the young players. Jackson, Swanigan, Hart all bring intangibles that are perfect compliments for what we have and what we are looking for. Swanigan is a mobile rebounding machine who could guard the perimeter or post. Which is perfect player next to KP and Willy. He also shows potential passing and shooting 3s. But even if that doesn't translate his rebounding and defense potential is exactly what we need next to our young bigs. Hart and Jackson on the perimeter bring IQ, ball moving, shooting, defense who have potential to excell in the triangle.

We would also have flexibility with Melo, Kuz, KOQ, Lee and those 2nd rounders. Load up on more future assets or try and get some young vets to help immediately with the young developing core.

Lets see what happens.