I don’t see anything in Oubre’s statistical profile that is the least bit intriguing. Can someone enlighten me? Below .100 WS48, negative BPM metrics, career .329 from 3, doesn’t pass at all, plays SF where some want RJ to play…

Oubre is a strong defender though, and is the kind of defender you want in the modern game: switchable and versatile. If you buy his performance from last season as a baseline, he’s a decent but not great offensive player who plays very good defense. Guys like that are useful. I do believe he’s the type of player whose value is not fully captured by the boxscore.

Still though, his contract makes him irrelevant to us, I didn’t really consider that when I said I’d be interested in him as a Knick.

Brian Cronin:
Did D’Antoni just get squeezed out of the head coaching market? That’s kind of hilarious.

I’ve been one of his biggest fans, but the more I learn about the game the more I think he’d be better off as an assistant coach than head coach. The game is called and played differently in the playoffs. He doesn’t adjust well to that difference, the game to game, and the in game adjustments that take place in the playoffs more often. I’m not so sure working with Nash (if that’s where he winds up) adds a lot of value because I’m sure Nash will play fast, stress 3 pointers, and be creative on offense, but at least we know they’ll get along.

Brian Cronin: Do you not want him to play the 3?

I think it’s still too early to define him as a 3…Jimmy Butler and Jaylen Brown are good examples of what I mean… I don’t like Oubre in any case and definitely not if you think of RJ as only a 3.

The way I figure things, barring a trade, RJ, Mitch, Randle, Ntilikina, DSJr, Knox, Iggy & Wooten two of the three 1st round picks get roster spots. That’s 10 players. The Knicks should target the top two of the top free agents they can. They need shooters and play makers. Gallinari and VanVleet are near all-stars and I would target them:
Gallinari: WS 6.3 (rk 30); BPM 3.3 (rk 22); VORP 2.4 (rk 27)
VanVleet: WS 5.8 (rk 36); BPM 2.7 (rk 33); VORP 2.3 (rk 29)
Whiteside: WS 8.5 (rk 8); BPM 3.2 (rk 25); VORP 2.6 (rk 22)

These stats make them “near all-stars”. Definitely tier-2 but real players. Gallo is the great compliment to Randle and Mitch up front. Whiteside and Mitch make a great pair in the post. There’s always a rim protector on the floor. VanVleet is a 2-way player, a playmaker and compliments RJ. They should work well together.

Does a starting lineup of VanVleet, Barrett, Vassell, Gallinari & Whiteside with rotations of Knox, Frank, DSJr, Randle and Mitch off the bench sound interesting? That’s where I would go to start. The Knicks don’t give away any draft assets now and can offer up players that fall out of favor with Thibs (Frank, DSJr, Knox) at the trade deadline for draft considerations.

plays SF where some want RJ to play…

Do you not want him to play the 3?