Grantland: Knight "on notice" after deadline

[russkopp]

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/52210/youre-on-notice-the-players-to-watch-post-trade-deadline

Basically says what we've been talking about, Knight is a tweener and can't seem to make it work at PG or SG. Everyone knows that he can shoot 3's and defend but Joe D might have to decide on his future sooner than later.

[menten]

knight is a scoring PG not a tweener

[detroitKG]

knight is a scoring PG not a tweener

While this is true..I have a feeling Joe D is going to make Brandon the scapegoat, which is a shame.
How can he be on notice when he's being forced to play a different position from the one he's grown up playing.
If anyone should be on notice it's Joe D for his **** roster..lol

[Goldtop]

knight is a scoring PG not a tweener

He might be a scoring PG, but when he only scores 13 ppg, he's obviously not a very good scoring PG.

If he proved he was capable of putting up 20-25 ppg, I'd be all for the concept of him playing PG as mainly a score first guy. But in reality, he just hasn't shown he's that caliber of a scorer. And if he's going to be score-first, he has to score more than 13 pts. Thats just not going to get it done, if he's also not running the team like true PG should.

If you're going to be a scoring PG, you have to have tremendous scoring ability that you can use to draw attention from the defense, and then use that to make plays for teammates. Thats what a score-first PG does. But when you only avg 13 ppg, you won't draw enough attention for that to work consistently, which is what we've seen. Knight goes dashing into the paint on penetration, but the defense isn't worried in the least bit because they know he's not a good finisher, so they just stay home on their man and Knight gets left with nowhere to go, and thats where a lot of his turnovers happen.

He needs to do at least one of two things. Either step up his offensive game into a 20+ pt scorer on better efficiency, or learn how to be a true pass first PG. If he can't do either, I don't know what purpose it serves having him starting at PG. Because a 13 ppg on 41% FG non-true PG isn't going to lead up to championships. Thats for sure.

[OneBadMutha]

Knight is a scoring point guard who can defend well. A team who's best creator is a 2 or a 3 or a team who plays inside/out would do very well getting Knight.

Knight would fit well on any contender that doesn't already sport an All Star point guard.

[detroitKG]

knight is a scoring PG not a tweener

He might be a scoring PG, but when he only scores 13 ppg, he's obviously not a very good scoring PG.

If he proved he was capable of putting up 20-25 ppg, I'd be all for the concept of him playing PG as mainly a score first guy. But in reality, he just hasn't shown he's that caliber of a scorer. And if he's going to be score-first, he has to score more than 13 pts. Thats just not going to get it done, if he's also not running the team like true PG should.

If you're going to be a scoring PG, you have to have tremendous scoring ability that you can use to draw attention from the defense, and then use that to make plays for teammates. Thats what a score-first PG does. But when you only avg 13 ppg, you won't draw enough attention for that to work consistently, which is what we've seen. Knight goes dashing into the paint on penetration, but the defense isn't worried in the least bit because they know he's not a good finisher, so they just stay home on their man and Knight gets left with nowhere to go, and thats where a lot of his turnovers happen.

He needs to do at least one of two things. Either step up his offensive game into a 20+ pt scorer on better efficiency, or learn how to be a true pass first PG. If he can't do either, I don't know what purpose it serves having him starting at PG. Because a 13 ppg on 41% FG non-true PG isn't going to lead up to championships. Thats for sure.

I'd like to see if he can truly flourish as a scoring PG, but to do so he needs to be back at the position and be ball dominant. Knight to me has never been given the opportunity to really flourish with the ball in his hands. Prior to the trade the offensive sets were dribble up and hand off to either Tay or one of the bigs. That kind of offense gets redundant and predictable. I'd like to see him be given Kemba type freedom in the offense to see what he can really do.

All this being said I stand by my prediction...I don't think Knight will ever get the chance to show any of that due to Joe making him the scapegoat..

[Goldtop]

Knight is a scoring point guard who can defend well. A team who's best creator is a 2 or a 3 or a team who plays inside/out would do very well getting Knight.

Knight would fit well on any contender that doesn't already sport an All Star point guard.

Do you really think Knight could start at PG on a contender?

I look at all the contenders right now - teams in the top 3 in each conference. The only ones that aren't All-Star PGs are Mario Chalmers, George Hill, and Raymond Felton. In my opinioin, those teams have a better chance at a deep playoff run with their current PGs than if they had Knight. He's just too careless with the ball to play effective playoff basketball. If you're going to be a non-all star PG on a contender, and aren't going to be a flashy scorer or distributor, you have to be the opposite and be ultra conservative and efficient, never turn the ball over and just basically do nothing but get the ball to your stars where they want it, and occasionally make an open shot. Knight cannot do that, or at least he's shown he can.

[theBigLip]

What's his trade value? I think he's perfect for a backup guard who could slide to either position. But we're a team that's missing a lot of starters, and need to fill in any position not filled by Monroe or Drummond. Knight still has a rookie contract, so he'll probably stick around, but I agree, whether you call it a tweener, shooting PG, passing SG, whatever, he is certainly not a pass first pure PG.

[menten]

he is certainly not a pass first pure PG.

and im glad he isnt, as all pass first pure PGs seem to play on scrub teams for whatever reason. nash, vasquez, calderon, rubio, rondo (they were under .500 with him), dragic, wall, ridnour

i'll take a scoring PG that can play lockdown defense like knight over a pure ballhog PG 10 times out of 10

[Goldtop]

knight is a scoring PG not a tweener

He might be a scoring PG, but when he only scores 13 ppg, he's obviously not a very good scoring PG.

If he proved he was capable of putting up 20-25 ppg, I'd be all for the concept of him playing PG as mainly a score first guy. But in reality, he just hasn't shown he's that caliber of a scorer. And if he's going to be score-first, he has to score more than 13 pts. Thats just not going to get it done, if he's also not running the team like true PG should.

If you're going to be a scoring PG, you have to have tremendous scoring ability that you can use to draw attention from the defense, and then use that to make plays for teammates. Thats what a score-first PG does. But when you only avg 13 ppg, you won't draw enough attention for that to work consistently, which is what we've seen. Knight goes dashing into the paint on penetration, but the defense isn't worried in the least bit because they know he's not a good finisher, so they just stay home on their man and Knight gets left with nowhere to go, and thats where a lot of his turnovers happen.

He needs to do at least one of two things. Either step up his offensive game into a 20+ pt scorer on better efficiency, or learn how to be a true pass first PG. If he can't do either, I don't know what purpose it serves having him starting at PG. Because a 13 ppg on 41% FG non-true PG isn't going to lead up to championships. Thats for sure.

I'd like to see if he can truly flourish as a scoring PG, but to do so he needs to be back at the position and be ball dominant. Knight to me has never been given the opportunity to really flourish with the ball in his hands. Prior to the trade the offensive sets were dribble up and hand off to either Tay or one of the bigs. That kind of offense gets redundant and predictable. I'd like to see him be given Kemba type freedom in the offense to see what he can really do.

All this being said I stand by my prediction...I don't think Knight will ever get the chance to show any of that due to Joe making him the scapegoat..

Sorry, but Knights had over 100 games to do what you suggested he should, and he just hasn't proved it. Thats not Joe's fault in the least bit. You're acting like they never gave him a chance, when in fact they put the ball in his hands from Day One and gave him the keys to the franchise. He simply didn't do anything with it. And its not that he didn't try, or didn't work hard enough. This just might be what he is as a player. Thats not Knights fault, and certainly not Joe's fault. It is what it is. Knight had the ball in his hands in a freelance offense to do whatever he pleased, just like you wanted. If he passed to Monroe or Tay, that was his choice. He got 12 FGAs too, which is right around what Kemba Walker takes, and about all you should be taking when you only shoot 41%. With that low of a %, you don't deserve more shots

[hoophabit]

First, the article referenced is entirely speculative. It's not like Joe went to Brandon and in front of the team and press "put him on notice" about progress. Whether the new CBA has changed player development expectations remains to be seen. The first contract period is the norm for making good. Sacramento's trade of Robinson was surprising, but so far appears to be the exception. Knight has struggled, but 100 games is not a huge sample by which to measure whether a PG might progress. That said, all players are constantly being evaluated. At some point Knight has to find his way. He hasn't looked like a hopeless case, he's just been inconsistent, which isn't unusual in young players. I think it's too early to label him a bust.

[vege]

Jason Terry 2.0. Terry won a championship in Dallas being a top 4 player for them, why Knight can't be the same for us?

[Sheeeeed]

It maybe speculative, but its not baseless speculation considering the Calderon trade.

He should atleast get another offseason to get it together, but if they plan is to resign Calderon, Dumars might as well use Knight to trade up in the draft.

[Goldtop]

First, the article referenced is entirely speculative. It's not like Joe went to Brandon and in front of the team and press "put him on notice" about progress. Whether the new CBA has changed player development expectations remains to be seen. The first contract period is the norm for making good. Sacramento's trade of Robinson was surprising, but so far appears to be the exception. Knight has struggled, but 100 games is not a huge sample by which to measure whether a PG might progress. That said, all players are constantly being evaluated. At some point Knight has to find his way. He hasn't looked like a hopeless case, he's just been inconsistent, which isn't unusual in young players. I think it's too early to label him a bust.

He's far from a bust, simply because you look at the other players in his class and there aren't many doing anything better. If you did a redraft today, I think he'd probably still go in the top 8. Thats not really a credit Knight, but also doesn't make him a bust. It was just a weak draft.

The thing about the contract is interesting though. Based on how he's played up to this point, I'd be interested to hear if ppl here think he has earned a new contract yet, and if so how much would you pay him?

Sure its early and we don't have to give him an extension right now, but this time next year it will be time to start talking extensions just like you can with Monroe now. So I think thats one major thing that Dumars has to be startng to look at. If Knight is still playing the same this time next year, are you going to give an 8 mil/yr extensioin like Stuckey got? imo, no way.

So to me thats what the whole "on notice" thing with Knight is about, and rightfully so. He has to prove something next year. The thing with Stuckey was always that he improved in almost every statistically category every season up until he got his contract. With that you can justify giving him an extension. But Knights stats are identical so far from year 1 to 2. So unless he dramatically improves next year, I don't know how you can commit to him longterm.

[Dirtgrain]

I believe people here were calling O. J. Mayo a bust some time around last September. That doesn't logically imply upcoming success for Knight, but it does suggest that an organization shouldn't give up on a young player too soon. I'd give Knight another year, at least.

[russkopp]

I think Knight will get his shot to prove himself next year, but the fact that the organization is already coming out and saying we want to resign Jose def means they aren't sure on Knight either. It can't feel good to hear your team trades for and wants to keep a guy to start in the position you were drafted for.

[MrBigShot]

^I don't think he's earned a new contract. We shouldn't give him on unless he has proven that he has a future here in a DEFINITIVE role. Whether that be PG, or sixth man....Joe needs to have an idea of what his role will be if he decides to give him another contract. We would be silly to extend him if he doesn't show more consistency and significant improvement at the PG spot and just hope that he will figure it out like Chauncey.

[c-dot]

he is certainly not a pass first pure PG.

and im glad he isnt, as all pass first pure PGs seem to play on scrub teams for whatever reason. nash, vasquez, calderon, rubio, rondo (they were under .500 with him), dragic, wall, ridnour

i'll take a scoring PG that can play lockdown defense like knight over a pure ballhog PG 10 times out of 10

This whole statement is hilarious, its sig-worthy...

[Fan from Dade]

Sorry, but Knights had over 100 games to do what you suggested he should, and he just hasn't proved it. Thats not Joe's fault in the least bit. You're acting like they never gave him a chance, when in fact they put the ball in his hands from Day One and gave him the keys to the franchise. He simply didn't do anything with it. And its not that he didn't try, or didn't work hard enough. This just might be what he is as a player. Thats not Knights fault, and certainly not Joe's fault. It is what it is. Knight had the ball in his hands in a freelance offense to do whatever he pleased, just like you wanted. If he passed to Monroe or Tay, that was his choice. He got 12 FGAs too, which is right around what Kemba Walker takes, and about all you should be taking when you only shoot 41%. With that low of a %, you don't deserve more shots[/quote]

Your initial statement just isn't true and won't be backed up by actual game footage. He has played but the offense has not been near what Kemba is afforded. He has not been given the freedom to work. It was a take the ball up, pass to Tay, cut through, maybe pass to Max as the other poster stated. The game footage will back that up. He played well when he did get aggressive and kind of go away from this which wasn't nearly enough.

I'm not sure on the 12 shots a game but you may be correct but even that has to be taken in context. I would guess at least 4 of those shots are 3 point shots which goes back to the offense. Give it up to start the play and if he sees it again its likely a kick out with the shot clock down for a 3. If not, its still a rushed shot or attempt to drive off the same last shot clock kick out. This was the system up until Tayshaun left. Very few if any pick and rolls.

Calderon does not play in that offense. He has more of a Kemba style offense. Now, that stems from a lack of trust from Frank. And, I have no doubt that Knight has caused some of that with mistakes but as a young guard on a team with no immediate playoff hopes, you have to give him the leash.

In this offense he has shown flashes when he has shot well and been more aggreisive. The truest indicator of what he can be are these games and moreso the two games after the Tayshaun trade.

[theBigLip]

I'm not sure if we are going to sign Calderon. He is a free agent and he's going to get other offers. Not sure if he's a guy we chase with a lot of money. If we don't sign Calderon, Knight will be our PG again next year, since I think we will be spending our cap space on a couple of wing players. But rather than have Stuckey and Bynum on the bench, I think we will get a more legit PG (but not as expensive as Calderon) to back up Knight and put some pressure on him.