Things I learned from Summer League Interviews

KnickSon75 · Post #81 » by **KnickSon75** » Thu Jul 7, 2016 1:48 pm

What gets me is when certain players don't get burn or are let go/traded so many people get up in arms over it. Talking about we didn't give him a chance, that coulda been the next (insert name of superstar player). Whats so hard to understand that we don't have all the facts, if player X is having personal issues, battling demons, not very bright and not getting it or just doesn't have the talent then it is what it is, free up that roster spot and move on.

People gotta temper there expectations especially for the rooks. Phil/Horny and the staff getting paid a whole lotta money to know allot more then we will ever know about these guys and we gotta trust if they shipping dudes out or not giving them burn there's a reason behind it.

tapshotta · Post #82 » by **tapshotta** » Thu Jul 7, 2016 2:10 pm

NY2TheBay wrote:
AllanH20 wrote:
NY2TheBay wrote:Thanks, good insight and appreciate you sharing it. Specifically the Jerian Grant info was interesting to me.

That was obvious all along but a lot of people on this board didn't pick up on it because they badly want another young player to go along with Porzingis. I mean..Phil went out of his way to basically call him sh*t at the end of the season

Also, he's nearly 24, can't shoot, and isn't the smartest guy on the court.

Here is what I found interesting;

I won't name the person who said it but they said, "That was Phil's pick. Dude loves big PGs and reached. And we realized by the end of Summer League last year."

In bold for you.

He sat behind calderon one of the worst starting PG's in recent memory, I wasnt touting this guy as the future by the end of the season. People on the staff knew at the end of the summer league, which wasn't "obvious all along". That's what was interesting. You and whoever else that want to act like they knew by the end of summer league last year can send me the next lotto numbers.

pfft. I'm not splitting this powerball with nobody fam.

tapshotta · Post #83 » by **tapshotta** » Thu Jul 7, 2016 2:13 pm

my first post was that KP couldve been scoring 30 in SL and was ready day 1 me thinks...peep the name and join date.

I bit my tongue cause I love my fellow knick fans and alot of you believed in Grant.

KnickSon75 · Post #84 » by **KnickSon75** » Thu Jul 7, 2016 2:17 pm

Smitty731 wrote:13. And finally, don't be surprised to see Ron Baker get a camp invite and to make the team as an undrafted rookie. He's been pretty good in Orlando and repeatedly I was told "he just plays the right way all the time. All the time. It doesn't translate here (Summer League) because this is bullsh*t basketball. But this guy can play. He'll be in the league."

BAKER DA GOD!

throwbackewing33 · Post #85 » by **throwbackewing33** » Thu Jul 7, 2016 2:57 pm

Great post! Thank you for taking the time to share it!

Its great to hear how much this organization has KP's back and they are giving him all the support for this kid to maximize his potential. From bringing in Willie and Kuzminskas to give him a couple Euro guys that will absolutely have his back, to the battle tested vets like Noah who will teach him the way to win in this league. This is how a franchise player should be brought up. Im truly excited to see how much KP can improve his game over his rookie year!

It was surprising to hear about Grant, but at the end of the day our backcourt is light years better now. Rose, Lee, and Jennings compliment eachother very well. We still need a solid back up SG, hopefully Holiday can step into that role. But I think our backcourt is also going to get KP and Melo some really easy baskets with their penetrating ability.

Hopefully they are also right about Ron Baker, we need Galloway's replacement!

I think they will sign some solid vet minimums to help round out our bench. We need some spot up shooters and some big bodies to rebound. I think Kyle O'Quinn will bounce back this year. He wont be relied on for much but we need him to be a reliable back up at the 4. I think he will be mentally ready for this year. Im happy to hear hes in decent shape! He is definitely an Xfactor for this team along with Jennings. If Jennings can bounce back and be a reliable offensive threat off the bench, we will be a scary team to deal with. Im very excited for my Knickerbockers!!!

Post #86 » by **Jeff Van Gully** » Thu Jul 7, 2016 3:00 pm

Smitty731 wrote:
Jeff Van Gully wrote:
Smitty731 wrote:Hey all!

So, again, not really anything earth shattering maybe, but some stuff I heard that I wanted to share.

Prepare to become an "unnamed source close to the team" based off of this post.

Good looking out.

Ha! I wish, but doubtful. I won't have the access to the team on any sort of regular basis. And I certainly don't have a relationship where I could just call or text a guy. Maybe some day, but not today.

i feel you.

i meant... one of the tabloid hacks would read this forum post and attribute your observations as coming from "a source..."

Riot Randolph · Post #87 » by **Riot Randolph** » Thu Jul 7, 2016 3:10 pm

Smitty731 wrote:Hey all!

Not sure how much you follow along the other boards, but I've been at Orlando Summer League all week. I had the chance to talk to a lot of people with the Knicks over the week and today got about 5 minutes with Phil Jackson and Steve Mills. Previously I talked to Jeff Hornacek and Kristaps Porzingis as well. Here are some of the notes I got from various people associated with the team. Not all of them are from the previously referenced guys.

you hear anything about what pissed them off to Wroten..

Post #88 » by **Smitty731** » Thu Jul 7, 2016 3:15 pm

knicks85 wrote:
Smitty731 wrote:Hey all!

Not sure how much you follow along the other boards, but I've been at Orlando Summer League all week. I had the chance to talk to a lot of people with the Knicks over the week and today got about 5 minutes with Phil Jackson and Steve Mills. Previously I talked to Jeff Hornacek and Kristaps Porzingis as well. Here are some of the notes I got from various people associated with the team. Not all of them are from the previously referenced guys.

you hear anything about what pissed them off to Wroten..

Seems like they felt like he wouldn't be healthy and they wanted to move on from it. They also wanted to do a solid by him and not drag it out and give him a chance at FA. Of course he was claimed, but that isn't on the Knicks.

Zooropa · Post #89 » by **Zooropa** » Thu Jul 7, 2016 6:19 pm

Missed this thread until it popped up on Reddit of all places. Fascinating stuff. Super curious who in the organization knew Grant was trash this time last year... that sounds like someone covering their ass to me.

All of the KP stuff was reassuring to someone like me who has been worried that the recent moves have been out of a "win-now" mindset. Thrilled to know that he's unequivocally (correctly) seen as the future.

Thanks so much for doing this

coolclyde · Post #90 » by **coolclyde** » Thu Jul 7, 2016 8:42 pm

great post, from RealGM to Reddit to Orange & Blue Global FB forum, glad i saw it.

here's what excites me most:

"Expect to see Rose and Jennings play together some. Hornacek ...really excited to draw up sets that feature multiple dribble drives and Porzinigis diving to the rim"

been thinking about that the second i heard Jennings 2 Knicks.

"They feel like they will be very hard to score on inside with Noah and Porzingis. And they intend to play Thomas a lot to further extend the defense."

oh yes, the defensity!

"They weren't so sad to see Jerian Grant go. I won't name the person who said it but they said, "That was Phil's pick. Dude loves big PGs and reached. And we realized by the end of Summer League last year."

say whatttttt?

"The team is really excited for Hernangomez and Kuzminskas. They feel like both are athletic and tough and will pair well up front with Porzingis."

oh, the international front is strong!

"Courtney Lee was the SG they wanted all along. They said the Eric Gordon rumors were "bullsh*t. We already took a shot on one injured guy and Melo isn't always healthy either. Why would we add a walking injury to the mix?"

hurray for bullsh*t.

"don't be surprised to see Ron Baker get a camp invite and to make the team as an undrafted rookie. He's been pretty good in Orlando and repeatedly I was told "he just plays the right way all the time. All the time. It doesn't translate here (Summer League) because this is bullsh*t basketball. But this guy can play. He'll be in the league."

not surprised, BUT WHAT ABOUT #CHASSONTHEDREAM?

sol537 · Post #91 » by **sol537** » Thu Jul 7, 2016 8:46 pm

Early candidate for the post of the 2016/17 season and we haven't even started yet. Well done, sir.

Post #92 » by **Capn'O** » Thu Jul 7, 2016 8:54 pm

9. They weren't so sad to see Jerian Grant go. I won't name the person who said it but they said, "That was Phil's pick. Dude loves big PGs and reached. And we realized by the end of Summer League last year."

11. Courtney Lee was the SG they wanted all along. They said the Eric Gordon rumors were "bullsh*t. We already took a shot on one injured guy and Melo isn't always healthy either. Why would we add a walking injury to the mix?"

well damn.

By the end of Summer League for Grant? Dude never had a shot.

Post #93 » by **Capn'O** » Thu Jul 7, 2016 8:54 pm

duetta wrote:Good stuff. I'm glad that they saw the same things in Lopez's play that I did.

RoLo was awesome :cry:

CoolKids · Post #94 » by **CoolKids** » Thu Jul 7, 2016 8:58 pm

as far as gran I am not surprised to hear they gave up on him by end of summer league because they never really gave him a chance this season. I still think he turns into a good backup fringe starter soon enough. Terrible fit with chicago though as he is basically a poor mans rondo, another pg who cant shoot

MaseInYourFace · Post #95 » by **MaseInYourFace** » Thu Jul 7, 2016 8:58 pm

I'm pretty sure someone else would have picked grant right around where he was picked so can't really call it a reach. I highly doubt he would have slipped to second.

Chuck Everett · Post #96 » by **Chuck Everett** » Thu Jul 7, 2016 8:59 pm

The butcher, the BAKER, the candle-stick maker. Glad to see Ron has a legit shot to make the team. He's going to play in the NBA for years because as everyone said in college, he just knows how to play.

Post #97 » by **Capn'O** » Thu Jul 7, 2016 9:00 pm

BKlutch wrote: I wish we could learn what they think about LA taking Calderon.

I do too, but probably not much since CHI had to give up assets to do it. That was something we were apparently unwilling to do.

Post #98 » by **Smitty731** » Thu Jul 7, 2016 9:02 pm

Dollar wrote:
Smitty731 wrote:13. And finally, don't be surprised to see Ron Baker get a camp invite and to make the team as an undrafted rookie. He's been pretty good in Orlando and repeatedly I was told "he just plays the right way all the time. All the time. It doesn't translate here (Summer League) because this is bullsh*t basketball. But this guy can play. He'll be in the league."

Bonus: They openly admit they may have the worst Summer League team ever and that most of their guys have no shot at the NBA.

So, again, not really anything earth shattering maybe, but some stuff I heard that I wanted to share.

Smitty, Great post! Thanks for sharing info we would never get from the beat writers. I agree w/Baker, you could see he had basketball "smarts" even during the first 2 games where he struggled. Plumlee supposedly has a full guarantee, did they say anything about him going forward? Seems like he needs D-League seasoning & is already 24. And,lastly,did they make any comments on Randle? He seems to be someone who would be a good fit w/the second team,given his quickness & shooting ability. Thanks again for sharing this info!

No one from the Knicks is here today because they aren't playing. Well a scout or two, but they are busy most of the time.

I asked about Plumlee yesterday and they said they like the depth he can bring, but that he needs a lot of weight room work and probably some D-League experience.

That went off in to a little tangent (I think to get out of answering any more questions) about how important is to have the D-League team in Westchester.

On Randle, not much. Just that they like how hard he competes and his speed.

coolclyde · Post #99 » by **coolclyde** » Thu Jul 7, 2016 9:25 pm

On Randle, not much. Just that they like how hard he competes and his speed.

oh yeah?!?!? AND his speed? woop woooop!

CoolKids · Post #100 » by **CoolKids** » Thu Jul 7, 2016 9:26 pm

Smitty731 wrote:
Dollar wrote:
Smitty731 wrote:13. And finally, don't be surprised to see Ron Baker get a camp invite and to make the team as an undrafted rookie. He's been pretty good in Orlando and repeatedly I was told "he just plays the right way all the time. All the time. It doesn't translate here (Summer League) because this is bullsh*t basketball. But this guy can play. He'll be in the league."

Bonus: They openly admit they may have the worst Summer League team ever and that most of their guys have no shot at the NBA.

So, again, not really anything earth shattering maybe, but some stuff I heard that I wanted to share.

Smitty, Great post! Thanks for sharing info we would never get from the beat writers. I agree w/Baker, you could see he had basketball "smarts" even during the first 2 games where he struggled. Plumlee supposedly has a full guarantee, did they say anything about him going forward? Seems like he needs D-League seasoning & is already 24. And,lastly,did they make any comments on Randle? He seems to be someone who would be a good fit w/the second team,given his quickness & shooting ability. Thanks again for sharing this info!

No one from the Knicks is here today because they aren't playing. Well a scout or two, but they are busy most of the time.

I asked about Plumlee yesterday and they said they like the depth he can bring, but that he needs a lot of weight room work and probably some D-League experience.

That went off in to a little tangent (I think to get out of answering any more questions) about how important is to have the D-League team in Westchester.

On Randle, not much. Just that they like how hard he competes and his speed.

really plumlee seems pretty well built. It would probably be more helpful to get him in the medieval torture chamber to stretch those t-rex arms out