NBA Insider: 'Very accomplished' third player plotting to join Kyrie Irving & Jimmy Butler in 2019

"There's a third guy that I can't mention, but yeah," Goodwill said about another 2019 free agent joining Irving and Butler. "I can't tell you (who) but I can tell you it's a very accomplished NBA player. Very accomplished."

Is there a team that can create 3 max slots? I don't think so.. Probably more baseless speculation though.

The Knicks are certainly in a good place to add a player of Irving’s caliber next year. With Enes Kanter, Ron Baker, and Emmanuel Mudiay all playing on expiring contracts, the Knicks are in line to have two max-contract slots available. This comes with the condition that the Knicks can find someone to take on Courtney Lee’s $12M, but the Knicks have reportedly already been looking for suitors. Another issue could arise with Tim Hardaway Jr’s massive four year, $71M through 2021. Of course, both of these contracts were organized by the Phil Jackson Knicks, a team that should have no correlation with what the Knicks are trying to become now. Nonetheless, as long as management can perform their duties of leaving as much money available to bring in stars, New York should be able to acquire a much needed piece to play alongside Porzingis.

The Nets, on the other hand, are just now concluding their end of the deal with the Boston Celtics centered around the Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Jason Terry trade all the way back in 2013. With their final pick being used by the Cavs to select G Collin Sexton at number eight, the Nets have learned their lesson to never break the bank for players past their prime. Now, they have a former 2nd overall pick in D’Angelo Russell, a steal from last year’s draft in Jarrett Allen, and the previously mentioned cap space that makes them contenders to sign anyone they want. Plus, something Brooklyn has that the Knicks do not is lack of long-term commitment. Jarrett Allen is the only player that is signed through the 2020-21 season, meaning the team is likely to be completely remodeled by then.

As for Kyrie, it is still unsure what he is trying to gain out of potentially leaving the best team in the Eastern Conference. Not only that, an extremely young team with a coach that can get the most out of every single player on any given night. Considering this team was one game away from playing in the NBA Finals last year without its two best players, it is hard to see why Kyrie would decide to abandon all that. Then again, this is the same man that demanded a trade from the best player of this generation, so nothing is out of the picture. If the thought of playing “with a big man like Porzingis” really entices Irving enough, it may not be long until the duo brings Madison Square Garden back to its Starks-Ewing days./quote]

https://www.isportsweb.com/2018/07/20/new-york-vs-brooklyn-the-battle-for-kyrie-irving/

blkexec wrote:KD....Kanter mentioned him as a possible 3rd player.

Everybody wants to be the savior and KD wants to prove that he doesn't have to join a 73 win team to be a champion!

Kyrie
Butler
Knox
KD
KP

That would be downright nasty.

MS wrote:KP would certainly need to be in a package to clear space and add another max salary if that were the case.

Personally I like the trio idea and would just assume organically grow as many pieces as possible. Winning is the goal and I get that but a mercenary short run vs a long sustainable one is not on my agenda. Its easy to stack players and say that's the way. But the reality is that team still needs role players and a bench.
Brooklyn did go for it and burned. Took Boston a few years and a fantastic trade to build the assets to be in contention.
Knicks will take their own path.
Kyrie, Butler and Durant..........Starphuchers dreaming. Peronsally I like the idea of perhaps two paired with KP.
I don't know if KP is ever great, but I'd rather have KP in his prime then Butler leaving his. KP is a knick. Butler is not.

TripleThreat wrote:

NYKBocker wrote:

blkexec wrote:KD....Kanter mentioned him as a possible 3rd player.

Everybody wants to be the savior and KD wants to prove that he doesn't have to join a 73 win team to be a champion!

Kyrie
Butler
Knox
KD
KP

That would be downright nasty.

The issue will come down to Bird Rights.

There's taking a bit of a paycut, then there's a steep hit in terms of a players contract value. Durant left money on the table in his previous Warriors contract, he did not however leave massive money ( i.e. the way Dirk has done with the Mavericks)

Sign and trades are extremely limited under the past few CBAs. By their nature, contending teams are not going to be likely cases to do S&Ts.

Boston has Irving's Bird Rights. The Celtics have a lot of money tied in a few number of players ( Irving, Hayward, Horford) They are the best candidate to infuse Butler onto their team and maybe another high profile player.

It would take trading Zinger to shed Lee, Hardaway Jr and Noah off the books. Maybe a team like Atlanta would do this. That's the only way the Knicks could carve out enough space to pay Irving , Butler and whomever , but all would be taking massive pay cuts against their potential maxes to do it.

To make this doable for ANY team in the NBA, odds are said team would need Bird Rights to at least two of the players in question. I don't see how that adds up for the Knicks. Philly would also be a better landing spot if players were going to take a massive contract hit

The idea that we should try to dump KP to clear up cap space to "potentially" sign Kyrie and Butler and a "very accomplished" player is just preposterous. Not saying you were suggesting that but at least some fans are thinking along those lines. Always chasing the next starfukk, we did this to land LeBron and landed Amare and Incredible Sulk instead. Worked out real well. Lot's of championships to show for it.

Can't fix stupid.

KNICKSBIGCATS wrote:https://www.sny.tv/knicks/news/nba-insider-very-accomplished-third-player-plotting-to-join-kyrie-irving--jimmy-butler-in-2019/286433956

NBA Insider: 'Very accomplished' third player plotting to join Kyrie Irving & Jimmy Butler in 2019

"There's a third guy that I can't mention, but yeah," Goodwill said about another 2019 free agent joining Irving and Butler. "I can't tell you (who) but I can tell you it's a very accomplished NBA player. Very accomplished."

Is there a team that can create 3 max slots? I don't think so.. Probably more baseless speculation though.

The Nyets could do it I believe....

TripleThreat wrote:

NYKBocker wrote:

blkexec wrote:KD....Kanter mentioned him as a possible 3rd player.

Everybody wants to be the savior and KD wants to prove that he doesn't have to join a 73 win team to be a champion!

Kyrie
Butler
Knox
KD
KP

That would be downright nasty.

The issue will come down to Bird Rights.

There's taking a bit of a paycut, then there's a steep hit in terms of a players contract value. Durant left money on the table in his previous Warriors contract, he did not however leave massive money ( i.e. the way Dirk has done with the Mavericks)

Sign and trades are extremely limited under the past few CBAs. By their nature, contending teams are not going to be likely cases to do S&Ts.

Boston has Irving's Bird Rights. The Celtics have a lot of money tied in a few number of players ( Irving, Hayward, Horford) They are the best candidate to infuse Butler onto their team and maybe another high profile player.

It would take trading Zinger to shed Lee, Hardaway Jr and Noah off the books. Maybe a team like Atlanta would do this. That's the only way the Knicks could carve out enough space to pay Irving , Butler and whomever , but all would be taking massive pay cuts against their potential maxes to do it.

To make this doable for ANY team in the NBA, odds are said team would need Bird Rights to at least two of the players in question. I don't see how that adds up for the Knicks. Philly would also be a better landing spot if players were going to take a massive contract hit

3 is totally out of the question but 2 is doable and if its the right 2 the Knicks could be a title contender. This roster is feasible. By my calculations assuming you stretch Noah, trade Lee (with 2nd round pick ) and Hardaway jr ( with 1st round pick ) they could open up 60 million in cap space. Would 2 prime FA's split 60 million? I don't know but its not out of the question.

KP
Durant
Knox
Frank
Kyrie

2019 First Round pick
Burke
Mitchell RObinson
Dotson
2019 2nd round pick