Woj Kemba buying out of okc signing with NYC

[Appleshampoo]

Sure. Kemba wanted to come to the Knicks. Do you really think Leon work some magic to make this happen? It was the most natural fit of any free agency move this off season.

Look, I’m happy with this off season so far. I think we’ve improved the team without making any of the dumb moves of the past, see e.g. McDyess, Melo, Bargnani. That said, Leon and WWW were advertised as having all the connections to bring in The Big Kahunas. Clearly, they are not that … yet.

or maybe our team culture and system doesnt involve big kahunas.....system ball

Or maybe just maybe you’re both right and Leon is building “culture” as the necessary first step to “Make NY Cool Again” so he can pull off his signature CAA/WWW maneuver.

Exactly, you don't get to step two without step one. If Devin Booker is unhappy in two years and the Knicks have a few expiring contracts and draft picks to trade people will sulk because it's not Zion.

[thebuzzardman]

Hmmm so Kemba and Fournier had a net rating of +30.8 with Kemba saying they had instant chemistry. Nice.

I was wondering what the stats indicated about their playing time together.

As a starting 4, I'd probably give the edge to Tatum/Brown/Fournier/Kemba over Randle/RJ/Fournier/Kemba, but Knicks have 4 legit scorers, though obviously the Knicks lineup is also different than the C's.


Underrated part of Fournier/Kemba is that now the Knicks won't nearly all of it's top 7 in the rotation to have a good night, be perfect etc. Just didn't feel like the Knicks had much margin for error last year or had many blowouts.

Hopefully this team puts some teams down earlier and lets more of the bench stretch out and the starters rest. Will make a difference come the playoffs, no matter what seed they are.

[ITGM]

This team is stacked!

[cgmw]

or maybe our team culture and system doesnt involve big kahunas.....system ball

Or maybe just maybe you’re both right and Leon is building “culture” as the necessary first step to “Make NY Cool Again” so he can pull off his signature CAA/WWW maneuver.

Exactly, you don't get to step two without step one. If Devin Booker is unhappy in two years and the Knicks have a few expiring contracts and draft picks to trade people will sulk because it's not Zion.

Perry much. Seems so logical and basic.

I’m no super genius, but if I were offered the Knicks POBO last year I would have made it explicitly clear to Dolan that it’s going to take AT LEAST 3 years if not 5 before anything is good enough to make a serious move toward contention. I’m assuming Leon told him something similar and is working on a 5 year leash.

*Edit: Pretty much, not Perry much but I love the typo too much to change it

[Knick4Real]

Leon was head of CAA, he probably has every agent in the business on speed dial. Who is to say he didn’t work with Kemba’s agent to get him out of OKC, where Kemba obviously did not want to play? There was a lot that went on behind the scene before OKC decided to let Kemba go for free.

You buggin’?

Leon’s not allowed to have involvement in Kemba’s buyout. That would be tortious interference with an existing contractual relationship.

Yeah and NBA contracts aren’t discussed before the 6pm start time too

A lot goes on beyond the scene. The Knicks obviously were involved/aware of Kemba’s buyout because they had a deal in place the exact time he was bought out.

Also, deals don't always happen in a certain order.
Yet fans think that unless it all makes sense to THEM within the first 15 minutes of free agency, they'll be rioting in the streets.

[Luv those Knicks]

Terrific news, if this was announced first, then all the signings second, we would be giving the Knicks an A+ for the off season.

Leeeeggggooooooo!

Oz, I haven't seen you in like 12 years. How you been?

LTK! Same old same old, i'm here, post occasionally, read everyday.
Whats good?

I'll be honest. I lost interest in the Knicks for a while. They were too bad for too long, but they began to get my interest again last year with the strong finish and playoffs, even though they lost rather convincingly, it was nice to see them get there.

I haven't visited this board in a while, but the moves today inspired me to come back and do some reading.

[RHODEY]

It’s funny if this happened earlier Kemba probably would have gotten 10-12 million a year I mean look at the free agent class.

I guess that trading of the first round pick really was for a reason.

People complaining we didn’t gut the team for a star.

Y’all are funny how much luck have we had when we did that.


This is the most complete team we’ve had in 20 years and your mad?
Your mad we upgraded our weaknesses with out locking ourself for 5 years your made we signed contracts that are trade able. Your mad we kept our rookies.


You know who is going to benefit from learning from rose and Kemba rj and quickley I can’t wait to see there new moves. I’m sure randel will take obi under his wing as well and then taj with Noel and Mitch bro we got leadership and shooting handle defense craftiness my god we are stacked

You know you are right about that. Maybe even going back further to 96/97 when we had a loaded starting 5 AND depth behind it. It feels so good to look at our starting 5 and see 4 dudes capable of 20 ppgs any and every night and Mitch the defensive monster balancing that all out....

[Knickkilla]

Oz, I haven't seen you in like 12 years. How you been?

LTK! Same old same old, i'm here, post occasionally, read everyday.
Whats good?

I'll be honest. I lost interest in the Knicks for a while. They were too bad for too long, but they began to get my interest again last year with the strong finish and playoffs, even though they lost rather convincingly, it was nice to see them get there.

I haven't visited this board in a while, but the moves today inspired me to come back and do some reading.

Oh My God! Luv those Knicks! Your Back!

You were one of my Favorite posters in the early 2000s

I still remember a back and forth heated debate between you & Me regarding Vin Baker during the 03 season

You gotta stick around keep posting Brother, your BB & IQ knowledge is impeccable

[ibraheim718]

2 years 8 million?

[K_ick_God]

2 years 8 million?

Per year.

[ibraheim718]

2 years 8 million?

Per year.

Hard to turn down that if you're the front office. It's just.. they should load manage him. He's a player who hard cuts and hard stops so his knees were always going to be an issue with him but he's such a good guy that's hard to root against.

[ibraheim718]

And he can definitely get the ball out of Randle's hands late in games.

[cgmw]

2 years 8 million?

Per year.

Hard to turn down that if you're the front office. It's just.. they should load manage him. He's a player who hard cuts and hard stops so knee issues were always going to be an issue with him but he's such a good guy that's hard to root against.

If Kemba lacked talent his floor would have been Theo Pinson.

I am actually having problems sleeping rn because of how hype I am about this lowkey washed veteran signing. F*cking BX come home to join Taj Fort Green with D-Rose/Thibs honorary NYC asses. My god, how good does it feel to finally root for a Knick team that I actually like? Been at least 20 years.

[aggo]

And he can definitely get the ball out of Randle's hands late in games.

Lonzo Ball!

[robillionaire]

2 years 8 million?

Per year.

Hard to turn down that if you're the front office. It's just.. they should load manage him. He's a player who hard cuts and hard stops so his knees were always going to be an issue with him but he's such a good guy that's hard to root against.

I guess this will be a good test from thibs to see how he handles two older PGs that definitely need to be managed over the course of the season vs how he usually operates by having his starters lead the league in minutes played. I hope he gives RJ and Randle a little break this year too

[WargamesX]

You buggin’?

Leon’s not allowed to have involvement in Kemba’s buyout. That would be tortious interference with an existing contractual relationship.

Yeah and NBA contracts aren’t discussed before the 6pm start time too

A lot goes on beyond the scene. The Knicks obviously were involved/aware of Kemba’s buyout because they had a deal in place the exact time he was bought out.

Also, deals don't always happen in a certain order.
Yet fans think that unless it all makes sense to THEM within the first 15 minutes of free agency, they'll be rioting in the streets.

I got to be the contrarian and bring up that Nunn offer. The Knicks did work out this behind the scene but it feels like it was a Hail Mary that thankfully worked. I give them all the credit for this, but at the same time will admit they got lucky Kemba wanted to come home. Luck being opportunity meeting preparation they get credit for preparing the ground work. For a guy like Kemba this is an intriguing situation. He and Rose can play around each other, and the Knicks have a few guys who can carry the load between them as well. Selling his fit with the roster to Kemba is why they get paid the big bucks.

I would think it more likely the Knicks and Kemba’s agent worked it out than it was a known thing Kemba was going to leave. Stuff like that isn’t a secret long.

[egelband]

This reminds me of the Knicks getting Derek Harper back in the day. Not the same player but a nice stabilizing leader who’s a bit older but still good.

[2020]

or maybe our team culture and system doesnt involve big kahunas.....system ball

Or maybe just maybe you’re both right and Leon is building “culture” as the necessary first step to “Make NY Cool Again” so he can pull off his signature CAA/WWW maneuver.

Exactly, you don't get to step two without step one. If Devin Booker is unhappy in two years and the Knicks have a few expiring contracts and draft picks to trade people will sulk because it's not Zion.

Oh best believe we're getting Zion too.

I have a STRONG feeling that he wants to play with RJ in the Big Apple.

[2020]

Hmmm so Kemba and Fournier had a net rating of +30.8 with Kemba saying they had instant chemistry. Nice.

As a starting 4, I'd probably give the edge to Tatum/Brown/Fournier/Kemba over Randle/RJ/Fournier/Kemba, but Knicks have 4 legit scorers, though obviously the Knicks lineup is also different than the C's.

I think Kemba could be more dangerous with the Knicks because of how well he compliments the other pieces. Like in chess - you can do more damage with 2 rooks and 2 bishops as opposed to having only 4 bishops. There was alot of redundancy with the Celtics.

Underrated part of Fournier/Kemba is that now the Knicks won't nearly all of it's top 7 in the rotation to have a good night, be perfect etc. Just didn't feel like the Knicks had much margin for error last year or had many blowouts.

Hopefully this team puts some teams down earlier and lets more of the bench stretch out and the starters rest. Will make a difference come the playoffs, no matter what seed they are.

Yes, I love the fact that we added 2 20 ppg scorers essentialy in their primes in Kemba and Fournier. They also replace our 2 weakest players. I can't wait to see this team in action. I also can't wait to see our bench DEMOLISH other benches lol.

[nykinoz]

Oz, I haven't seen you in like 12 years. How you been?

LTK! Same old same old, i'm here, post occasionally, read everyday.
Whats good?

Well look at this love fest!

Yooooooooo!!