EwingsGlass wrote:Lovely post my man. Sometimes it is hard to focus on the positives we have when we are so focused on planning and talking about the future. This is a great perspective cause this team made it better.

Yeah man my username on our Jets forum since 2005 is Defense Wins Championships and I was so confident in us making the playoffs under Thibs I got made fun of by Jets fans for placing a $777 bet (saved my entire paycheck) and put $777 on Knicks to JUST MAKE THE PLAYOFFS @ +1,400 ODDS and won back $11,655! I've never even made a big bet like that before but I was just super excited over landing a Defensive mastermind who demands 100% effort and being a Knicks fan finally paid off; which is why I wasn't upset about losing to to Atlanta because our Knicks went from major underdogs to OVERCOMING the +1,400 odds!

Unfortunately we'll never get those + odds again under coach Thibs I'm assuming -120/-150 odds to make the playoffs (which pays nothing) however I'll be putting my lucky 7's on next year to make it out of the 1st round for another + payout.

Replace all 3 of Frank/Knox/Elfrid with 3 Thibs types of Players throughout both Free Agency and the Draft and we're going to contend come the playoffs next year with overall better team chemistry too.

I believe Knicks vs. Atlanta and Trae Young of the 2020's can become reminiscent to Knicks vs. Indiana and Reggie Miller of the 1990's; I want to see them so bad next year because if they didn't have Clint Capela @ Center? But we had Mitchell Robinson starting? After going 3-0 vs them Regular Season I know 100% they wouldn't have eliminated us

gradyandrew wrote:Please link this next time someone suggests trading the core.

Man I hate that idea.

Just imagine....

C: Tyson Chandler (DPOY).
PF: Amare Stoudemire.
SF: Carmelo Anthony.
SG: J.R. Smith.
PG: Raymond Felton.

C: All the veteran bigs (+ Mozgov).
PF: Danilo Gallinari.
SF: Wilson Chandler.
SG: Iman Shumpert.
PG: Jason Kidd.
3PT specialist: Steve Novak.

+ Future 1st round picks.

Those teams could've been LOADED!!!

Man. That trade for Melo ruined us and with that roster as a 2 seed East we wouldn't have lost to Indiana if Melo would've just waited until the upcoming offseason. We could've battled Miami during multiple Eastern Conference Finals Series too.

Trading away our future of youth and picks? For a 31 year old PG with atrocious Defense? Who's been eliminated 5x during the first round? Because of his atrocious Defense? Ever watched a Portland game in the playoffs 150-147 scores with them always losing? No thnx.

DAMIAN LILLARD is an offensive star but he's far from a "SUPERSTAR" because you can not be abused on the Defensive end every single night and be considered anything other than a one way Player and let's be honest here fellas....

How many SUPERSTAR teammates has Dame Lillard been able to attract to Portland now 10+ year's later to play for him? A washed up Melo?!?

Knicks fans (on the board I came from which hated my thoughts) seem to act and pretend if Dame is a LeBron/Giannis Antetokounmpo type of superstar when he's the complete opposite because those guys dominate BOTH ENDS OF THE FLOOR.

My uncle is a H.S coach in Salem Oregon and be shows his guards film of Dame Lillard as examples of how NOT to play "Defense".

We finally have not only

A.) A+ available salary cap space.

B.) Damn near 3 1st round picks to trade up with.

C.) Promising youth of potential in RJ (21), Immanuel (22), Mitchell Robinson (23), Obi Toppin (23) and Julius Randle (26) + that Argentine Olympic starting PG only 25 (not Pablo 36) and NY fans want to throw it away for a 31 year old PG who's offense will become as washed up as his Defense in 3-4 years max?

I think I'd quit basketball because you know what a big 3 gets you?

C: Crap.
PF: Julius Randle.
SF: KAWHI LEONARD.
SG: Crap.
PG: Dame Lillard.
6th man: Crap.
Bench: Crap.
Role players: Crap.
Draft picks: None.
Salary Cap space: Salary cap hell.
Ability to improve: None.

You become a 3 player basketball "team" and always 1 injury away from becoming nothing more than a two player "duo" with no chance to win (Brooklyn).

Isn't being a basketball fan supposed to be FUN? I'm sorry but having a 3 player basketball "team" isn't fun for me as a fan.

You know what's fun?!?

David Robinson. Tim Duncan. Tony Parker. Manu Ginobili. Kawhi Leonard = All drafted by San Antonio.

Steph Curry. Klay Thompson. Draymond Green. Harrison Barnes = All drafted by Golden State (Kevin Durant ran to them after losing to them).

Why not develop R.J. Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Julius Randle, Obi Toppin, Mitchell Robinson + 2021's draft picks until a Zion Williamson or Luka Dončić wants to RUN TO US?

Why trade everything away for a 31 year old PG in Dame Lillard who's a 5x 1st round loser? Why trade for "Sexton" who's led Cleveland to 3 tank seasons in a row, considered a selfish player by his own teammates and a PG drafted 8th overall who Cleveland is already QUITTING on after only 3 years later who also has atrocious Defense but doesn't pass the ball? I'm sorry but you don't QUIT ON AND TRADE AWAY a future All-Star only 3 years into his career because Cleveland obviously doesn't dream of building around him.

Another long winded post because I hate the idea of trading for anyone right now. Especially when Lonzo Ball can be stolen as a FA addition @ PG who's super electric on the fast break and would help improve all of his teammates around him I've loved Lonzo Ball since UCLA and I can't wait to one day see him surrounded by a talented TEAM instead of just Zion Williamson because you put Lonzo Ball on this talented young Knicks team? And he's going to have fun man.

gradyandrew wrote:Love the work NykMentality!

Too many of the kids these days thinks its all about the next 'Decision'. We need to build the right way.

Exactly build the right way by developing RJ/Immanuel/Julius/Obi/Robinson/2021 draft picks and guess what?

It'll become one of either Zion Williamson or Luka Dončić who runs to NY to make "The Decision".

Jmpasq wrote:

NYKMentality wrote:

gradyandrew wrote:Please link this next time someone suggests trading the core.

Man I hate that idea.

Just imagine....

C: Tyson Chandler (DPOY).
PF: Amare Stoudemire.
SF: Carmelo Anthony.
SG: J.R. Smith.
PG: Raymond Felton.

C: All the veteran bigs (+ Mozgov).
PF: Danilo Gallinari.
SF: Wilson Chandler.
SG: Iman Shumpert.
PG: Jason Kidd.
3PT specialist: Steve Novak.

+ Future 1st round picks.

Those teams could've been LOADED!!!

Man. That trade for Melo ruined us and with that roster as a 2 seed East we wouldn't have lost to Indiana if Melo would've just waited until the upcoming offseason. We could've battled Miami during multiple Eastern Conference Finals Series too.

Trading away our future of youth and picks? For a 31 year old PG with atrocious Defense? Who's been eliminated 5x during the first round? Because of his atrocious Defense? Ever watched a Portland game in the playoffs 150-147 scores with them always losing? No thnx.

DAMIAN LILLARD is an offensive star but he's far from a "SUPERSTAR" because you can not be abused on the Defensive end every single night and be considered anything other than a one way Player and let's be honest here fellas....

How many SUPERSTAR teammates has Dame Lillard been able to attract to Portland now 10+ year's later to play for him? A washed up Melo?!?

Knicks fans (on the board I came from which hated my thoughts) seem to act and pretend if Dame is a LeBron/Giannis Antetokounmpo type of superstar when he's the complete opposite because those guys dominate BOTH ENDS OF THE FLOOR.

My uncle is a H.S coach in Salem Oregon and be shows his guards film of Dame Lillard as examples of how NOT to play "Defense".

We finally have not only

A.) A+ available salary cap space.

B.) Damn near 3 1st round picks to trade up with.

C.) Promising youth of potential in RJ (21), Immanuel (22), Mitchell Robinson (23), Obi Toppin (23) and Julius Randle (26) + that Argentine Olympic starting PG only 25 (not Pablo 36) and NY fans want to throw it away for a 31 year old PG who's offense will become as washed up as his Defense in 3-4 years max?

I think I'd quit basketball because you know what a big 3 gets you?

C: Crap.
PF: Julius Randle.
SF: KAWHI LEONARD.
SG: Crap.
PG: Dame Lillard.
6th man: Crap.
Bench: Crap.
Role players: Crap.
Draft picks: None.
Salary Cap space: Salary cap hell.
Ability to improve: None.

You become a 3 player basketball "team" and always 1 injury away from becoming nothing more than a two player "duo" with no chance to win (Brooklyn).

Isn't being a basketball fan supposed to be FUN? I'm sorry but having a 3 player basketball "team" isn't fun for me as a fan.

You know what's fun?!?

David Robinson. Tim Duncan. Tony Parker. Manu Ginobili. Kawhi Leonard = All drafted by San Antonio.

Steph Curry. Klay Thompson. Draymond Green. Harrison Barnes = All drafted by Golden State (Kevin Durant ran to them after losing to them).

Why not develop R.J. Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Julius Randle, Obi Toppin, Mitchell Robinson + 2021's draft picks until a Zion Williamson or Luka Dončić wants to RUN TO US?

Why trade everything away for a 31 year old PG in Dame Lillard who's a 5x 1st round loser? Why trade for "Sexton" who's led Cleveland to 3 tank seasons in a row, considered a selfish player by his own teammates and a PG drafted 8th overall who Cleveland is already QUITTING on after only 3 years later who also has atrocious Defense but doesn't pass the ball? I'm sorry but you don't QUIT ON AND TRADE AWAY a future All-Star only 3 years into his career because Cleveland obviously doesn't dream of building around him.

Another long winded post because I hate the idea of trading for anyone right now. Especially when Lonzo Ball can be stolen as a FA addition @ PG who's super electric on the fast break and would help improve all of his teammates around him I've loved Lonzo Ball since UCLA and I can't wait to one day see him surrounded by a talented TEAM instead of just Zion Williamson because you put Lonzo Ball on this talented young Knicks team? And he's going to have fun man.

That Knick team couldn't of had Melo Chandler Gallo Amare and Chandler we would of been capped out if we signed Melo as a FA.

Just like if we wait for Luka or Zion we will be capped out if all the young players develop like we hope they will.

Timing of contracts is a huge deal when trying to build a roster. The best thing to do is get a lot of picks in 2 or 3 drafts. Then before you have to pay them go all in on FA's and then go over the cap to keep your youth. That was a big problem with Porzingis. No first round picks before or after his draft. Couldn't build a young core around him. I think thats the plan here. We took a calculated risk with the Mavericks trade. One prolonged injury to Doncic and we are in the lottery in a loaded draft. We didn't strike gold but we can still build some quality cost controled depth. Basically the Knicks have 1 season left before having decide on major pieces. If we can keep our assets and get 1 more big piece in FA we will be in fantastic position. If we strike out we they will have to decide on whether Randle or Mitch is really worth building around.

I think if you go back and timeline Melo you’ll recognize he was not going FA. He was heading into an off season were he was due a big payday, needed knee surgery, and the collective bargaining agreement was expiring meaning his did not know what his next contract was looking at. While his surgery was minor in nature they all have risks.

Luka and Zion like most rookie phenoms sign with their existing teams for many reasons. Its a huge risk for them to not extend and the home team can match any offer the following year.
Its a two year process with little probability of happening.

Yes, Melo could have come via free agency but more likely he would have been a Net.

NYKMentality wrote:

gradyandrew wrote:Please link this next time someone suggests trading the core.

Man I hate that idea.

Just imagine....

C: Tyson Chandler (DPOY).
PF: Amare Stoudemire.
SF: Carmelo Anthony.
SG: J.R. Smith.
PG: Raymond Felton.

C: All the veteran bigs (+ Mozgov).
PF: Danilo Gallinari.
SF: Wilson Chandler.
SG: Iman Shumpert.
PG: Jason Kidd.
3PT specialist: Steve Novak.

+ Future 1st round picks.

Those teams could've been LOADED!!!

Man. That trade for Melo ruined us and with that roster as a 2 seed East we wouldn't have lost to Indiana if Melo would've just waited until the upcoming offseason. We could've battled Miami during multiple Eastern Conference Finals Series too.

Tiring. You're absolutely right; the sheer volume of meaningless words and empty space is tiring.

Imagine comparing what turned into some of the worst contracts in the NBA with the current yoots and players that actually got us to the playoffs, AND using the word "STACKED" with a list that includes Jason Kidd's grandfather act, FluTyson, Rayfer Felton, and JRSmith. AND you didn't even mention Jeremy Lin! Oh wait, in your world, Felton is better than Lin, most likely.

Melo ruined us. Check please.