We need a post threat (best suited at the 5). How about Daniel Oturu?
Posted: Mon Nov 8, 2021 2:47 pm
I see the 5 spot as a position we need to upgrade badly. Just can't go out there and play 4 on 5 offensively with either Mitch or Noel for most of the game, if not the entire game every night.
Mitch - I think it was a mistake to add more weight, esp. coming back from a foot injury (think about that for a sec -- did that make any sense? Who the heck puts on more weight ON PURPOSE when coming back from a foot injury??? i don't even understand how the team didn't tell him not to do that, so some of this part might be on them). Look, Mitch is who he is man -- limited offensively, we all know that, but at least in the past, he was much more spry, bouncy and quicker on defense. I understand he's still working his way back 100% and that may have something to do with it... First off right away, I don't see how adding the extra weight has helped him. This guy needed to add a drop-step, an up-an-under post move, a little baby hook shot, I dunno something offensively, not more weight. Needed to work on his FTs too, to be honest -- what's up with those line drive missiles he shoots at the line??? Jesus man -- how does either Mitch or the team think that's gonna work moving forward? All off-season he's had to work on this (this wouldn't have had any stress impact on the foot too btw), yet it doesn't look like he's worked on that at all. Just so awkward-looking out there (even his body language after getting hit with a foul call, shaking his head, etc. -- just so goofy-looking and awkward)....I'm willing to give him another 10 games or so just to round back into top aerobic condition -- he may not be there--I get it, so he needs to get there first (and maybe in the process, drop 5-10 lbs). Let's see if that could help him.. Bottom line with this guy -- I'm just praying he can get back to what he was before the foot injury -- I'll settle for that, where he gets his full wind back, etc.. If by that time, though, all we're seeing is more of the same -- I don't see how the heck we even entertain giving him any kind of a contract extension at big bucks or semi-big bucks. Even what Noel just got -- how do we even pay him that?!?
Speaking of Noel -- glad he's back, but another awkward, incomplete player. He and Mitch providing nothing on the offensive end is a huge problem for this team. Noel is a good defensive player, so want to give him credit there. Not only a very good shot-blocker, he's got lightning quick hands on D too, always looking to poke a ball loose, he gets a lot of deflections, etc.. I think this part of his game gets overlooked a little and he gets credit from me here... But then on offense, like Mitch there's not much there.. As good as his hands are on D, they're just as bad on O. You throw this dude a pass, and he fumbles it almost every time. And even if he does catch it. provided it's not a direct lob pass, what's he doing with it??? I like NN, but sadly ike Mitch, just no offensive moves to speak of at all.
Just take a quick look at this vid starting at the 2:24 mark. Look when Rose gets the ball at 2:28 -- Mitch doesn't even try to post up, and Randle's all the way out high elbow (because that's his game -- Randle's a freelancer 4 man out there on O who wants the ball 20-25' from the basket and wants to create, either for himself or for others. Not even trying to knock him, that's his game. But the point is he's not even a real post up player either). What option does Rose even have there but to create something out of nothing.
So what's the solution?
Can't go out and make any crazy moves to take on a lot of salary -- can't do that unless we're adding a star or a guy we're sure will have a big impact...However, we can still add to the puzzle in conservative ways, as in ok, if this doesn't work out, we're no worse for the wear and we move on, no harm done to the cap.
Daniel Oturu comes to mind immediately. And go ahead - I know I'm gonna hear some **** on this again, but F it, bring it!
I think right now, we have to admit that not drafting Daniel Oturu when we had a chance was a mistake. I can't believe they looked at that pick as "Veron Carey or trade it." Dude averaged something like 20/11/2.5 blocks in college...Where is it that they saw a guy who absolutely couldn't have helped them in the middle?? I mean maybe if we had kept that pick, we could've saved the money we used to sign Noel, or could very well save the money it'll take to re-sign Mitch eventually. Plus, we would've had a legit 6'10"/ 240 lb. long post-up-all-the-way-out-to-3 offensive big man, who also would've rebounded and protected the rim. What more could any team in need of help in the middle have asked for there with that pick at 33 a couple of years ago??? Look this kid needs work too, I get it, but just look at his game compared to Jericho Sims' game (I get he got picked about 25 slots higher in the 2nd round than Sims in different drafts, but man, so much more promising a big man than Sims in all areas, it's not even close. This guy should be part of our mix now, heck even part of our rotation. Almost a full year younger than Jericho Sims too btw.. I think Leon and co. have done a very good job reshaping this roster and being mindful of the cap, but sorry, this one little move we didn't execute on continues to bother me...Ok so rant over.
I wouldn't mind seeing the Knicks try to make a move to get him back RIGHT NOW. Just looking at his Wiki page -- I think he might be a FA. He got waived by a few different teams since we traded him to the Clippers on draft night a couple of years ago -- I believe waived by the Clippers, Memphis, and the Bulls. I think he's playing for the Windy City Bulls (the Bulls' G-League team) but don't think he has any ties to the Bulls' parent club. I say waive Wayne Selden and go get Oturu right now, at the very least. I wouldn't even mind seeing the Knicks waive Sims and replace him with Oturu. He's younger and flat out better/more skilled.
Mitch - I think it was a mistake to add more weight, esp. coming back from a foot injury (think about that for a sec -- did that make any sense? Who the heck puts on more weight ON PURPOSE when coming back from a foot injury??? i don't even understand how the team didn't tell him not to do that, so some of this part might be on them). Look, Mitch is who he is man -- limited offensively, we all know that, but at least in the past, he was much more spry, bouncy and quicker on defense. I understand he's still working his way back 100% and that may have something to do with it... First off right away, I don't see how adding the extra weight has helped him. This guy needed to add a drop-step, an up-an-under post move, a little baby hook shot, I dunno something offensively, not more weight. Needed to work on his FTs too, to be honest -- what's up with those line drive missiles he shoots at the line??? Jesus man -- how does either Mitch or the team think that's gonna work moving forward? All off-season he's had to work on this (this wouldn't have had any stress impact on the foot too btw), yet it doesn't look like he's worked on that at all. Just so awkward-looking out there (even his body language after getting hit with a foul call, shaking his head, etc. -- just so goofy-looking and awkward)....I'm willing to give him another 10 games or so just to round back into top aerobic condition -- he may not be there--I get it, so he needs to get there first (and maybe in the process, drop 5-10 lbs). Let's see if that could help him.. Bottom line with this guy -- I'm just praying he can get back to what he was before the foot injury -- I'll settle for that, where he gets his full wind back, etc.. If by that time, though, all we're seeing is more of the same -- I don't see how the heck we even entertain giving him any kind of a contract extension at big bucks or semi-big bucks. Even what Noel just got -- how do we even pay him that?!?
Speaking of Noel -- glad he's back, but another awkward, incomplete player. He and Mitch providing nothing on the offensive end is a huge problem for this team. Noel is a good defensive player, so want to give him credit there. Not only a very good shot-blocker, he's got lightning quick hands on D too, always looking to poke a ball loose, he gets a lot of deflections, etc.. I think this part of his game gets overlooked a little and he gets credit from me here... But then on offense, like Mitch there's not much there.. As good as his hands are on D, they're just as bad on O. You throw this dude a pass, and he fumbles it almost every time. And even if he does catch it. provided it's not a direct lob pass, what's he doing with it??? I like NN, but sadly ike Mitch, just no offensive moves to speak of at all.
Just take a quick look at this vid starting at the 2:24 mark. Look when Rose gets the ball at 2:28 -- Mitch doesn't even try to post up, and Randle's all the way out high elbow (because that's his game -- Randle's a freelancer 4 man out there on O who wants the ball 20-25' from the basket and wants to create, either for himself or for others. Not even trying to knock him, that's his game. But the point is he's not even a real post up player either). What option does Rose even have there but to create something out of nothing.
So what's the solution?
Can't go out and make any crazy moves to take on a lot of salary -- can't do that unless we're adding a star or a guy we're sure will have a big impact...However, we can still add to the puzzle in conservative ways, as in ok, if this doesn't work out, we're no worse for the wear and we move on, no harm done to the cap.
Daniel Oturu comes to mind immediately. And go ahead - I know I'm gonna hear some **** on this again, but F it, bring it!
I think right now, we have to admit that not drafting Daniel Oturu when we had a chance was a mistake. I can't believe they looked at that pick as "Veron Carey or trade it." Dude averaged something like 20/11/2.5 blocks in college...Where is it that they saw a guy who absolutely couldn't have helped them in the middle?? I mean maybe if we had kept that pick, we could've saved the money we used to sign Noel, or could very well save the money it'll take to re-sign Mitch eventually. Plus, we would've had a legit 6'10"/ 240 lb. long post-up-all-the-way-out-to-3 offensive big man, who also would've rebounded and protected the rim. What more could any team in need of help in the middle have asked for there with that pick at 33 a couple of years ago??? Look this kid needs work too, I get it, but just look at his game compared to Jericho Sims' game (I get he got picked about 25 slots higher in the 2nd round than Sims in different drafts, but man, so much more promising a big man than Sims in all areas, it's not even close. This guy should be part of our mix now, heck even part of our rotation. Almost a full year younger than Jericho Sims too btw.. I think Leon and co. have done a very good job reshaping this roster and being mindful of the cap, but sorry, this one little move we didn't execute on continues to bother me...Ok so rant over.
I wouldn't mind seeing the Knicks try to make a move to get him back RIGHT NOW. Just looking at his Wiki page -- I think he might be a FA. He got waived by a few different teams since we traded him to the Clippers on draft night a couple of years ago -- I believe waived by the Clippers, Memphis, and the Bulls. I think he's playing for the Windy City Bulls (the Bulls' G-League team) but don't think he has any ties to the Bulls' parent club. I say waive Wayne Selden and go get Oturu right now, at the very least. I wouldn't even mind seeing the Knicks waive Sims and replace him with Oturu. He's younger and flat out better/more skilled.