K-DOT wrote:This is pretty much all that needs to be said, excellent postthebuzzardman wrote:Greenie wrote:
On this board? Yeah.
As I said before. Either we want efficient players or we don’t.
Replace Melo with Timmy. Same rules apply. One of Timmy biggest knocks is his utter lack of efficiency.
People literally call dude a female. Knox is literally shooting worse from the field. Rookie or not efficiency should be a concern.
Here are the issues you are conflating, somewhat.
While it's fair to point out KP has some Melo tendencies (not the greatest distributor, puts up enuff shots, not super efficient) and Knox can definitely put them up without shooting a great percentage, not unlike THJr, there's a few important differences, well, really like 2, that separate them all from each other.
KP vs Melo
Melo was a better scorer all the way around, and just may wind up career wise. KP is 7'3", alters shots at the rim and changes the defensive complexion in a way Melo NEVER did. I'd add KP is a way more willing defender than at least Knick Melo and a good defender overall (some debate there I know) while Melo was a middling defender from the start and steadily got less interested in defense, and therefore started to actually suck at it, as his Knick career went on.
Knox vs THJr. Both take a bunch o' 3's. Both not make often a bunch o' 3's. Sometimes each guy gets hot and makes a bunch of 3's. THJr is clearly more offensively refined right now and is the superior offensive player. Probably better at passing too, when he flashes that desire every 5th game. Both take a lot of shots, both force it at times, both somewhat streaky, both not good defenders. THJr might be a better defender than Knox, at the moment.
Key differences
Melo was an enormous cap eating contract and had many years more experience of KP; KP gets some benefit of the doubt that that he would/still might develop. It's also fair to say he might not and every criticism today will be just as true 2,4,6 years from now.
Most important difference? KP still on that rookie scale.
Knox is 19. Knox is on his rookie scale. Knox might get better. Last year I thought THJr might improve (some) into his contract. Maybe he did, a little, in handling the scoring load, but really, he's not that much different from when he signed that ridiculous contract. (Thanks Mills).
Sure, I know the counter will be "players should get theirs" and "it's not their fault they got the $, it's the FO" and that's correct and valid. But in a sport where there's a hard enough cap, dollars vs performance and years/dollars impact on the future growth of the team color and drive fan perception.
I mean, I really like Alan Houston as a Knick, but for his last 2,3 years? I kind of hated him. Couldn't wait for him to be gone. Because his contract was a killer. Sort of irrational? I guess so. So is watching a bunch of guys running around sweating trying to throw a rubber sphere into a metal ring.
Let me expand a little to another post I was going to make. It's a little bit about the game.
Mario plays a little bit better when THJr isn't out there. It's probably a good idea they aren't on the floor together. (Well, if you care about defense for starters). But it's because Mario kind of plays like the bleached crappy version of THJr, but a little bit more pass first. Both want the ball in their hands, both are kind of reckless with shot selection, the difference being THJr makes his drives and those are pretty solid, while THJr is more reckless and not in control on jumpers. Both just play a little dumb a little too often and like having the ball. Difference? Mario only costs 6 million or whatever and is on a one year deal.
Just like Trier is "THJr like" in terms of tunnel vision, questionable shots, tendency to wander and not lock in on D. Cost? 4 million for 2 years?
Each player feels like 75% of THJr, for 1/4 or 1/2 the years, at 1/3 to 1/4 the cost.
Lets move on the Mudiay, Frank and Burke.
Other than different styles of play, they are all polarizing, to one degree or another. Other than having stuff to complain about and the classic "this player vs that player" on Knicks realgm, I find it hard to really hate any of them. Yeah, I prefer Frank, but Mudiay has been decent. Mudiay aggravates in some ways, Frank in others, Burke in others still. Franks on a rookie deal (ironically here potentially the longest), Mudiay was acquired when he had half a season and 1 more year for a spare part in McDermott and Burke cost nothing but taking a G-League flyer last year and signing him to 1 year deal this year.
Unlike Knick players of old who I couldn't stand because the team was stuck with them and the team tied it's own hands with them, ruining both present play and future hope for the fans, at least this iteration, while not all that great, has players there is a hope they might get better - actuality might say otherwise - and that aren't impacting future ability to be flexible, get better.
If KP winds up getting 35-40 million per and is the same guy he was last year and the year before, yeah, I'm going to be a critic.
It's one of the reasons why when people float "Trade KP" ideas, I don't dismiss them. KP might wind up in place where he's paid like a top top top of the league superstar and produces a bit below Kevin Love, overall.
Players are not all evaluated on the same criteria. Tim gets grief because he's highly paid and isn't really young any more. Frank gets more leash than Mudiay cause he's on a rookie scale for two more years than Mudiay. This year would've been the year I would've stopped giving KP the benefit of the doubt, but he's injured. Knox is a rookie, so whatever he does is fine as long as we see flashes he's fine
Sent from my SM-G965U using RealGM mobile app
So what we’re gonna do is get in KP’s ass after he signs the richest contract in Knick history this summer?
That’s a little silly, no.
KP is what he is. He’s not going to suddenly become efficient because he signs a large contract.
* We have a Brunson Burner™ * 
