Shams: KAT to the Knicks

[YogurtProducer]

Thank god we have BB though, he might fetch us a single SRP. Who needs cap space when you can have a 23m asset that can't even get you what a few mil in cap space can.

Bring on the next wave of excuses.

I mean anytime you can 3 guys that combined for 1.6 ppg last season, 7.2 million to pay their salaries, a 2025 SRP worse between Nuggets and Sixers, 2026 Warriors SRP and 2031 Knicks SRP, how can you say no right?

Oh, and you get to trade the rights to your 2023 #31 pick who you traded up to get with your 34th and 39th pick too, well done Charlotte.

Wait, are you trying to say that context matters?
Nono, not around here you don't!

And, if we did not have Bruce Brown, we STILL would not have had the cap space nor roster spots to facilitate this.

Classic offenders creating outrage that does not exist.

In these idiots heads, context = "excuses". Much easier to just spit verbal diarrhea than it is to make a logical post.

warned, personal attack / baiting

[Scase]

Neat little tidbit here

Read on Twitter

Doing this apparently limits some financial advantages for signing min salary players, but the loophole is that you can trade those contracts, and then still retain the benefits. The receiving team loses those benefits, but if they don't care (and get compensation, hello picks) then it allows the apron team to still manage trades.

The advantage they lose :

The NBA reimburses clubs that sign veterans with three or more years of experience to one-year minimum salary contracts to prevent teams from always choosing younger and cheaper players over veterans

The Knicks were able to do this, because they held the rights for all those players, and just converted them to actual salaried contracts. These dudes are making 1-2mil just by being actual fodder.

Pretty clever actually.

[Knicksman780]

People are forgetting how bad KAT got in foul trouble during the playoffs.

Plus with no Gobert to clean up his messes its not going to look good in New York. Plus that fanbase is ruthless.

The Knicks will hate him. Especially if he can't be relied upon in crunch time.

The only question is "Is he better than Randle?" Defensively, yes. As a shooter, yes.
Will NY like him more than Randle? Probably. Many Knicks fans respected Randle's toughness, but soured on him once he told them to STFU. Some Knicks "fans" even went as far as harrassing his wife on Twitter/X.

KAT isn't coming to NY to be a savior or a #1 option. It's still Brunson's team.

[Knicksman780]

A lot of this hinges on Brunson being a legit #1 option and I'm not convinced yet he's that guy in the playoffs. He scored a lot, but his efficiency wasn't great at all and because of how the Knicks have been built, he will still be relied on heavily to carry the offense as they don't have many guys who can create their own efficient shot when the offense breaks down.

Brunson, Donte, Hart, OG, Hartenstein was the team that they entered the playoffs with. Brunson, McBride, Donte, Hart, Hartenstein. That was the team that they finished the playoffs with. I don't see any real shot creators yet Brunson put up historical points while being double-teamed constantly by taller defenders.

Brunson, Mikal, Hart, OG, KAT is much better balanced offensively and defensively and has 3 potential 20ppg scorers. I like our chances.

[Risk101]

People are forgetting how bad KAT got in foul trouble during the playoffs.

Plus with no Gobert to clean up his messes its not going to look good in New York. Plus that fanbase is ruthless.

The Knicks will hate him. Especially if he can't be relied upon in crunch time.

The only question is "Is he better than Randle?" Defensively, yes. As a shooter, yes.
Will NY like him more than Randle? Probably. Many Knicks fans respected Randle's toughness, but soured on him once he told them to STFU. Some Knicks "fans" even went as far as harrassing his wife on Twitter/X.

KAT isn't coming to NY to be a savior or a #1 option. It's still Brunson's team.

You should have added is he better than Randle and Donte together. And he isn't. The production New York got from Donte was HUGE last season. I think I heard on a podcast that he made the 14th most 3 pointer in a single season which is pretty crazy. And not to mention he's as tough as they come. Losing both the production of Randle and Donte will effect the Knicks alot more than you think.

[Scase]

People are forgetting how bad KAT got in foul trouble during the playoffs.

Plus with no Gobert to clean up his messes its not going to look good in New York. Plus that fanbase is ruthless.

The Knicks will hate him. Especially if he can't be relied upon in crunch time.

The only question is "Is he better than Randle?" Defensively, yes. As a shooter, yes.
Will NY like him more than Randle? Probably. Many Knicks fans respected Randle's toughness, but soured on him once he told them to STFU. Some Knicks "fans" even went as far as harrassing his wife on Twitter/X.

KAT isn't coming to NY to be a savior or a #1 option. It's still Brunson's team.

You should have added is he better than Randle and Donte together. And he isn't. The production New York got from Donte was HUGE last season. I think I heard on a podcast that he made the 14th most 3 pointer in a single season which is pretty crazy. And not to mention he's as tough as they come. Losing both the production of Randle and Donte will effect the Knicks alot more than you think.

There is definitely some truth to this, but you have to remember, that the current depth chart of the Knicks would mean he's not going to be jacking up 9 3PA anymore, and would be relegated to a bench role. I'll take a 7ft centre shooting 40% from 3, over a guard any day of the week.

And arguably, you don't even have to say KAT > Randle, because Randle wasn't in a single game since Jan 27th. He missed half the season and had zero impact on their playoff run. So really the question is, KAT > DDV? That's a resounding yes. No hate on Randle, he's fine, but with or without him, they still have the same success, so he's not really a factor.

[JShuttlesworth]

I think that an underrated part of the Knicks team is Mikal Bridges. He’s been a third/fourth option on a finals team, he’s not a great first option but he’s shown that he can create his own shot and put up an easy 20 ppg in his sleep.

He’s also another all defensive wing playing for a defence first coach. It means that him and OG can take turns on the best offensive wing causing hell.

I actually like the idea of Mitchel Robinson coming off the bench when healthy, but could start @ C for certain matchups. Knicks bench still needs work but they have a rock solid 8 man playoff rotation.

He's also extremely durable, and people don't talk about it enough. I honestly don't think he has ever missed a regular season game and he's 6 seasons deep at this point

Durability is going to be crucial for the Knicks

[WaltFrazier]

The only question is "Is he better than Randle?" Defensively, yes. As a shooter, yes.
Will NY like him more than Randle? Probably. Many Knicks fans respected Randle's toughness, but soured on him once he told them to STFU. Some Knicks "fans" even went as far as harrassing his wife on Twitter/X.

KAT isn't coming to NY to be a savior or a #1 option. It's still Brunson's team.

You should have added is he better than Randle and Donte together. And he isn't. The production New York got from Donte was HUGE last season. I think I heard on a podcast that he made the 14th most 3 pointer in a single season which is pretty crazy. And not to mention he's as tough as they come. Losing both the production of Randle and Donte will effect the Knicks alot more than you think.

There is definitely some truth to this, but you have to remember, that the current depth chart of the Knicks would mean he's not going to be jacking up 9 3PA anymore, and would be relegated to a bench role. I'll take a 7ft centre shooting 40% from 3, over a guard any day of the week.

And arguably, you don't even have to say KAT > Randle, because Randle wasn't in a single game since Jan 27th. He missed half the season and had zero impact on their playoff run. So really the question is, KAT > DDV? That's a resounding yes. No hate on Randle, he's fine, but with or without him, they still have the same success, so he's not really a factor.

Yeah Donte was moving to 6th man because of Bridges anyway, Mikal being an overall upgrade. Will Donte even start for Minny? Not putting him down he did have a fine season last year

[Scase]

You should have added is he better than Randle and Donte together. And he isn't. The production New York got from Donte was HUGE last season. I think I heard on a podcast that he made the 14th most 3 pointer in a single season which is pretty crazy. And not to mention he's as tough as they come. Losing both the production of Randle and Donte will effect the Knicks alot more than you think.

There is definitely some truth to this, but you have to remember, that the current depth chart of the Knicks would mean he's not going to be jacking up 9 3PA anymore, and would be relegated to a bench role. I'll take a 7ft centre shooting 40% from 3, over a guard any day of the week.

And arguably, you don't even have to say KAT > Randle, because Randle wasn't in a single game since Jan 27th. He missed half the season and had zero impact on their playoff run. So really the question is, KAT > DDV? That's a resounding yes. No hate on Randle, he's fine, but with or without him, they still have the same success, so he's not really a factor.

Yeah Donte was moving to 6th man because of Bridges anyway, Mikal being an overall upgrade. Will Donte even start for Minny? Not putting him down he did have a fine season last year

When I look at MIN depth chart, I don't see any way he starts. Not a snowballs chance in hell he starts over Conley or Ant, and he's too small to play the 3, not to mention McDaniels is a better player. So barring any injuries (just like with the Knicks), he's a bench player who will see his minutes and FGA drop compared to last year.

[refshateRaps]

Will be interesting to see if Minny or NY is the better team next season?

[DreamTeam09]

There is definitely some truth to this, but you have to remember, that the current depth chart of the Knicks would mean he's not going to be jacking up 9 3PA anymore, and would be relegated to a bench role. I'll take a 7ft centre shooting 40% from 3, over a guard any day of the week.

And arguably, you don't even have to say KAT > Randle, because Randle wasn't in a single game since Jan 27th. He missed half the season and had zero impact on their playoff run. So really the question is, KAT > DDV? That's a resounding yes. No hate on Randle, he's fine, but with or without him, they still have the same success, so he's not really a factor.

Yeah Donte was moving to 6th man because of Bridges anyway, Mikal being an overall upgrade. Will Donte even start for Minny? Not putting him down he did have a fine season last year

When I look at MIN depth chart, I don't see any way he starts. Not a snowballs chance in hell he starts over Conley or Ant, and he's too small to play the 3, not to mention McDaniels is a better player. So barring any injuries (just like with the Knicks), he's a bench player who will see his minutes and FGA drop compared to last year.

He's not going to start but he'll absolutely will be finishing games. They're going to play through Ant as the lead ball handler in the clutch & Donte is bigger than Conley to close out the game.
With Mikal Hart og Brunson, Donte wasn't going to be a closer

[Scase]

Yeah Donte was moving to 6th man because of Bridges anyway, Mikal being an overall upgrade. Will Donte even start for Minny? Not putting him down he did have a fine season last year

When I look at MIN depth chart, I don't see any way he starts. Not a snowballs chance in hell he starts over Conley or Ant, and he's too small to play the 3, not to mention McDaniels is a better player. So barring any injuries (just like with the Knicks), he's a bench player who will see his minutes and FGA drop compared to last year.

He's not going to start but he'll absolutely will be finishing games. They're going to play through Ant as the lead ball handler in the clutch & Donte is bigger than Conley to close out the game.
With Mikal Hart og Brunson, Donte wasn't going to be a closer

Yeah you might be right, not sure how much I'd be willing to rely on his defence at the end of the game though. I feel like I'd be more confident with Conley. I'm interested in seeing how both teams work in the new guys.

[Pointgod]

The only question is "Is he better than Randle?" Defensively, yes. As a shooter, yes.
Will NY like him more than Randle? Probably. Many Knicks fans respected Randle's toughness, but soured on him once he told them to STFU. Some Knicks "fans" even went as far as harrassing his wife on Twitter/X.

KAT isn't coming to NY to be a savior or a #1 option. It's still Brunson's team.

You should have added is he better than Randle and Donte together. And he isn't. The production New York got from Donte was HUGE last season. I think I heard on a podcast that he made the 14th most 3 pointer in a single season which is pretty crazy. And not to mention he's as tough as they come. Losing both the production of Randle and Donte will effect the Knicks alot more than you think.

There is definitely some truth to this, but you have to remember, that the current depth chart of the Knicks would mean he's not going to be jacking up 9 3PA anymore, and would be relegated to a bench role. I'll take a 7ft centre shooting 40% from 3, over a guard any day of the week.

And arguably, you don't even have to say KAT > Randle, because Randle wasn't in a single game since Jan 27th. He missed half the season and had zero impact on their playoff run. So really the question is, KAT > DDV? That's a resounding yes. No hate on Randle, he's fine, but with or without him, they still have the same success, so he's not really a factor.

The Knicks looked at the playoffs and saw they were a second round team without Randle and Mitchell Robinson. They essentially replaced Divencenzo, Hartenstein, Alec Burkes and Bogdanovic who did nothing in the playoffs with KAT and Mikal Bridges (he’s the key that makes this all work). The Knicks also were facing a Brandon Ingram situation with Julius Randle where they don’t want to pay him big money on an extension and the teams trading for him don’t want to either. I always say it’s better to make a trade than lose an asset or force yourself into an extension you don’t want to do.

Thibs is guaranteed to play his 5 starters 35 minutes a game anyways, the Knicks just need to find guys that can give you 10-15 minutes to give these guys a rest. Deuce, Precious, Sims, Shamet and Payne is a start and when Mitch Robinson he can add to the depth.

[Los_29]

Looking back it’s hard to tell if there was a winner in this trade. Both teams made it to the CF. However, wonder if the Knicks would’ve been better off rolling the dice with Robinson at the 5 with Randle at the 4 and DDV off the bench.

This was a good thread though because some were adamant that KAT was levels above Pascal. I thought KAT was better but now I think it’s clear who is better. And it’s not KAT.

Pascal just torched the Knicks shooting over 50% from the field and 50% from three while playing great defense. KAT got destroyed defensively. Pacers hunted him throughout the series and it was abundantly clear why the Wolves got rid of him.

[Shakril]

Looking back it’s hard to tell if there was a winner in this trade. Both teams made it to the CF. However, wonder if the Knicks would’ve been better off rolling the dice with Robinson at the 5 with Randle at the 4 and DDV off the bench.

This was a good thread though because some were adamant that KAT was levels above Pascal. I thought KAT was better but now I think it’s clear who is better. And it’s not KAT.

Pascal just torched the Knicks shooting over 50% from the field and 50% from three while playing great defense. KAT got destroyed defensively. Pacers hunted him throughout the series and it was abundantly clear why the Wolves got rid of him.

The KAT trade was ok. The Bridges trade though was insane. That killed their flexibility. I dont know if the knicks can do anything to improve.

[WaltFrazier]

I think there was some optimism over Kat's D, or downplaying of how poor it is, because he had just done a decent job guarding Jokic in the playoffs, and Gobert was benched a lot IIRC.

Otherwise yeah hindsight sheds new light on this thread. But assuming Knicks don't move KAT, there's always next year

[MiamiSPX]

Looking back it’s hard to tell if there was a winner in this trade. Both teams made it to the CF. However, wonder if the Knicks would’ve been better off rolling the dice with Robinson at the 5 with Randle at the 4 and DDV off the bench.

This was a good thread though because some were adamant that KAT was levels above Pascal. I thought KAT was better but now I think it’s clear who is better. And it’s not KAT.

Pascal just torched the Knicks shooting over 50% from the field and 50% from three while playing great defense. KAT got destroyed defensively. Pacers hunted him throughout the series and it was abundantly clear why the Wolves got rid of him.

The KAT trade was ok. The Bridges trade though was insane. That killed their flexibility. I dont know if the knicks can do anything to improve.

Like Knicks fans themselves have even said....it was a trade nobody wanted and that they didn't even need. Just an irresponsible use of assets, coupled with Giannis possibly being available the following summer lol.

[Los_29]

Looking back it’s hard to tell if there was a winner in this trade. Both teams made it to the CF. However, wonder if the Knicks would’ve been better off rolling the dice with Robinson at the 5 with Randle at the 4 and DDV off the bench.

This was a good thread though because some were adamant that KAT was levels above Pascal. I thought KAT was better but now I think it’s clear who is better. And it’s not KAT.

Pascal just torched the Knicks shooting over 50% from the field and 50% from three while playing great defense. KAT got destroyed defensively. Pacers hunted him throughout the series and it was abundantly clear why the Wolves got rid of him.

The KAT trade was ok. The Bridges trade though was insane. That killed their flexibility. I dont know if the knicks can do anything to improve.

Like Knicks fans themselves have even said....it was a trade nobody wanted and that they didn't even need. Just an irresponsible use of assets, coupled with Giannis possibly being available the following summer lol.

Yeah that’s why patience is key. It enabled them to go a bit further in the playoffs this year but they are so limited in terms of what they can do. Not many teams in the league have all of their picks. We do. We are in a good position moving forward.

[tsherkin]

I think there was some optimism over Kat's D, or downplaying of how poor it is, because he had just done a decent job guarding Jokic in the playoffs, and Gobert was benched a lot IIRC.

Otherwise yeah hindsight sheds new light on this thread. But assuming Knicks don't move KAT, there's always next year

And honestly, there's lots of whining about Bridges, but he and OG were sort of shared third-option guys. He played 82 games at 37 mpg. He was a pretty good defender, and saved the series against Boston. He was okay against the Pistons, struggled generally against the Celtics and played reasonably well apart from his FT shooting against the Pacers.

Not sure what people were expecting from him. Like, the trade itself can be criticized, but he did okay for the role they put him in, so there has to be at least some positivity over the fact that he filled his role largely as advertised. Obviously the pick flexibility issue is significant, but there's any kind of silver lining to it, given the season they just had.