Trades and Transactions Thread Cont'd - Where the Center At?

[3toheadmelo]

He likely is behind Randle but he might not be.

Something I was thinking about yesterday is we really do have a ton of scoring. OG is now the 4th option and he's not a bad scorer himself. Then you have guys like Deuce, DDV, Hart, and Payne. In that line of thinking, a guy like Olynyk who can really move the ball, defend, rebound, and space could be an exceptional addition. We don't need our 5 to score. We need consummate role players there. Zach Collins and Jaylin Williams are other guys we should be inquiring about, just in terms of ticking several of the above boxes.

i just don't see the Knicks trying to force Mikal into that Nets role. He's gonna be in the middle of what he was on the Suns and on the Nets. That's like a Middleton type player which is very good. Forcing him into that Nets role isn't gonna end well.

We need a 5 who isn't clogging the paint on offense and can also protect the rim. Hartenstein was pretty much that guy. Not sure about Olynyk and Collins since they're pretty bad rim protetors. We need a Brook Lopez, Myles Turner, type of big. But I doubt we can get them. For now I would just roll out small ball lineups with Randle at the 5 or experiment with Precious at the 5.

Mikal was #1 on the Nets though. #2 is a different role. As I said, still likely behind Randle but I can see a situation where he absolutely crushes.

There's not really a perfect guy for C. For sure. Stupid Thunder. OG at the 5 intrigues me as well. He guarded Embiid very well.

Mikal was the #2 on the Nets this year. Cam Thomas leap frogged him as their #1. And Mikal still struggled on both ends. I think being a #3 is his sweet spot.

OG at the 5 sounds fun but not sure if Thibs is creative enough to try it in long spurts. But that could def work too.

[spree2kawhi]

He likely is behind Randle but he might not be.

Something I was thinking about yesterday is we really do have a ton of scoring. OG is now the 4th option and he's not a bad scorer himself. Then you have guys like Deuce, DDV, Hart, and Payne. In that line of thinking, a guy like Olynyk who can really move the ball, defend, rebound, and space could be an exceptional addition. We don't need our 5 to score. We need consummate role players there. Zach Collins and Jaylin Williams are other guys we should be inquiring about, just in terms of ticking several of the above boxes.

i just don't see the Knicks trying to force Mikal into that Nets role. He's gonna be in the middle of what he was on the Suns and on the Nets. That's like a Middleton type player which is very good. Forcing him into that Nets role isn't gonna end well.

We need a 5 who isn't clogging the paint on offense and can also protect the rim. Hartenstein was pretty much that guy. Not sure about Olynyk and Collins since they're pretty bad rim protetors. We need a Brook Lopez, Myles Turner, type of big. But I doubt we can get them. For now I would just roll out small ball lineups with Randle at the 5 or experiment with Precious at the 5.

Mikal was #1 on the Nets though. #2 is a different role. As I said, still likely behind Randle but I can see a situation where he absolutely crushes and forces the issue.

There's not really a perfect guy for C. For sure. Stupid Thunder. OG at the 5 intrigues me as well. He guarded Embiid very well.

If only we could get our hands on Sengun.

[Capn'O]

i just don't see the Knicks trying to force Mikal into that Nets role. He's gonna be in the middle of what he was on the Suns and on the Nets. That's like a Middleton type player which is very good. Forcing him into that Nets role isn't gonna end well.

We need a 5 who isn't clogging the paint on offense and can also protect the rim. Hartenstein was pretty much that guy. Not sure about Olynyk and Collins since they're pretty bad rim protetors. We need a Brook Lopez, Myles Turner, type of big. But I doubt we can get them. For now I would just roll out small ball lineups with Randle at the 5 or experiment with Precious at the 5.

Mikal was #1 on the Nets though. #2 is a different role. As I said, still likely behind Randle but I can see a situation where he absolutely crushes.

There's not really a perfect guy for C. For sure. Stupid Thunder. OG at the 5 intrigues me as well. He guarded Embiid very well.

Mikal was the #2 on the Nets this year. Cam Thomas leap frogged him as their #1. And Mikal still struggled on both ends. I think being a #3 is his sweet spot.

OG at the 5 sounds fun but not sure if Thibs is creative enough to try it in long spurts. But that could def work too.

[RHODEY]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=W09F6FrMDfp5_y1gKYgF1g

Not good news at all Folkssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How is he not completely healed yet??!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

he took the pay cut because he knows his hand is cooked and he would've never gotten that big contract at the end of the season. it's so over

Mark Jackson identifies more as an Indiana Pacer, the far more superior team, so he's comfortable exposing the tiny fraud Brunson, leader of the subpar NY Vilainovans

Yes they are way overrated

[RHODEY]

He likely is behind Randle but he might not be.

Something I was thinking about yesterday is we really do have a ton of scoring. OG is now the 4th option and he's not a bad scorer himself. Then you have guys like Deuce, DDV, Hart, and Payne. In that line of thinking, a guy like Olynyk who can really move the ball, defend, rebound, and space could be an exceptional addition. We don't need our 5 to score. We need consummate role players there. Zach Collins and Jaylin Williams are other guys we should be inquiring about, just in terms of ticking several of the above boxes.

i just don't see the Knicks trying to force Mikal into that Nets role. He's gonna be in the middle of what he was on the Suns and on the Nets. That's like a Middleton type player which is very good. Forcing him into that Nets role isn't gonna end well.

We need a 5 who isn't clogging the paint on offense and can also protect the rim. Hartenstein was pretty much that guy. Not sure about Olynyk and Collins since they're pretty bad rim protetors. We need a Brook Lopez, Myles Turner, type of big. But I doubt we can get them. For now I would just roll out small ball lineups with Randle at the 5 or experiment with Precious at the 5.

Mikal was #1 on the Nets though. #2 is a different role. As I said, still likely behind Randle but I can see a situation where he absolutely crushes and forces the issue.

There's not really a perfect guy for C. For sure. Stupid Thunder. OG at the 5 intrigues me as well. He guarded Embiid very well.

Dont mind OG on centers in short stretches, but with his injury history anything longer would worry me.

[3toheadmelo]

Mikal was #1 on the Nets though. #2 is a different role. As I said, still likely behind Randle but I can see a situation where he absolutely crushes.

There's not really a perfect guy for C. For sure. Stupid Thunder. OG at the 5 intrigues me as well. He guarded Embiid very well.

Mikal was the #2 on the Nets this year. Cam Thomas leap frogged him as their #1. And Mikal still struggled on both ends. I think being a #3 is his sweet spot.

OG at the 5 sounds fun but not sure if Thibs is creative enough to try it in long spurts. But that could def work too.

They really stopped going to Mikal though as the season progressed. I was telling yall this back in March. I have receipts lol

Read on Twitter

His usage rate plummeted after the all star break to 21.3 which is pretty similar to what DDV was at for the season (20.9). And he averaged 15.6 PPG shooting 39% from the field. Cam Thomas had a usage rate of 30.5 this season. He was the clear #1 option.

[mpharris36]

Randle while he's on the roster will certainly have a higher usage than Mikal. It really doesn't help with having Randle off ball too much because he doesn't have any real shooting gravity. Mikal and OG play way better off the catch.

Randle has value on the ball and thats his true value because he doesn't bring much defensively so I certainly expect a lot of offense to run through Randle especially with Brunson off the floor and even with him on the floor as a passer.

Now I don't know what the Knicks will do beyond this season because of Randle's contract situation they may just be a wait and see until we see how the team performs in the playoffs...its certainly risky but I don't see any alternative option at the moment.

[Capn'O]

Mikal was the #2 on the Nets this year. Cam Thomas leap frogged him as their #1. And Mikal still struggled on both ends. I think being a #3 is his sweet spot.

OG at the 5 sounds fun but not sure if Thibs is creative enough to try it in long spurts. But that could def work too.

They really stopped going to Mikal though as the season progressed. I was telling yall this back in March. I have receipts lol

Read on Twitter

His usage rate plummeted after the all star break to 21.3 which is pretty similar to what DDV was at for the season (20.9). And he averaged 15.6 PPG shooting 39% from the field. Cam Thomas had a usage rate of 30.5 this season. He was the clear #1 option.

IJS, they were a mess. Mikal is gonna look great this year.

[Knicksfan1992]

Giving Cam Thomas 30% usage is certainly a choice but, nobody ever claimed the Nets were the brightest organization in the league the past few years lol

[3toheadmelo]

They really stopped going to Mikal though as the season progressed. I was telling yall this back in March. I have receipts lol

Read on Twitter

His usage rate plummeted after the all star break to 21.3 which is pretty similar to what DDV was at for the season (20.9). And he averaged 15.6 PPG shooting 39% from the field. Cam Thomas had a usage rate of 30.5 this season. He was the clear #1 option.

IJS, they were a mess. Mikal is gonna look great this year.

Yes, he will look great in his Middleton role giving us 17-19 PPG with good effiency and lockdown defense

[3toheadmelo]

On another end, with Mitch probably being out for a while I wonder if Precious can take a leap for us.

Read on Twitter

[JayTWill]

They really stopped going to Mikal though as the season progressed. I was telling yall this back in March. I have receipts lol

Read on Twitter

His usage rate plummeted after the all star break to 21.3 which is pretty similar to what DDV was at for the season (20.9). And he averaged 15.6 PPG shooting 39% from the field. Cam Thomas had a usage rate of 30.5 this season. He was the clear #1 option.

IJS, they were a mess. Mikal is gonna look great this year.

Yes, he will look great in his Middleton role giving us 17-19 PPG with good effiency and lockdown defense

I agree Mikal would be a great 3rd option in a more 3 and D role especially since Randle can't fill that role but why use Khris Middleton, a guy who averaged 20 points as a second option and late game closer on a contender for a 5 year stretch and actually won a championship as an example to why Mikal should be a 3rd option? I know you like to troll sometimes but are you serious?

[Fury]

2nd option, 3rd option, 4th option, it doesn’t matter. Everyone after Brunson will have a chance to be each of those options every game.

[nykballa2k4]

He aint Hakeem down low but he's got more moves than Ihart and more range. Highlights show him posting and dunking on players with size. I-hart has that tear drop and play making.

You cant have everything but imo he gives us more than enough to shore up Mitch's weaknesses.

Yup. I can't argue. I will take what I can get.

Still would like to see Stephen Adams in his full Aquaman glory as our back up to battle Embiid, but Val would provide a different skillset without being a big time detriment on the other side.

How is Adams looking these days? It seems like he's been around forever.

He missed most of last year with injury, but when he has been on the court, he certainly embodies the enforcer role. We need someone who will go WWE on Embiid if he tries another leg-trick like he did Mitch.

[RHODEY]

Yup. I can't argue. I will take what I can get.

Still would like to see Stephen Adams in his full Aquaman glory as our back up to battle Embiid, but Val would provide a different skillset without being a big time detriment on the other side.

How is Adams looking these days? It seems like he's been around forever.

He missed most of last year with injury, but when he has been on the court, he certainly embodies the enforcer role. We need someone who will go WWE on Embiid if he tries another leg-trick like he did Mitch.

Yeah and from what I can recall he was the #1 offensive re-bounder in the league.. a smidge ahead of Mitch... having 48minutes of boards domination would be nice.

[nykballa2k4]

Read on Twitter

pretty cool look in on the suns FO. Also a little Knicks related with the second part of the video. Brock Aller was handling direct trade negotiations with Suns on the 40 for 51 and 56 trade.

They felt like they got the better of that one.

We will see how those kids pan out

[Chanel Bomber]

That's it.

The Nets will draft Cooper Flagg, Cameron Boozer, the next Wembanyama and the next GOAT MJ Burks Jr with our unprotected draft picks and pick swaps.

That's right. And the Knicks will be stuck in mediocrity with the terrible college buddies, all because Leon Rose feels some strange affinity for the Brunson family.

Knicks will be the Cleveland Cavs to the Jordan Bulls, only not as good, because the Vilainovans are ultimately just role players, Julius is a headcase and Mitch is always fat and injured. OG will have a career ending injury.

Brunson can't hold Mark Price's jockstrap though. Randle no Nance. Clearly Mitch isn't Brad Dougherty.


Mikal isn't even better than Craig Ehlo.

Watch on YouTube

[3toheadmelo]

IJS, they were a mess. Mikal is gonna look great this year.

Yes, he will look great in his Middleton role giving us 17-19 PPG with good effiency and lockdown defense

I agree Mikal would be a great 3rd option in a more 3 and D role especially since Randle can't fill that role but why use Khris Middleton, a guy who averaged 20 points as a second option and late game closer on a contender for a 5 year stretch and actually won a championship as an example to why Mikal should be a 3rd option? I know you like to troll sometimes but are you serious?

I've used the term Khris Middleton Lite for Mikal's role on this Knicks team a bunch of times. Not sure if you know what lite means but I suggest you googling it so you can have a better understanding of it.

Also, Middleton wasn't primarily the 2nd option for the Bucks for 5 years.

Here's a couple years of other Bucks players other than Giannis who had a higher usage rate than Middleton in the playoffs.

2019 Post Season: Bledsoe's usage: 24.3. Middleton: 21.1
2022 Post season: Holiday's usage: 26.5. Middleton: 21.9
2024 Post season: Dame's usage: 31.2. Middleton: 28.2 (higher than usual due to injuries to Dame)

Middleton is literally the 3rd option on a Bucks team right now. So your whole point is pretty moot. Were you being serious?

[mpharris36]

Read on Twitter

pretty cool look in on the suns FO. Also a little Knicks related with the second part of the video. Brock Aller was handling direct trade negotiations with Suns on the 40 for 51 and 56 trade.

They felt like they got the better of that one.

We will see how those kids pan out

the knicks wanted an extra 2nd round pick for cap space purposes because at the time they hoped to re-sign Ihart to that maximum they could offer and needed to have three 2nd rounders to do so.

[moocow007]

Giving Cam Thomas 30% usage is certainly a choice but, nobody ever claimed the Nets were the brightest organization in the league the past few years lol

Cam Thomas kinda a chucker. A talented chucker but still a chucker. I watched a bunch of Net games and there was no dynamic between the two guys and their offense had no real flow. Thomas tended to dominate the ball and didn't seem keen on sharing tbqh. Honestly, Bridges could have done the same thing. When he gets the ball just try to score and forget about anyone else, but my guess is that Bridges isn't that type of player. That's a good thing. I don't think Cam Thomas is a winning player and this team wants guys that put team, winning and doing the right things ahead of personal needs.