Trades and Transactions thread - To the offseason!

[ADeP7]

trade targets:

1. Buddy Hield

2. Zach Lavine

3. Lauri Markkanen


FA Targets:

1. A. Davis

2. VanVleet

3. Beasley



Draft targets

1. Edwards

2. Haliburton

3. Hayes

I’d like to go Lauri then Hayes in the draft

And then free agency you sign Brandon Ingram to an offer sheet if he wanted to leave New Orleans and do a little sign and trade for him

Hayes - Barrett -Ingram- Lauri - Mitchell


However I think the knicks are swinging a trade for a bigger name player.
And after talking to my buddy I tend to believe Rose is making a splash

Ingram would be my first FA target, I just assume NO will match whatever. Won’t hurt to try though

I assume NO matches but I’d be down for a sign and trade if he tells New Orleans he doesn’t want to stay.

Imagine from Going in one offseason

Rj on the court with
Payton / bullock / randle / Gibson
To
Hayes/ Ingram/ Lauri / Mitch

That being said. I think our first round pick is gone and we will be targeting a young player to grow with Barrett

[Smithers]

Vanvleet

[spree2kawhi]

Vanvleet

I'm also not convinced, but he's been good. Grant would be a better fit, he'd be a crazy piece next to Mitch. Throw everything you can at Booker. They probably still turn it down and rightfully so. Going from there try to get:

Edwards, Hield, RJ, J. Grant, Mitch.


3 shooters, 2 shot blockers, at least some potential on defense. Maybe keep Frank around just to be sure.

[spree8]

If we decide to commit to rebuilding then we should def get another top pick. If we pick outside the top 4-5, I wouldn’t mind rollin wit Cole if we could get that other pick n draft Obi. Even if it took Mitch to do it, I would (maybe GSW, and squeeze Smailagić outta them to). Could always send DSJr n maybe the #35 for Bamba to replace him.. still keep rim protection, but add better spacing.

Bring back Dotson, Kadeem, n Wooten... might even trade Julius (prob to a 3rd team like CHA for Batum, Monk, #32), #25 and a Dallas pick for LaVine..

Cole Anthony | Frank Ntilikina
Zach LaVine | Kadeem Allen
RJ Barrett | Damyean Dotson | Iggy Brazdeikis
Obi Toppin | Kevin Knox | Kenny Wooten
Mo Bamba | Alen Smailagić

...sounds crazy, but I’d even consider JKidd as coach for development and potentially courting Giannis in 2021.

[cgmw]

People hoping for a rebuild are wildly out of touch with the reality of Dolan, MSG and CAA/Rose.

Any youth or picks acquired will be for the sole purpose of flipping in a splashy move designed to get fans hype in the lead up to season ticket sales time.

They want a name on that marquee and it ain’t gonna be Haliburton or Markannen.

[spree8]

People hoping for a rebuild are wildly out of touch with the reality of Dolan, MSG and CAA/Rose.

Any youth or picks acquired will be for the sole purpose of flipping in a splashy move designed to get fans hype in the lead up to season ticket sales time.

They want a name on that marquee and it ain’t gonna be Haliburton or Markannen.

Takes 2. What if nobody wants what we have for their star? Or if they aren’t selling? Could certainly be a possibility.

[cgmw]

People hoping for a rebuild are wildly out of touch with the reality of Dolan, MSG and CAA/Rose.

Any youth or picks acquired will be for the sole purpose of flipping in a splashy move designed to get fans hype in the lead up to season ticket sales time.

They want a name on that marquee and it ain’t gonna be Haliburton or Markannen.

Takes 2. What if nobody wants what we have for their star? Or if they aren’t selling? Could certainly be a possibility.

Then Rose will dangle some promise of 2021 in front of Dolan and we’ll have yet another year (or half year) of wasted mercenary ball.

Leon Rose is loading up for a Godfather trade, which in and of itself will sap the morale of younger players. Then add in the MSG mandate to play veterans and a rebuild still seems impossible.

If there’s no immediate trade available, I’m looking for Rose to sign CAA journeymen to inflated 1-year deals as quid pro quo for CAA facilitating whatever Godfather coup he’s cooking up later in the season.

[Richard4444]

I think we will explore some trades this off season for stars or potential stars. What are the assets that we would be offering?

a) RJ, MItch and unprotected (little protected) own FRPs: I dont think its time to give up too much value in a trade. We would trade various assets in cost controlled deals to adquire a single star who will hurt our cap space and our tanking.

b) Frank, Knox, Payton, Bullock, Lac and Dallas picks, lottery protected own FRP: I think its a good strategy. But it will be very hard to get Buddy, Lavine, Lauri and Gordon. Impossible to get Booker and Beal.

If the goal is to sign a big name next season to seduce a 2021 FA to join him here, it will be wise to wait for the extension period. Because there are not so many potential targets. If Giannis, Oladipo, etc resign, it will be better to not rush things.

[newyorker4ever]

People hoping for a rebuild are wildly out of touch with the reality of Dolan, MSG and CAA/Rose.

Any youth or picks acquired will be for the sole purpose of flipping in a splashy move designed to get fans hype in the lead up to season ticket sales time.

They want a name on that marquee and it ain’t gonna be Haliburton or Markannen.

You keep saying this over and over again but stars don't just come on the market for the highest bidder every offseason and even when they do there will be multiple teams going after that star player and some that will offer more then they should to get that player. We also don't want, or shouldn't want, every big name player that comes on the market just so we can add a big name player. many of them are on the market for a reason so we have to be careful about which ones we do trade for. I'm hoping we at least for one offseason take on a bad contract or two for extra draft picks. If the plan is to get two star players to build around then we need all the draft picks and young players we can get to not only get those two stars but to be able to put players around them.

[cgmw]

People hoping for a rebuild are wildly out of touch with the reality of Dolan, MSG and CAA/Rose.

Any youth or picks acquired will be for the sole purpose of flipping in a splashy move designed to get fans hype in the lead up to season ticket sales time.

They want a name on that marquee and it ain’t gonna be Haliburton or Markannen.

You keep saying this over and over again but stars don't just come on the market for the highest bidder every offseason and even when they do there will be multiple teams going after that star player and some that will offer more then they should to get that player. We also don't want, or shouldn't want, every big name player that comes on the market just so we can add a big name player. many of them are on the market for a reason so we have to be careful about which ones we do trade for. I'm hoping we at least for one offseason take on a bad contract or two for extra draft picks. If the plan is to get two star players to build around then we need all the draft picks and young players we can get to not only get those two stars but to be able to put players around them.

You’re right. I think I’m just out here watching Isiah at ASW and looking at Leon Rose wondering why I’m the only one who sees this as a blatantly obvious Starphuck maneuver by Dolan. There just isn’t any other explanation.

Just a hunch, but I bet Leon promised Dolan he could CREATE a trade demand from a named star. Not just that he’d negotiate a trade but that he’d actually backchannel a trade demand itself.

There had to be a compelling reason to fire Mills, forgo a hiring search, and preemptively give up on Ujiri. Knowing Dolan, it sure as sh*t wasn’t Haliburton, Markannen, or patience on RJ Barrett.

[BLACKFEET 2010]

People hoping for a rebuild are wildly out of touch with the reality of Dolan, MSG and CAA/Rose.

Any youth or picks acquired will be for the sole purpose of flipping in a splashy move designed to get fans hype in the lead up to season ticket sales time.

They want a name on that marquee and it ain’t gonna be Haliburton or Markannen.

Keep this in mind:
Steve Mills wanted to trade away assets for arguable starphuch D’Angelo Russell. He also wanted to commit to Marcus Morris as a 30 year old cornerstone.

Scott Perry thought differently.
Dolan sided with Scott. That cannot be lost in this.
Dolan didn’t want that route.

As part of the “rebranding” going on, the Knicks are going to want to appear less tone deaf to its core fan base.
They’re not going to trade all the kids for a starphuch blockbuster to win the papers. They’ve done that before.

They are very much in the business of peddling hope (2021) because they can’t realistically sell winning right now to anyone.

The front office (once a coach and GM is hired) will not be THE story in what the Knicks do next. It’ll be the coach who has the highest profile and voice until one emerges on the court. Leon Rose is a power broker. Not a showman or gloryhound. He knows the lay of the land. That’s important and too often minimized as just “Dolan hiring his buddies”. We will become more player centric and forward thinking.

They heard us.
And KD.

Rose isn’t selling Dolan on winning a chip next season. He’s selling him on his ability to do what he did TO us on behalf of his clients FOR us.

Like Masai woulda been hired to do.

He’s not being dictated to by Dolan. He didn’t need this. It’s very much the other way around. Want evidence of his power? In a week all the talking heads, and I mean all the usual suspects have gone out of their way to endorse and support this hiring. Maybe that’s CAA and it’s influence to which I say: so what? It’s on our side now.

To watch SNY (which is basically the Daily News on the tube) laud and gush over the Knicks is already tangible brand recognition and ascent.

Stoute played himself last week for sure but people need to put a little spek on his name. I mean, the whole “branding guru” bit is a bit overdone but he is very, very good at what he does. And I think in time it will be reflected on what we become over the next half decade and beyond. He ain’t quite hiring coaches and scouting but his role will be more than half time entertainment and colorways.

2021, hopefully we look like a real organization and get a guy. But if we don’t, I promise our pivot will be an appropriate one.

Yes. I am Leon Rose.

[cgmw]

People hoping for a rebuild are wildly out of touch with the reality of Dolan, MSG and CAA/Rose.

Any youth or picks acquired will be for the sole purpose of flipping in a splashy move designed to get fans hype in the lead up to season ticket sales time.

They want a name on that marquee and it ain’t gonna be Haliburton or Markannen.

Keep this in mind:
Steve Mills wanted to trade away assets for arguable starphuch D’Angelo Russell. He also wanted to commit to Marcus Morris as a 30 year old cornerstone.

Scott Perry thought differently.
Dolan sided with Scott. That cannot be lost in this.
Dolan didn’t want that route.

As part of the “rebranding” going on, the Knicks are going to want to appear less tone deaf to its core fan base.
They’re not going to trade all the kids for a starphuch blockbuster to win the papers. They’ve done that before.

They are very much in the business of peddling hope (2021) because they can’t realistically sell winning right now to anyone.

The front office (once a coach and GM is hired) will not be THE story in what the Knicks do next. It’ll be the coach who has the highest profile and voice until one emerges on the court. Leon Rose is a power broker. Not a showman or gloryhound. He knows the lay of the land. That’s important and too often minimized as just “Dolan hiring his buddies”. We will become more player centric and forward thinking.

They heard us.
And KD.

Rose isn’t selling Dolan on winning a chip next season. He’s selling him on his ability to do what he did TO us on behalf of his clients FOR us.

Like Masai woulda been hired to do.

He’s not being dictated to by Dolan. He didn’t need this. It’s very much the other way around. Want evidence of his power? In a week all the talking heads, and I mean all the usual suspects have gone out of their way to endorse and support this hiring. Maybe that’s CAA and it’s influence to which I say: so what? It’s on our side now.

To watch SNY (which is basically the Daily News on the tube) laud and gush over the Knicks is already tangible brand recognition and ascent.

Stoute played himself last week for sure but people need to put a little spek on his name. I mean, the whole “branding guru” bit is a bit overdone but he is very, very good at what he does. And I think in time it will be reflected on what we become over the next half decade and beyond. He ain’t quite hiring coaches and scouting but his role will be more than half time entertainment and colorways.

2021, hopefully we look like a real organization and get a guy. But if we don’t, I promise our pivot will be an appropriate one.

Yes. I am Leon Rose.

You make some good points, Mr. Rose. Sadly I don’t share your optimism.

If the Knicks GAF about core fans wishes, they wouldn’t be starting Gibson, Payton, Bullock, et al. And my guess is Steve Mills came in talking about Drummond, DLo, Randle and Morris; while Leon pulled out his Rolodex and whispered names like Embiid, Booker, KAT, etc.

Dolan was forced by public shame to shift his player Starphucking to FO Starphucking with Phil Jackson. When that didn’t work out, he shipped Phil’s prize pick to Dallas for the promise of Durant. Now that that’s failed, he’s desperate to figure out his next Starphucking move, and Leon Rose is just the guy for the job.

And you’re absolutely correct that the cherry on top is that the media won’t f*ck with Leon, so Dolan gets a little cover which is all he ever really wants.

Anyway, I smell a Godfather trade involving Mitch, RJ and at least the 2020 FRP. We shall see. I hope you’re right.

[HerSports85]

Just give me Lavine and Haliburton (or Hayes)

Lavine
Haliburton
RJ
?
Mitch

[knickstape4ever]

I like the idea of going after Dennis Schroder; OKC could move him b/c of their glut at PG; he can shoot, facilitate, and plays defense; seems like a good get to me

and after this season, he has just 1yr left on his deal, so they'd retain cap flexibility

what would it take to get him? Randle + 2 2nds (the CHA, DET 2nds should be top 40)

[knicksanity]

Listen Giannis I S N O T C O M I N G! ! ! !
DBook is in great place now in PHX with Monty Williams unless things get sour

So here it goes

Trade Knox + Randle = Buddy Hield
If we land outside the top 5. Trade the draft pick to CHI-Town for Lauri Markannen
Use the Clippers Frp on Jalen Smith
Use the 2nd rp on Jay Scrubb

Try to get FVV for a reasonable contract
Resign DOT
Bring back Vonleh and KOQ as vets

FVV/Frank/DSJ
Hield/DOT/Frank
RJ/Iggy/Scrubb (G-League)
Lauri/Jalen Smith/Wooten (Two Way)
Mitch/Vonleh/KOQ

[BLACKFEET 2010]

I’ll say this as:

A “godfather deal” may not be completely off base, and it shouldn’t be completely off the table.

There are many ways to skin a cap, I mean cat.

Now when we hear “trade 1st round picks” or “young players” we immediately lose our chit, memories drowned in puddles of yesterteam’s blood, mud and trash truck juice. And the year before that, and so on.

Muscle memory. I get it. We crush on the idea of raising our own crop and to a less zealous extent, a “right way” mandate keeping all our prime valuables far and tucked off in the/any process.

But it doesn’t work like that. It’s all situational.

Y’all think Kuz was coming without Mitch and more going back WITH Mook? And then Dallas, our sworn fo’ life enemies neatly and conveniently have a deal lined up to take on the unwanted, extra year’s commitment of Danny Green for their goodies?. If you believe all that, I’ve got a Bobby Portis and DSJ trade to tell you about.

We are a bad team. And since we are a bad team by every valuation (except the ones that talk $$$) and metric, the guys we want to believe to have value on our team actually have very little in trades to the dude trying not to laugh on the other line of the conversation about it/then. They know we’re sensitive. The motorcycle gloves with no fingers, the greasy skulls in hellfire sleeve tats, weed and money on IG pics....gym muscles, doucher beard...all for naught. They KNOW we soft. They talk about it.

THEN...sources overhear adjacent, mostly irrelevant banter. Said irrelevance terraforms to rumor; crystallized compete with price parameters and discussion tone. Debate ensues as the interwebs explode and we all take imaginary sides of our favorite/most hated current Knicks. Then nothing happens.

We then get clowned when we didn't “just easily” make the deal that never existed.

Sometimes we just eat it with no response and let ‘em have at it. Aaaaand sometimes we tweet (about) it.
To let them know we ain’t soft. Gym muscles.
Sigh.

Hey...
Remember when Atlanta drafted Huerter and Spellman to go with SuperstarTrae and they had a budding young core?
Like ours. We had Mitch and Trier and Knox. Like twinzies if you squint. Green font.

Now try to remember what Spellman was traded to the Warriors for without a Google assist before ending up cap stuffing in the Dlo trade package to the Wolves.

He was their Draymond, remember?

Now he’s proverbial bubble wrap in the package. And really not even. We all know at least one person who loves that chit. Yes bubble wrap.

We want a stud, on his way to his prime and cost controlled? We have to pay through the nose in Knicks bucks. Like Guyanese money to the US dollar.
And then some.

We didn’t overpay for Melo. Sorry.

And Stat’s acquisition was Pedro Matrinezian in the credibility bank. He put us on his back. And knees.

Both arrived with scrutiny but both acquisitions had real merit. They both gave substance to our hope.

The issue in macro really was Billups and the poor use of the amnesty, then signing Tyson.

And then Roy Hibbert’s verticality.

That team, that year didn’t even need a by-then faltering Stat.

We woulda laid some good wood (pause) on Miami. I believe that.

Maybe not have beaten them but it woulda been money well spent to experience an in-prime, scoring title-toting Melo and crew go against the Miami Monstars. It woulda been special in more ways than the obvious too.

Our path tho, could’ve been a fleeting non-distraction in the lies of our rearview —if we would’ve bailed when presented with the choice to. The altitude of short term success had us (Dolan and the building) drunk with dumb our. And we compounded things to say the least. And then some. And then some. But it was absolutely the move to make (for Melo).

The price was high and but damnit we all got high.

Do you think the Rockets made a mistake selling off their assets in a sign and trade for James Harden?

Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb and draft picks?
For a sixth man and deliberately one way player?!
Said no one. They did it right.

If Kawhi’s shot rims out and Joel Embiid tweets a claw in poop emoji or whatever after, is Masai a clown for trading a star and more for a broken young SUPERSTAR who didn’t want to be there? No way to know but the betting man in me doesn’t think Paskal becomes what he has, Freddy VV is likely remembered for having a baby and losing his entire ability to shoot, getting his journeyman on and Masai gets some serious Saddai (sideeye, I know, bad) from a whole nation. But nah, they did it right. That bounce.

Sometimes you get the franchise guy first and build as you go along. Sometimes you have to take the shot. It’s not ideal but when a game changing player falls out of favor sometimes you have to aggressively go after it. Have to. Aggressively and foolishly now....two different things but I get it; again, muscle memory. The solution starts with the vision but NBA business is still a business; it ain’t Hoosiers or 2k.

We need a guy who can navigate and forecast.
I think we all agree there. But that task in OKC or Colorado is NOTHING like it is in NYC, what less for this team, in these times. Knowledge (of the joint) is power. And it’s specific.

This isn’t Phil who didn’t want the job until Dolan and a Grateful Dead guy kissed all 11 or Steve Mills who was in way over his head with way too much reach and little leash for way too long.

This (Rose) is the guy who gets what he wants. Period.
Or Wes will.

Like think about it: there’s such a thing as “fixing” the lotto...I’m just sayin’, dude knows where all the NBA bodies are buried. That’s on our side now. I like that part.

I don’t think he’s here to trade for an ancient CP3 or even the obvious KATs or Bookers of the world (but if they’re available...), I think he wants the challenge of taking care of the franchise just as he’s used to doing for those who have employed him in the past. This go in his own image. Built in Cherry Hill NJ.

He knows what works and doesn’t HERE.
He knows why players stay away. He knows who won’t.
He knows everybody before him had a damn good plan and even better reason.

Dolan is embracing change. Give him that.

The “I’m not selling the team” thing the other day to me screamed residual blood letting. The tweeted tantrum of an entitled child ceding attention and by perception, power to the much more capable. Familiar stuff nowadays, no? But let Mills being let go be the metaphor to run with.
I’m here for it.

And cmon, our mistakes:
Ewing trade
Isiah/Steph/Larry/Eddy/Anucha
Stat knees/Lin loss/Bargs
Phil
Triangle
Fisher
Rose case
JOAKIM NOER
Where’s Rose?
Horny
Oak
Melos exodus
Tim back
Fiz
KP trade
Dolan on Kay
KD and Ky go up the block
Powerful forwads
Post press conference
Fiz fired after practice

Thats pop culture, jeopardy-question, level lolz achieved over the course of two decades. Our failings are mighty and nothing abstract.

Not just pain for us purists.

So the job is simple: don’t be Phil, Isiah, Layden or Mills.
It’s really not hard to not do THOSE.

But if the GM and pres think (for instance) a 22 year old Brandon Ingram is a star in NY, so be it. it ain’t what you do it’s how you do it. And if he sees RJ or Mitch as and ends to a proper means, so be it. And I get that all your skepticism rightfully lives there until the day it doesn’t.
But it’s basketball and analytics aside it’s intrinsically and ruthlessly volatile.

Kobe has led a team to the lotto, Pop has overcoached, Pat Riley has given out several ridiculous contracts while contrarily the Grizzlies are a portrait of transactional creativity, the Clippers and Bucks are Finalist shoe ins and the Houston Rockets (Hakeem’s and Yao’s team) hates big guys and got beef with China.

You gotta make tough decisions and live with the bounce.
And by the desperate owner’s process this new regime has earned the right to go with what they believe...even if we groan some at first pinch.

One man’s table scraps may end up the next mans bubble wrap.

It legit started off like a paragraph.
I didn’t even watch the all star game lol.
Smoke.
Pardon the typos.

All Star Break Edition: BLACKfootNotes 2020.

[SWYM]

Listen Giannis I S N O T C O M I N G! ! ! !
DBook is in great place now in PHX with Monty Williams unless things get sour

So here it goes

Trade Knox + Randle = Buddy Hield
If we land outside the top 5. Trade the draft pick to CHI-Town for Lauri Markannen
Use the Clippers Frp on Jalen Smith
Use the 2nd rp on Jay Scrubb

Try to get FVV for a reasonable contract
Resign DOT
Bring back Vonleh and KOQ as vets

FVV/Frank/DSJ
Hield/DOT/Frank
RJ/Iggy/Scrubb (G-League)
Lauri/Jalen Smith/Wooten (Two Way)
Mitch/Vonleh/KOQ

TRex is NOT an asset, Knox is NOT an asset.

It's a 3 day weekend but work starts tomorrow, stay sober

[G_K_F]

Rose will probably trade all our draft picks for Buddy Hield and Steve Adams.

[Anotha Knicks fan]

I’ll say this as:

A “godfather deal” may not be completely off base, and it shouldn’t be completely off the table.

There are many ways to skin a cap, I mean cat.

Now when we hear “trade 1st round picks” or “young players” we immediately lose our chit, memories drowned in puddles of yesterteam’s blood, mud and trash truck juice. And the year before that, and so on.

Muscle memory. I get it. We crush on the idea of raising our own crop and to a less zealous extent, a “right way” mandate keeping all our prime valuables far and tucked off in the/any process.

But it doesn’t work like that. It’s all situational.

Y’all think Kuz was coming without Mitch and more going back WITH Mook? And then Dallas, our sworn fo’ life enemies neatly and conveniently have a deal lined up to take on the unwanted, extra year’s commitment of Danny Green for their goodies?. If you believe all that, I’ve got a Bobby Portis and DSJ trade to tell you about.

We are a bad team. And since we are a bad team by every valuation (except the ones that talk $$$) and metric, the guys we want to believe to have value on our team actually have very little in trades to the dude trying not to laugh on the other line of the conversation about it/then. They know we’re sensitive. The motorcycle gloves with no fingers, the greasy skulls in hellfire sleeve tats, weed and money on IG pics....gym muscles, doucher beard...all for naught. They KNOW we soft. They talk about it.

THEN...sources overhear adjacent, mostly irrelevant banter. Said irrelevance terraforms to rumor; crystallized compete with price parameters and discussion tone. Debate ensues as the interwebs explode and we all take imaginary sides of our favorite/most hated current Knicks. Then nothing happens.

We then get clowned when we didn't “just easily” make the deal that never existed.

Sometimes we just eat it with no response and let ‘em have at it. Aaaaand sometimes we tweet (about) it.
To let them know we ain’t soft. Gym muscles.
Sigh.

Hey...
Remember when Atlanta drafted Huerter and Spellman to go with SuperstarTrae and they had a budding young core?
Like ours. We had Mitch and Trier and Knox. Like twinzies if you squint. Green font.

Now try to remember what Spellman was traded to the Warriors for without a Google assist before ending up cap stuffing in the Dlo trade package to the Wolves.

He was their Draymond, remember?

Now he’s proverbial bubble wrap in the package. And really not even. We all know at least one person who loves that chit. Yes bubble wrap.

We want a stud, on his way to his prime and cost controlled? We have to pay through the nose in Knicks bucks. Like Guyanese money to the US dollar.
And then some.

We didn’t overpay for Melo. Sorry.

And Stat’s acquisition was Pedro Matrinezian in the credibility bank. He put us on his back. And knees.

Both arrived with scrutiny but both acquisitions had real merit. They both gave substance to our hope.

The issue in macro really was Billups and the poor use of the amnesty, then signing Tyson.

And then Roy Hibbert’s verticality.

That team, that year didn’t even need a by-then faltering Stat.

We woulda laid some good wood (pause) on Miami. I believe that.

Maybe not have beaten them but it woulda been money well spent to experience an in-prime, scoring title-toting Melo and crew go against the Miami Monstars. It woulda been special in more ways than the obvious too.

Our path tho, could’ve been a fleeting non-distraction in the lies of our rearview —if we would’ve bailed when presented with the choice to. The altitude of short term success had us (Dolan and the building) drunk with dumb our. And we compounded things to say the least. And then some. And then some. But it was absolutely the move to make (for Melo).

The price was high and but damnit we all got high.

Do you think the Rockets made a mistake selling off their assets in a sign and trade for James Harden?

Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb and draft picks?
For a sixth man and deliberately one way player?!
Said no one. They did it right.

If Kawhi’s shot rims out and Joel Embiid tweets a claw in poop emoji or whatever after, is Masai a clown for trading a star and more for a broken young SUPERSTAR who didn’t want to be there? No way to know but the betting man in me doesn’t think Paskal becomes what he has, Freddy VV is likely remembered for having a baby and losing his entire ability to shoot, getting his journeyman on and Masai gets some serious Saddai (sideeye, I know, bad) from a whole nation. But nah, they did it right. That bounce.

Sometimes you get the franchise guy first and build as you go along. Sometimes you have to take the shot. It’s not ideal but when a game changing player falls out of favor sometimes you have to aggressively go after it. Have to. Aggressively and foolishly now....two different things but I get it; again, muscle memory. The solution starts with the vision but NBA business is still a business; it ain’t Hoosiers or 2k.

We need a guy who can navigate and forecast.
I think we all agree there. But that task in OKC or Colorado is NOTHING like it is in NYC, what less for this team, in these times. Knowledge (of the joint) is power. And it’s specific.

This isn’t Phil who didn’t want the job until Dolan and a Grateful Dead guy kissed all 11 or Steve Mills who was in way over his head with way too much reach and little leash for way too long.

This (Rose) is the guy who gets what he wants. Period.
Or Wes will.

Like think about it: there’s such a thing as “fixing” the lotto...I’m just sayin’, dude knows where all the NBA bodies are buried. That’s on our side now. I like that part.

I don’t think he’s here to trade for an ancient CP3 or even the obvious KATs or Bookers of the world (but if they’re available...), I think he wants the challenge of taking care of the franchise just as he’s used to doing for those who have employed him in the past. This go in his own image. Built in Cherry Hill NJ.

He knows what works and doesn’t HERE.
He knows why players stay away. He knows who won’t.
He knows everybody before him had a damn good plan and even better reason.

Dolan is embracing change. Give him that.

The “I’m not selling the team” thing the other day to me screamed residual blood letting. The tweeted tantrum of an entitled child ceding attention and by perception, power to the much more capable. Familiar stuff nowadays, no? But let Mills being let go be the metaphor to run with.
I’m here for it.

And cmon, our mistakes:
Ewing trade
Isiah/Steph/Larry/Eddy/Anucha
Stat knees/Lin loss/Bargs
Phil
Triangle
Fisher
Rose case
JOAKIM NOER
Where’s Rose?
Horny
Oak
Melos exodus
Tim back
Fiz
KP trade
Dolan on Kay
KD and Ky go up the block
Powerful forwads
Post press conference
Fiz fired after practice

Thats pop culture, jeopardy-question, level lolz achieved over the course of two decades. Our failings are mighty and nothing abstract.

Not just pain for us purists.

So the job is simple: don’t be Phil, Isiah, Layden or Mills.
It’s really not hard to not do THOSE.

But if the GM and pres think (for instance) a 22 year old Brandon Ingram is a star in NY, so be it. it ain’t what you do it’s how you do it. And if he sees RJ or Mitch as and ends to a proper means, so be it. And I get that all your skepticism rightfully lives there until the day it doesn’t.
But it’s basketball and analytics aside it’s intrinsically and ruthlessly volatile.

Kobe has led a team to the lotto, Pop has overcoached, Pat Riley has given out several ridiculous contracts while contrarily the Grizzlies are a portrait of transactional creativity, the Clippers and Bucks are Finalist shoe ins and the Houston Rockets (Hakeem’s and Yao’s team) hates big guys and got beef with China.

You gotta make tough decisions and live with the bounce.
And by the desperate owner’s process this new regime has earned the right to go with what they believe...even if we groan some at first pinch.

One man’s table scraps may end up the next mans bubble wrap.

It legit started off like a paragraph.
I didn’t even watch the all star game lol.
Smoke.
Pardon the typos.

All Star Break Edition: BLACKfootNotes 2020.

Been on here for a while, and have gone through the ups and downs with the team. I was usually optimistic during the previous eras... but all have sat me back down for being so. During these last couple of eras I've mostly sat on the sideline, very much reading what others post more than posting myself. While the grand majority of the board has turned toxic with negativity and snarkiness (with justification) I've just sat and watched. Gotta say, I appreciate your last few posts, and your fresh look on things. I hope *gulp* things trend in the direction you are alluding to, and that the heads in charge think along the same wavelengths as you do. It would be nice, for once, to see us trend positively not just in the tabloids, but with actual tangible results. There is only one winner each season, and while the journey may be FAR far away, it would be nice to finally be in the discussions of having a legitimate shot.

[Reign23]

how does the board feel about buddy hield?

i've been an advocate for trying to snag bogdonovic from sac - but with the team potentially trying to retain him (and hield not loving the bench role).

would he be the board is willing to make a move for this offseason?

he's not the youngest (27) not great on the defensive end, but is a lights out shooter who would create a ton of space for RJ and Mitch.

just look at how almost competent our offense looks with ellington as a three point threat? and he on his best day will only give you 12-15 off the bench, not the 20-25 that hield can get you.

thoughts?

would give up a lot for him. I want a (very) goot shooter at the two.

give me one of hield, beal, lavine or mccollum. thanks.