The Knicks are very close to being a playoff team. They have a franchise player incapable of physically handling the demands of a superstar and in a year I don't see that as an issue. I am almost certain if we brought back this same team plus a better starting point guard, we are a playoff lock. KP will keep working on his body. An inconsistent KP and a consistent KP makes a difference of 5 more wins right now. He will get there. Frank will also be better a year from now.
What I'm saying though is more concerning Hardaway, CLee, Beasley, Kanter, O'Quinn, Thomas. These guys are all 26+ (or around there) in the peak of their basketball career. If you want them on your team, you need to try and win now. The Knicks though have been plagued by inconsistency from KP and Frank. KP plays like a MVP 10 games, then he plays like an inconsistent all-star since. Frank has moments where he looks like he's going to be a major impact player and then he has so many Casper nights. Willy is not even in the rotation, but is a strong asset for trade in a re-build or a rotation player to replace someone else you may trade.
So until KP and Frank really mature into consistent players, this team as is can't really do anything but where it is today. A team that wins around 35 games and is a tough group, but eventually just can't get it done. Not enough veteran star talent and the young talent is not there yet,
So what do we do that is most reasonable and rationale? Should we sell the vets off at trade deadline? I mean CLee, O'Quinn, Kanter, Beasley even, Jack even, all these guys man, they must have some damn good value right now. I could easily see three or four draft picks coming from those guys being traded to contenders or playoff teams. We would have to take back some contracts, but could stretch them to clear more capspace for the summer.
If not, then we have to think about moving Willy, and perhaps even Frank, to get something done to help KP. KP is not ready to carry a team as Phil Jackson said. He needs a veteran star who can come in and carry the load for him and get him some easier shots especially late in games. This guy has to be a guard because that's where we need the talent. Lee, Hardaway, all doing their job.
What's the right move here? Status quo will be the biggest waste and mistake. We must make a move in the coming weeks. Either trade the vets for draft picks and get so many trade assets that you can really be aggressive in the draft and in free agency or trade in the offseason. Or move Willy and Frank. We also have our own 2018 draft pick to use. Looking back at it, trading Willy, Frank and the 2018 #1 for Irving would have been an interesting move. I'm not one that was for that move, but the time of team we have around KP right now it makes sense. Kanter, KP, THj, Lee, Irving starters. O'Quinn, Beasley, McDermott, Jack backups. A playoff lock, top 5 in the East.
So should we sell the vets at trade deadline or look to make a big move using Willy, Frank and even the 2018 draft pick (if the player coming in is worth all that)? Should we be patient or try to go all in. Because where we are right now, we're neither bad enough to getting a star in the draft or good enough to be a free agent recruit team in the summer. We're going to be stuck being a 35 win team until KP is physically ready and Frank is much more mature. Even if we continue to draft well, where we are going to be in the lottery, you rarely get stars, you get good high quality starters like most of the time (Look at Frank at 8 vs drafting KP at 4)
1/14/2018 7:19 PM