iHart expected to sign with OKC 3/$87

[ScienceOfLosing]

It sucks losing Hartenstein on a win now team, but i read last week an analysis that the contract he would have signed with the Knicks would not have been viewed as a positive asset. And for the team with long term payroll concerns, you can't just pay everyone.  This just is what it is, but there should have been a better plan in place.

For an all-in, win now team the center position is very concerning. It seems like the most likely outcome here is running back Mitch/Precious/Sims. Is that good enough? I wanted the Knicks to go for Flipowski - his skill set would have been a perfect I-Hart replacement, actually would have given the Knicks more floor spacing without losing much in the way of rim protection.

It's very disappointing that the Knicks have punted the draft the past few years. This is the perfect situation for a guy on a rookie contract to step into the backup role for a year and then replace Mitch as the starter. Frankly, they need to start thinking about developing a young guy to replace Josh Hart on the roster as it's going to be difficult to carry his contract once Brunson's max + Bridges and Randle's new deal kick in. Cost controlled talent with upside is a major, major need on this roster going forward - in addition to rim protection and more shot creation.

Great time for me to once again bitch about not finding a way to retain Jalen Duren. Ouch.

But maybe we get someone unexpectedly even better, IHart PII,

Did I once mention Jalen Duran? I mentioned using a late 1st rd pick in 2024 on a high floor guy that's fits a skill set of need. And an overall organizational approach to not foucs on developing talent.

Case in point - not the 2nd rd picks to squeeze under the apron - but not having a player on the roster drafted by the team in the 2022 and 2023 nba drafts. That's punting on developing players.

You and I my might disagree with the direction of this organization, but facts are facts. The Knicks have not been investing in the draft. Under the new CBA - I feel strongly that this is a mistake that will come back and bite us in the a**.

Not sure I get you. I was saying we should have held onto Duren. Frustrating to let pick after pick go, Duren or not.

[R-DAWG]

Great time for me to once again bitch about not finding a way to retain Jalen Duren. Ouch.

But maybe we get someone unexpectedly even better, IHart PII,

Did I once mention Jalen Duran? I mentioned using a late 1st rd pick in 2024 on a high floor guy that's fits a skill set of need. And an overall organizational approach to not foucs on developing talent.

Case in point - not the 2nd rd picks to squeeze under the apron - but not having a player on the roster drafted by the team in the 2022 and 2023 nba drafts. That's punting on developing players.

You and I my might disagree with the direction of this organization, but facts are facts. The Knicks have not been investing in the draft. Under the new CBA - I feel strongly that this is a mistake that will come back and bite us in the a**.

Not sure I get you. I was saying we should have held onto Duren. Frustrating to let pick after pick go, Duren or not.

I thought that you were saying I was focused on Duren. I wasn't.

I agree that it's frustrating to let pick after pick go and not have young, cost controlled talent with upside on the back end of the rotation.

The fumble with that pick was Jalen Williams, not Duren, and I believe there was enough wiggle room for Brunson/Hartenstein while keeping Williams.

Could you imagine what our future would look like with Brunson and Willaims?

[Capn'O]

Per history, guys late in the 1st and in the second round are usually ready to contribute to winning and being rotation players much faster than lottery picks. They may have less upside as star players or 2nd options, but they are usually where you find rotation pieces

Yup. In fact, most of our current roster is later picks. Some we even made ourselves.

Brunson -33rd
Hart - 30th
Mitch - 36th
OG - 23rd
Deuce - 36th
Sims - 58th
Toppin - Undrafted

On the flip side, the defending champions are anchored by 4 top 4 picks, with 7 1st rd picks in the lineup:

Brown - 3rd
Tatum - 3rd
Holiday - 17th
Porzingis- 4th
White - 29th
Horford - 3rd
Pritchard - 26th

Notably, the only one that the Celtics made with their own picks is Pritchard. Tatum and Brown came from fleecing the Nets and the rest came from trades and free agency. If there's an opportunity to absolutely fleece another team for clearly high draft picks I'm all for it. Unfortunately, by and large there are fewer suckers than there used to be.

[Jeffrey]

Anyone likes Bismack Biyombo, Thomas Bryant or Daniel Theis?

[ScienceOfLosing]

Did I once mention Jalen Duran? I mentioned using a late 1st rd pick in 2024 on a high floor guy that's fits a skill set of need. And an overall organizational approach to not foucs on developing talent.

Case in point - not the 2nd rd picks to squeeze under the apron - but not having a player on the roster drafted by the team in the 2022 and 2023 nba drafts. That's punting on developing players.

You and I my might disagree with the direction of this organization, but facts are facts. The Knicks have not been investing in the draft. Under the new CBA - I feel strongly that this is a mistake that will come back and bite us in the a**.

Not sure I get you. I was saying we should have held onto Duren. Frustrating to let pick after pick go, Duren or not.

I thought that you were saying I was focused on Duren. I wasn't.

I agree that it's frustrating to let pick after pick go and not have young, cost controlled talent with upside on the back end of the rotation.

I been bitchin bout the same thing, in particular, but not limited to, Duren.

Maybe we sign Goga or the like but we are between a rock and a hard place w essentially just injury prone Mitch and nearly capped out.

[Buttah304]

iHart is getting 60M over the next 2 years nearly double what the Knicks could have given. Not to mention the fact that approximately $5500 in OKC costs you around $12000 in NYC - money talks. There was no other motivation here

[sol537]

Relax, everyone. Just a momentary setback... Leon & co. already working the phones/spreadsheets. We'll be ready by opening day and might get a boost at the trade deadline (like we've done the last few seasons!)

[thebuzzardman]

can Wiseman be any worse than Sims?

don't shoot the messenger. asking for a friend.

Does that friend have an Oreo habit?

[RHODEY]

Not sure I get you. I was saying we should have held onto Duren. Frustrating to let pick after pick go, Duren or not.

I thought that you were saying I was focused on Duren. I wasn't.

I agree that it's frustrating to let pick after pick go and not have young, cost controlled talent with upside on the back end of the rotation.

I been bitchin bout the same thing, in particular, but not limited to, Duren.

Maybe we sign Goga or the like but we are between a rock and a hard place w essentially just injury prone Mitch and nearly capped out.

Goga resigned with ORL. But maybe it isn't all gloom and doom.

Perhaps Mitch can somehow stay relatively healthy.
Perhaps we can resign Precious (I know he isn't a true center)
Maybe we can develop our draft pick the way we developed our other bigs.

They dont call Thibs "the big man whisperer" for nothing.

[sol537]

I thought that you were saying I was focused on Duren. I wasn't.

I agree that it's frustrating to let pick after pick go and not have young, cost controlled talent with upside on the back end of the rotation.

I been bitchin bout the same thing, in particular, but not limited to, Duren.

Maybe we sign Goga or the like but we are between a rock and a hard place w essentially just injury prone Mitch and nearly capped out.

Goga resigned with ORL. But maybe it isn't all gloom and doom.

Perhaps Mitch can somehow stay relatively healthy.
Perhaps we can resign Precious (I know he isn't a true center)
Maybe we can develop our draft pick the way we developed our other bigs.

They dont call Thibs "the big man whisperer" for nothing.

Exactly. And perhaps we can trade/sign someone who eventually becomes as good as iHart was for us.

In all honesty... if Precious took all of iHart's minutes in the playoffs last year... we'd probably end up in the same spot as we did as iHart didn't play particularly well in the playoffs against either opponent (PHI & IND).

[louisorr]

if we sign Precious that will give them OG, Julius, Precious, Mitch ,Sims and Hukporti all big bodies that can man the paint to a degree.
You gotta think Thibs can figure out how to bake a cake with those ingredients.
We might be all good.

[BrOnXKing1]

if we sign Precious that will give them OG, Julius, Precious, Mitch ,Sims and Hukporti all big bodies that can man the paint to a degree.
You gotta think Thibs can figure out how to bake a cake with those ingredients.
We might be all good.

I would just sign Precious for now and try to figure out other options as we go. Relying on Sims as a backup center could go terribly wrong

[R-DAWG]

I thought that you were saying I was focused on Duren. I wasn't.

I agree that it's frustrating to let pick after pick go and not have young, cost controlled talent with upside on the back end of the rotation.

I been bitchin bout the same thing, in particular, but not limited to, Duren.

Maybe we sign Goga or the like but we are between a rock and a hard place w essentially just injury prone Mitch and nearly capped out.

Goga resigned with ORL. But maybe it isn't all gloom and doom.

Perhaps Mitch can somehow stay relatively healthy.
Perhaps we can resign Precious (I know he isn't a true center)
Maybe we can develop our draft pick the way we developed our other bigs.

They dont call Thibs "the big man whisperer" for nothing.

I agree that losing I-Hart isn't the end of the world. It's more about (a) not having a contingency plan and (b) being all-in on a roster that we shouldn't be all in on.

[Fat Kat]

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[The KnicksFix]

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So what’s the move now ?

[Fury]

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So what’s the move now ?

Low key target: Isaiah Jackson, CAA client, Kentucky, last year of contract, Pacers just signed Wiseman

[omerome]

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So what’s the move now ?

[BrOnXKing1]

Leon channeling his inner Donnie Walsh. Leon needs to wake up and make a move. We are lucky if we get 50 games from Mitch this year.

[DOT]

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[DaGawd]

i’m sure leon has something lined up, y’all gotta chill