Breaking: KAT to the Knicks

[robillionaire]

I’m not sure if I should bully sham for the Knicks shopping Mitch or be on his side because I know we really need a rim protector next to KAT in order for this to work. Maybe should black mail him to send me 10 packs of Oreos on a weekly basis to defend Mitch.. hmmmm

listen, i'm cool if they trade mitch if they bring a defensive minded center back. he does have a tendency to be injured. i get it. but in general i woke up today feeling like they should have just waited until the deadline and seen what this team was about as is. i doubt anyone else in the league was rushing to trade for towns. you could have done it then if you felt like you weren't gonna be able to re-sign randle at the number you wanted.

That’s what I wanted us to do too. I was shocked they did a panic trade for KAT right before training camp and I still don’t understand why we did it in such an urgency.

It wasn’t a panic trade and I’m confident they were trying to do this trade for years and Minnesota finally caved wanting to save money and we got him. The alarm bells have been ringing on this for a long time

[Zenzibar]

What ultimately happens with Mitch could easily determine whether or not the Knicks win their first championship in over a half a century.

Do they wait on Mitch to get healthy and stand pat?

Or do they trade Mitch now due to fears of him being brittle and an odd-ball personality with social media crash-out tendencies?

I think the Mitch outcome is the fork in the road that’ll determine this team’s destiny.

If we win a Chip Mitch needs to be part of it because I can't see how Mitch, without picks can bring us a prime time center.

[KnixinSix]

That’s why I’m surprised the board isn’t as apprehensive about this move as I am. We went from having a 9 man playoff rotation down to a 7. Maybe 8, if you think precious or Payne will be able to play. Kat and OG have missed a ton of games and our bench cavalry is washed Mook and a never good Shamet. We almost need to start Precious next to Kat to have our rotations make more sense.

Bench line up is probably Payne, deuce, hart, Mikal, sims? I like Deuce, a lot but going from 8th man to 6th man is a lot of added expectations and responsibility for him. Especially since he’s now expect to replace what Donte would have gave them off the bench. I’ve doubted him before and he's just kept developing. So maybe he’ll just rise to the occasion.

All we did was lose Donte and we replaced Randle with KAT so our rotation shouldn't have gone down from 9 to 7. It depends on how you look at it. Mitch was still injured regardless so we were also going to start Randle with Precious or Jericho before the trade and I still envision Thibs doing that actually. Just because KAT is a better small ball 5 than Randle is doesn't necessarily mean we'll start him there

If everyone was healthy by the end of the season, Donte, Hart, deuce, and a back up big would have been our playoff bench rotation. Those 3 guys have all performed in the playoffs. With Donte gone and hart moving into the starting line up, you’re left with deuce and Mitch. That’s only if we don’t end up starting Mitch next to Kat. Either way that’s only 7 guys I’d trust in the playoffs. Now we might be forced to elevate guys on camp deals into the rotation.There’s a reason why Payne got a 1 year deal and Shamet/Mook were available in September.

Precious had a moment against Philly and Payne hit some shots against us but I wouldn’t call either of them proven playoff players. Now we probably need those guys.

Donte succeeded as our 2nd option for a 2nd seed last season! His toughness and attitude was a huge part of last year’s identity. Does Mikal play with that same edge? Kat certainly doesn’t. Don’t think you can just hand wave away not replacing him away. I hope I’m wrong and I’m wrong frequently but we traded a lot of depth and toughness to play 5 out.

Ask yourself this question:
Who would you rather have on a Thibodeau team , Donte or Bridges?

For the Knicks it was obviously Bridges as they traded 5 picks for him. He plays the 2 or 3 but can also guard 1-4. He may not be quite the 3 ball shooter DDV was but he is good enough and brings so much more of the defensive versatility that a Thibs system needs to function at an elite level.

Donte minutes were going to go down regardless. And he was no where near as effective off bench vs sarter minutes. His heart is to be a starter and he has earned it. He will get that in Minny.

Also dont forget we brought in Payne and Shamet who just add further depth in that area. Lastly KAT makes up for the loss of some 3 ball in that deal but at the even more rare 5 spot. The spacing will allow others guys to have an uptick in their 3 ball too.

[stuporman]

Three playoff appearances in four years and the last two years winning a playoff series with a contention window still open another 4-5 years after two decades of ineptitude aside from one old man ring chaser season that had no sustainability but 'this FO ruined the Knicks'?

maybe that's overkill but this last move is a bit questionable

this isn't some slam dunk no brainer at all. even if the og contract is too high, it is, or we gave up a bit too much for mikal, we did, we knew that they were quality players and they would fit in with what we do seamlessly. this is a total change to who the knicks are and at a price that may make it impossible to get out of. i just don't know about this.

There is a wide berth between 'not sure about this last deal' and 'this FO ruined the Knicks' and I don't think 'overkill' is the one word that represents it. You aren't who is reacting that way so not sure why you are defending it, caring about others feelings...that's not like you.

[robillionaire]

In fact it now makes perfect sense why they haven’t been going in to trade for D list big man x y or z for the past few months because this has been in the works. CP’s source was right

[KnixinSix]

Not only will he be at the top, but he's already the 6th highest paid player in the league before the trade kicker so he's impossible to trade. Not to mention in the last 5 years he's played less games than Embiid and KP, and he's arguably the worst defensive C in the league, and his hatred of Thibs is well documented.

CAA has ruined this franchise to give Leon Rose and his son's players mega contracts. 2/3rds of the salary cap going to OG and KAT, two of the 5 worst contracts in basketball easily.

i can't disagree with any of this. i was trying to be more positive yesterday but i'm having a hard time today.

Vegas has us as the 3rd best odds to win the entire thing! 3rd best!

Why all the doom and gloom???

Some folks natural tendency is to be doom and gloom. Others fear too much change.

[Zenzibar]

listen, i'm cool if they trade mitch if they bring a defensive minded center back. he does have a tendency to be injured. i get it. but in general i woke up today feeling like they should have just waited until the deadline and seen what this team was about as is. i doubt anyone else in the league was rushing to trade for towns. you could have done it then if you felt like you weren't gonna be able to re-sign randle at the number you wanted.

That’s what I wanted us to do too. I was shocked they did a panic trade for KAT right before training camp and I still don’t understand why we did it in such an urgency.

It wasn’t a panic trade and I’m confident they were trying to do this trade for years and Minnesota finally caved wanting to save money and we got him. The alarm bells have been ringing on this for a long time

I'm hearing that the Wolves with the new CBA, may have had to lose Naz Reid and/or McDaniel, which they absolutely don't want to do.
The Wolves can move Randle again at some point and totally get from under KAT's contract choke. The new CBA fk'd us with iHart and is having it's impact around the league.

[god shammgod]

Three playoff appearances in four years and the last two years winning a playoff series with a contention window still open another 4-5 years after two decades of ineptitude aside from one old man ring chaser season that had no sustainability but 'this FO ruined the Knicks'?

maybe that's overkill but this last move is a bit questionable

this isn't some slam dunk no brainer at all. even if the og contract is too high, it is, or we gave up a bit too much for mikal, we did, we knew that they were quality players and they would fit in with what we do seamlessly. this is a total change to who the knicks are and at a price that may make it impossible to get out of. i just don't know about this.

There is a wide berth between 'not sure about this last deal' and 'this FO ruined the Knicks' and I'm not sure 'overkill' is the one that represents it. You aren't who is reacting that way so not sure why you are defending it, caring about others feelings...that's not like you.

i understand his reaction even if mine is more measured. i just don't get that worked up about this stuff anymore. i've gotten too old for that i guess

[BrOnXKing1]

I’m not sure if I should bully sham for the Knicks shopping Mitch or be on his side because I know we really need a rim protector next to KAT in order for this to work. Maybe should black mail him to send me 10 packs of Oreos on a weekly basis to defend Mitch.. hmmmm

listen, i'm cool if they trade mitch if they bring a defensive minded center back. he does have a tendency to be injured. i get it. but in general i woke up today feeling like they should have just waited until the deadline and seen what this team was about as is. i doubt anyone else in the league was rushing to trade for towns. you could have done it then if you felt like you weren't gonna be able to re-sign randle at the number you wanted.

Agree, I wish would of let this team see what it could be and make the Kat deal at the deadline if we needed.

One interesting dynamic is few reports stated Randle was not happy about playing center which Thibs mentioned recently. I wander if that expedited this trade

[stuporman]

Just kind of breezing through the 60+ pages already and all I will say is that every criticism of KAT people have been voicing you can say the same thing about Randle but turned up to 11...except bad fouls, since a player has to play defense to commit bad fouls, Randle doesn't play defense, like ever. Unless you want to consider the bad offensive fouls, then yea, Randle is equal to KAT if not worse.

Randle makes less than half of what KAT makes what a **** comparison. They're equal, but one guy is making less than half of the other one, hey let's add White Donte and a first! And piss Mitch off!

OK

[Im Coming Home]

I’m not sure if I should bully sham for the Knicks shopping Mitch or be on his side because I know we really need a rim protector next to KAT in order for this to work. Maybe should black mail him to send me 10 packs of Oreos on a weekly basis to defend Mitch.. hmmmm

listen, i'm cool if they trade mitch if they bring a defensive minded center back. he does have a tendency to be injured. i get it. but in general i woke up today feeling like they should have just waited until the deadline and seen what this team was about as is. i doubt anyone else in the league was rushing to trade for towns. you could have done it then if you felt like you weren't gonna be able to re-sign randle at the number you wanted.

If you do that, you have a huge chance in both Randle and Divo losing value. Randle because he's coming off a major injury, who knows if he'll play the same bully ball style. And Divo had a career year, there is always a chance he comes back down to earth.

I like the timing of this because now we start the year off on the right foot, no excuses for 'oh mid season trade, so the chemistry wasn't there yet, we'll get em next year' type ish.

I think it would've been a bigger risk to wait, than it was to just do it now.

[KnixinSix]

I’m not sure if I should bully sham for the Knicks shopping Mitch or be on his side because I know we really need a rim protector next to KAT in order for this to work. Maybe should black mail him to send me 10 packs of Oreos on a weekly basis to defend Mitch.. hmmmm

listen, i'm cool if they trade mitch if they bring a defensive minded center back. he does have a tendency to be injured. i get it. but in general i woke up today feeling like they should have just waited until the deadline and seen what this team was about as is. i doubt anyone else in the league was rushing to trade for towns. you could have done it then if you felt like you weren't gonna be able to re-sign randle at the number you wanted.

This should ABSOLUTELY be priority #1. Our biggest weakness left by far for a Thibs system is a pure rim protector. Mitch is just too injury prone.

Some combination of Mitch, McBride, Dadiet and whatever draft assts we have left should all be on the table since we are clearly in go for it mode.

[Capn'O]

Three playoff appearances in four years and the last two years winning a playoff series with a contention window still open another 4-5 years after two decades of ineptitude aside from one old man ring chaser season that had no sustainability but 'this FO ruined the Knicks'?

maybe that's overkill but this last move is a bit questionable

this isn't some slam dunk no brainer at all. even if the og contract is too high, it is, or we gave up a bit too much for mikal, we did, we knew that they were quality players and they would fit in with what we do seamlessly. this is a total change to who the knicks are and at a price that may make it impossible to get out of. i just don't know about this.

It's a risk. It could work. But definitely a risk. I do like this final version better than any of the versions that included Mitch. I imagine the Wolves did too, having Gobert.

One thing I'm wondering is where we stand as an OREB team. Our top 10 offense was almost entirely predicated on crashing the offensive boards. We still have some of those pieces but how does that work with Towns, or does it?

With depth, we can stagger our lineup a bit through the game until guys get hurt.

[KnixinSix]

That’s what I wanted us to do too. I was shocked they did a panic trade for KAT right before training camp and I still don’t understand why we did it in such an urgency.

It wasn’t a panic trade and I’m confident they were trying to do this trade for years and Minnesota finally caved wanting to save money and we got him. The alarm bells have been ringing on this for a long time

I'm hearing that the Wolves with the new CBA, may have had to lose Naz Reid and/or McDaniel, which they absolutely don't want to do.
The Wolves can move Randle again at some point and totally get from under KAT's contract choke. The new CBA fk'd us with iHart and is having it's impact around the league.

New CBA which I mentioned repeatedly months ago if this KAT trade was to happen would be a major driver for the Timberwolves

[TheGreenArrow]

Just trade the Gumbo Goof-off already and bring this guy in!

Would replace everything Donte did and then some, being taller and a better defender.

Watch on YouTube

Although, in all honesty, I've already killed any trade by watching his highlights, as Knicks never get any player who I watch highlights of.

Except Brunson.

I don't see why the Pelicans would trade Jones or Murphy for Mitch

It’s a money thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Murphy is Extension eligible and hasn’t been offered an extension!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don’t think they can pay him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[3toheadmelo]

listen, i'm cool if they trade mitch if they bring a defensive minded center back. he does have a tendency to be injured. i get it. but in general i woke up today feeling like they should have just waited until the deadline and seen what this team was about as is. i doubt anyone else in the league was rushing to trade for towns. you could have done it then if you felt like you weren't gonna be able to re-sign randle at the number you wanted.

That’s what I wanted us to do too. I was shocked they did a panic trade for KAT right before training camp and I still don’t understand why we did it in such an urgency.

It wasn’t a panic trade and I’m confident they were trying to do this trade for years and Minnesota finally caved wanting to save money and we got him. The alarm bells have been ringing on this for a long time

This was definitely a panic trade. All summer long we had reports that the Knicks were operating that they didn’t want to move Randle at all. They said the KAT trade was an unexpected development within 48 hours.

[TheGreenArrow]

Anyone a bit concerned on how Towns took the trade news? His IG post and then showing up to an event 12 hours later decked out in Wolves gear?! I know its a shock when you get traded but with this dudes history of being soft I'm hoping his emotional state is ready to embrace NY. Last thing we need is a disgruntled star creating drama and locker room tension. This unit has been really gelling last couple of seasons and they don't need that noise right now.

if you made a list of guys not built for new york he'd be close to or at the top. just pray i guess.

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=W09F6FrMDfp5_y1gKYgF1g

From the guy who told Phil Jackson to draft porzingis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Towns always wanted to be a knick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[KnixinSix]

Three playoff appearances in four years and the last two years winning a playoff series with a contention window still open another 4-5 years after two decades of ineptitude aside from one old man ring chaser season that had no sustainability but 'this FO ruined the Knicks'?

maybe that's overkill but this last move is a bit questionable

this isn't some slam dunk no brainer at all. even if the og contract is too high, it is, or we gave up a bit too much for mikal, we did, we knew that they were quality players and they would fit in with what we do seamlessly. this is a total change to who the knicks are and at a price that may make it impossible to get out of. i just don't know about this.

It's a risk. It could work. But definitely a risk. I do like this final version better than any of the versions that included Mitch. I imagine the Wolves did too, having Gobert.

One thing I'm wondering is where we stand as an OREB team. Our top 10 offense was almost entirely predicated on crashing the offensive boards. We still have some of those pieces but how does that work with Towns, or does it?

With depth, we can stagger our lineup a bit through the game until guys get hurt.

KAT had his best rebounding years under Thibodeau but we could definitely use another true 5.

[stuporman]

are ring chasers even really a thing anymore ? it's usually just older guys that are mostly washed and won't help you much

I hope there's a decent center one out there to provide some depth...oh wait Taj on line 1

[E-Balla]

Just kind of breezing through the 60+ pages already and all I will say is that every criticism of KAT people have been voicing you can say the same thing about Randle but turned up to 11...except bad fouls, since a player has to play defense to commit bad fouls, Randle doesn't play defense, like ever. Unless you want to consider the bad offensive fouls, then yea, Randle is equal to KAT if not worse.

Randle makes less than half of what KAT makes what a **** comparison. They're equal, but one guy is making less than half of the other one, hey let's add White Donte and a first! And piss Mitch off!

New CBA kind of changes the calculations around who makes what at the upper end.

And Randle is due for a raise.

KAT's softness a legit concern.

Randle wasn't a first overall pick and doesn't have nearly as much hype as KAT. He's not making anywhere near KAT money, and tbh I'd rather let Randle walk than give KAT that contract to play 40 games, get hurt, and average 19/9 on 44% shooting in the playoffs while being one of the worst defenders in basketball.