We would still have $20 mill to sign someone. Add Vonleh, Rubio, and a high pick onto the team and you have a very good team. That’s a success for a franchise that’s sucked for 2 decades.

You saw it on Bill Simmons’ face as soon as the Knicks did the KP deal. All over the league, it was the same reaction, “You only do that deal if you are pretty darn sure that you have KD and another guy coming next year.”

Before the KP deal, I didn’t believe it would happen, but after the deal, it would now be a major blow if it didn’t happen.

As an aside, how awesome is it that the Knicks are actually realistic landing spots for two of the top players in the league (including one of the very best players of this generation)? I love your weird ass way of thinking, KD! This should not be happening, but it really looks like it will happen! It’s hilariously awesome!

By the way, if the Knicks seriously, for some bizarre reason, want to go KD and then no other second max free agent and then just re-sign Deandre Jordan and sign other cheaper guys….well…that would not be a good idea. It’d be like that famous Breaking Bad episode. It’d be a half-measure. Now, Jordan for a room exception after signing Durant and Irving? Sure, but I don’t see how he’d possibly take it. It’d be a whole lot of risk based on an under the table agreement to re-sign him longer term with the MLE next season. Not a lot of players would be willing to take that risk.

Could we include Trier in an AD trade, or would his contract make that too complicated?

So long as they pick up his option, he’d be an easy guy to trade.

And yes, Dotson would also be a guy who would fit in well with a star system, due to his shooting abilities and defensive skills.

I’d say we need to keep at least one of Trier or Dotson, who’s be good complementary pieces in different ways.

DSJ didn’t have a great, or even good, game last night, but he does do some basic point guard things that we really haven’t seen since a 2-3 week period in 2011-2012. It’s refreshing and damning.

It really says a lot about what this team values in players, right? I agree, DSJ, like, simply looking for guys is a shocking occurrence. He hasn’t even been particularly good, but he at least he’s been bad while doing things point guards are supposed to do!

And yes, I’ve been saying that if they get into a position where they actually do acquire KD, AD and Irving, then they sort of “need” to make sure that Trier is the one guy that they keep (under the assumption that New Orleans would insist on MitchRob in an AD deal). He would fit in well as a supporting player to a few max guys. If he shot more threes, he’d be an even better fit.