Breaking: KAT to the Knicks

[Guano]

We didn’t get Ayton but we got one of our draft favorites in KAT. Wild times.

KAT played Jokic well but all of his flaws were on show against Dallas again. This can easily backfire imo

KAT literally shot his team out a championship because all he wanted to do was shoot 3 pointers.

Yeah he’s frustrating as hell to watch. I hope the people that hate Randle, know what they’re about to get.

We will let em know

[mpharris36]

Randle was on and off on his effort but he was never put on an island like teams did to KAT in the post season. He also thrived defensively at the 5 on the lakers, so I would’ve taken my chance. Another thing is that KAT struggled heavily against Boston too where as Randle destroyed them quite a few times already. So idk man..

I think this regime at least deserves the benefit of the doubt. This was a move to play off Brunson and get a guy more suitable to play the 5. There are other factors like contract behind the scenes that we don't know about. Randle and Knicks had to at least talk extension...if that was a number the Knicks weren't comfortable with you have to act sooner than later because you can't lose his talent for nothing. We not have KAT locked up and don't have to worry about the core for a while.

I’m putting my trust in this regime for sure. But this is easily the riskiest trade since Bargnani. Did we really need to trade for KAT after a successful year like how we traded for Bargnani after a successful year in 2013? Hopefully this time around it’s different..

I think the point is they wanted to extend this potential run for 3-4 years and not just this year. Randle's contract situation was obviously more real then we were being let on. That is clear.

KAT's contract allows us to maintain that stability for years to come.

Randle is better with the ball in his hands...but KAT is far better without it. So I think they are really buying into putting other teams in a bind if they have to cover Brunson...but have KAT shooting with Mikal and OG in the corner...it will be a really tough matchup for teams. Thibs gotta get him back to a decent level defender.

[Kidknick!]

So much for the Villanova Voltron.

[F N 11]

When I said Mook can play PF I didn’t think he was finna get minutes lol.

[spree2kawhi]

If we're going to hold Randle to his last playoff series, same needs to be applied to KAT. You're only as good as your last playoff series and he got punked by a two players that are making a faction of his money.

1. KAT is CAA and is from Jersey

2. KAT had a few good playoff series before the finals. In fact he played darn well vs Jokic

3. KATs defense last year was actually pretty good by many metrics.

4. KAT can play the 4 or 5.

5. KATs fit with Brunson is excellent. We now potentially have 40% or near 3 ball shooters 1-5.

6. Randle has had 0 good playoff series this may be an upgrade.

got this from a regular Minny poster on the GB:

Respectfully, your Towns defense take is insanely outdated. Dude is elite when playing switch/blitz defensive actions, he was tremendous matching up against Nikola Jokić and Kevin Durant in back-to-back series. He's legitimately excellent when utilized correctly, he also just happens to be one of the worst drop-coverage bigs in the NBA.

I have to think that Thibs gave the ok and thats a good sign...

Where were all these posts when I was fighting the fight for months?

[DaGawd]

if kat magically finds his kentucky defensive prowess here…

[spree2kawhi]

we need to put some respect on that twitter account that ran into Chris Haynes and said Randle wanted to be traded.

Read on Twitter

We need to re-open that last "off-season where's the center?" thread. A lot of good stuff in there from the Randle v KAT wars.

A lot of folks dodged bullets when those threads were closed.

[KnixinSix]

More versatile in that KAT can play some drop coverage and guard the rim better...by no means do I think KAT is a good defender. I also think Randle can move his feet better...he just really never put much effort at all on defense. And I simply just don't think they believe they could get away with Randle at the 5.

Randle was on and off on his effort but he was never put on an island like teams did to KAT in the post season. He also thrived defensively at the 5 on the lakers, so I would’ve taken my chance. Another thing is that KAT struggled heavily against Boston too where as Randle destroyed them quite a few times already. So idk man..

I think this regime at least deserves the benefit of the doubt. This was a move to play off Brunson and get a guy more suitable to play the 5. There are other factors like contract behind the scenes that we don't know about. Randle and Knicks had to at least talk extension...if that was a number the Knicks weren't comfortable with you have to act sooner than later because you can't lose his talent for nothing. We not have KAT locked up and don't have to worry about the core for a while.

Great post

[3toheadmelo]

I think this regime at least deserves the benefit of the doubt. This was a move to play off Brunson and get a guy more suitable to play the 5. There are other factors like contract behind the scenes that we don't know about. Randle and Knicks had to at least talk extension...if that was a number the Knicks weren't comfortable with you have to act sooner than later because you can't lose his talent for nothing. We not have KAT locked up and don't have to worry about the core for a while.

I’m putting my trust in this regime for sure. But this is easily the riskiest trade since Bargnani. Did we really need to trade for KAT after a successful year like how we traded for Bargnani after a successful year in 2013? Hopefully this time around it’s different..

I think the point is they wanted to extend this potential run for 3-4 years and not just this year. Randle's contract situation was obviously more real then we were being let on. That is clear.

KAT's contract allows us to maintain that stability for years to come.

Randle is better with the ball in his hands...but KAT is far better without it. So I think they are really buying into putting other teams in a bind if they have to cover Brunson...but have KAT shooting with Mikal and OG in the corner...it will be a really tough matchup for teams. Thibs gotta get him back to a decent level defender.

I see the upside, but it’s hard to not see how similar this is to us acquiring Bargnani too. Bargnani was supposed to be that floor spacing big.. that also played no defense and goes away to what made us a special defensive team in 2013. Kinda feels the same with KAT. But I hope I’m wrong.

[BKlutch]

I just hope I’m wrong about KAT. But I’ll rock with him

Maaaaaan, two times in one offseason - you're so lucky I'm out to dinner with the fam and can only sneak my phone under the table

But you're taking it like a G, for real, my man.

This ain’t my first rodeo losing Melo was tougher

We lost 2 real talents. But if Leon and Thibs are all in on KAT, we gotta defer to their judgment. They took us from the sewer and put us on the doorstep of a championship. In the end, we're Knicks fans. But I'll smile whenever I read Ju and Divo played well!

[F N 11]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=W09F6FrMDfp5_y1gKYgF1g

Talked about it all the time. I’m shocked it happened. Knicks and Thibs really understanding spacing.

[KnixinSix]

It is higher when he moves the ball and doesn’t put his head down to dribble into triple teams though.

People now have to hope that KAT forces opposing teams to double team him the way they had to against Julius, or Brunson is going to have to work harder.

They doubled him not because they were scared but because he would reliably turn it over then. The Knicks just became contenders. It’s a shame we’re losing DDV though.

McBride now has a path for more playing time. Defense, Defense Defense

[Guano]

What sickos for doing this on a Friday night.

[F N 11]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=W09F6FrMDfp5_y1gKYgF1g

Hmm makes sense bc he would have been a bench guy again.

[TheGreenArrow]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=W09F6FrMDfp5_y1gKYgF1g

[JayTWill]

I hate losing Donte but the addition of Mikal and McBride's growth may have made him a little bit more expendable. Hopefully Deuce can continue to build on last season. Still can't believe DDV is gone so soon.

[aggo]

Randle and ant are gonna fight next year

[Guano]

if kat magically finds his kentucky defensive prowess here…

Love this part of being a fan. The lying to ourselves. When i start it I recall trying to talk myself into Steve Francis and Starbury and I get cynical real quick.

[spree2kawhi]

if kat magically finds his kentucky defensive prowess here…

He was never that bad and looked good on many switches as well as in the post.

[Clyde_Style]

Does anyone here think that this move was precipitated by Mitch’s injury or was always in the cards?

Been saying it for two years that it was always going to happen