Around the NBA - New Season, New Thread

[Capn'O]

doesn’t make sense when people are saying the Timberwolves are much worse with Randle since they lost 1 game but we need to be patient with KAT since he’s shooting bricks lmao

I don't think these are the same people. Randle's style is actually bit tougher to integrate since he's more ball dominant. Their form will take time.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

It’s only preseason, but Knicks have looked really good so far.

KAT has been very active on the boards, and defensive end which is what you want to see. The Brunson/KAT pnrs have a lot of potential to be a major weapon

Their defense has been better than their offense too, they're not as big as last year but they're able to cover more ground and switch a lot more.

[3toheadmelo]

doesn’t make sense when people are saying the Timberwolves are much worse with Randle since they lost 1 game but we need to be patient with KAT since he’s shooting bricks lmao

Yeah, both teams restructured their offense and from what I'm reading, they want Donte to run offense to an extend. Both teams will be fine, but I don't think Randle sticks around. I don't know why, but I have this inkling he may head down to Texas. Might be a good fit in Houston.

I agree both teams will prob take some time adjusting. Was just pointing out how some people were spamming the thread saying randle made the Timberwolves worse after 1 game but in the same breathe saying we need to be patient with KAT they have no shame in looking dumb.

I think there’s a chance Randle sticks around in Minny. Chris Finch loves him and I think Randle said he wants to be extended there already. We’ll see tho.

[3toheadmelo]

doesn’t make sense when people are saying the Timberwolves are much worse with Randle since they lost 1 game but we need to be patient with KAT since he’s shooting bricks lmao

I don't think these are the same people. Randle's style is actually bit tougher to integrate since he's more ball dominant. Their form will take time.

Iron is definitely the same guy

[Wildcat]

The Knicks weren't forced to make any of the deals they made this summer. They chose to. From bringing in Mikal for a good chunk of their draft capital to trading Randle and Donte for Kat. There were other options but these are the choices they made.

Just out of curiosity do you believe that if iHart had re-signed that Randle would still be here and would have been extended eventually?

Maybe force is too strong of a word, but most beat writers have reported that the center position put them in a dilemma after the first piece of Robinson news hit the papers. They weren't trading Randle unless it was a talent for talent situation. So no, no one put a gun to their head, but this was only real option. If these guys are saying they never wanted to include Divo in the KAT trade, I'm believing it because that was a rich price for a team who have been pretty consistent in their maneuvers and cap management.

No, I don't think KAT trade goes down if I-Hart stayed. My personal reason is there were some in the organization that wanted to see if January was a real or not. But I think the real reason is the logistics for the trade of bringing in KAT after I-Hart's new salary is on the books probably would make a KAT deal much harder to pull off.

If they brought back the same team with the addition of Mikal, iHart would have had a limited role in the offense as he has had most of the time here when the roster was healthy and he would be splitting time with Mitch. How would the loss of a guy that may have been playing 20 something minutes while rarely shooting the ball and mostly being out there play defense require the Knicks to trade for KAT of all people to fill that hole???

If I just needed someone to protect the rim, rebound and make an occasional nice pass when he is actually involved in the offense I would have just waited until December 15th and made an offer for Goga. I wouldn't completely change the construction of my roster to bring in a much different type of center unless that was the center I really wanted all this time.

Would the roster construction be ideal leading up until December/January? No. It still isn't. It wasn't either last year when half the roster was 6'4 and under with a .500 record before the new year. They had other options but they seem to have really wanted KAT.

Going back to Robinson was a pessimistic option. We and the team got a taste on what a center with offensive abilities with defensive IQ can actually do. If you believe the reports, no one in the organization wants Robinson as a starter. It's why the original KAT proposal was Randle/Robinson. I-Hart's passing basically made him function as a court spreader. Going back to that clunkiness seems like a step backwards.

What options they did they actually have? Again, based on reports, the Knicks were not giving up significant picks and Deuce for Walker. Anything I've read about Nick Richards was hearsay at best. I always thought the whole Goga was more smoke than fact. If you believe what was said, the Knicks did not want to go into the season opener with question marks at Center.

[Wildcat]

doesn’t make sense when people are saying the Timberwolves are much worse with Randle since they lost 1 game but we need to be patient with KAT since he’s shooting bricks lmao

Yeah, both teams restructured their offense and from what I'm reading, they want Donte to run offense to an extend. Both teams will be fine, but I don't think Randle sticks around. I don't know why, but I have this inkling he may head down to Texas. Might be a good fit in Houston.

I agree both teams will prob take some time adjusting. Was just pointing out how some people were spamming the thread saying randle made the Timberwolves worse after 1 game but in the same breathe saying we need to be patient with KAT they have no shame in looking dumb.

I think there’s a chance Randle sticks around in Minny. Chris Finch loves him and I think Randle said he wants to be extended there already. We’ll see tho.

Did he? I didn't know. I haven't followed any of the pressers. I can tell from the few plays I've seen so far (before Randle played) that they were experimenting. They're definitely have some emphasis on Donte. I think ANT and Randle are basically what we'd expect from JB and Randle, which would be having the other team second guess who they're doubling or if they ever will double. Unless the T-Wolves are cooking their books (they've been extremely profitable these last few years, allegedly), I don't see why they would trade for Randle unless it was a money saving move. Unless you believe they wanted more flexibility.

[Capn'O]

doesn’t make sense when people are saying the Timberwolves are much worse with Randle since they lost 1 game but we need to be patient with KAT since he’s shooting bricks lmao

I don't think these are the same people. Randle's style is actually bit tougher to integrate since he's more ball dominant. Their form will take time.

Iron is definitely the same guy

Well, mpharris was saying we needed some patience with KAT there.

[3toheadmelo]

I don't think these are the same people. Randle's style is actually bit tougher to integrate since he's more ball dominant. Their form will take time.

Iron is definitely the same guy

Well, mpharris was saying we needed some patience with KAT there.

Nah I wasn’t referring to mpharris

[3toheadmelo]

Yeah, both teams restructured their offense and from what I'm reading, they want Donte to run offense to an extend. Both teams will be fine, but I don't think Randle sticks around. I don't know why, but I have this inkling he may head down to Texas. Might be a good fit in Houston.

I agree both teams will prob take some time adjusting. Was just pointing out how some people were spamming the thread saying randle made the Timberwolves worse after 1 game but in the same breathe saying we need to be patient with KAT they have no shame in looking dumb.

I think there’s a chance Randle sticks around in Minny. Chris Finch loves him and I think Randle said he wants to be extended there already. We’ll see tho.

Did he? I didn't know. I haven't followed any of the pressers. I can tell from the few plays I've seen so far (before Randle played) that they were experimenting. They're definitely have some emphasis on Donte. I think ANT and Randle are basically what we'd expect from JB and Randle, which would be having the other team second guess who they're doubling or if they ever will double. Unless the T-Wolves are cooking their books (they've been extremely profitable these last few years, allegedly), I don't see why they would trade for Randle unless it was a money saving move. Unless you believe they wanted more flexibility.

Randle made it clear on Thursday he's open to signing with the Timberwolves long term.
"Just being around here and being around the environment, (president of basketball operations) Tim (Connelly), (coach Chris) Finch, all those guys, like that stuff is important," Randle said. "They made me feel more than at home being here.
"Just super comfortable, the energy is up like just being in the building, the energy is up. The guys seem like everybody gets along, so at the end of the day, to the core of who I am, I'm a basketball player, and that's what I love to do, at the end of the day. So for me, being here is super important. ... Ultimately, yeah, I do want to be here."

[Iron Mantis]

doesn’t make sense when people are saying the Timberwolves are much worse with Randle since they lost 1 game but we need to be patient with KAT since he’s shooting bricks lmao

I don't think these are the same people. Randle's style is actually bit tougher to integrate since he's more ball dominant. Their form will take time.

Iron is definitely the same guy

[JayTWill]

Maybe force is too strong of a word, but most beat writers have reported that the center position put them in a dilemma after the first piece of Robinson news hit the papers. They weren't trading Randle unless it was a talent for talent situation. So no, no one put a gun to their head, but this was only real option. If these guys are saying they never wanted to include Divo in the KAT trade, I'm believing it because that was a rich price for a team who have been pretty consistent in their maneuvers and cap management.

No, I don't think KAT trade goes down if I-Hart stayed. My personal reason is there were some in the organization that wanted to see if January was a real or not. But I think the real reason is the logistics for the trade of bringing in KAT after I-Hart's new salary is on the books probably would make a KAT deal much harder to pull off.

If they brought back the same team with the addition of Mikal, iHart would have had a limited role in the offense as he has had most of the time here when the roster was healthy and he would be splitting time with Mitch. How would the loss of a guy that may have been playing 20 something minutes while rarely shooting the ball and mostly being out there play defense require the Knicks to trade for KAT of all people to fill that hole???

If I just needed someone to protect the rim, rebound and make an occasional nice pass when he is actually involved in the offense I would have just waited until December 15th and made an offer for Goga. I wouldn't completely change the construction of my roster to bring in a much different type of center unless that was the center I really wanted all this time.

Would the roster construction be ideal leading up until December/January? No. It still isn't. It wasn't either last year when half the roster was 6'4 and under with a .500 record before the new year. They had other options but they seem to have really wanted KAT.

Going back to Robinson was a pessimistic option. We and the team got a taste on what a center with offensive abilities with defensive IQ can actually do. If you believe the reports, no one in the organization wants Robinson as a starter. It's why the original KAT proposal was Randle/Robinson. I-Hart's passing basically made him function as a court spreader. Going back to that clunkiness seems like a step backwards.

What options they did they actually have? Again, based on reports, the Knicks were not giving up significant picks and Deuce for Walker. Anything I've read about Nick Richards was hearsay at best. I always thought the whole Goga was more smoke than fact. If you believe what was said, the Knicks did not want to go into the season opener with question marks at Center.

If they truly loved last year's roster and didn't want to change anything you don't get a giant square peg in Kat to fill the small round hole of iHart's departure. That would be like Josh Hart leaving in free agency and saying the Knicks only option is to trade multiple rotation pieces for Paul George on a 4yr/$211M deal.

The season wasn't going to end if they waited for more options to become available. There are plenty of options between smaller contract guys like Kessler to Goga to medium contract guys like Poeltl to someone like KAT at the top of the scale. I'm not talking about random rumors. I'm just talking about logical options for a replacement of a 25-30 minute 5th starter in Thibs' system.

Is it possible that the front office and Randle just couldn't come to an agreement on an extension for whatever reason and rather than letting Randle walk for nothing they saw KAT as a potential replacement? Is it possible that even if iHart re-signed they would have still pursued a trade for KAT involving Randle and Mitch and possibly reluctantly giving up DDV too?

[3toheadmelo]

I don't think these are the same people. Randle's style is actually bit tougher to integrate since he's more ball dominant. Their form will take time.

Iron is definitely the same guy

you need to be stopped mf

[Parraknick]

I agree both teams will prob take some time adjusting. Was just pointing out how some people were spamming the thread saying randle made the Timberwolves worse after 1 game but in the same breathe saying we need to be patient with KAT they have no shame in looking dumb.

I think there’s a chance Randle sticks around in Minny. Chris Finch loves him and I think Randle said he wants to be extended there already. We’ll see tho.

Did he? I didn't know. I haven't followed any of the pressers. I can tell from the few plays I've seen so far (before Randle played) that they were experimenting. They're definitely have some emphasis on Donte. I think ANT and Randle are basically what we'd expect from JB and Randle, which would be having the other team second guess who they're doubling or if they ever will double. Unless the T-Wolves are cooking their books (they've been extremely profitable these last few years, allegedly), I don't see why they would trade for Randle unless it was a money saving move. Unless you believe they wanted more flexibility.

Randle made it clear on Thursday he's open to signing with the Timberwolves long term.
"Just being around here and being around the environment, (president of basketball operations) Tim (Connelly), (coach Chris) Finch, all those guys, like that stuff is important," Randle said. "They made me feel more than at home being here.
"Just super comfortable, the energy is up like just being in the building, the energy is up. The guys seem like everybody gets along, so at the end of the day, to the core of who I am, I'm a basketball player, and that's what I love to do, at the end of the day. So for me, being here is super important. ... Ultimately, yeah, I do want to be here."

It’s not like he would say anything else at this stage

[Wildcat]

If they truly loved last year's roster and didn't want to change anything you don't get a giant square peg in Kat to fill the small round hole of iHart's departure. That would be like Josh Hart leaving in free agency and saying the Knicks only option is to trade multiple rotation pieces for Paul George on a 4yr/$211M deal.

Stop obsessing with this 20-25 minute thing. They saw what spacing did when I-Hart settled into the starting role. It's not hard to correlate his spacing with what KAT's spacing can do because even I acknowledge it's kicked up notch.

Everything else, take it up with the brass. Ian, Katz, Windy, Tim are some of the few that acknowledged certain things had to happen for the Knicks to pull the KAT trade. I-Hart was one of them. Robinson is the other. If you don't trust the report, that's on you, mate. Any KAT trade was always going to include Randle.

The season wasn't going to end if they waited for more options to become available. There are plenty of options between smaller contract guys like Kessler to Goga to medium contract guys like Poeltl to someone like KAT at the top of the scale. I'm not talking about random rumors. I'm just talking about logical options for a replacement of a 25-30 minute 5th starter in Thibs' system.

That's your opinion. Most coaches would rather have their full roster sooner rather than later. Seems pretty obvious to me that they knew Mitch was going to be out longer before he was made public. I think it was Ian or Tim that said the Knicks were "deeply concern" with the Center position.

Is it possible that the front office and Randle just couldn't come to an agreement on an extension for whatever reason and rather than letting Randle walk for nothing they saw KAT as a potential replacement? Is it possible that even if iHart re-signed they would have still pursued a trade for KAT involving Randle and Mitch and possibly reluctantly giving up DDV too?

Don't shoot the messenger. The deal with KAT for Randle/Robinson was supposedly on the table at draft night per Shams. So you either assume they knew I-Hart was bolting, or thought they can go with an I-Hart/KAT lineup ala Rudy/KAT. Randle wasn't eligible for an extension at draft night, so I don't think his contract meant anything if they were willing to deal Robinson/Randle for KAT.

[Galvationknicks]

Liberty got robbed on a rebound foul

[JayTWill]

If they truly loved last year's roster and didn't want to change anything you don't get a giant square peg in Kat to fill the small round hole of iHart's departure. That would be like Josh Hart leaving in free agency and saying the Knicks only option is to trade multiple rotation pieces for Paul George on a 4yr/$211M deal.

Stop obsessing with this 20-25 minute thing. They saw what spacing did when I-Hart settled into the starting role. It's not hard to correlate his spacing with what KAT's spacing can do because even I acknowledge it's kicked up notch.

Everything else, take it up with the brass. Ian, Katz, Windy, Tim are some of the few that acknowledged certain things had to happen for the Knicks to pull the KAT trade. I-Hart was one of them. Robinson is the other. If you don't trust the report, that's on you, mate. Any KAT trade was always going to include Randle.

The season wasn't going to end if they waited for more options to become available. There are plenty of options between smaller contract guys like Kessler to Goga to medium contract guys like Poeltl to someone like KAT at the top of the scale. I'm not talking about random rumors. I'm just talking about logical options for a replacement of a 25-30 minute 5th starter in Thibs' system.

That's your opinion. Most coaches would rather have their full roster sooner rather than later. Seems pretty obvious to me that they knew Mitch was going to be out longer before he was made public. I think it was Ian or Tim that said the Knicks were "deeply concern" with the Center position.

Is it possible that the front office and Randle just couldn't come to an agreement on an extension for whatever reason and rather than letting Randle walk for nothing they saw KAT as a potential replacement? Is it possible that even if iHart re-signed they would have still pursued a trade for KAT involving Randle and Mitch and possibly reluctantly giving up DDV too?

Don't shoot the messenger. The deal with KAT for Randle/Robinson was supposedly on the table at draft night per Shams. So you either assume they knew I-Hart was bolting, or thought they can go with an I-Hart/KAT lineup ala Rudy/KAT. Randle wasn't eligible for an extension at draft night, so I don't think his contract meant anything if they were willing to deal Robinson/Randle for KAT.

Ok, so you think iHart took a bad deal where is paid almost twice as much per year with OKC since he did not get 4 guaranteed years and could possibly get injured and never receive another contract 2 years from now. You also think he should have stayed in New York for this better deal with more stability from a team that between last off-season and this off-season traded away Obi, IQ, RJ, Grimes, Randle and DDV.

He should worry about being traded fodder in OKC who I believe only traded one true rotational player in the same period of time in Giddey. He shouldn't worry about being trade fodder in New York because if everything went as you say the front office wanted it to New York's longest tenured vets would be the 3 year cornerstone players of McBride and Sims.

You also blame him partially for the team being broken up despite citing those reports saying that the team was already looking to move Randle and Mitch for KAT prior to free agency beginning and OKC making their offer. iHart should have felt secure in New York after the failed attempt to get KAT even though they eventually were willing to move someone other than Mitch to get the deal done.

Hey, I want iHart to stay too. I'm sure he had multiple reasons to go. I don't know how to make a logical argument that he should have stayed.

[Capn'O]

I think the Warriors were offended by the Lakers starting 5. It included Bronny and Cam.

[Guano]

We're ignoring +/- these days

Read on Twitter

[Clyde_Style]

We're ignoring +/- these days

Read on Twitter

Wow, that's wild after getting chit on by the whole universe and everyone not named Lebron.

Kind of heartwarming even with the nepotism

[Reign23]

Warriors and Lakers (again) will be two teams a watch a lot this season, because I like a lot of their players and those franchises just fascinate me in general.

watched a little bit of the preaseason matchup yesterday too and boy oh boy Cam Reddish.
I don't know why but I began to root for him a little last season. that said, I can't believe how a player with an obvious skill set and basically perfect body for a 3/4 can be THIS bad.
Last Night he looked absolutely and completely done and in his own head. Going 1-11 and even in a team with just 3rd stringers was the absolute worst guy on the floor. Just insane