If we did not draft Frank Ntilikina, I would have also wanted Dennis Smith, Jr. They were 1a and 1b choices for me. Frank, to me, seems like he will be the better all-around player though, with both having high ceilings but Frank to me seems to have a higher floor. He's young, athletic, and hungry. His defense looks tremendous with his energy, his length, and how he can get into his opponent and cause problems.

KP's ability to continue ascending and to put his total game together will determine if we can be a contending team in as little as 2 years or continue to flounder. He needs to stop the stupid fouls he commits. Sometimes, I question his intelligence with some of his dumb fouls, and how he's just as much to blame for being out of rhythm as ball-stopping Melo.

Melo needs to go. He does not play defense. He needs to go somewhere else where he is not looked upon as the leader or best player. Nice guy, but terrible leader. Look at the best teams in the league. Their best players set the example on both sides of the court. If he goes to the Cava, they'll have a great chance of winning it all. If he goes to Houston, that may work for the regular season, but will be a disaster in the playoffs. Harden will not inspire Melo to be a great defender lol.

With Hardaway, terrible number but he's got way more upside than Courtney Lee. At least he's gotten better, and I believe will continue to get better. Not hating the move.

I believe we are going to sign Rondo once we handle the Melo trade, and I'm OK with a two year deal with player option after year one. Rondo can bring accountability to the team, even if he's sometimes considered to be an ornery jackass. Dude is pass first who will defend hard.

Rondo/Frank/Buyches
Hardaway/Lee/Baker
Thomas or Melo Trade Piece/Kuz
KP/O'Quinn/Labeyrie/Hernangomez
Hernangomez/Noah/Melo Trade Piece

I definitely think we get to the playoffs with that team if we run the floor and create an attitude to play defense no matter what.

I would get back to the Pitino full court press days and see what happens. At least it would be exciting while we wait to develop our players and give ourselves a chance every game.

Knick fan forever, no matter what.

Good job but try to hide it a little bit!

By the way that team won't win 35 games at best-- my guess 28

Jrshoops wrote:Nah, MSG can 't afford me. Nice try. Just trying to say something about the hope that things will turn around, but that starts with defense, especially in New York. Our "best" player is lazy and lethargic on that end, and he always will be. As long as I feel the energy and desire to win this year, I'll be satisfied. We obviously are not winning the championship in the near, near future.

I'd be looking pick 5-10. We have plenty of time for that.

Jrshoops wrote:

Allanfan20 wrote:Hope. Is that the new Slogan of the Knicks? Kind of like "They scared now?" Lmao

What else should it be? "We're gonna suck for a while" or "Deal with It!" lol. Hope is all a Knicks fan has to hold onto. I'm a Jets fan too, so double whammy for me!!!

Hope is not a good strategy neither is "waiting it out"

nixluva wrote:I'm so damned tired of the Media and Jaded Self Hating Knicks Fans!!! Always taking the dark side. Doom and Gloom!
Never mind all the young talent we have and the great potential these players have.

Never mind Mills stating the team is focused on youth and bringing back THJ follows that philosophy. THJ just turned 25 and is an ascending player.

We have to see how things pan out with Melo or any other trades. The Knicks are not out of control. Phil left but Rest of Front Office is still there but finally focused on building a new young core.

Fair enough, people may also be tired of reading all the spin trying to make a blind starfukk move sound like rebuilding. People just see things differently. I just got off the phone with a friend who is a die hard Hawks fan and he was telling me how a bunch of them were dreading the Hawks would OVERPAY THJR with a 4/45 contract. It's all relative but I'll take their assessment over yours - because they watched him every game.

BRIGGS wrote:MSG employee# 5468

Good job but try to hide it a little bit!

By the way that team won't win 35 games at best-- my guess 28

I disagree with the 28 win guess. We won 31 last year. You replace Rose with a replacement level PG and will win more games from that position. Melo didn't help us win many games last year either. A big jump from KP and Willy can improve the record alone. I think we win more games than last year, but not by much.

meloshouldgo wrote:

nixluva wrote:I'm so damned tired of the Media and Jaded Self Hating Knicks Fans!!! Always taking the dark side. Doom and Gloom!
Never mind all the young talent we have and the great potential these players have.

Never mind Mills stating the team is focused on youth and bringing back THJ follows that philosophy. THJ just turned 25 and is an ascending player.

We have to see how things pan out with Melo or any other trades. The Knicks are not out of control. Phil left but Rest of Front Office is still there but finally focused on building a new young core.

Fair enough, people may also be tired of reading all the spin trying to make a blind starfukk move sound like rebuilding. People just see things differently. I just got off the phone with a friend who is a die hard Hawks fan and he was telling me how a bunch of them were dreading the Hawks would OVERPAY THJR with a 4/45 contract. It's all relative but I'll take their assessment over yours - because they watched him every game.

F I care about ATL Fans MF I live in Georgia! I know all about the Hawks. The games are on cable down here. THJ is improving and his emergence was a key factor for the Hawks. This is just SALTY Hawks fans talking ish. I'm not some dumb as F Knicks fanboy as is popular on this forum. I actually do my research and make up my own mind based on facts. I know a LOT about the game so don't get it twisted cuz some guys around here love to make jokes. I back what I say.

THJ needs to improve more but he's made some real strides. Now he knows he's got a PRIME opportunity to start and be a key impact player for this team.

meloshouldgo wrote:

nixluva wrote:

meloshouldgo wrote:

nixluva wrote:I'm so damned tired of the Media and Jaded Self Hating Knicks Fans!!! Always taking the dark side. Doom and Gloom!
Never mind all the young talent we have and the great potential these players have.

Never mind Mills stating the team is focused on youth and bringing back THJ follows that philosophy. THJ just turned 25 and is an ascending player.

We have to see how things pan out with Melo or any other trades. The Knicks are not out of control. Phil left but Rest of Front Office is still there but finally focused on building a new young core.

Fair enough, people may also be tired of reading all the spin trying to make a blind starfukk move sound like rebuilding. People just see things differently. I just got off the phone with a friend who is a die hard Hawks fan and he was telling me how a bunch of them were dreading the Hawks would OVERPAY THJR with a 4/45 contract. It's all relative but I'll take their assessment over yours - because they watched him every game.

F I care about ATL Fans MF I live in Georgia! I know all about the Hawks. The games are on cable down here. THJ is improving and his emergence was a key factor for the Hawks. This is just SALTY Hawks fans talking ish. I'm not some dumb as F Knicks fanboy as is popular on this forum. I actually do my research and make up my own mind based on facts. I know a LOT about the game so don't get it twisted cuz some guys around here love to make jokes. I back what I say.

THJ needs to improve more but he's made some real strides. Now he knows he's got a PRIME opportunity to start and be a key impact player for this team.

Wasn't suggesting you don't know your basketball. But I base my opinions on reality not hope. I have no issue with accepting that he made progress. My issue is with assuming it's sustainable, reality is every fringe starter plays better in contract years. Even all-stars like Melo turn in a decent effort, just calling that out doesn't mean I don't want this kid to do well. I just don't see any reason to be jumping up and down right now. If you see that then more power to you. Peace out.

EDIT - I did forget you live in GA, so I'll walk back the part about you not setting as many games as those guys

Melo is a different case. THJ literally had to EARN IT. THJ was sent to the DL and had to PROVE to his coaches that he deserved to get called up and get minutes. He just kept improving and then got into the Starting Lineup and did well. He's still got work to do but he gets it now. He's confident and more mature. Knicks took a chance on an ascending player.

MS wrote:Why would anyone have hope regarding this team. The same mistake gets repeated every few years.

How many GMs have we been through?
-Layden
-Isiah
-Grunwald
-Jackson
-Mills

Coaches?
-Wilkens
-Larry Brown
-Thomas
-Herb
-Pringles
-Woodson
-Fisher
-Rambis
-Horny

Roster turnovers?
-to many to count

Unprotected pics traded that turned into lottery selections?
-Marbury
-Eddy Curry
-Steve Novack

Shitty contracts?
-Rice, Anderson, Eisley, Spoon, James, Jamal Crawford,
Francis, Mo Taylor, Jerome James, Jerome Williams, Jared Jefferies, QRich, Amare, Novak, Noah
-Note Curry, James and Houston are regarded as some of the worst signings in NBA history

Injury Prone Big Men signed
-Antonio McDyess
-Jerome James
-Eddy Curry
-Amare Stoudamire
-Noah

Winning Trades
-Zero

This is the Knicks the past 15 years. Patience is at zero, reason for optimism is at zero. You can rebuild on NY. Any sports commentor that says fans won't tolerate it is insane. We have been rebuilding for 15 years in the worst conference the east has ever seen and we have one playoff win.

So over that time when did we keep our picks and commit to building a young team full of our own players? You just gonna take a stroll down memory lane and ignore what this team is actually doing now? This is without a doubt the most hopeful situation we've had over the last 17 years.