I think we’ll look back at RJ’s draft class the same way we did at Melo’s. Was Melo the best player that draft class, no, but he was still a franchise talent.

That kind of move is the same kind of thinking that our franchise has had for too long - thinking we’re just 1 piece away, and if we can sign Eddy Curry, trade for Shannon Anderson, trade for Antonio McDyess, trade for Andrea Bargnani, we’ll be right there in contention.

They trade RJ- and I hope to god this is a rumor with no basis- then I am done with this franchise.

Philc1 wrote:If we trade RJ in a package for Lillard I’m done

Promise?

jskinny35 wrote:Starting to hear suggestions Knicks may package RJ to land Dame or Beal... I truly hope they do not include RJ as he is 20 and we have not drafted a promising young player and allowed that player to develop until the ripe age of 22/23 before. Maybe Beal will always be better than RJ, but why give up possible 10 years of a solid hardworking player for a 3-4 window that still needs more help? Take RJ, Toppin, IQ and future picks away and add Dame - do we necessarily beat the Hawks? Yes Randle would probably play better with a player like Dame - but is it really enough? Salary-wise we'd be struggling as Randle will need to be resigned. Really hope Thibs doesn't procede with short-sighted approach. We could simply add Ball or go after a Reggie Jackson and still retain RJ and the other young guys. I could even live with putting Randle in the deal for Dame but don't think trading youth for a short window is the way to go.

Depends on the trade.

Everything comes to that. There is a price point where it's too much for Lillard. Or Beal. And a price point where it's a good value and the Knicks should think very hard about it.

In professional sports, two years is an eternity. You can't think 4-10 years in advance, no GM in place right now thinks that way.

The best answer is this - The Knicks don't have the existing talent base NOR the general asset base to make a volume trade.

OKC can make a volume trade. They can give up a Dort and Poku and 5 first rounders and still have a stockpile and something to build around. The Knicks are not in that situation.

That being said, depends on the trade offered. Since Lillard is signed long term, he has no real leverage here and can't strong arm Portland into trading him for a reduced price.

Beal is walking into a 1+1 with a punitive trade kicker he can choose to waive or not that changes everything in his situation. He has more leverage to bully his team, but he also has a toxic reputation around the league and many teams don't want his problems in their locker room.

I would avoid Beal because he would be too expensive in a volume trade and he cries a lot in public about everything for a supposed grown ass man. If people wanted to hear more complaining, they'd spend more time with their wives, not watch sports.

Lillard is a different situation.

RJ Barrett is not untradeable. You have a short list of Jokic, Doncic, Steph Curry and AD and maybe one or two more and that's it. Everyone else is expendable on some level. That being said, it's not a great situation for the Knicks to go around trading cost controlled rookies after so many decades of woe.

Reggie Jackson has a horrible rep around the league. I wouldn't let that guy within 50,000 feet of RJB and/or Quickley or anyone in this upcoming draft class. He's your standard ex wife's mother in law with a jump shot. No jump shot is that good. No jump shot is that necessary.