I like our rookies—we’ll see how Tibs integrates. Iq so highly undisciplined — way to inconsistent to be a major player as a starting pg.

Would like to see Grimes run the point.. he describes his game similar to Jamal Murray.

HoustonSprewell84 wrote:I can’t see Obi as a 3, not with his handle unless you want the Knicks to play a big lineup.

I could see him as a stretch 5.

Agreed…Obi does not have the handle to play the three….but his athleticism is off the charts…

I agree he needs more mins ….move him up to high teens low to mid twenties

If Obi is able to translate this to the NBA, then he should be playing a lot regardless of who else is on the roster. The fact is that Mitch and Nerlens have zero offensive game and they are a liability on that end despite being great on defense. On the other hand, Obi is improving on defense, seemingly.

If Thibs relies on his vets too much and then we trade Obi for a Lillard and Lillard breaks down while Obi becomes a star while we go nowhere.... the front office and coaching staff should all go. That is the worst case scenario but it’s also realistic to me. Yes it’s morbid but it’s a cloud hanging over us that we ignore.

Knixkik wrote:He doesn’t have the skill set for the 3 and isn’t stealing minutes from Burks/Barrett/ Fournier etc. he is a 4 that needs to develop into a stretch 5 in order to increase his minutes. The question is how much of that time is taken from Mitch?

Why box a player in to a position? He has more upside as a player than Formier. Formier is a better Bullock. Toppin has Shawn Marion upside. But for our team--he may have to play the so called 3 position because of randle.

I agree his defense last year was much better than expected considering the people who know everything were saying he was worse than Eddy Curry as a defender but there’s no way he can guard SF/SG. Teams would simply go with a small 3 guard alignment and beat us off the dribble

Nalod wrote:I’m looking at what obi is attempting in summer league. He can fly with the ball. The handle is improving. HE is showing things he is working on, not perfected.
Inconstant glimpses is what we need to see from him and IQ.
This position argument is old. Does Randle really play a traditional PF on offense when he is bringing the ball up? Setting up on the elbow? Shooting from the 3? Runnnung the offense in the set as point? No. Can he guard Kawahi, Lebron or PG? Yes. All game? No. Can Obi? He needs to for part of game.
At the same time can those guys guard him? If so, can he give them a hard time? Can Randle be physical with them?
Jules is a lean beast now. Not super quick but he has gotten more so.
Is this what we are seeing, the beginnings of Jules evolving once again into a 3?

Obi’s length can get him to play the 5 against Christian Wood, Allen, and the less bulkly type center. They will have to cover him too. But lets be real, this is small ball lineup.

Mitch/Noel
Randle/Obi
Fournier/Burks
RJ/IQ
Kemba/DRose

There is you 10 as teh roster stands. OBI COULD play with Randle. Burkes can play the 2. Kemba and DRose on the court to finish a game could happen.

We’re trading Randle in 1-2 years. The contract was a shrewd move. Randle is way better trade bait if he’s locked into a deal that is actually at reasonable money

Philc1 wrote:

HoustonSprewell84 wrote:I can’t see Obi as a 3, not with his handle unless you want the Knicks to play a big lineup.

I could see him as a stretch 5.

But he’s not the prototype defense first Center Thibs always uses. Noah, Taj, Mitch, Noel— Thibs wants rim protectors. Obi’s D was way better than advertised last season and he’s a good rebounder but he’s not a rim protector that’s just not his game

Well then, maybe Obi can develop into a Gallinari type player off the bench which is instant offense and you can play him at multiple positions

We’re trading Randle in 1-2 years. The contract was a shrewd move. Randle is way better trade bait if he’s locked into a deal that is actually at reasonable money

I don't see it. I think Randle is the reason DLo and KAT end up on the Knicks in two years. Trading Randle (All NBA on a borderline all star contract!) would be a major step back for the Knicks. I'd have to think long and hard on it before trading Randle for Zion straight up at this point.

technomaster wrote:The Knicks can do a lot of things with their lineup to exploit matchup opportunities - the coaching staff is going to have to work hard to figure out their rotation.

Can anyone really do a good job of guarding players the caliber of Lebron or Kawhi? Not really - you just hope to contain them! Fortunately, no team sports 5 Lebron or Kawhi-caliber players and more importantly, there's only 1 ball. We like to harp on how Trae Young and Doncic are poor defenders, but their coaches find ways to hide them so their weaknesses are difficult to exploit. And how much of games does Kawhi defend the best player on the other team?

I don't think Obi projects as an ideal man-to-man stopper type of defender, but he's long and with the right practice, he can develop into a player that can be trusted to play his part in the team defensive scheme.

Yeah，I'm with you 100%.