I’ll give the 3 unprotected picks and even add one of those players to a Mitchell trade because he’s that level of player, but once the ask was Barrett, Grimes (or IQ), 3 Unprotected picks and 2 swaps, that’s just too much. I think the group I listed can really grow together. Hope there’s no hurt feelings over all being offered up for Mitchell. The real answer is cashing in the picks to add to the core, not take away from it. Need to seek out another player from a team deep into rebuild. With Chet out, OKC is an obvious target with SGA. I would offer the pick package Utah sought after, obviously without the player package. Knicks front office needs to re-invest in this group as they like each other and are building together. What it amounts to, who knows. But obviously can’t be mad at them for not wanting to deal all the picks and youth. How we got here is an issue, based on what was reported, but hopefully Knicks build chemistry and a couple of these guys pop in a real way this season. Then the Knicks cash in on the picks, not the players, for the best player available on the market. The Brunson signing was so good because Knicks only lost a couple of picks and didn’t trade anything major. Knicks need to find that next opportunity. Mitchell obviously wasn’t it.

To make that a reality I believe that Obi and IQ have to show that they can reliably perform against starting units. Going to be injuries. It will demonstrate to the FO that they have taken their game to the next level. That will do more to keep them in NY than anything.

Ive seen Obi finish in halfcourt sets, near the rim, from some tough angles. Hope he's been working on his post game, could be a real weapon, if he posted up more often.

Hope to see IQ develop a strong spin move, near the rim. When he would normally put up a floater. Would make him harder to defend.

Grimes just got here, hopefully the clock isnt running too fast on his time in NY. Would be a shame

I feel like I'm in the minority on the board because I think our core is the young veterans the Knicks have locked up for the next 3 or more seasons in Brunson,RJ, Fournier, Randle, and Robinson. The NBA is a man's game and it's usually difficult for guys on rookie contracts to break through in the playoffs. Not that it never happens but even the greats like MJ, LBJ, Durant, and Antetokounmpo needed sometime before finally winning a ring. Sometimes the right rookie breaks through, like Magic, TD, or Tatum but even then those guys are on teams with lots of vets.

Teams have 3 summers to resign their own 1st round picks- extension, RFA, and then UFA with Bird rights. Hardly ever do those guys sign contracts with new teams- unless they underperforming like Frank and Knox. The guys that do switch teams are almost always involved in sign and trades with some compensation going back.

The front office has seemingly done a great job in that just as Brunson, Fournier, and Randle start to decline (past 30), there will be new guys ready to step in to replace them (IQ, Grimes, Toppin). Book ending both eras are RJ and Robinson. Both guys are archetypes- perimeter defense stopper, wing creation and scoring/ rim defense, roll guy and offensive rebounds. Both of them will hopefully wear the orange and blue for the next 8 seasons and span two eras.

Are the Jazz and Pacers failures for consistently winning despite never being champs? My feeling is that as long as the Knicks are competitive and winning games, I'm happy as a fan. Sometimes there will be fluky seasons when the good but not great teams break through. I prefer that chance to the endless hyping of signing LeBron or KD in free agency and the chance to tank for Zion or Wembanyana.