2017 Knicks Roundtable: The Opening Day Roster

If you’re the GM, the roster is Melo, Noah, Rose, Porzingis, Lee, O’Quinn, Hernangomez, Jennings, Lance, and which 6 players?

Kurylo: I’m going with Ndour, Randle, Baker, Kuzminskas, *sigh* Justin Holiday, and *sigh* Plumlee. Yes I would leave veterans Amundson and Sasha at the door. But then again I don’t see the Knicks seriously competing for the playoffs this year. So my thinking they should get as many young guys in the hopes 1 or 2 develop that they can use in the future. BTW I don’t put Cleanthony Early on the list of young hopefuls. He hasn’t shown to be able to score efficiently in the NBA or the D-League.

Honestly I like both Randle and Baker, and can see both sticking around the NBA at least as bench contributors. And yes I realize that Randle, Baker, and Holiday give the Knicks essentially 5 SGs, when the team really needs PGs. Randle is sized like a PG, but really is a SG. From his draft profile:

Charged with being the first offensive option for the Cardinal, Randle often had the ball in his hands in the frontcourt. He was an efficient scorer as he posted a 55% effective field goal percentage, but he struggled to create for his teammates at a high rate. He had only 2.4 assists per 40 minutes pace adjusted last season and posted an unimpressive -2.24 pure point ratio, one of the lowest rates among point guard prospects in our database. Randle struggled to find open teammates on drives which caused him to turn the ball over in traffic. When he did try to distribute, he wasn’t able to find the proper pace and placement on his passes to allow his teammates the ability to catch and create. He will need to improve his passing skills significantly to complement his scoring skills and become a serious draft prospect.

Nonetheless I didn’t build this roster, so don’t blame me when the Knicks are suffering from lack of depth at the one. They’ll still need a PG a year from now, but maybe they’ll have some depth at SG.

Plugh: The remaining six I’d like to see are Randle, Baker, Kuzminskas, Holiday, Plumlee and I’m a little torn between Ndour and Sasha. That’s a shocker since I hope Sasha never, ever plays. In truth, I never want him on the team, but I’m so concerned with guard depth I’d almost rather have him on the bench being a Euro-buddy and performing mop up duty than carrying another forward who won’t get many minutes in the end.

I like Ndour’s game a lot. It’s noteworthy that Real Madrid started to go away from Hernangomez during the middle of last year’s ACB season, after they signed Ndour. The coach liked to stretch the floor and, at least in theory, Ndour is better at that than Willy. He’s active and athletic and he has dreadlocks.

I confess to enjoying Sasha’s pestering of opposing players. I like when he acts indignant that the other guy elbowed him in the face, after a solid five minutes of grabbing, humping, and underarm tickling. I suppose in the end Ndour is a better choice, but I’m mainly ambivalent. Flip a coin.

Kurylo: Since Mr. Plugh and I have the same roster (if he chooses Ndour), I give 0% chance this actually occurs. In fact I fully expect Sasha and Amundson to be on the roster, and I give 50% chance that someone else makes the top 15 that I wouldn’t consider like Inglis. Because Knicks.

Plugh: weeps dramatically

Bryan Gibberman: I’m going to include Sasha even though I wouldn’t keep him to be realistic. To be fair, the guard that drives us all nuts is easier to take when he’s making three-pointers. That leaves me five to play with. I’ll fill out the bottom of the roster with Baker, Randle, Ndour, Kuzminskas and Justin Holiday. I have to give Phil some credit here — he’s found some legitimately interesting young pieces that have positive traits and attributes you’d look for in NBA players. Losing one of them to keep Lou Amundson would be a crime and I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt that they’re smart about who they keep.

Knicks Morning News (2016.10.21)

  • [NYPost] Knicks’ cuts coming soon: Which players are on the bubble?
    (Friday, October 21, 2016 12:01:35 AM)

    The clues are in as Knicks’ cuts could come as soon as Friday when they look to get to down to a 15-man roster. The Knicks had 18 players at training camp — not including the recent deals of Cleanthony Early and Damien Ingles, both of whom were signed to gain their D-League rights so…

  • [NYPost] The ‘unknown’: Will Derrick Rose be ready for Knicks’ opener?
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 9:04:03 PM)

    The preseason is over. The trial is over. Next stop is Cleveland for the season opener after the Knicks played just one exhibition game with their new star point guard Derrick Rose. With Rose at his new Manhattan digs watching on television, the Knicks ended their preseason with a victory over the rebuilding Nets, 116-111,…

  • [NYPost] Knicks close out preseason with a win over Nets
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 6:40:05 PM)

    The preseason mercifully came to an end for both the Knicks and Nets Thursday night in Brooklyn. And in a game that almost, kind of felt like a regular season game, the Knicks pulled away in the third and held on in the fourth to beat the Nets 116-111 at Barclays Center. The Knicks (4-2)…

  • [NYPost] Parents would like Derrick Rose to show a little shame
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 4:50:19 PM)

    When the verdict was read in the civil suit absolving Derrick Rose of sexual assault on Wednesday, Rose “kept his head down and hands clasped.” Good. If only he could keep his head down a little longer, my son won’t ask why we have to turn off the radio whenever 1010 WINS mentions him. For…

  • [NYPost] Knicks great Walt Frazier sums up what this team lacks in a word
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 1:30:03 PM)

    This could take awhile. The Knicks are starting the season with uncharacteristically high expectations following the offseason additions of Joakim Noah, Derrick Rose, Courtney Lee and Brandon Jennings. But when asked for his Knicks preseason observations, Walt “Clyde” Frazier began with what the team has lacked. “You want to start with the worries? Defense. Defense….

  • [NYPost] Carmelo Anthony a mentor to one of NBA’s testiest young stars
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 9:52:39 AM)

    Carmelo Anthony calls DeMarcus Cousins “my little brother.” Anthony clearly has been a good mentor to Knicks teammate Kristaps Porzingis, but who knew his leadership would be felt most by his Olympics teammate Cousins, the Sacramento Kings center and one of the NBA’s flakiest stars? Cousins said during Tuesday’s preseason ESPN telecast that Anthony’s presence…

  • [NY Newsday] Jeremy Lin’s 24 points not enough as Nets drop preseason finale to Knicks
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 11:37:42 PM)

    Jeremy Lin scored 13 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter as the Nets cut a 12-point Knicks lead to three in the final minute, but they couldn’t get over the hump, falling short in a 116-111 loss Thursday night at Barclays Center. So the Nets closed their preseason with a 1-5 record, losing five straight after an opening win over Detroit.

  • [NY Newsday] Knicks’ Jeff Hornacek expects to see Derrick Rose Friday
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 11:31:07 PM)

    Derrick Rose’s crash course with Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek will begin again Friday at the team’s Westchester training center. Rose was not on hand Thursday night as the Knicks finished the preseason with a 116-111 win over the Nets at the Barclays Center.

  • [SNY Knicks] Knicks top turnover-prone Nets in exhibition, 116-111
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 10:21:33 PM)

    The Knicks captalize on 24 Nets turnovers in a 116-111 win in Brooklyn.

  • [SNY Knicks] Kuzminskas making quite the first impression for Knicks
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 1:05:10 PM)

    Mindaugas Kuzminskas has been making a great first impression for the Knicks so far this preseason.

  • [SNY Knicks] Kristaps Porzingis was dominant Wednesday night
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 9:45:40 AM)

    Kristaps Porzingis scored a team-high 20 points as the Knicks beat the Celtics Wednesday night.

  • [NYTimes] Sparks 77, Lynx 76 | Los Angeles wins series, 3-2: With 3.1 Seconds Left, Los Angeles Sparks Seize W.N.B.A. Title
    (Friday, October 21, 2016 3:46:53 AM)

    Nneka Ogwumike hit a short jumper to lift the Sparks past the Minnesota Lynx. It was the first title for Candace Parker, who finished with 28 points and 12 rebounds.

  • [NYTimes] On College Basketball: Louisville’s Rick Pitino Claims Dominion, Except When Scandal Hits
    (Friday, October 21, 2016 1:56:43 AM)

    Like any successful coach, Pitino has an obsessive attention to detail. Still, he insists, he had no knowledge of a staff member providing Louisville basketball recruits with stripteases and sex.

  • [NYTimes] N.C.A.A. Charges Louisville’s Rick Pitino With Rules Violations in Sex Scandal
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 3:37:09 PM)

    The charges against the coach and other staff in the men’s basketball program were related to a scandal in which a university employee provided prostitutes to players and recruits.

  • [NYDN] Derrick Rose has a lot of catching up to do with Knicks
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 8:06:44 PM)

    How Rose’s two-week absence plays out the first month of the season remains to be seen.

  • [NYDN] Derrick Rose trial jurors snap pics with Knicks guard, attorney
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 9:18:38 AM)

    Jurors wasted no time getting chummy with Derrick Rose after they cleared him and two of his friends Wednesday afternoon.

  • [ESPN] Friday’s Knicks News: Preseason ends with win over Nets
    (Friday, October 21, 2016 5:16:34 AM)

    Friday’s Knicks News: Preseason ends with win over Nets

  • [ESPN] Ultimate Standings: Knicks’ high prices doom ranking
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 10:33:19 AM)

    Ultimate Standings: Knicks’ high prices doom ranking

  • [ESPN] Knicks’ Hornacek: Rose will have to ‘learn by fire’
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 8:29:27 PM)

    Knicks’ Hornacek: Rose will have to ‘learn by fire’