But damn, stuff like this Luca move? That’s smarter than the last, like, five Knick administrations.

I agree. We have a whole scouting organization that I suspect is bigger than what many team’s have and this is first season at least since Mosgov where I Feel we are making good use of them.

1) he’s relatively young
2) he was productive against very good competition
3) the existence of this picture

We might be able to put some distance between us and some other teams.

Alan:
Sounds like the new guy is coming at the expense of a payday for Simi Shittu, per Begley:

I read that Shittu will sign a two way contract. That doesn’t conflict with signing this guy

Brian Cronin: and none of them are young (okay, Elfrid is, but I think he ages in dog years)

You get my vote for quote of the day, Brian. So funny! 😀

As an aside, from a salary cap perspective, the two mid-first picks could be a boon, if they’re good at evaluating talent, in deep draft, they could get two useful players at a lower and controlled cost.

Agreed. Those picks could be big.

As an aside, from a salary cap perspective, the two mid-first picks could be a boon, if they’re good at evaluating talent, in a deep draft, they could get two useful players at a lower and controlled cost.

I think that just points out the sort of precarious position the Knicks are in. Not a bad position by any means, but precarious. Obviously, the #1 reason they’ve been playing so well is that Julius Randle is having an unbelievable season. The #2 reason is that RJ Barrett has taken a big season two leap. Let’s put Thibs and his system at #3 (you want to put it #2, fine, whatever, it really doesn’t matter). The #4 reason, though, has been the supporting staff, only one of whom (IQ) is actually signed beyond this season. Rose, Bullock, Noel and Burks are clearly the next four most important Knicks right now (as well as IQ has played, and he’s played outstanding, Thibs clearly relies on him a lot less than he does those other guys) and add in Taj’s very important backup center minutes and Elfrid’s whatever he does, and you’re to the point where the Knicks have a nine-man rotation where six of the nine guys are free agents at the end of the year and none of them are young (okay, Elfrid is, but I think he ages in dog years).

That’s not a bad thing, of course, since the two best players on the team are both signed for next year, one of whom is on a rookie deal and the other is on a now-below market deal. And the #10 guy in the 9-man rotation, Obi Toppin, will hopefully improve, as well, plus Mitch will be back and IQ will presumably get even better. So, again, not a bad thing, but it’s still going to be a tough balancing act, and how to mix and match the salary (and two first round picks) is going to be a fascinating challenge for Rose.

But damn, stuff like this Luca move? That’s smarter than the last, like, five Knick administrations.