Comments on: Knicks Morning News (2018.11.01)

By: Stratomatic "Is Dotson our best two-way player with Porzingis out?"

Stratomatic "Is Dotson our best two-way player with Porzingis out?" — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 15:21:14 +0000

Man, it’s like Clarence is in my head. Great scouting minds think alike.

They never should have gotten rid of him. A good eye for basketball talent is an asset no matter who originally hired him. It would not shock me if he was in favor of Robinson but was eventually pushed out because he was Phil’s guy and wanted someone other than Knox.

He seems to like two way potential but prefers defense. Maybe he liked Mikal Bridges.

He’s talking about Robinson but has been strangely quiet about Knox and Trier. I guess Knox hasn’t played much, but I’d have expected some more. I’m sure we’ll hear what he thinks once Knox starts playing again. I see the potential for Knox on offense and understand the pick. They were shooting for the higher potential upside, but I’m not entirely convinced he’s going to be efficient on offense or a good defender. We’ll see. He’s so darn young.

By: d-mar

d-mar — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 14:39:15 +0000

I really can’t believe there’s any debate about going after Durant. The guy is a once in a generation talent, who if there had never been a LeBron James would be the NBA’s #1 poster boy.

A 7 footer who can shoot from anywhere, handle the ball, rebound, and defend? He’s the real unicorn, I would bet we won’t see another player like Durant for a long time.

By: Ntilakilla

Ntilakilla — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 13:50:10 +0000

Man, it’s like Clarence is in my head. Great scouting minds think alike.

By: Ntilakilla

Ntilakilla — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 13:42:01 +0000

Speaking of mid-range games, I like what I'm seeing in @FrankLikina's ability to get good looks off his dribble drive pull-up game – didn't fall for him tonight but that will eventually be a staple of his game as he matures.— Clarence Gaines (@ClarenceGaines2) November 1, 2018

The brightest spot in what you call an off night for Frank is the he is showing an ability to get to where he wants to on the floor. Big time quality in a NBA guard. Growth still needed in the finishing aspects of the game but he's evolving nicely. He's got the goods. https://t.co/fTS2HazHw1— Clarence Gaines (@ClarenceGaines2) November 1, 2018

When @nyknicks drafted @FrankLikina the NY media called him a triangle guard. I laughed – What one must understand – if you can play in the triangle you can play in any system.The reverse is not necessarily true. Frank has outstanding guard skills & his BB IQ on both ends is high— Clarence Gaines (@ClarenceGaines2) https://twitter.com/ClarenceGaines2/

By: Frank

Frank — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 13:21:15 +0000

I think we need to concentrate on the teams that are dumpster fires right now — specifically the Wizards, OKC, Cavs. The Austin Rivers – Lee trade seems too easy — Wiz need veteran leadership in a locker room that sounds like a mess, not to mention a really good 3 point shooter and better defender in Lee.
OKC is sort of hard to picture a direct 2-team trade unfortunately. Re: the Cavs – JR for Lee (then presumably waive JR, who only has ~$4MM guaranteed for 2019-20?) would work.

By: Zanzibar

Zanzibar — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 13:07:18 +0000

If Frank is looking like a starting 1, I wonder what team would do about the reserve 1 position. Is it possible Trier could evolve to where he’d take reserve 1 minutes (after Frank) and reserve 2 minutes (after Timmy) next year? Retaining Burke is an option. There’s Dinwiddie as UFA.

Ben R threw out a Phoenix trade a few days ago that didn’t give Suns enough. Maybe something like this could get them to bite:
PHX…..Courtney, Burke, Charlotte 2nd round pick, Hezonja, Kornet
NYK…..Tyson, Melton

We rid ourselves of Courtney, acquire nice young 2-way guard in Melton, and Tyson would be perfect mentor for Mitch.

By: Frank

Frank — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 13:03:07 +0000

Call me crazy but I think a team with Kevin Durant and (a healthy) Kristaps Porzingis is the bones of a really really good team. Assuming Frank Ntilikina continues to develop into at least a credible 3-D type of player who can guard 1-3 at a high level (he can do that already), those are 3 guys who could be legitimate 2-way starters on a contender. Honestly, name a team that wouldn’t start at least KD and Porzingis — even Golden State would start Porzingis over whoever they play at center 100% of the time. I know some here think that Frank is still a net negative, but I really do disagree – I think he will be good enough to be a starter on a contending team – the kid can pass, handle, and defend, and I really do think he will be at least an average NBA shooter. Add in young guys that look like they have some promise (Knox, MitchRob, Trier specifically) and I think you’re right in the Eastern conference top-4 seed mix. Depending on how the young guys develop, you might have to go and trade one or more of them to get the guy that gets you over the top, but like Brian said, that’s just normal reasonable stuff.

By: Stratomatic "Is Dotson our best two-way player with Porzingis out?"

Stratomatic "Is Dotson our best two-way player with Porzingis out?" — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 13:00:37 +0000

If you can get Durant as a FA you get him. Then you drink yourself into a euphoric stupor. When the hangover finally wears off, then you start worrying about the next move. Durant is going to be an elite player for a few more years. It’s going to take a few more years for guys like Knox, Frank, and Robinson to peak, but we can add other vet pieces. I just have a tough time figuring out why he’d want to come to NY when the core is so far away from being good.

By: Cock Jowles, #1 Purveyor of Wanton Chuckery

Cock Jowles, #1 Purveyor of Wanton Chuckery — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 12:56:27 +0000

I take offense that I’ve been represented as a guy who doesn’t like rap. To Pimp a Butterfly is the best album of the decade and its predecessor makes a strong case itself. (Damn. is overrated, don’t @ me)

By: Brian Cronin

Brian Cronin — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 12:49:34 +0000

In reply to ProjectKnicks.

If the Knicks had not traded picks for Melo, I would have been totally fine with them trading picks for another player (like Chris Paul, who was extremely available at the time. He ended up getting dealt for essentially Eric Gordon and a back of the lottery pick, ya know?) after signing Melo. So yes, adding Durant would likely add to them trading draft picks, but that’s just normal, logical GMing. Like the Cavaliers trading the #1 draft pick for Kevin Love after signing Lebron, which then led to four straight NBA Finals appearances for the Cavs and one title.