We could have paid Mitch the max this season and it would only have cost ~$3M in cap space or whatever.

When the Bulls and Michael Jordan played in Paris during the preseason in 1997, about 1 of every 14 NBA players was born outside the U.S.

Now, that’s about 1 in 4.

Some here at least write as if they see each player as a fungible item in an inventory of goods on grocery shelves. Others seem to place a great emotional bond on a player, or even on many of the players (because they are Knicks, or otherwise).

Some bond with a player because he’s “likeable” (I mentioned Hart smiling a lot); others seem to react to on-court play, either those who play well or those who play hard (‘the right way’) or some combination.

Another aspect is just whether they’re ‘smart’ on the court; one of the reasons I struggle with both Barrett and Randle is the frequency of their making boneheaded unforced errors — stupid plays — that destroy my viewing pleasure.

I admit I fall into the ‘likeability’ trap a lot (see irrational Deuce hope, although that’s a regular attachment to a ‘fun’ bench character default fault I have); I have an innate dislike for it, as athletes (as with politicians) are trained to put their best faces outward and who really knows who beats their girlfriends or dogs.

Looking at E’s list, I don’t like Reddish because he ‘appears’ to have an infant’s attitude (i.e., more of a narcissist than the average young multi-millionaire athlete), and I struggle with Barrett (seems to be a nice guy, plays too much like he’s Reddish 1.0). Totally in on Grimes, as who cares what the coach thinks of him, he plays hard, delivers, and seems like a good egg. Can’t fault him for the fact that some old cranky guy thinks so, too.

I never expected much from this season…while it’s fun to imagine some Cinderella scenarios when we go on winning streaks, this has seemed like a .500ish team to me fronm the get-go and nothing that has happened this year has moved my thinking very much. This season is more about exploring what we have and making good decisions in the coming offseason than anything else. Randle, Barrett, and Mitch “can” theoretically be good pieces if those decisions pan out. But having the 3 of them in the starting lineup and then Brunson, who can be very ball dominant, running the point, will never allow for the kind of basketball I watched in the GSW-BOS game last night. Ultimately, I’d like to see Mitch replaced by someone that can pass and shoot a bit, even at the cost of some rebounds and blocks. Or by a guy that can give us 80% of his production at 20% of the cost. Unless and until we surround him with clones of Steph, Klay and Draymond, the Mitch genre of player will always be an eyesore to me.

Winning ugly has its charms, but I’m never going to be “attached” to it. Give me a team that thinks the game on a high level and I will be happy to live with the results.

I don’t know. Mitch has been huge for us. We were able to go 500 with him out so maybe we can tread water but I feel like this is a turning point (and not in a good way) for our season.

I like Mitch, but hate his role both aesthetically and because it’s not really a proper role in which to deploy someone in the modern NBA. It’s Thibsian claptrap.

In terms of who I really “like” on the team, as opposed to rooting for them in the laundry sense, primarily:

Barrett, Brunson, Toppin, Quickley, Reddish. Mitch, I’ve commented on. Affirmatively don’t like Randle. Grimes I’d probably like if he wasn’t the teacher’s pet.(*) I never really like teacher’s pets, especially when the teacher is a stubborn old fool.

(*) Plus he needs to lose the lime green shoes. Liked him more in the black he wore on MLK Day. Thought he’d seen the light, but then he reverted back.

May i ask why?”

For similar reasons I didn’t miss RJ when he was out and wouldn’t miss Randle if he got hurt. My lack of enthusiasm for them as long-term pieces is well documented. I simply don’t like the aesthetics or intellectual approach to the game. I will root hard for them to do well when they are on the floor, and savor it when they do, but don’t miss them when they aren’t. As to Mitch, I’m totally fine with Sims getting his minutes for three weeks, even though that probably hurts us in the standings. Who knows? Maybe they lose 12 of 15 and Thibs goes back on the hot seat…or maybe we find interesting ways to win with Sims and Hart, or even Randle, taking his minutes.

The only two starters I truly enjoy watching on our team are Brunson and Grimes…and IQ if you think of him as a 6th starter. No one else on our bench does a whole lot for me.

But anyone in a Knick uniform is getting my full support when they are on the floor.

Best reason to hope for another winning streak…

LOL!

The Knicks will certainly miss Mitch. I won’t.

May i ask why?