thebuzzardman wrote:nykballa2k4 wrote:thebuzzardman wrote:Rare trade that was good for both teams.
Knicks need a Kanter type per Clyde_Style
Knicks got a good bench piece/borderline starter in McBuckets
Knicks got a high 2nd rounder and they'll need assets because they are still 2 or 3 rotation players away
Knicks got value for an aging but still productive player.
Here's why OKC didn't get fleeced
Melo is still decent
Presti gets a single large expiring contract in a year or two instead of having two players in that salary slot.
Ok, I think we came out ahead, but Presti gambles a little on it working out but doesn't exceed the timeframe of Kanter/McDermott contracts, which he was holding anyway, and I guess ultimately he wasn't wild about having long term.
I would like to add what I think was the biggest gain for OKC. The deal helped encourage Westbrook to re-sign. Sure we can debate the merits of that, but in the end that is pretty big for them..
As fans, we likely would have preferred no Hardaway signing and just wanted Douggie and Enes to simply go away so we can tank. The two guys, it turns out, can play which kinda hurts us long term. Hardaway has outperformed my expectations (he shows up in more than just points), but again he ties up 17% of our cap. A "Max" player gets 30%. With Noah already on the books, Kantar being a possible re-sign, Lee being present, Douggie being an extension candidate, our ability to get better is basically on ice.
Possibly - about getting better.
This is a scenario where the pressure is on the GM and the GM better be good, experienced and some luck will help. I see the Knicks as being 2 pieces away from being a team that just makes the playoffs. Probably a creative SF and an energy stretch 4 for the bench. Anyway, without going into too much depth about that, it seems to me that one piece comes in the draft and the tricky part is how to free up space for the other. Most likely scenario is drafting a good SF (not sure Knicks get a guy good enough drafting at what feels like will be 15th in the draft) and energy backup PF I think can get gotten with CLee and/or KOQ's. Not a given though. Perry's going to have to earn his money. And even if the two moves above happen, he still has to work on cap space so a big name FA could think of signing when the Knicks are decent.
Once Phil signed Noah, we were put behind an 8-ball. The caveat was that "well we have good cheap depth with O'Quinn and WHG, so Noah's salary plus the 3 cheap salaries in KP, WHG, KOQ keep us at budget." Then Phil signed Lee, a bit below market value, but again putting some stress on our wallet. The bright side "well Lee has always been in trades, remains a commodity, good guy in the locker room." A year later, now Perry goes out and gets Hardy and Kantar... Phil paid a C and SG in 2016, so Perry says "hold my beer" and gets a younger pair. The short term prognosis is, as expected, better. Long term... we will have to wait and see.
You are saying that ideally PF depth and a playmaking 3 are our needs. Let's use our roster to make a "championship level team" in 2-3 years.
C: Kantar? WHG Noah(salary)
PF: KP, Lance(or your stretch 4 de jour)
SF: Hardaway, McDerm
SG: Lee, vacant
PG: Frank,
Chasson Randle!So to tie in, I think our biggest need, obviously, is in the back court. Hardaway at the 2 or 3 doesn't really matter. It would be great to have Greek at SF, but since that's not happening, we gotta consider who will be able to provide penetration, defense, and shooting ability. In 2020, we will certainly need more in the back court. If Frank is our Rondo with shooting ability, we are going to need a combo guard (a good one).
Klay Thompson will be a FA in 2 years. Warriors may choose to resign him or he may be too expensive. They have 60M invested in Curry and KD. Are they legally able to have 120M invested in their fearsome foursome? Green seems like just the swiss army knife you want, but he will be 30 when he is a FA and will likely be expecting to be paid as if his best years are ahead of him.
So if we find this years Kawhii Leonard, we are golden. If we don't then we are going to have a tough time getting any higher than a meaningless 3 seed who watches the Celtics Bucks rivalry unfold.