Mitch not expected to be ready until December/January per Begley…

[StlHawksFan]

Time again to look at Mathias Lessort?

He's on the last year of his deal in Greece. Knicks have the cap room to buy him out and bring him in on a rookie deal. He did well in the Olympics and was the ABA league DPOY in 2023 and he was Euroleague finals MVP in 2024.

https://www.essentiallysports.com/nba-active-basketball-news-who-is-mathias-lessort-meet-twenty-eight-year-old-nba-reject-who-is-now-stealing-fourx-dpoys-minutes-for-france/

Lessort's per36 in the EuroLeague last year:
.623 FG
.658 FT
17.0 PPG
7.5 RPG (2.9 OFF)
1.6 APG
1.1 BPG
1.4 SPG

And in the playoffs:
.627 FG
.638 FT
16.3 PPG
8.2 RPG (2.6 OFF)
2.1 APG
1.2 BPG
0.6 SPG

He did even better in his Greek League play but obviously vs weaker competition. Combined he played in 69 games last season so he can clearly hold up physically. Most Euro players play about half that number.

[HerSports85]

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[Richard4444]

Our trade targets should be Atlanta or Orlando. Atlanta is looking to tear it down and will be moving Capela this season. Right now they want an immediate first but they may settle for our two future protected picks. Financially, it's another story. Knicks would have to S&T someone for the MLE and tack on Precious, Deuce, and a min contract filler.

Orlando has 4 centers on the roster. Carter, Isaac, Wagner, and Bitadze. The latter is signed to a 3yr contract starting at $9.06M. Orlando would definitely want Deuce in a trade because Black and Harris have been disappointments and Cole Anthony just isn't anything special either. Deuce+KBD+Sims works financially. And all three of those guys should fit the Orlando culture.

Portland also does have a lot of excess center depth, and we cpuld probably get Time Lord for Deuce+MLE+min+picks. But he's less durable than Mitch.

I think its impossible to get Capela without giving away Randle or Mitch. Maybe we still can sign and trade some scrubs just like we did with Milton (to obey the min salary attachment restriction). But the new salary will be limited to 120% of his previous salary.

[StlHawksFan]

Its tough to teach NBA style of play to foreign centers. Most of them become busts and give up fast. Besides, we just do not have the time to wait for them to develop.

Most of the centers in the NBA are foreign born.

[robillionaire]

Hopefully he never comes back

[3toheadmelo]

We have to get past the Sixers, Bucks, Celtics, Nuggets, trotting out a 6'-7" dude named Precious at center.

I thought you were very high on Precious. You used to say he should be starting over Randle

[StlHawksFan]

Our trade targets should be Atlanta or Orlando. Atlanta is looking to tear it down and will be moving Capela this season. Right now they want an immediate first but they may settle for our two future protected picks. Financially, it's another story. Knicks would have to S&T someone for the MLE and tack on Precious, Deuce, and a min contract filler.

Orlando has 4 centers on the roster. Carter, Isaac, Wagner, and Bitadze. The latter is signed to a 3yr contract starting at $9.06M. Orlando would definitely want Deuce in a trade because Black and Harris have been disappointments and Cole Anthony just isn't anything special either. Deuce+KBD+Sims works financially. And all three of those guys should fit the Orlando culture.

Portland also does have a lot of excess center depth, and we cpuld probably get Time Lord for Deuce+MLE+min+picks. But he's less durable than Mitch.

I think its impossible to get Capela without giving away Randle or Mitch. Maybe we still can sign and trade some scrubs just like we did with Milton (to obey the min salary attachment restriction). But the new salary will be limited to 120% of his previous salary.

Salaries have to match up exactly. That's why a signing via the MLE is key because that can hit the required exact $ match.

But, yes, if they wanted an injured Mitch for some reason you could sub him in for Precious+Deuce.

[3toheadmelo]

i honestly feel like sims might surprise us and be more than adequate

F it Sims higlights

Spoiler:

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this has to be sham bait

Yes

[3toheadmelo]

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[Richard4444]

Its tough to teach NBA style of play to foreign centers. Most of them become busts and give up fast. Besides, we just do not have the time to wait for them to develop.

Most of the centers in the NBA are foreign born.

A good part of the foreign NBA centers played College. And most of the foreign centers struggle as rookies. You can not expect that a foreign center plays well from day 1.

[StlHawksFan]

Capela to NY financially could work without dealing Mitch but would be hard to pull off since he's making $22.2M.

Deuce, Precious, KBD, Sims, Payne, and a S&T using the MLE for just under $5M to even the $ value.

Otherwise it could be done for Mitch+KBD+MLE signing.

Either way expect to deal both conditional firsts.

[Iron Mantis]

We have to get past the Sixers, Bucks, Celtics, Nuggets, trotting out a 6'-7" dude named Precious at CENTER.

I thought you were very high on Precious. You used to say he should be starting over Randle

Precious at PF is perfectly fine ..

[robillionaire]

I think we need to consider the stretch provision or attaching second rounders to get him out of here. Maybe the disabled player exception can help.

[StlHawksFan]

Its tough to teach NBA style of play to foreign centers. Most of them become busts and give up fast. Besides, we just do not have the time to wait for them to develop.

Most of the centers in the NBA are foreign born.

A good part of the foreign NBA centers played College. And most of the foreign centers struggle as rookies. You can not expect that a foreign center plays well from day 1.

He's 28. The ones that struggle are 18-19. And he outplayed Embiid in the Olympics finals minute for minute.

[StlHawksFan]

I think we need to consider the stretch provision or attaching second rounders to get him out of here. Maybe the disabled player exception can help.

Can't use the DPE if he is coming back this season.

[3toheadmelo]

We have to get past the Sixers, Bucks, Celtics, Nuggets, trotting out a 6'-7" dude named Precious at CENTER.

I thought you were very high on Precious. You used to say he should be starting over Randle

Precious at PF is perfectly fine ..

Precious and Randle front court nice to see you come around

[BowlRips]

I think we need to consider the stretch provision or attaching second rounders to get him out of here. Maybe the disabled player exception can help.

reactionary much? and its not even helpful for the Knicks to do that. They won't be close to having cap space, they need his salary to use in a trade

[HarthorneWingo]

Hukporti?
Skap?
Javale McGee?

[Iron Mantis]

I thought you were very high on Precious. You used to say he should be starting over Randle

Precious at PF is perfectly fine ..

Precious and Randle front court nice to see you come around

I'd have to get an extensive look at how that works defensively before I sign off on it.

Who knows though....."It's so crazy, it just might work".

[3toheadmelo]

Precious at PF is perfectly fine ..

Precious and Randle front court nice to see you come around

I'd have to get an extensive look at how that works defensively before I sign off on it.

Who knows though....."It's so crazy, it just might work".

It seems promising at least

Taken from Knicksfan1992

Small sample size but in lineups where Brunson/Randle/Achiuwa shared the floor the Knicks were +17.4.