P.J. Tucker

[Frank Lee]

If you can get OQuinn for Tucker, you do that. He is a solid do everything C and an excellent insurance policy if the Len Raffle gets out of hand. Being 26-27 is not detrimental, and he is inked up at less than 5 mill for the next two yrs I believe. You cant have an entire squad under 25. OQuinn will be a productive big in this league for the next 6-7 yrs.

[TeamTragic]

I'm super excited that the Knicks want Tucker. Get him moved before they change their mind.

[carey]

If you can get OQuinn for Tucker, you do that. He is a solid do everything C and an excellent insurance policy if the Len Raffle gets out of hand. Being 26-27 is not detrimental, and he is inked up at less than 5 mill for the next two yrs I believe. You cant have an entire squad under 25. OQuinn will be a productive big in this league for the next 6-7 yrs.

I was hoping for a bit more at the deadline. Someone that really thinks Tucker's defense is what they need to go on a run. I'm also not sure I wouldn't just want Big Sauce in that role. I like watching him rip rebounds down low. He's one of Cotton's "dirt workers."

[bwgood77]

If you can get OQuinn for Tucker, you do that. He is a solid do everything C and an excellent insurance policy if the Len Raffle gets out of hand. Being 26-27 is not detrimental, and he is inked up at less than 5 mill for the next two yrs I believe. You cant have an entire squad under 25. OQuinn will be a productive big in this league for the next 6-7 yrs.

I was hoping for a bit more at the deadline. Someone that really thinks Tucker's defense is what they need to go on a run. I'm also not sure I wouldn't just want Big Sauce in that role. I like watching him rip rebounds down low. He's one of Cotton's "dirt workers."

Even those young guys on rookie deals, Hernangomez or Mindgauskas would be fine for me. If we deal Chandler eventually, then that's still just 3 at C depth chart.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

If you can get OQuinn for Tucker, you do that. He is a solid do everything C and an excellent insurance policy if the Len Raffle gets out of hand. Being 26-27 is not detrimental, and he is inked up at less than 5 mill for the next two yrs I believe. You cant have an entire squad under 25. OQuinn will be a productive big in this league for the next 6-7 yrs.

I was hoping for a bit more at the deadline. Someone that really thinks Tucker's defense is what they need to go on a run. I'm also not sure I wouldn't just want Big Sauce in that role. I like watching him rip rebounds down low. He's one of Cotton's "dirt workers."

Even those young guys on rookie deals, Hernangomez or Mindgauskas would be fine for me. If we deal Chandler eventually, then that's still just 3 at C depth chart.

I'm perfectly fine with O'Quinn. Give me a useful big I can glue to the bench with three years left on a low-dollar contract, and move Chandler. Yes please.

[bwgood77]

I was hoping for a bit more at the deadline. Someone that really thinks Tucker's defense is what they need to go on a run. I'm also not sure I wouldn't just want Big Sauce in that role. I like watching him rip rebounds down low. He's one of Cotton's "dirt workers."

Even those young guys on rookie deals, Hernangomez or Mindgauskas would be fine for me. If we deal Chandler eventually, then that's still just 3 at C depth chart.

I'm perfectly fine with O'Quinn. Give me a useful big I can glue to the bench with three years left on a low-dollar contract, and move Chandler. Yes please.

Any of those guys works, and the guys on rookie contracts make even less and can shoot the 3. Per 36, they have somewhat similar #s, though Mindaugas isn't a rebounder, but more of a SF who can hit the 3. If we want another backup rebounder big, the other two make more sense.

Here are their b-ref comparisons. http://bkref.com/tiny/ytT7n

Also, http://nypost.com/2017/01/03/jeff-hornaceks-latest-spin-on-knicks-defensive-deficiencies/

I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily that they [can’t] play defense. We have to find the right way to have them play defense,” Hornacek said. “If we’re asking a certain guy to pick up at half court, we have to know, is he capable of doing that? We might have three guys on the team or four guys that can do that and the rest of them might not be able to. So we’ve got to put them in those positions that they’re capable of doing. We’ve got to figure out how as a team, what we’re going to do that lends to everybody’s capabilities.”

“It’s different levels of effort,” Hornacek said. “These guys really are trying but defense is tough. It’s an all-out running into guys, hustling not stopping, it’s a lot harder than offense. So the effort they are giving I think is good, but we got to get it to be great.”

“There’s a lot of things that happen out there on the court. You can cover most of it. Other times it’s, ‘Hey, you’ve just got to play. You’ve got to help each other out. You’ve got to talk.’

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

I understand why Horny wants Tucker. When I sat behind the Suns bench at their game in Milwaukee last year, PJ was fire in the huddle. Dude is pumped and motivated, and he pushes others to match his effort level. I get it. I also think that fire is a big reason why each of our last three coaches has been unable to keep him off the court. And off the court is precisely where we need him at this point.

[bwgood77]

Tucker should be on the Rockets, Grizzlies or even Spurs.... They need someone like him.

Read on Twitter

According to Ian Begley who covers the New York Knicks for ESPN, the Knicks’ front office has targeted the Phoenix Suns’ P.J. Tucker with the hopes of improving their defensive mindset, a part of the team’s game that Head Coach Jeff Hornacek feels is severely lacking right now....

Problem is I feel PJ is worth a first to a contender. I get that the Knicks won't want to trade a super high pick for him, but a protected first may work.

I like O'Quinn but not at age 26 for this team. Hernangomez would be okay I guess, but I feel like we'll draft a young center this year anyways.

I don't know about a first for an expiring. That seems like quite an overpay.

[jcsunsfan]

Read on Twitter

Problem is I feel PJ is worth a first to a contender. I get that the Knicks won't want to trade a super high pick for him, but a protected first may work.

I like O'Quinn but not at age 26 for this team. Hernangomez would be okay I guess, but I feel like we'll draft a young center this year anyways.

I don't know about a first for an expiring. That seems like quite an overpay.

Happens all the time, especially if there is a relationship that leads to resigning (like with Horny). Remember what the Heat gave up for Goran, who was not going to stay anyway.

[bwgood77]

Happens all the time, especially if there is a relationship that leads to resigning (like with Horny). Remember what the Heat gave up for Goran, who was not going to stay anyway.

Two different caliber of players and a different era with the cap so high. Draft picks are too valuable. Knicks need to keep their draft picks. PJ isn't worth a first in this draft unless it was like Cleveland maybe who doesn't own their's I don't think.

Also, if it's the Knicks....

The question in any Knicks trade, of course, is what the club is giving up. The Knicks have several attractive young players, such as Willy Hernangomez, Kyle O’Quinn and Mindaugas Kuzminskas. They also have draft picks, but Jackson and the Knicks' front office informed teams last season that they weren’t going to part with future first-round picks.

http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-knicks/post/_/id/65923/hornacek-wants-sustained-effort-on-d-p-j-tucker-a-trade-target

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

Happens all the time, especially if there is a relationship that leads to resigning (like with Horny). Remember what the Heat gave up for Goran, who was not going to stay anyway.

Two different caliber of players and a different era with the cap so high. Draft picks are too valuable. Knicks need to keep their draft picks. PJ isn't worth a first in this draft unless it was like Cleveland maybe who doesn't own their's I don't think.

Also, if it's the Knicks....

The question in any Knicks trade, of course, is what the club is giving up. The Knicks have several attractive young players, such as Willy Hernangomez, Kyle O’Quinn and Mindaugas Kuzminskas. They also have draft picks, but Jackson and the Knicks' front office informed teams last season that they weren’t going to part with future first-round picks.

http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-knicks/post/_/id/65923/hornacek-wants-sustained-effort-on-d-p-j-tucker-a-trade-target

Is this simply because the team can sign the RFA for so much more than other teams? I know that salaries for draft picks are about to get a big boost. I imagine there will be some teams eyeing FA that won't want THAT much money tied up in rookie contracts.

IDK. It'll be interesting to see (1) how picks are valued at the deadline, and (2) how picks are valued on draft day. The simple strategy as an NBA GM to maximize peak performance in good years and to maximize "trough" performance in bad years still holds, which is to say, teams with good records will still prefer good players now to maybe good players one day, and teams with bad records will still prefer maybe great players one day to good players today.

[bwgood77]

Happens all the time, especially if there is a relationship that leads to resigning (like with Horny). Remember what the Heat gave up for Goran, who was not going to stay anyway.

Two different caliber of players and a different era with the cap so high. Draft picks are too valuable. Knicks need to keep their draft picks. PJ isn't worth a first in this draft unless it was like Cleveland maybe who doesn't own their's I don't think.

Also, if it's the Knicks....

The question in any Knicks trade, of course, is what the club is giving up. The Knicks have several attractive young players, such as Willy Hernangomez, Kyle O’Quinn and Mindaugas Kuzminskas. They also have draft picks, but Jackson and the Knicks' front office informed teams last season that they weren’t going to part with future first-round picks.

http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-knicks/post/_/id/65923/hornacek-wants-sustained-effort-on-d-p-j-tucker-a-trade-target

Is this simply because the team can sign the RFA for so much more than other teams? I know that salaries for draft picks are about to get a big boost. I imagine there will be some teams eyeing FA that won't want THAT much money tied up in rookie contracts.

IDK. It'll be interesting to see (1) how picks are valued at the deadline, and (2) how picks are valued on draft day. The simple strategy as an NBA GM to maximize peak performance in good years and to maximize "trough" performance in bad years still holds, which is to say, teams with good records will still prefer good players now to maybe good players one day, and teams with bad records will still prefer maybe great players one day to good players today.

No it's because rookies make significantly less than these vastly inflated salaries and you control them for 8 or 9 years. All I've read is that teams now value rookie contracts more than ever. Even if/when they get a boost, it will likely still be a fraction of the boost of UFAs..maybe not a lower % but obviously far lower in total dollars of increase..probably at most a similar % (but likely not even that much).

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

Two different caliber of players and a different era with the cap so high. Draft picks are too valuable. Knicks need to keep their draft picks. PJ isn't worth a first in this draft unless it was like Cleveland maybe who doesn't own their's I don't think.

Also, if it's the Knicks....



http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-knicks/post/_/id/65923/hornacek-wants-sustained-effort-on-d-p-j-tucker-a-trade-target

Is this simply because the team can sign the RFA for so much more than other teams? I know that salaries for draft picks are about to get a big boost. I imagine there will be some teams eyeing FA that won't want THAT much money tied up in rookie contracts.

IDK. It'll be interesting to see (1) how picks are valued at the deadline, and (2) how picks are valued on draft day. The simple strategy as an NBA GM to maximize peak performance in good years and to maximize "trough" performance in bad years still holds, which is to say, teams with good records will still prefer good players now to maybe good players one day, and teams with bad records will still prefer maybe great players one day to good players today.

No it's because rookies make significantly less than these vastly inflated salaries and you control them for 8 or 9 years. All I've read is that teams now value rookie contracts more than ever. Even if/when they get a boost, it will likely still be a fraction of the boost of UFAs..maybe not a lower % but obviously far lower in total dollars of increase..probably at most a similar % (but likely not even that much).

You controlled them 8 or 9 years before the CBA... from what I've read, it's the middle class of the NBA that's taking the salary hit. I would think that means that a lot of rookies may actually end up overpaid relative to their production. I remain agnostic on this point.

[dremill24]

Give me O'Quinn and call it a day.

[bwgood77]

Is this simply because the team can sign the RFA for so much more than other teams? I know that salaries for draft picks are about to get a big boost. I imagine there will be some teams eyeing FA that won't want THAT much money tied up in rookie contracts.

IDK. It'll be interesting to see (1) how picks are valued at the deadline, and (2) how picks are valued on draft day. The simple strategy as an NBA GM to maximize peak performance in good years and to maximize "trough" performance in bad years still holds, which is to say, teams with good records will still prefer good players now to maybe good players one day, and teams with bad records will still prefer maybe great players one day to good players today.

No it's because rookies make significantly less than these vastly inflated salaries and you control them for 8 or 9 years. All I've read is that teams now value rookie contracts more than ever. Even if/when they get a boost, it will likely still be a fraction of the boost of UFAs..maybe not a lower % but obviously far lower in total dollars of increase..probably at most a similar % (but likely not even that much).

You controlled them 8 or 9 years before the CBA... from what I've read, it's the middle class of the NBA that's taking the salary hit. I would think that means that a lot of rookies may actually end up overpaid relative to their production. I remain agnostic on this point.

Middle class will take a salary hit because of the overpaid guys who make a difference. Rookies will still only go up a %, but still make far less than most, especially the ones not drafted high, and the high picks are really unlikely to be traded because they will likely be difference makers.

[Bogyo]

If you can get OQuinn for Tucker, you do that. He is a solid do everything C and an excellent insurance policy if the Len Raffle gets out of hand. Being 26-27 is not detrimental, and he is inked up at less than 5 mill for the next two yrs I believe. You cant have an entire squad under 25. OQuinn will be a productive big in this league for the next 6-7 yrs.

This. Or if the Len Raffle works out like a charm, Kyle can be the sub here as well, and we flip Tyson to a contender for a pick. His stats are really good for his minutes/experience/salary. Perfect "bangin' down low" type of player to pair with a finess/shooter/passer strechy PF - which could be either Chriss or Dragan.

I'd do this trade everyday and twice on sundays. Mine and bid on!

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

No it's because rookies make significantly less than these vastly inflated salaries and you control them for 8 or 9 years. All I've read is that teams now value rookie contracts more than ever. Even if/when they get a boost, it will likely still be a fraction of the boost of UFAs..maybe not a lower % but obviously far lower in total dollars of increase..probably at most a similar % (but likely not even that much).

You controlled them 8 or 9 years before the CBA... from what I've read, it's the middle class of the NBA that's taking the salary hit. I would think that means that a lot of rookies may actually end up overpaid relative to their production. I remain agnostic on this point.

Middle class will take a salary hit because of the overpaid guys who make a difference. Rookies will still only go up a %, but still make far less than most, especially the ones not drafted high, and the high picks are really unlikely to be traded because they will likely be difference makers.

I admit I haven't taken a good look in the #s. I'll defer to your judgment at this juncture.

[DaleyBlind]

Only trade I can see are -
Tucker for O'Quinn
Tucker for Hernangomez/Kuz????
Tucker for Lance Thomas/2nd

[Saberestar]

An NBA source said the Knicks aren’t planning to pursue Suns defensive forward P.J. Tucker despite his ties with Hornacek.

Tucker shut down Carmelo Anthony in last month’s meeting between the teams and Hornacek regarded him as one of his favorite players in Phoenix. Tucker said upon Hornacek’s return to Phoenix last month, “It was really tough watching an amazing coach get fired".

http://nypost.com/2017/01/04/medical-experts-take-on-kristaps-porzingis-injury/

[muskie56]

Is the difference in BK's performance this year from last have anything to do w/coaching?Hornacek vs Watson?