Neither of those examples are correct. There’s never been ANY evidence or even an allegation that the Heat had any sort of deal/agreement/understanding with any of those players before hand. There’s also never been ANY evidence or allegation of such an arrangement between CP3 and the Rockets.

NBA teams have come a long way from the days of Joe Smith, when the Wolves foolishly violated the Stringer Bell rule. So yes, there is no evidence of their under the table agreements. There have clearly been allegations (Dan Gilbert, for one, for the Heat thing), but yes, no paper trail style evidence.

Note that Cavaliers did an under-the-table agreement with Carlos Boozer back in 2004, well after the Smith deal. Boozer then ignored it (because it was, you know, an under the table agreement) and signed with the Jazz instead, so, well, come on, obviously under the table agreements exist.

Neither of those examples are correct. There’s never been ANY evidence or even an allegation that the Heat had any sort of deal/agreement/understanding with any of those players before hand. There’s also never been ANY evidence or allegation of such an arrangement between CP3 and the Rockets.

Mike

A lot of this stuff is definitely more “winging it” than we’d want to believe.

That’s why you do the trade for AD or whoever IN SEASON if you can because a “bird in the hand” really helps logistically.

If we get AD, don’t you think that other stars would literally fight over that 2nd max slot in the biggest media market? But if we don’t trade for him, you still have a shot at 2 of Kyrie, KD, Kawhi, and possibly one or two other guys.

I think we should all be pretty excited about those possibilities. And if we can’t sign or trade for literally 2 of the top 7 players in the NBA, then we still have a lot of great assets: DSJ (who I think actually has the potential to make the jump that Fox did in Sacto), Mitch, our other young guys who can still be traded for vets or picks, our own picks in 2020 and onward (which will be good if we strike out in free agency), and the Mavs picks, which let’s be honest, how good will the Mavs be? Even after the trade, do the look better than Sacto even? They are still going to be bottom dwellers, even with Doncic improving. Those picks will be good assets.

Really the only thing we BY ALL MEANS DON’T want to do is spent that max slot money on guys that aren’t max players. If we don’t get 2 top 7 guys this summer, we MUST save that cap space and we MUST be terrible again.

One string indication of interest from Durant through well-known back channels is extremely believable and not all similar to Joe Smith. It’s not like Durant is coming here for the room exception so we can sign more players.

But all you need is the one guy (Durant) and he can do the rest of the work on his own. The Knicks don’t need multiple assurances to proceed.

Actually, it’s INCREDIBLY far-fetched. Is it believable that Durant and Kyrie or Kyrie and AD or whatever group of players you want have some agreement AMONG THEMSELVES to go to the same franchise? Sure. But an off-the-record commitment between those players and a specific franchise itself? No. That is NOT BELIEVABLE.

It’s pretty much what happened with Lebron/Wade/Bosh and the Heat. It likely also happened with Houston and CP3. He turned down a mega-max extension from the Clippers to instead get traded to the Rockets for the last year of his deal, with a likely under-the-table agreement that the Rockets would give him the mega-max the next season.

Actually, it’s INCREDIBLY far-fetched. Is it believable that Durant and Kyrie or Kyrie and AD or whatever group of players you want have some agreement AMONG THEMSELVES to go to the same franchise? Sure. But an off-the-record commitment between those players and a specific franchise itself? No. That is NOT BELIEVABLE.

First, any such arrangement would involve too many people to keep quiet. There are the players, their agents, multiple people at the Knicks, and all people in the various entourages that surround each of those individuals. We’re talking about literally DOZENS of people having at least some inkling that such a deal exists.

Second, the risk of trying to do something like that cannot be underestimated. Here’s what happened to the Timberwolves in 2000 when they tried to break the rules in signing Joe Smith:

From USA Today “The Timberwolves were fined $3.5 million, and forfeited their first-round draft picks for the next five years (the team’s 2003 pick was eventually restored). Not only was Smith’s newly-signed contract voided, his previous two were as well, meaning he would no longer retain his Bird rights with the Timberwolves. Additionally, Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor was suspended through August 31, 2001, and VP of basketball operations Kevin McHale took a leave of absence through July 31.”

That was for a deal to keep Joe Smith’s Bird rights. So start with that and multiple it at least two or three times for blatantly violating the tampering rules to sign two top 10 or top 20 players.

I know the Knicks have sucked forever and imagining some secret plan makes the KP trade more palatable, but it’s bizarre to see a smart site like this turn willfully deaf, dumb, and blind to how awesomely dangerous it would be.

Mik

Not at all. But what does “extract value” mean?
He no longer An overpaid 6th man?

He’ll replace Matthews and be their 2 for the next 2 seasons. And frankly, he’ll probably be perfectly mediocre in that role. KP & Doncic, when healthy, will be special if Carlisle coaches the Melo out of KP. Hardaway and Barnes are going to be their extremely overpaid but perfectly adequate wingmen for a couple years until the studs have grown and when they have, they’ll try to get better wingmen.0

Is it theoretically possible? I guess.

I think you’re 100% correct that they did it for this summer, but I’m optimistic that the thought process Bob Neptune is advocating was a sufficient enough return for them if they struck out on Zion and all the free agents. If they’re smart, they were thinking “this trade is worth it even if we strike out bc now we’re completely reset and we don’t have to max this malcontent”, they just valued the opportunity to hit a home run more than getting a slightly better package for Porzingis.

Not at all. But what does “extract value” mean?
He no longer An overpaid 6th man?

You’re right but that doesn’t mean they’re not willing to pivot to the Ntilakilla’s plan if Durant and Kyrie/Kawhi spurn them.

Is it theoretically possible? I guess.