Knicks Summer-league Thread July 12-22 at UNLV

[Luv those Knicks]

I don't think Rokas stays if Kolek is ahead of him. Rokas can play better defense and is more experienced than Kolek and those traits are important to Thibs. We have Cam Payne now so we don't really need Kolek to play rotational minutes. I see him as "situational" while he develops his game. Maybe come playoffs he'll be able to contribute?

Just sign Precious and Rokas and let's go.

I just don't see how they can carry Rokas, but time will tell.

Who gets minutes as the backup PG, Payne, Deuce or Kolek will be interesting to see, and it might change as the season gets underway. Thibs has options.

[Fat Kat]

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[knicksNOTslick]

this is showcasing nba level offense


fake dribble handoff

turns the corner,

keeps his dribble into the lane and finishes with contact

Read on Twitter

he can play day 1.


rokas and deuce dont really have this in their bag.

Team Kolek assemble

Guys on here were complaining that Brunson couldn't play alongside Spida but now suggesting we play Kolek alongside Brunson?
Make that make sense.

There's a huge difference. You're trading most of your assets to experiment with a Brunson-Spida backcourt and not really know how that looks defensively. Way too expensive to take that gamble and risk it not working out in the playoffs.

Experimenting with Brunson and Kolek for a few minutes is free. If it works, great. If not, Kolek was still worth a 2nd rounder anyways, as he is at best our backup PG and at worse our 3rd string.

[knicksNOTslick]

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It's gonna be hard to make room for Rokas now.

Brunson, Payne, McBride, Kolek, Rokas

Are we going into the season with 5 PGs and very thin at C.

[Guano]

There's no path to Rokas playing that doesn't involve a catastrophic injury at either guard spot.

Or a trade, eh

[Juco24]

Team Kolek assemble

Guys on here were complaining that Brunson couldn't play alongside Spida but now suggesting we play Kolek alongside Brunson?
Make that make sense.

There's a huge difference. You're trading most of your assets to experiment with a Brunson-Spida backcourt and not really know how that looks defensively. Way too expensive to take that gamble and risk it not working out in the playoffs.

Experimenting with Brunson and Kolek for a few minutes is free. If it works, great. If not, Kolek was still worth a 2nd rounder anyways, as he is at best our backup PG and at worse our 3rd string.

Bottom line is that they'd get cooked, slice it any way you want. And get cooked way worse than a Spida/Brunson backcourt

[Zenzibar]

I wouldn’t be too worried about playing Kolek or Rokas if they both make the team. They can get the Deuce treatment and play g league games and get spot minutes when there’s an injury. Spending most of the time cheerleading and practicing with guys on a title contender can still develop

But would Rokas leave Europe to play G league?

Well he can get a promise from Leon to move him to a good situation for a future pick whether its now or at the next trading period. Rokas is confident he can contribute to a team and so do I, he's pretty solid and strong enough.

So we'll see, but in any event the Knicks are pretty well situated to recoup a pick.

The cutting into Deuce's time is just crazy talk. We're shooting for the Finals, which is crazy just thinking about it, and Deuce is part of that defensive core and Brunson's backup. People here always get crazy after a few summer league games.

The only running mates for Brunson are Mikal and Donte, Villanova backcourt. Same with Deuce, either Mikal or Donte.
The competition will be between Payne, Rokas and Kolek for those injury minutes.

[G_K_F]

The Payne signing makes zero sense and sucks.

Give Rokas a shot.

[Im Coming Home]

If you consider Bridges more of a SF who can play SG and Deuce is better off ball so consider him more of a SG.. then Kolek and Rokas could fit. But I think Rokas would want to come over to play. And him and Kolek or him and Payne gonna be fighting for the 3rd string PG.

The way I see the depth chart right now

Brunson/Payne/Kolek
Bridges/Divo/Deuce
OG/Hart/Bridges/Divo
Randle/Hart/OG
Mitch/Sims?/Randle?

Like there's some room for a 3rd PG if you consider Deuce a SG. And I think Deuce would work well next to Kolek.. but yeah I don't think we're gonna keep Rokas and I doubt he signs if he's not gonna at the very least be the backup PG. I think the Knicks trade him in the package for a Center maybe.

[Im Coming Home]

The Payne signing makes zero sense and sucks.

Give Rokas a shot.

Having a "proven" 3rd string over having 2 unknowns(Kolek + Rokas) makes sense to me. Sucks that we waited this long and now seems like we're just not gonna give Rokas a shot and maybe we can trade him but it makes sense honestly.

Deuce is a SG, and should thrive playing next to Kolek.

[G_K_F]

True but still, I think Rojas can be a good role player - better than Payne.

Also wtf happened to McCullar?

[Luv those Knicks]

The Payne signing makes zero sense and sucks.

Give Rokas a shot.

In a vacuum, for player development, I understand what you're saying.

But Payne makes sense for 2 reasons.

One, when Brunson misses games he gives us another option with NBA experience, not a rookie still learning the ropes or a combo guard like Deuce.

and

Two, he can be used in the same way Shake Milton or Mamadi Diakite were used in the Mikal Bridges trade. His salary can be used in trades before the deadline. Leon loves to deal and having a 3 million dollar contract will give him more options.

[Luv those Knicks]

True but still, I think Rojas can be a good role player - better than Payne.

Also wtf happened to McCullar?

He missed summer league because he had an injury back from missing some games in college. I think they like him and I'm sure he'll sign a 2 way deal this year. There's a chance that he'll sign a full contract like Kolek, and maybe the Knicks are keeping that open, as they can only offer 3 2-way deals, but my guess is that McCullar will sign a 2-way, it's just a matter of time and following up on his health.

Other options - he plays a year in Europe? Seems unlikely but theoretically possible. I think he's a wait and see guy, but my guess is he signs a 2-way at some point.

[epics2002]

The Payne signing makes zero sense and sucks.

Give Rokas a shot.

Did you watch the playoffs Cam Payne almost killed us a few times I was scared when he had the ball.

[DaGawd]

True but still, I think Rojas can be a good role player - better than Payne.

Also wtf happened to McCullar?

mccullar still rehabbing a injury

[3toheadmelo]

The Payne signing makes zero sense and sucks.

Give Rokas a shot.

Having a "proven" 3rd string over having 2 unknowns(Kolek + Rokas) makes sense to me. Sucks that we waited this long and now seems like we're just not gonna give Rokas a shot and maybe we can trade him but it makes sense honestly.

Deuce is a SG, and should thrive playing next to Kolek.

I don’t think Kolek is gonna play much this year though. Will prob be in the g league like we did to deuce for 2 years. We are prob gonna use Deuce/Payne at the 1 and Donte at the 2.

[Im Coming Home]

The Payne signing makes zero sense and sucks.

Give Rokas a shot.

Having a "proven" 3rd string over having 2 unknowns(Kolek + Rokas) makes sense to me. Sucks that we waited this long and now seems like we're just not gonna give Rokas a shot and maybe we can trade him but it makes sense honestly.

Deuce is a SG, and should thrive playing next to Kolek.

I don’t think Kolek is gonna play much this year though. Will prob be in the g league like we did to deuce for 2 years. We are prob gonna use Deuce/Payne at the 1 and Donte at the 2.

You're probably right but I hope you're wrong because Kolek/Deuce fit like a glove together and cover eachothera weaknesses very well

[louisorr]

I get it, it's summer and our brains are full of hope, what ifs and possibilities. But this deep Thibs run Knicks team is not going to find PT for five rookies. Like none. zero zilch. nothing. At this point Thibs favorite iron man Josh Hart barely has a role. These kids have the same long term prospects of being Knickerbockers as RJ, IQ. Grimes, and Obi.

[3toheadmelo]

Having a "proven" 3rd string over having 2 unknowns(Kolek + Rokas) makes sense to me. Sucks that we waited this long and now seems like we're just not gonna give Rokas a shot and maybe we can trade him but it makes sense honestly.

Deuce is a SG, and should thrive playing next to Kolek.

I don’t think Kolek is gonna play much this year though. Will prob be in the g league like we did to deuce for 2 years. We are prob gonna use Deuce/Payne at the 1 and Donte at the 2.

You're probably right but I hope you're wrong because Kolek/Deuce fit like a glove together and cover eachothera weaknesses very well

The issue tho is that we have Donte who’s a 2 as well. Unless we move him so Kolek and Deuce can play together.

[Im Coming Home]

I don’t think Kolek is gonna play much this year though. Will prob be in the g league like we did to deuce for 2 years. We are prob gonna use Deuce/Payne at the 1 and Donte at the 2.

You're probably right but I hope you're wrong because Kolek/Deuce fit like a glove together and cover eachothera weaknesses very well

The issue tho is that we have Donte who’s a 2 as well. Unless we move him so Kolek and Deuce can play together.

Depending on the lineup I think Divo can be the 3 with those 2. But yeah it's tough too many PG/SG/SFs on this team right now lol