KnixinSix wrote:stuporman wrote:Every summer some random summer league player makes Mitch expendable before they even play a real NBA regular season minute.
Then Mitch dominates as the Knicks win a playoff series(Cleveland), then another random summer league player makes Mitch expendable without playing a single real NBA regular season minute. Then Mitch is the reason they win a playoff series(Sixers), then another summer some random summer leaguer makes Mitch expendable. Then again Mitch arguably is the MVP of a playoff series win(Celtics), which brings us to again another summer where a random summer league player makes Mitch expendable not even playing a single regular season minute.
It's like effing groundhog's day on this forum...
In the Thibs era the Knicks have had 4 playoff series wins and 3 of them can be directly tied to Mitch's impact that without him the team probably doesn't win it. There's even an argument that the 4th win doesn't happen without him in a physical series that he's one of the few physical presences on the Knicks roster...which according to some every summer they think can be replaced by some random summer league player yet the past times that other guy still isn't in any team's regular rotation let alone helping them win a playoff series.
Sure, we believe it this time...
Mitch when you are looking strictly at his talent and fit for this roster in a vacuum he is absolutely NOT expendable. I was preaching patience all last year that when he returns that will be the time to see just how good this team can be. With Thibs still not maximizing this team BUT now having Mitch , we were able to beat the Pistons and Celts and put up a pretty good fight vs the Pacers (who just took the Thunder to 7 games). Mitch is a stud defensive big there is no question about that.
The issue becomes when making decisions on who to keep and trade for a GM/F.O. it can never simply be on talent alone.
The issue(s) we face with Mitch is:
1. He is on last year of contract
2. The sample size is most definitely significant enough to see that he rarely plays more than half a season (we have no choice but the put him in not just the high but the very high/extreme medical risk category)
3. Extending him puts us likely in the 2nd apron (depending on other moves).
4. He is not CAA which makes the negotiations slightly more difficult (just follow the patterns).
When weighing all the variables on Mikal.....
The positives:
1. He is an iron man
2. His mid range is very complementary to the rest of the team
3. His body of work shows that last year was likely more misutilization by the coach rather than some sudden diminishment of his talent
4. With #3 in mind his defense when better utilized is excellent sometimes elite.
The negatives:
1. Speaking out publicly against the coach/organization/etc. (in his case the coach) is a big 'no/no' for this front office. Players have been traded for less when they cross the line especially for a front office that is very tight lipped and tries very hard to keep things in house.
2. He is on the last year of his contract and extending him possibly puts us over 2nd apron.
3. He is not CAA
4. His value for another team could be higher than his value for us and/or what he gets back could be a better fitting piece for current roster construction
Now while one may not agree with every single nuance or extent of the positive or negatives above I believe any reasonable fan can recognize that some fairly close range of the above is not necessarily too far off.
While there are ENOUGH positives to keep Mikal depending on how the front office views the above things listed and where I can absolutely see a world of keeping him (with a small chance maybe OG gets traded , or we keep both) I struggle a bit more with Mitch because I think he is just too much risk to extend. I could also see a world of keeping him too depending on what we could get back but the injury risk is just too high and likely why we also wanted to trade him more than Donte last year.
Mitch is a cheap injury risk. He's a valuable player. He can start or come off the bench. Just find a backup who can split time with him and roll the dice. Maybe a vet who can step in if he's injured.
His time here may be limited though. This will depend on the next HC. KAT can play the 5 and that makes Mitch the backup. Having a one trick pony in Thibs was a problem all year for most, if not all of the roster.
Mitch extension won't be until next year. When we can go over the 2nd apron if they want. Keeping him as a backup or a starter will be the question there. How his health holds up will determine a lot of this.
You just keep pushing Mikal out the door.
How about you try looking at the obvious reasons he's not going anywhere instead of made up reasons to trade him? 1. He spoke out against the HC. The HC is gone.
2. They traded 5 FRPs for him.
3. All this negative talk about his performance this year is BS. Period. Thibs was a problem. See above.
We ARE going over the 2nd apron with this core. Probably not this season but, definitely next season. Where any extensions signed will kick in.
This doesn't make him untouchable if the right mystery star trade you are clamoring for pops loose. That could happen. Anywhere from now to the TDL or even AFTER we extend him. I wouldn't expect it this summer. Same goes for Mitch.
It does depend on the next HC but, it's safe to assume the FO built a core that they are looking for a HC to use properly. Thibs refused. JB/MB/OG/KAT is absolutely a championship level core. Fill in the blanks for the next HC and let's roll.
RIP mags
