nyknickzingis wrote:I actually think we should be focused on guard
THJ/McDErmott is solid at 3. Lancé available at 3 as well.

What we need is a better point guard than Jack and Frank will need a few years. Frank may never be enough even of a player on offense to carry your PG spot.

I'd look for a combo guard before anything else. Think we are solid at 3 with THj, McD, and Lance.

WaltLongmire wrote:Lot of folks underestimating McDermott. Does a lot of things well on offense, and his D has been much better than advertised...If he adds a little more overall strength I don't see why he can't play the 3 for us.

Smart player, more competitive than I had anticipated, quick release, and he moves as well without the ball as anyone we've had in years. He is also able to finish at the basket.

Best case scenario for him...Kiki Vandeweghe? Ray Allen/Redick/Korver? Cazzie Russell?

Can get a little bit stronger for next year...but I don't see why he can't get good minutes at the 3 moving forward- maybe as a starter...maybe as a 6th Man of the Year type reserve.

I think you have to hope Doug turns out to develop a bit like JJ Redick- where both guys were great players in college, but perhaps not the athletes to translate instantly in the NBA. Look at Redicks career early on, he wasn't what he became when he matured.

I think Doug might be best off the bench as a role player. But I do want to keep him.

Jmpasq wrote:

nyknickzingis wrote:I actually think we should be focused on guard
THJ/McDErmott is solid at 3. Lancé available at 3 as well.

What we need is a better point guard than Jack and Frank will need a few years. Frank may never be enough even of a player on offense to carry your PG spot.

I'd look for a combo guard before anything else. Think we are solid at 3 with THj, McD, and Lance.

the problem is Hardaway cant guard elite forwards like Giannis, Simmons, lebron, George, and Durant. We need a legit 6-8, 6-9 SF with length. We get somebody like that our has insane potential. I do agree they need another Guard too. Preferably one who can penetrate and score.

I agree that Hardaway isn’t the answer. If Kanter (at $20 million) and McDeemott are keepers and solid role players in the rotation, KP will require another all star for us to move into a more elite status and compete with Celtics and Phili. If Frank and Dotson provide a solid backcourt fine but Embiid will eat Kanter for breakfast. Your 3 ideally was Porter and he has surgery yesterday. We are talking about someone like Jason Tatum. If we are to win a championship then Tim Hardaway ain’t taking you there. Likewise, for $20 Mm I’m still not sold on Kanter as we need a defensive presence in the hole and someone who boards (and ideally under 25). Begley, Bamba and Ayers May Be the way to go, with Middleton a FA signing (as you won’t be paying Kanter, Lee and presumably OQuinn.

reub wrote:PG? Come on now. We need to get young guys. 25 or younger.

If Paul George, or LBJ or DeMarcus Cousins want to be Knicks, sign them. Figure out the rest later.

(None of them want to be Knicks, but just as a thought exercise, if you can get a franchise All Star to sign with no outgoing assets moving, you are just using cap space, you do it)

Finestrg wrote:

Jmpasq wrote:

nyknickzingis wrote:I actually think we should be focused on guard
THJ/McDErmott is solid at 3. Lancé available at 3 as well.

What we need is a better point guard than Jack and Frank will need a few years. Frank may never be enough even of a player on offense to carry your PG spot.

I'd look for a combo guard before anything else. Think we are solid at 3 with THj, McD, and Lance.

the problem is Hardaway cant guard elite forwards like Giannis, Simmons, lebron, George, and Durant. We need a legit 6-8, 6-9 SF with length. We get somebody like that our has insane potential. I do agree they need another Guard too. Preferably one who can penetrate and score.

Agreed and I think we could add exactly what you're looking for right now & on the cheap. We'd need to do a little roster shuffling (like others are saying on another thread, I agree that we should try to move KOQ while his value is high right now for example -- not even looking for the moon for him--even if we got a 2nd rounder and cash for him--more would be great obviously but I just want the roster spot open) but I think there are good options available right now:

Briggs has brought up Christian Wood many times -- I mean how 'bout this guy in the KOQ role? About 5 years younger, longer, he's put on some weight (no way this guy is still at his listed weight of 216 lbs.), much more skilled overall offensively, we wouldn't lose any of O'Quinn's shot-blocking (in fact I think we'd add even more of that element here with Wood) AND we'd be adding even more versatility as Wood can play both the 3 & 4. I'd also look to move Lance Thomas too as Wood could cover his spot as well (plus I want more guaranteed time for McDermott AND it would open up time for Willy -- I'd like to see them make Willy relevant again). Wood's just sitting there in the D-League, don't think he's tied to an NBA team right now. Current G-League stats: 34 mins., 25.5 ppg, 56.5% FGs, 41.7% on 3s, 10.3 rpg, 1.8 steals, 2.3 blocks. The kid's NBA-ready, man. No question about it. He's actually already had a couple of cups of coffee in the NBA and has performed well. Absolutely NOTHING more to prove at the G-League level:

Here's Wood more than holding his own against Diamond Stone:

And I keep saying it -- how about Cat Barber in a backup scoring guard role? Only 23 years old, EXCELLENT scorer with all the requisite PG skills. Up to me, this guy already would've been a Knick. Currently playing in Italy -- I'm sure he's got some kind of out in his contract to go to the NBA:

I mean how in the world did neither of these dudes get drafted!? How much better (or more dangerous with an even better future) would we be with Wood/Barber in ALONG WITH McDermott/Willy getting more time over Sessions/KOQ/Lance Thomas? I think a couple of subtle moves like this would cement a playoff spot this year. And if for some reason it didn't, I'd still LOVE the upside with the two players we'd be adding.

I agree with what you think our needs are but some of you gotta stop thinking that just because a player puts up great stats in college or the g-league doesn't mean they can do the same thing in the NBA and it's been proven over and over and over again. Pretty much every single player drafted in the 1st round of every draft and many of the kids drafted in the 2nd round put up really good numbers in college and now think about how many of the 30 players drafted in the 1st round make it in the NBA. I'd be shocked if 15-20 of them are in the NBA in 2-3 years. I like C.Wood and what he's doing in the g-league but every single GM or their scouts have already looked at this kids game tape and he's still in the g-league. Now i also do think there's players out there that are in the g-league or playing overseas that could make it in the NBA but just haven't got a real chance and maybe C.Wood is one of them but he has been on teams in the NBA and still didn't end up making the team. When you watch the videos posted of him look at the players he's going against, they're not what i'd call NBA material...lol. The same can be said for C.Barber.

EnySpree wrote:

Jmpasq wrote:

nyknickzingis wrote:I actually think we should be focused on guard
THJ/McDErmott is solid at 3. Lancé available at 3 as well.

What we need is a better point guard than Jack and Frank will need a few years. Frank may never be enough even of a player on offense to carry your PG spot.

I'd look for a combo guard before anything else. Think we are solid at 3 with THj, McD, and Lance.

the problem is Hardaway cant guard elite forwards like Giannis, Simmons, lebron, George, and Durant. We need a legit 6-8, 6-9 SF with length. We get somebody like that our has insane potential. I do agree they need another Guard too. Preferably one who can penetrate and score.

It's a team sport... we just have to concentrate on getting our best 5-9 players together. We don't need to worry about guarding 5 guys at a singular position. In a season, you are talking about getting a player to guard those guys for 16 games out of 82.... the focus should always be getting the best 5 -9 players we cab that will run through a wall together. I really don't see teams saying, we need to get a 7' guy that can chase around KP on the perimeter. Teams have to guard us too. So **** Gianni, Simmons, LeBron, George and durant.... tell them to bring it.

Other than agreeing that it’s a team sport, I am unsure of what you are saying. It appears that most of your commentary here and other comments strive for 8th Place and the playoffs. I’d rather tank and compliment KP with another all star caliber player. I’m frankly on the fence about a number of players but ask me on Feb 3 after the team has played 16 of 20 on the road.

Paris907 wrote:

reub wrote:

EnySpree wrote:Btw.... Paul George is a free agent next year. If OKC fails he's the guy we need to holler at. His game fits what were doing now seamlessly

I thought that PG wanted to go to L.A.

PG is a solid talent. However given that he’s suffered a major injury and has what 9-10 years in the league, I’d opt for under 25. When KP is peaking at 25 PG will be 33. I’ll pass.

PG is exactly 5 years older than KP, this is his 8th year in the league.