Where would everyone see the Knicks team within the East Conference over the next 3+ years?

DLeethal wrote:It's not crazy to think this is a 60-65 win team this year if we had full roster all year and relatively good health. Seems like a legit killer bench guy might be the best move for us next year. Someone like Derozan in Bogie's spot. Remember Hart will be coming off the bench next year once everyone is back. Bogie is cool but he's the spot to upgrade. Deuce - Hart - Derozan - Mitch is a ridiculous bench.

Obviously, if Giannis becomes available or something like that you have to explore those guys. But this team is elite and might just need one more weapon in the right spot.

IMHO it's at the top and well within the top 3 IMHO and also positioned probably the best over the course of the next 5 years of any team in East. And that is just wild to state out loud. Obviously this is within an "all things being equal" territory.

Boston is so over the second apron and deep into financials; they will be hard pressed to change a lot but do have their draft picks for 4 years to swap out but 2028 and 2029 picks are completely gone. Their bench is thin and Al Horford is 38 and signed for 1 more year, after him it's Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser with Xavier Tillman and Luke Kornet? That's on the thin side for me. Especially so with KP needing injury games. Jrue Holiday just extended for 3 years and is 34 in a matter of months. Not for nothing but Boston's best move is trading Brown for lots and lots of help, like from Utah's roster.

Milwaukee? Giannis showing signs and so will Dame and Middleton and Brook. Hopefully they all show it next season cause we got their top-4 pick protected.

Philly, Miami? They'll be OK tough, not elite though? Philly got cap space but a knee problem waiting to happen. Both Miami and Philly gonna be thin after their major players.

And check out all of those eastern conference teams' benches. THIN when compared to Knicks (Deuce, Hart, Precious, Bogey, Mitch). Knicks can legit run 10 guys but they ****ing gotta do all the Bitcoins to retain iHart.

Knicks top end starter talent may not match up on the all star end of things of other teams, but Brunson, Randle, OG are SOLID and don't ever sleep on iHart, DDV and the Knicks have room for upgrades which is insane.

They GOTTA keep this crew going and just pound teams into submission.

Literally upgrade the bench ball handler and you got gold.

DLeethal wrote:As currently constructed I can picture this team being a #1 seed caliber team as early as next year. I still do not feel they can beat Boston or a team like Denver in a playoff series though. Just feels like we are missing something that puts us on that level. Similar to how the 60 win Thibs Bulls teams were the #1 seed a couple times but no one ever thought they would actually beat Miami. That's kind of where I am at with this team. I think a killer bench guy can maybe bring us to that level or the right, carefully crafted superstar trade.

100% agreed

EwingsGlass wrote:Without looking past this playoffs, I think this team is in a position for franchise level success over the next 5 years. I could see a couple of moves that could make them an all time great team. That would take a little luck and development from key players.

BUT - they also have Boston standing between them and that realization. Boston appears to be built really well for the next few years, with risks that come from salary cap, aging and injury concerns that come with their vet players.

I also think a lot of the Knicks growth came from the Knicks conditioning and the implementation of the the motion offense this season. Randle has every ability to fit into that offense, but he also has the ability to stop the ball and the motion. Its a question mark that has to be answered before I commit to a 60+ win season. Which Randle comes to play. Triple double Randle could make this team elite.

I don't know Boston well enough but I think they have a 2 year window of prime - this year and next - and then it gets very very shaky.

Al Horford is 38 and he is their bench and the catch-all behind KP. After that it is Payton Pritchard. That'll be OK for a round or 2 but you won't get passed much of the West with only that.

Al and Derrick White are signed for this year and next.

Jrue is 34 in June and has help up injury-wise really really well over the past 3 seasons, that'll crack at some point soon. Like in a year or so.

martin wrote:

EwingsGlass wrote:Without looking past this playoffs, I think this team is in a position for franchise level success over the next 5 years. I could see a couple of moves that could make them an all time great team. That would take a little luck and development from key players.

BUT - they also have Boston standing between them and that realization. Boston appears to be built really well for the next few years, with risks that come from salary cap, aging and injury concerns that come with their vet players.

I also think a lot of the Knicks growth came from the Knicks conditioning and the implementation of the the motion offense this season. Randle has every ability to fit into that offense, but he also has the ability to stop the ball and the motion. Its a question mark that has to be answered before I commit to a 60+ win season. Which Randle comes to play. Triple double Randle could make this team elite.

I don't know Boston well enough but I think they have a 2 year window of prime - this year and next - and then it gets very very shaky.

Al Horford is 38 and he is their bench and the catch-all behind KP. After that it is Payton Pritchard. That'll be OK for a round or 2 but you won't get passed much of the West with only that.

Al and Derrick White are signed for this year and next.

Jrue is 34 in June and has help up injury-wise really really well over the past 3 seasons, that'll crack at some point soon. Like in a year or so.

I think as currently constructed that two year window is correct. But Brad Stevens has consistently adjusted and improved that team. They should probably trade Jaylen Brown for a couple inexpensive pieces and salary relief to stay below the apron. SAS has the right to swap their 2028 pick and Portland has their 2029, so they have most of their draft picks available. Regardless, I think Boston is the largest impediment to NY dominance over the next few years.

EwingsGlass wrote:

martin wrote:

EwingsGlass wrote:Without looking past this playoffs, I think this team is in a position for franchise level success over the next 5 years. I could see a couple of moves that could make them an all time great team. That would take a little luck and development from key players.

BUT - they also have Boston standing between them and that realization. Boston appears to be built really well for the next few years, with risks that come from salary cap, aging and injury concerns that come with their vet players.

I also think a lot of the Knicks growth came from the Knicks conditioning and the implementation of the the motion offense this season. Randle has every ability to fit into that offense, but he also has the ability to stop the ball and the motion. Its a question mark that has to be answered before I commit to a 60+ win season. Which Randle comes to play. Triple double Randle could make this team elite.

I don't know Boston well enough but I think they have a 2 year window of prime - this year and next - and then it gets very very shaky.

Al Horford is 38 and he is their bench and the catch-all behind KP. After that it is Payton Pritchard. That'll be OK for a round or 2 but you won't get passed much of the West with only that.

Al and Derrick White are signed for this year and next.

Jrue is 34 in June and has help up injury-wise really really well over the past 3 seasons, that'll crack at some point soon. Like in a year or so.

I think as currently constructed that two year window is correct. But Brad Stevens has consistently adjusted and improved that team. They should probably trade Jaylen Brown for a couple inexpensive pieces and salary relief to stay below the apron. SAS has the right to swap their 2028 pick and Portland has their 2029, so they have most of their draft picks available. Regardless, I think Boston is the largest impediment to NY dominance over the next few years.

So, being over the second apron, it'll make trading Brown ultra hard, right?

martin wrote:

EwingsGlass wrote:

martin wrote:

EwingsGlass wrote:Without looking past this playoffs, I think this team is in a position for franchise level success over the next 5 years. I could see a couple of moves that could make them an all time great team. That would take a little luck and development from key players.

BUT - they also have Boston standing between them and that realization. Boston appears to be built really well for the next few years, with risks that come from salary cap, aging and injury concerns that come with their vet players.

I also think a lot of the Knicks growth came from the Knicks conditioning and the implementation of the the motion offense this season. Randle has every ability to fit into that offense, but he also has the ability to stop the ball and the motion. Its a question mark that has to be answered before I commit to a 60+ win season. Which Randle comes to play. Triple double Randle could make this team elite.

I don't know Boston well enough but I think they have a 2 year window of prime - this year and next - and then it gets very very shaky.

Al Horford is 38 and he is their bench and the catch-all behind KP. After that it is Payton Pritchard. That'll be OK for a round or 2 but you won't get passed much of the West with only that.

Al and Derrick White are signed for this year and next.

Jrue is 34 in June and has help up injury-wise really really well over the past 3 seasons, that'll crack at some point soon. Like in a year or so.

I think as currently constructed that two year window is correct. But Brad Stevens has consistently adjusted and improved that team. They should probably trade Jaylen Brown for a couple inexpensive pieces and salary relief to stay below the apron. SAS has the right to swap their 2028 pick and Portland has their 2029, so they have most of their draft picks available. Regardless, I think Boston is the largest impediment to NY dominance over the next few years.

So, being over the second apron, it'll make trading Brown ultra hard, right?

Not gonna lie, not 100% on this, but I don't think taking back less salary is an issue. I think it becomes harder to take back the same or more with the removal of the 110% buffer. If Houston give Boston Jalen Green, Whitmore and Adams for Brown (ignoring any picks) for the purpose of this that's about 34mm which wouldn't trigger the 110% of Brown's salary. That reduction in salary would put them below the apron, no?