Knicks Draft Kevin McCullar (56) and Ariel Hukporti (58)

[Jalen Bluntson]

McCullar and Hutporti (if he's not overseas) will need to prove themselves.

Don't see them getting guaranteed deals until training camp.

Looks like they will be getting two-way deals.

Knicks have 12 under contract plus they'll bring back Achiuwa and give a backup PF the TPMLE. Then they have 3 two-way slots for these two and Toppin.

If we bring back Achiuwa we wont need another backup PF. We just added Bates-Diop. Achiuwa/Hart/OG can also fill the role.

[HarthorneWingo]

McCullar and Hutporti (if he's not overseas) will need to prove themselves.

Don't see them getting guaranteed deals until training camp.

Looks like they will be getting two-way deals.

Knicks have 12 under contract plus they'll bring back Achiuwa and give a backup PF the TPMLE. Then they have 3 two-way slots for these two and Toppin.

If we bring back Achiuwa we wont need another backup PF. We just added Bates-Diop. Achiuwa/Hart/OG can also fill the role.

We signed Bates-Diop? I didn’t see a thread on that.

[B8RcDeMktfxC]

Looks like they will be getting two-way deals.

Knicks have 12 under contract plus they'll bring back Achiuwa and give a backup PF the TPMLE. Then they have 3 two-way slots for these two and Toppin.

If we bring back Achiuwa we wont need another backup PF. We just added Bates-Diop. Achiuwa/Hart/OG can also fill the role.

We signed Bates-Diop? I didn’t see a thread on that.

Go to the Trades stickied thread. It's where the action is.

[Jalen Bluntson]

Looks like they will be getting two-way deals.

Knicks have 12 under contract plus they'll bring back Achiuwa and give a backup PF the TPMLE. Then they have 3 two-way slots for these two and Toppin.

If we bring back Achiuwa we wont need another backup PF. We just added Bates-Diop. Achiuwa/Hart/OG can also fill the role.

We signed Bates-Diop? I didn’t see a thread on that.

He was added to the BKN trade

[WaltFrazier]

McCullar another Josh Hart says his college coach. Ready to play NBA defense now.

https://mmsport.minutemediabeta.com/allknicks/news/new-york-knicks-kevin-mcculler-drawing-josh-hart-comparisons

[Besart19]

Robinson / Kessler / Hukporti
Randle / Achiuwa / Bates-Diop
OG Anunoby / J.Hart / Dadiet
Bridges / Di Vincenzo / McCullar
Brunson / Jones or Lowry / Kolek

Kessler is needed because of Mitch health and also you make him available in trades if neccessary at the trade deadline (Mitch, Lowry and filler for an upgrade off the bench)

[StlHawksFan]

Robinson / Kessler / Hukporti
Randle / Achiuwa / Bates-Diop
OG Anunoby / J.Hart / Dadiet
Bridges / Di Vincenzo / McCullar
Brunson / Jones or Lowry / Kolek

Kessler is needed because of Mitch health and also you make him available in trades if neccessary at the trade deadline (Mitch, Lowry and filler for an upgrade off the bench)

Did we trade Deuce for Kessler in this scenario?

[RHODEY]

Watch on YouTube

[stuporman]

McCullar should show up for training camp with cornrows, headband and a Hart jersey on because someone other than the Nova boys need to mess with him...

[2010]

Read on Twitter

[Fat Kat]

Read on Twitter

[moocow007]

Read on Twitter

Why he got no clothes on?

Seriously though I don't think either guy will be on the Knicks long term.

McCullar being a Hart clone? What makes Hart Hart vs any other a little too short, a little too unathletic are those things that can't be taught (aka the intangibles). Hart has great feel for the game, he has supreme confidence and clarity, he has a lions competitive heart and the desire to take and dish physical play. I think folks see the general build and the lack of clearly tangible skills in a senior coming from a big name program and too easily try to find successful associations.

Hukporti as a viable backup C? Watching his clips there's really not anything that stands out to me that would give him a leg up on other backup caliber big men. He doesn't have the greatest height or athleticism, his shooting is not particularly noteworthy, don't see the type of physical strength or tools that would allow him to get by with just that. He also doesn't seem to have a strong base (i.e. top heavy) and those types of backup centers tend to struggle doing backup center things.

[stuporman]

I’m not really sure what people are expecting the Knicks to find with late second round picks but for taking a shot at possibly finding a hidden gem that can serve as a rotational role player it seems to me they did an ok job trying to add depth.

Of course, I'm just another nobody on the internet, what do I know?

[Jalen Bluntson]

I’m not really sure what people are expecting the Knicks to find with late second round picks but for taking a shot at possibly finding a hidden gem that can serve as a rotational role player it seems to me they did an ok trying to add depth.

Of course, I'm just another nobody on the internet, what do I know?

I'm a little disappointed at how things look after Shart took the bag. They didn't know he was looking for a bigger role? They didn't have a pivot move lined up? Seems like they have been caught off guard.

[stuporman]

I’m not really sure what people are expecting the Knicks to find with late second round picks but for taking a shot at possibly finding a hidden gem that can serve as a rotational role player it seems to me they did an ok trying to add depth.

Of course, I'm just another nobody on the internet, what do I know?

I'm a little disappointed at how things look after Shart took the bag. They didn't know he was looking for a bigger role? They didn't have a pivot move lined up? Seems like they have been caught off guard.

It seems like he was sure looking for the bigger 'roll' of $30milper but not sure how much a bigger 'role' he's going to get on a Thunder squad that has Shai, JDub, Chet and plenty of shooters all around. His role there will be much like it was here late last season.

He got an expanded role with the Knicks when Mitch went down...that's how he got that bag in FA. If you mean he wants to shoot 3s, well, that's not like he's going to be a focal point of the offense there, probably just given a green light to hoist up a couple a game.

Also, I'm not sure why some still doubt this FO and act like people on the internet from their couches see something these professionals don't. They took a wreckage of a franchise and turned it into a winner so I'm going to give them some benefit of the doubt that they have a plan.

Obviously they are limited by what the market has to offer and the cap restraints to replace him otherwise they'd have matched that OKC offer. I'm sure we'd love for them to have the perfect piece at the perfect price lined up right away but it may not happen that way.

[Jalen Bluntson]

I’m not really sure what people are expecting the Knicks to find with late second round picks but for taking a shot at possibly finding a hidden gem that can serve as a rotational role player it seems to me they did an ok trying to add depth.

Of course, I'm just another nobody on the internet, what do I know?

I'm a little disappointed at how things look after Shart took the bag. They didn't know he was looking for a bigger role? They didn't have a pivot move lined up? Seems like they have been caught off guard.

It seems like he was sure looking for the bigger 'roll' of $30milper but not sure how much a bigger 'role' he's going to get on a Thunder squad that has Shai, JDub, Chet and plenty of shooters all around. His role there will be much like it was here late last season.

He got an expanded role with the Knicks when Mitch went down...that's how he got that bag in FA. If you mean he wants to shoot 3s, well, that's not like he's going to be a focal point of the offense there, probably just given a green light to hoist up a couple a game.

Also, I'm not sure why some still doubt this FO and act like people on the internet from their couches see something these professionals don't. They took a wreckage of a franchise and turned it into a winner so I'm going to give them some benefit of the doubt that they have a plan.

Obviously they are limited by what the market has to offer and the cap restraints to replace him otherwise they'd have matched that OKC offer. I'm sure we'd love for them to have the perfect piece at the perfect price lined up right away but it may not happen that way.

They couldn't match the offer even if they wanted to. In the meantime the market dried up and they haven't done anything. The plan now seems to be wait and see what they can find on the scrap heap or bring back Precious if they can. They are hard capped at the 2nd apron now so there's really not much else they can do. Hukporti is not the plan. He's on a two way deal now.

Really seems like they didn't have any piece at any price lined up. Which is a little disappointing. It also makes it appear that they weren't expecting to lose him. It's not crazy to think it's a possibility they were caught off guard. They certainly didn't act with any sense of urgency to fill the hole he left. If they were expecting him to leave wouldn't they have something lined up immediately?

All we can do now is wait and see. I find it hard to believe they trust Mitch to stay healthy and Sims to be backup. Makes very little sense.

[BKlutch]

Would they even have offered what OKC did for a second center if they were allowed to meet that price? I'm not certain they would have. I don't think they were surprised because they look at all the possibilities.

Or maybe they thought an unknown 5th Plumlee bro would just fall out of the sky for them?

[HopelessKnick]

The draft is the only real point of criticism with the FO IMO. Looking back they missed out on some useful pieces there....Jalen Williams, Duren etc. ---could have really saved them some assets and what not...but I'm not too upset over it. They took their direction and stuck with it and delivered a great team.

I don't expect much from either---would be a great surprise if any of the two were part of the rotation.

[stuporman]

I'm a little disappointed at how things look after Shart took the bag. They didn't know he was looking for a bigger role? They didn't have a pivot move lined up? Seems like they have been caught off guard.

It seems like he was sure looking for the bigger 'roll' of $30milper but not sure how much a bigger 'role' he's going to get on a Thunder squad that has Shai, JDub, Chet and plenty of shooters all around. His role there will be much like it was here late last season.

He got an expanded role with the Knicks when Mitch went down...that's how he got that bag in FA. If you mean he wants to shoot 3s, well, that's not like he's going to be a focal point of the offense there, probably just given a green light to hoist up a couple a game.

Also, I'm not sure why some still doubt this FO and act like people on the internet from their couches see something these professionals don't. They took a wreckage of a franchise and turned it into a winner so I'm going to give them some benefit of the doubt that they have a plan.

Obviously they are limited by what the market has to offer and the cap restraints to replace him otherwise they'd have matched that OKC offer. I'm sure we'd love for them to have the perfect piece at the perfect price lined up right away but it may not happen that way.

They couldn't match the offer even if they wanted to. In the meantime the market dried up and they haven't done anything. The plan now seems to be wait and see what they can find on the scrap heap or bring back Precious if they can. They are hard capped at the 2nd apron now so there's really not much else they can do. Hukporti is not the plan. He's on a two way deal now.

Really seems like they didn't have any piece at any price lined up. Which is a little disappointing. It also makes it appear that they weren't expecting to lose him. It's not crazy to think it's a possibility they were caught off guard. They certainly didn't act with any sense of urgency to fill the hole he left. If they were expecting him to leave wouldn't they have something lined up immediately?

All we can do now is wait and see. I find it hard to believe they trust Mitch to stay healthy and Sims to be backup. Makes very little sense.

Yea, I said the cap restraints limited them that's why they couldn't match it, thanks for repeated what I said back to me as if I didn't say it. I appreciate you agreeing with me on that point.

So by 'market dried up' you mean most of the options signed for more money than they could have offered anyway. In my estimation the only real option that would have fit the criteria was Drummond and they would have had to offer the full TPMLE to beat the Sixers offer. Sure, they could have sold him on the idea that he'll get plenty of playing time with a chance to start behind an often injured starter like he is in Philly so that is really the only big miss out player.

Everything else was scrap heap options anyway, along the lines of Bamba, Wiseman and the other reclamation projects. Not sure that securing them on vetmins was going to beef up the rotation more than Precious or Reed will. Although, it may have been a slightly less risky proposition than hoping Sims figures it out or Huk can fill the role. I just don't see those scrap heap options as being a playoff rotation piece when Precious or Reed barely are.

Plus the contract Huk got means nothing, it's what they had to sign him just to have him play in SL, it has no bearing going forward on what they 'planned' for him. They drafted him and want him to play in SL, the two way is how they get him on that roster to play. It's not much different than most any of the other second round players on SL rosters around the league, few get guaranteed money. Even if he shows out in SL it's still a risk to rely on him for rotation mins come regular season.

Although, it is crazy to think the FO was 'caught off guard' by the chance of losing iHart, it was literally anything that was talked about him since the season ended. Sure, criticize their approach to possible options to replace him but to suggest they didn't have a clue so were 'caught off' he could leave is actually pretty crazy. We can say they might not have had enough suitable options in the event of it but they weren't caught off guard by it.

They aren't actually 'capped' at the second apron yet, I believe there hasn't been a trigger to bring on the 'hard cap'. They avoided being capped with the Bridges trade to keep themselves open to resigning Precious, keeping the TPMLE, being able to use TPEs and having the room they do to add a center that wouldn't have been there is they didn't do that with the trade structure. They are self capping themselves under the second apron to avoid the harsh penalties.

[stuporman]

Would they even have offered what OKC did for a second center if they were allowed to meet that price? I'm not certain they would have. I don't think they were surprised because they look at all the possibilities.

Or maybe they thought an unknown 5th Plumlee bro would just fall out of the sky for them?

The actual number that he got offered probably surprised everyone including iHart but Rose wasn't caught off guard about the possibility. I don't know if they would have offered it if they could.

I might have some criticism for the FO if the options they do rely on hurt the Knicks chances to win this season but they didn't have a ton of options anyway, maybe one or two slipped by.

Drummond imo was the only one who might have been the option that could be a regular season and playoff rotation player they missed out on. Can't think of another in their price range.