KAT To The Knicks Part 2

[F N 11]

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Nice

[E-Balla]

Marc stein with some intel

Three more reasons why the Wolves felt as though they had to act now: 1. Coach Chris Finch worked with Randle as an assistant in New Orleans and knows his game very well after collaborating during Randle's lone season with the Pelicans … setting Randle up to sign with the Knicks as a better-than-they-ever-dreamed consolation prize once Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving elected to join the Nets instead; 2. Minnesota, league sources say, was the losing finalist to New York in free agency in 2023 when DiVincenzo chose to sign with the Knicks and never stopped wanting the rugged 3-and-D swingman who shot 40.1% from 3-point range last season on one of the league's best bargain contracts (DDV will earn $11.4 million this season); 3. The Wolves need an infusion of playmaking on a roster that features 37-year-old Mike Conley and rookie Rob Dillingham as the primary point guards ... and Randle's ability to make plays could (stress: could) offset the concerns about his inconsistent long-range shooting and what that might mean for Minnesota's spacing. Randle, mind you, arrives with his own array of question marks given that we haven't seen him on the floor since last January because of shoulder surgery and the uncertainty about his future with only next season's $30.1 million player option left on his current contract.

They chose 2 role players over KAT

Most league insiders I've spoken to since the deal went public have been more surprised by Minnesota's willingness to abruptly change course so soon after its first sniff of playoff success in 20 years than the Knicks' willingness to swing so big now. The Knicks, after all, have been linked to a potential pursuit of Towns for years. The case can certainly be made that the Wolves owed it to Towns especially to give last season's core one more shot at a playoff run after Minnesota so impressively ousted the reigning champions from Denver in last spring's second round. The Wolves, though, clearly reasoned that they couldn't pass up this opportunity to turn Towns' crippling contract into two frontline players and put themselves on a path to greater financial flexibility that could allow them to re-sign both Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Word is that the Wolves want to make sure they can re-sign both Reid and Alexander-Walker for Anthony Edwards' supporting cast and moving out Towns' $220-plus million owed over the next four seasons greatly enhances Minnesota's chances … despite the ongoing lack of clarity over who will actually own this team after Glen Taylor vs. Marc Lore/Alex Rodriguez arbitration proceedings begin in November.

Sounds like that guy we got from Minny pushed this deal more than Leon..

The Knicks going all-in for Towns, before newly acquired Mikal Bridges could even play a game alongside his fellow Villanova alumni Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and the suddenly discarded DiVincenzo, is the latest example of the strong influence former Timberwolves executive Gersson Rosas has in New York's front office. In February 2022, you'll recall, we broke the story here of the Knicks' hiring of Rosas as a consultant in the wake of his incredibly messy exit as Minnesota's lead decision-maker ... which also, like this trade, took place right before training camp began. Rosas was elevated to senior vice president of basketball operations before last season and, according to league sources, is Towns' foremost fan in the Knicks' organization. Yes: Even ahead of Towns' former agent Leon Rose. Rosas is said to have been pushing for a Towns trade even before this summer's free agent departure of Isaiah Hartenstein and Mitchell Robinson's subsequent slow recovery from an ankle injury heightened the Knicks' need for immediate help at center.

Knicks on crack if they think he can be KP.

From a purely basketball point of view, Towns certainly makes lots of sense for the Knicks. He is the most accomplished long-range-shooting big man in today's game and the Knicks think he can be their Kristaps Porziņģis … Boston version. There is no doubt he can ability-wise, but no shortage of curiosity (and, frankly, skepticism) is bubbling A) about Towns' ability to handle the considerable spotlight and pressure that comes with being billed and slotted into the Knicks' lineup as the last piece to make them a real championship threat; B) whether all is really forgotten between he and Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau after Thibs was abruptly cast aside in Minnesota to cement Towns as the Wolves' post-Jimmy Butler, pre-Anthony Edwards centerpiece; and C) Towns' own injury history that has forced him to miss at least 20 games (and often more) in four of the past five seasons.

Christ it's worse than I thought...

[rajajackal]

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Nice

this is good propaganda i need more. i spent all summer getting hype for the wrong roster so i need to fast track my new hype

[E-Balla]

so you wouldn't have traded RJ and IQ for OG?

I would've done whatever to dump RJ as long as we didn't drop IQ and benched RJ so he'd stop losing us games/stayed healthy while we looked. We should've benched RJ in 2023 and started IQ.

Trading for OG when he had all the leverage to make us pay literally twice of what he's worth is dumb. We literally only did it because OG's agent is out team president's son. Nepotism at its most blatant, $212 million for a player worth closer to $100-120. I remember when we were thinking he'd get $160 and calling that an overpay nobody saw $212 coming besides Leon and Sam.

RJ and IQ don't even play the same position, so your argument makes no sense. The OG trade turned the Knicks season around and the Kat trade complete their transformation to be a real contender against the C's. Losing Donte hurts but they needed a 5 in a big way after losing Hartenstein. This is an A grade just to be able to clear Randle as an addition by subtraction.

They're both guards. RJ is an oversized 2, IQ would be an undersized 2. The biggest positive of the OG trade was it got RJ out of our rotation we could've done that without shackling ourselves to an injury prone role player making the same amount as Paul George.

[Context]

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[3toheadmelo]

kat's shot creation is basically a pump fake at the 3 point line into a drive into the paint that leads to an offensive foul like 33% of the time, super unreliable in the playoffs

His bag is limited. Not sure why people acting like it ain’t.

[2010]

That’s like showing Isaac Okoros pre draft highlights pushing the narrative he was gonna be a star

Jokes aside, if you ever watched KAT play you would know he struggles with physical play, especially in the post.

You know damn well I’ve watched KAT play. I watch all NBA teams, not just Knicks games.

KAT has his flaws but shot creation is not one of the things we should be worried about.

Yes his level of physicality and toughness have come in question. But that wasn’t necessarily the topic that I was responding to. Jim asked about his shot creating ability.

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I’m not too sold on his shot creation. His scoring is always down in the post season. Only averages 18 PPG. That year with butler he averaged 15 PPG.

I acknowledge the drop in post season scoring from him. But I think he is more reliable in that regard than Randle, who was even worse and at all-time low efficiency. And that’s who we have to directly compare him to cuz that’s who he’s replacing.

And then I view Mikal as an upgrade overall over Donte.

I think the true indicator of our team’s fate will be health, and ultimately what we do with Mitch.

Do we keep Mitch and start him beside KAT if/when he’s healthy? The KAT/Gobert model shows that can be very successful.

Or do we trade Mitch and try to pry away Trey Murphy then attempt to find a cheap rim protecting stop gap big for Mitch’s scaled down role off the bench?

[NYKinMIA]

Name one team that is actually a contender that wouldn't be affected by a rim defending C?

I didn't get a chance to reply to your bullshyt post questioning my fandom before the other thread got locked.

for someone that claims such high intelligence, sarcasm seems to be lost on you.

listen e-bola, save your antics for people that enjoy typing as much as you apparently do.

[TheGreenArrow]

That’s like showing Isaac Okoros pre draft highlights pushing the narrative he was gonna be a star

Jokes aside, if you ever watched KAT play you would know he struggles with physical play, especially in the post.

You know damn well I’ve watched KAT play. I watch all NBA teams, not just Knicks games.

KAT has his flaws but shot creation is not one of the things we should be worried about.

Yes his level of physicality and toughness have come in question. But that wasn’t necessarily the topic that I was responding to. Jim asked about his shot creating ability.

Watch on YouTube

I’m not too sold on his shot creation. His scoring is always down in the post season. Only averages 18 PPG. That year with butler he averaged 15 PPG.

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[F N 11]

Thibs look happy he don’t have to manage emotions anymore.

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[MrDollarBills]

Mutombo died wow. Rip

Ah wtf man. RIP to a fantastic player and even better person.

Bro this one hurts. Goddamn it

[Iron Mantis]

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Welcome KAT!

Goodbye forever Randle!!!

[KnixinSix]

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Context.

[Jalen Bluntson]

Mph get your boy bluntson because if I tell him he's a **** (Please Use More Appropriate Word) he's going to start throwing more internet threats around.

my only guy on this forum is Sham...he knows that!

Not my fault E Balls is a clueless liar. No one cooked the Knicks defense in the playoffs. That's RIDICULOUS to suggest. The team fell apart and was coasting on fumes and made it a game away from the ECF. We beat Philly so...where was the cooking? NONE of the defensive players we have were even on the floor much of the Indy series except for Deuce.

Welcome to the wide world of facts.

[F N 11]

Kat at center real?

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[Iron Mantis]

Thibs look happy he don’t have to manage emotions anymore.

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That must have been exhausting having to be a coach and also a psychiatrist coddling the fragile ego and emotions of a 30 year old man.

Bye Randle. Thank you Leon for freeing us from that toxic cancer!

[stuporman]

Hasn't even worn Knicks uni yet and he's already being hated by so many Knicks fans...the guy never stood a chance to win them over especially considering Knicks lost fan fave Divo in the deal, not even getting Randle out of town in the trade is enough to help him get any love.

[E-Balla]

Name one team that is actually a contender that wouldn't be affected by a rim defending C?

I didn't get a chance to reply to your bullshyt post questioning my fandom before the other thread got locked.

for someone that claims such high intelligence, sarcasm seems to be lost on you.

listen e-bola, save your antics for people that enjoy typing as much as you apparently do.

I'll question whatever the **** I wanna question if you don't like people making predictions log off in the offseason you won't be missed hoe.

[E-Balla]

Mph get your boy bluntson because if I tell him he's a **** (Please Use More Appropriate Word) he's going to start throwing more internet threats around.

my only guy on this forum is Sham...he knows that!

Not my fault E Balls is a clueless liar. No one cooked the Knicks defense in the playoffs. That's RIDICULOUS to suggest. The team fell apart and was coasting on fumes and made it a game away from the ECF. We beat Philly so...where was the cooking? NONE of the defensive players we have were even on the floor much of the Indy series except for Deuce.

Welcome to the wide world of facts.

Actually (Please Use More Appropriate Word) in real life.

[F N 11]

Thibs look happy he don’t have to manage emotions anymore.

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That must have been exhausting having to be a coach and also a psychiatrist coddling the fragile ego and emotions of a 30 year old man.

Bye Randle. Thank you Leon for freeing us from that toxic cancer!

Can’t wait to see on time passes. Calling team to average 30 plus assist per game.