2020-2021 College/Draft Thread Part 3

[WargamesX]

I dont think we will draft a pure PG (at least with our 2 FRP).

We have cap space to get a proper vet replacement for Payton, to be a starter in a win-now team under Thibs.

Moreover, I think the plan is to keep Luca for next season as a third-string PG who can eventually split PG duties in the second unit.

Obviously, this strategy won't stop us to take a flyer in a good PG that drops to the second round to be a 2-way player.

I don’t think we’re going to spend too much on a PG. If we balance our books we can keep the majority of team on cap friendly deals, add youth, and go after Zach Lavine/Bradley Beal in 2022. Either of Zach or Beal were on this team and we’re breezing through this round and probably Philly as well. We just need a high level scorer to be legit contenders.

Looking at comps I see a lot of logic in grabbing Ziare to train into a 3&D, Ayo as a balanced Combo guard who can create, and Bassely as a rim protecting Big. As insurance in case Bullock, Burks, or Noel are offered too much by other teams. Of any of those guys stay on cap friendly deal, you add the rooks to the bench and let them develop.

I don't think it's a nice strategy to save money now to expect to get a player like Lavine or Beal in 2022.

We cant count on Beal or Lavine signing with us in 2022. They keep telling everyone they will re-sign with their current teams. Besides, they can be traded before hit the FA window (sign and trade also an option).

We need a PG now. I think we cant miss the opportunity to get a nice PG. And I think it would not be too difficult to move him or others players in a sign and trade deal if Lavine/Beal become available.

We have Derrick Rose and Luca and thankfully a lot of PG prospects later in the first round. If the Knicks can add a Lavine or Beal they are on par with the best teams in the league and are contenders. Grabbing a overpaid 4th piece in Lonzo is the cap mistake a lot of teams make. The winners use their cap on players whose value is above what they are being paid.

Most Mocks have 4-6 PG who are 1st round worthy on the board at 19-21

[finestrg]

I'm just glad the draft is before free agency. I look at this draft as two things for us, potentially -- replace and upgrade.

Not sure who they have in mind at this point or who we'll wind up narrowing it down to, but I see a bunch of players that we could replace a lot of guys with, and they might wind up being upgrades to boot.

I think Charles Bassey would be an upgrade over Noel If we got him. I wouldn't worry about bringing Noel back if we could get this kid. For next year, we'd be better in the middle with Mitch/Bassey than Mitch/Noel or Noel/Gibson.

I think Johnny Juzang > Reggie Bullock. Same type of stroke, but Juzang can create his own shot much better. I really like this dude -- he reminds me a a slightly smaller version of Chris Copeland, and if you remember back around 2012-2013, Cope could play! Thing I read about Juzang, he threw his name out for the draft but is reserving the right to go back to school. Sounds to me like he's looking for a guarantee from someone in the first round, probably at least in the top 20, and if not I'm sure he mifght be like forget it, he'll go back to school. Now if you were Leon, would you guarantee this guy the pick at 19? I might man, that's how much I like him. What a magnificent tournament run he had.

I think Chris Duarte could be an Alec Burks replacement, if Burks wants too much to return. Like this kid a lot too -- I think I like Juzang a hair better but I'd love to draft both. If we drafted both, we could definitely at least let Bullock go, maybe even Burks too, although Burks and Rose are the two guys I'd really like to see back among all of our FAs.

Ayo Dosunmu was my PG in our range but now with Vildoza + Quickley and hopefully Rose back, wondering if we just focus on two wings that can shoot and play and then quality center depth with Bassey. Or like I was saying the other day, do we dangle Knox, cash and that late pick in the 50s (58?) to see if we can get another pick in the 20-30 range and get greedy and go get Dosunmu too? Yeah, maybe...

[Celo]

Watching this makes me think he'd fit right in with the Knicks fam.... c'mon on in and play next season with your idol Rose...

Knicks can get their young version of Burks right here.

Watch on YouTube

If the idea was to draft someone who could play PG next to Quickley long term. I think Ayo is the best pick. Most of his issues is BBIQ and he could get stronger on drives but physically he is a big PG/SG. Both would defend well and yes he seems like a work-a-holic playing 35 minutes per game.

To me, his biggest issue is his ballhandling. Just look back at his tournament game against Loyola. Man he struggled mightily bringing the ball up court. And it's not like Loyola had any NBA level defenders. That's a reason why I'm not a big fan of Ayo. All his value comes on the ball, but he's neither a good ballhandler, nor is he a particularly good playmaker. I'm also not trusting his shot from deep as much as I do with other prospects in his range. Especially his C&S numbers don't look too impressive.

If we're going combo G, I'd much rather go with Mann or even Bones, tho they both are worse defenders than Ayo. Still rooting to get my guy Springer tho

[Fat]

Watch on YouTube

Bouknight is probably the only guy I’d trade up for (if he’s in striking distance)

[Richard4444]

I'm just glad the draft is before free agency. I look at this draft as two things for us, potentially -- replace and upgrade.

Not sure who they have in mind at this point or who we'll wind up narrowing it down to, but I see a bunch of players that we could replace a lot of guys with, and they might wind up being upgrades to boot.

I think Charles Bassey would be an upgrade over Noel If we got him. I wouldn't worry about bringing Noel back if we could get this kid. For next year, we'd be better in the middle with Mitch/Bassey than Mitch/Noel or Noel/Gibson.

I think Johnny Juzang > Reggie Bullock. Same type of stroke, but Juzang can create his own shot much better. I really like this dude -- he reminds me a a slightly smaller version of Chris Copeland, and if you remember back around 2012-2013, Cope could play! Thing I read about Juzang, he threw his name out for the draft but is reserving the right to go back to school. Sounds to me like he's looking for a guarantee from someone in the first round, probably at least in the top 20, and if not I'm sure he mifght be like forget it, he'll go back to school. Now if you were Leon, would you guarantee this guy the pick at 19? I might man, that's how much I like him. What a magnificent tournament run he had.

I think Chris Duarte could be an Alec Burks replacement, if Burks wants too much to return. Like this kid a lot too -- I think I like Juzang a hair better but I'd love to draft both. If we drafted both, we could definitely at least let Bullock go, maybe even Burks too, although Burks and Rose are the two guys I'd really like to see back among all of our FAs.

Ayo Dosunmu was my PG in our range but now with Vildoza + Quickley and hopefully Rose back, wondering if we just focus on two wings that can shoot and play and then quality center depth with Bassey. Or like I was saying the other day, do we dangle Knox, cash and that late pick in the 50s (58?) to see if we can get another pick in the 20-30 range and get greedy and go get Dosunmu too? Yeah, maybe...

We won't draft late FRPs to be key rotation players replacement in a win-now team. Its too optimistic.

Despite I am kind of optimistic about the quality of the players we can draft, it's hard to get NBA-ready players with late FRPs like IQ.

Playoff contender teams draft FRPs players to be end of bench players than can eventually get some rotation minutes.

[WargamesX]

I'm just glad the draft is before free agency. I look at this draft as two things for us, potentially -- replace and upgrade.

Not sure who they have in mind at this point or who we'll wind up narrowing it down to, but I see a bunch of players that we could replace a lot of guys with, and they might wind up being upgrades to boot.

I think Charles Bassey would be an upgrade over Noel If we got him. I wouldn't worry about bringing Noel back if we could get this kid. For next year, we'd be better in the middle with Mitch/Bassey than Mitch/Noel or Noel/Gibson.

I think Johnny Juzang > Reggie Bullock. Same type of stroke, but Juzang can create his own shot much better. I really like this dude -- he reminds me a a slightly smaller version of Chris Copeland, and if you remember back around 2012-2013, Cope could play! Thing I read about Juzang, he threw his name out for the draft but is reserving the right to go back to school. Sounds to me like he's looking for a guarantee from someone in the first round, probably at least in the top 20, and if not I'm sure he mifght be like forget it, he'll go back to school. Now if you were Leon, would you guarantee this guy the pick at 19? I might man, that's how much I like him. What a magnificent tournament run he had.

I think Chris Duarte could be an Alec Burks replacement, if Burks wants too much to return. Like this kid a lot too -- I think I like Juzang a hair better but I'd love to draft both. If we drafted both, we could definitely at least let Bullock go, maybe even Burks too, although Burks and Rose are the two guys I'd really like to see back among all of our FAs.

Ayo Dosunmu was my PG in our range but now with Vildoza + Quickley and hopefully Rose back, wondering if we just focus on two wings that can shoot and play and then quality center depth with Bassey. Or like I was saying the other day, do we dangle Knox, cash and that late pick in the 50s (58?) to see if we can get another pick in the 20-30 range and get greedy and go get Dosunmu too? Yeah, maybe...

We won't draft late FRPs to be key rotation players replacement in a win-now team. Its too optimistic.

Despite I am kind of optimistic about the quality of the players we can draft, it's hard to get NBA-ready players with late FRPs like IQ.

Playoff contender teams draft FRPs players to be end of bench players than can eventually get some rotation minutes.

Sigh

[cgf]

the only draft prospect I know that is officially signed w/ CAA is Jalen Green, but while reading an article on ESPN, I think the following players will be CAA clients too:

Davion Mitchell
Keon Johnson
Cam Thomas
Day'Ron Sharpe
Isaiah Jackson

all of them are working out together w/ Don MacLean who is connected w/ CAA

Shame NBA folks caught on with him. Would've been insane to have Rose tutoring Keon.

[Richard4444]

I don’t think we’re going to spend too much on a PG. If we balance our books we can keep the majority of team on cap friendly deals, add youth, and go after Zach Lavine/Bradley Beal in 2022. Either of Zach or Beal were on this team and we’re breezing through this round and probably Philly as well. We just need a high level scorer to be legit contenders.

Looking at comps I see a lot of logic in grabbing Ziare to train into a 3&D, Ayo as a balanced Combo guard who can create, and Bassely as a rim protecting Big. As insurance in case Bullock, Burks, or Noel are offered too much by other teams. Of any of those guys stay on cap friendly deal, you add the rooks to the bench and let them develop.

I don't think it's a nice strategy to save money now to expect to get a player like Lavine or Beal in 2022.

We cant count on Beal or Lavine signing with us in 2022. They keep telling everyone they will re-sign with their current teams. Besides, they can be traded before hit the FA window (sign and trade also an option).

We need a PG now. I think we cant miss the opportunity to get a nice PG. And I think it would not be too difficult to move him or others players in a sign and trade deal if Lavine/Beal become available.

We have Derrick Rose and Luca and thankfully a lot of PG prospects later in the first round. If the Knicks can add a Lavine or Beal they are on par with the best teams in the league and are contenders. Grabbing a overpaid 4th piece in Lonzo is the cap mistake a lot of teams make. The winners use their cap on players whose value is above what they are being paid.

Most Mocks have 4-6 PG who are 1st round worthy on the board at 19-21

Locking a good player like Lonzo in a good contract can be a nice asset. He has a lot of potentials and he still 23 years old. Teams always ask for a potential young player in trades. Besides, we may need some average-sized contracts to match the salary in a trade for a star.

[RHODEY]

I'm just glad the draft is before free agency. I look at this draft as two things for us, potentially -- replace and upgrade.

Not sure who they have in mind at this point or who we'll wind up narrowing it down to, but I see a bunch of players that we could replace a lot of guys with, and they might wind up being upgrades to boot.

I think Charles Bassey would be an upgrade over Noel If we got him. I wouldn't worry about bringing Noel back if we could get this kid. For next year, we'd be better in the middle with Mitch/Bassey than Mitch/Noel or Noel/Gibson.

I think Johnny Juzang > Reggie Bullock. Same type of stroke, but Juzang can create his own shot much better. I really like this dude -- he reminds me a a slightly smaller version of Chris Copeland, and if you remember back around 2012-2013, Cope could play! Thing I read about Juzang, he threw his name out for the draft but is reserving the right to go back to school. Sounds to me like he's looking for a guarantee from someone in the first round, probably at least in the top 20, and if not I'm sure he mifght be like forget it, he'll go back to school. Now if you were Leon, would you guarantee this guy the pick at 19? I might man, that's how much I like him. What a magnificent tournament run he had.

I think Chris Duarte could be an Alec Burks replacement, if Burks wants too much to return. Like this kid a lot too -- I think I like Juzang a hair better but I'd love to draft both. If we drafted both, we could definitely at least let Bullock go, maybe even Burks too, although Burks and Rose are the two guys I'd really like to see back among all of our FAs.

Ayo Dosunmu was my PG in our range but now with Vildoza + Quickley and hopefully Rose back, wondering if we just focus on two wings that can shoot and play and then quality center depth with Bassey. Or like I was saying the other day, do we dangle Knox, cash and that late pick in the 50s (58?) to see if we can get another pick in the 20-30 range and get greedy and go get Dosunmu too? Yeah, maybe...

Thanks for this post...I know next to nothing about some of the players you mentioned, but they seem intriguing. I'll need to do some research. First up will be Bassey.

[RHODEY]

I don't think it's a nice strategy to save money now to expect to get a player like Lavine or Beal in 2022.

We cant count on Beal or Lavine signing with us in 2022. They keep telling everyone they will re-sign with their current teams. Besides, they can be traded before hit the FA window (sign and trade also an option).

We need a PG now. I think we cant miss the opportunity to get a nice PG. And I think it would not be too difficult to move him or others players in a sign and trade deal if Lavine/Beal become available.

We have Derrick Rose and Luca and thankfully a lot of PG prospects later in the first round. If the Knicks can add a Lavine or Beal they are on par with the best teams in the league and are contenders. Grabbing a overpaid 4th piece in Lonzo is the cap mistake a lot of teams make. The winners use their cap on players whose value is above what they are being paid.

Most Mocks have 4-6 PG who are 1st round worthy on the board at 19-21

Locking a good player like Lonzo in a good contract can be a nice asset. He has a lot of potentials and he still 23 years old. Teams always ask for a potential young player in trades. Besides, we may need some average-sized contracts to match the salary in a trade for a star.

Lonzo ...still on the fence. ,, But I like him...but would would he be a difference maker in our current series with the Hawks?

[cgf]

I don't think it's a nice strategy to save money now to expect to get a player like Lavine or Beal in 2022.

We cant count on Beal or Lavine signing with us in 2022. They keep telling everyone they will re-sign with their current teams. Besides, they can be traded before hit the FA window (sign and trade also an option).

We need a PG now. I think we cant miss the opportunity to get a nice PG. And I think it would not be too difficult to move him or others players in a sign and trade deal if Lavine/Beal become available.

We have Derrick Rose and Luca and thankfully a lot of PG prospects later in the first round. If the Knicks can add a Lavine or Beal they are on par with the best teams in the league and are contenders. Grabbing a overpaid 4th piece in Lonzo is the cap mistake a lot of teams make. The winners use their cap on players whose value is above what they are being paid.

Most Mocks have 4-6 PG who are 1st round worthy on the board at 19-21

Locking a good player like Lonzo in a good contract can be a nice asset. He has a lot of potentials and he still 23 years old. Teams always ask for a potential young player in trades. Besides, we may need some average-sized contracts to match the salary in a trade for a star.

Additionally signing Lonzo wouldn't prevent us from making a run at Lavine if our FO is mindful with the rest of their spending, and he should be a great fit as a glue guy next to Randle-Barrett-Lavine*; if we did manage to land that third star.

*or someone we have to trade for.

[cgf]

We have Derrick Rose and Luca and thankfully a lot of PG prospects later in the first round. If the Knicks can add a Lavine or Beal they are on par with the best teams in the league and are contenders. Grabbing a overpaid 4th piece in Lonzo is the cap mistake a lot of teams make. The winners use their cap on players whose value is above what they are being paid.

Most Mocks have 4-6 PG who are 1st round worthy on the board at 19-21

Locking a good player like Lonzo in a good contract can be a nice asset. He has a lot of potentials and he still 23 years old. Teams always ask for a potential young player in trades. Besides, we may need some average-sized contracts to match the salary in a trade for a star.

Lonzo ...still on the fence. ,, But I like him...but would would he be a difference maker in our current series with the Hawks?

I wanna say that nobody but a bigger star than Julius would be the difference in this series...but we only lost game 1 by 2 points and I have a hard time arguing that Lonzo over Elf wouldn't have swung at least 3 points our way which would have us up 2-1 right now

Either way, for me Lonzo is just Step-1 of a two-step process. Part 1, get someone who actually provides the size & defense that Thibs wanted from Elf, without impeding the offense...Lonzo & Brogdon being the two fits for that who come to mind for me first. Part 2, use our remaining cap space to acquire another star before we have to re-sign Julius & Mitch...that could mean signing Lavine next summer or pairing our cap space with our futures to trade for someone.

With Lonzo, a third star, a healthy Mitch, year-4-RJ, a Randle who has hopefully figured out how to play his game in the playoffs, and year-3 IQ/Obi; we could make real noise...and depending on how many of our trade pieces we still have, we could have some nice ammo to build up the supporting cast / make further tweaks.

[RandlesCornrows]

I think, come combine, Bouknight will shoot up the board. Winds up 6-10. If we have a chance to move up you do it 10/10. I’d give up both 19&21 for Bouknight.

[TBri1974]

I don't think it's a nice strategy to save money now to expect to get a player like Lavine or Beal in 2022.

We cant count on Beal or Lavine signing with us in 2022. They keep telling everyone they will re-sign with their current teams. Besides, they can be traded before hit the FA window (sign and trade also an option).

We need a PG now. I think we cant miss the opportunity to get a nice PG. And I think it would not be too difficult to move him or others players in a sign and trade deal if Lavine/Beal become available.

We have Derrick Rose and Luca and thankfully a lot of PG prospects later in the first round. If the Knicks can add a Lavine or Beal they are on par with the best teams in the league and are contenders. Grabbing a overpaid 4th piece in Lonzo is the cap mistake a lot of teams make. The winners use their cap on players whose value is above what they are being paid.

Most Mocks have 4-6 PG who are 1st round worthy on the board at 19-21

Locking a good player like Lonzo in a good contract can be a nice asset. He has a lot of potentials and he still 23 years old. Teams always ask for a potential young player in trades. Besides, we may need some average-sized contracts to match the salary in a trade for a star.

It won't be such a reasonable contract (if it was, the Pels would match and keep him). Now, if we do sign him, either he is worth the money, or not, but the higher th paycheck, the harder to reach that threshold. Teams generally sign players for more than what makes them good value. Just ask Deangelo Russel and Tim Hardaway Both decent players who were viewed as untradeable.

[Richard4444]

We have Derrick Rose and Luca and thankfully a lot of PG prospects later in the first round. If the Knicks can add a Lavine or Beal they are on par with the best teams in the league and are contenders. Grabbing a overpaid 4th piece in Lonzo is the cap mistake a lot of teams make. The winners use their cap on players whose value is above what they are being paid.

Most Mocks have 4-6 PG who are 1st round worthy on the board at 19-21

Locking a good player like Lonzo in a good contract can be a nice asset. He has a lot of potentials and he still 23 years old. Teams always ask for a potential young player in trades. Besides, we may need some average-sized contracts to match the salary in a trade for a star.

It won't be such a reasonable contract (if it was, the Pels would match and keep him). Now, if we do sign him, either he is worth the money, or not, but the higher th paycheck, the harder to reach that threshold. Teams generally sign players for more than what makes them good value. Just ask Deangelo Russel and Tim Hardaway Both decent players who were viewed as untradeable.

Locking young players can be very good. There are a great number of contracts that were viewed as bad deals. But after some time, they got plenty of value. Ex: Sabonis, Myles Turner, Lavine, Oladipo, Vuc, LeVert, Brogdon, Grant, TJ Warren, Aaron Gordon, Bogdan, Bojan, Brown, Rozier, Capela, Fournier, Harris, Schorder, JV, Oubre, DMurray. Even Buddy and Barnes are movable and might be positive.

[ENYK]

This draft is so good I would sign and trade Randle/our picks for filler and a top 5 pick... After this playoffs would there be any takers?

[thebuzzardman]

I'm just glad the draft is before free agency. I look at this draft as two things for us, potentially -- replace and upgrade.

Not sure who they have in mind at this point or who we'll wind up narrowing it down to, but I see a bunch of players that we could replace a lot of guys with, and they might wind up being upgrades to boot.

I think Charles Bassey would be an upgrade over Noel If we got him. I wouldn't worry about bringing Noel back if we could get this kid. For next year, we'd be better in the middle with Mitch/Bassey than Mitch/Noel or Noel/Gibson.

I think Johnny Juzang > Reggie Bullock. Same type of stroke, but Juzang can create his own shot much better. I really like this dude -- he reminds me a a slightly smaller version of Chris Copeland, and if you remember back around 2012-2013, Cope could play! Thing I read about Juzang, he threw his name out for the draft but is reserving the right to go back to school. Sounds to me like he's looking for a guarantee from someone in the first round, probably at least in the top 20, and if not I'm sure he mifght be like forget it, he'll go back to school. Now if you were Leon, would you guarantee this guy the pick at 19? I might man, that's how much I like him. What a magnificent tournament run he had.

I think Chris Duarte could be an Alec Burks replacement, if Burks wants too much to return. Like this kid a lot too -- I think I like Juzang a hair better but I'd love to draft both. If we drafted both, we could definitely at least let Bullock go, maybe even Burks too, although Burks and Rose are the two guys I'd really like to see back among all of our FAs.

Ayo Dosunmu was my PG in our range but now with Vildoza + Quickley and hopefully Rose back, wondering if we just focus on two wings that can shoot and play and then quality center depth with Bassey. Or like I was saying the other day, do we dangle Knox, cash and that late pick in the 50s (58?) to see if we can get another pick in the 20-30 range and get greedy and go get Dosunmu too? Yeah, maybe...

We won't draft late FRPs to be key rotation players replacement in a win-now team. Its too optimistic.

Despite I am kind of optimistic about the quality of the players we can draft, it's hard to get NBA-ready players with late FRPs like IQ.

Playoff contender teams draft FRPs players to be end of bench players than can eventually get some rotation minutes.

At the least, the Knicks should be looking to draft two guys to replace Knox and Frank, since Frank is leaving and Knox is essentially useless.

Payton, I'll assume will be replaced in FA.

[Ray Williams]

We have Derrick Rose and Luca and thankfully a lot of PG prospects later in the first round. If the Knicks can add a Lavine or Beal they are on par with the best teams in the league and are contenders. Grabbing a overpaid 4th piece in Lonzo is the cap mistake a lot of teams make. The winners use their cap on players whose value is above what they are being paid.

Most Mocks have 4-6 PG who are 1st round worthy on the board at 19-21

Locking a good player like Lonzo in a good contract can be a nice asset. He has a lot of potentials and he still 23 years old. Teams always ask for a potential young player in trades. Besides, we may need some average-sized contracts to match the salary in a trade for a star.

Lonzo ...still on the fence. ,, But I like him...but would would he be a difference maker in our current series with the Hawks?

His defense alone would help, and we’d get more points in transition, unlock Obi.

[RHODEY]

Locking a good player like Lonzo in a good contract can be a nice asset. He has a lot of potentials and he still 23 years old. Teams always ask for a potential young player in trades. Besides, we may need some average-sized contracts to match the salary in a trade for a star.

Lonzo ...still on the fence. ,, But I like him...but would would he be a difference maker in our current series with the Hawks?

His defense alone would help, and we’d get more points in transition, unlock Obi.

Right regular season I havent doubt about that. Playoffs in a more half court setting? Maybe he'd help us here too (or not) but how much do you have to offer for the Pels not to match? Maybe 23-25 million per? Would you do that?

[cgf]

Lonzo ...still on the fence. ,, But I like him...but would would he be a difference maker in our current series with the Hawks?

His defense alone would help, and we’d get more points in transition, unlock Obi.

Right regular season I havent doubt about that. Playoffs in a more half court setting? Maybe he'd help us here too (or not) but how much do you have to offer for the Pels not to match? Maybe 23-25 million per? Would you do that?

20m per might be enough from the sound of things.