Knicks players and coaches frustrated with KAT

[taikibansei]

If we trade him for KD.. I don't know. Wouldn't do it. Obv he is a monster when healthy, but at this point of his career, do you trust him to go through a 100 games?

KAT was at least as good as KD last season--arguably better (nearly identical counting stats, KAT was +3.4 epm last season, KD +3.1 epm, KAT was healthier, etc. etc.). That's combining offense and defense.

More to the point, KAT remains a leader on this team--the other players look up to him and feed off his energy on and off the court--and KAT handles the NY media well. KD brings none of this back, he does not lead (by his own admission), and doesn't do well with the media. At their respective ages, adding KD next season would be a downgrade.

There, I said it. Flame away.

(Giannis, I could understand...though I don't think we could get him without trading so much of our core that what's left is basically "Milwaukee lite.")

[Barcs]

KAT is the only weak link in Knicks defense, so he MUST be traded, yes?

And Brunson was a weak link on defense as well, not that he doesn't try.

[E-Balla]

Your argument is Knicks starters only play 35 minutes? I can't deal with delusion.

it's not an argument. nor is it delusion. towns and brunson were being discussed.

that's what towns and brunson played. all season long and in the playoffs.

yeah, the only guys that really got overplayed were mikal and og

And honestly OG was healthy the first time ever he's not getting overplayed. He's getting played as much as he needs to to show up 70+ times.

[god shammgod]

If we trade him for KD.. I don't know. Wouldn't do it. Obv he is a monster when healthy, but at this point of his career, do you trust him to go through a 100 games?

KAT was at least as good as KD last season--arguably better (nearly identical counting stats, KAT was +3.4 epm last season, KD +3.1 epm, KAT was healthier, etc. etc.). That's combining offense and defense.

More to the point, KAT remains a leader on this team--the other players look up to him and feed off his energy on and off the court--and KAT handles the NY media well. KD brings none of this back, he does not lead (by his own admission), and doesn't do well with the media. At their respective ages, adding KD next season would be a downgrade.

There, I said it. Flame away.

(Giannis, I could understand...though I don't think we could get him without trading so much of our core that what's left is basically "Milwaukee lite.")

they all complained that he doesn't seem to care about defense

[E-Balla]

If we trade him for KD.. I don't know. Wouldn't do it. Obv he is a monster when healthy, but at this point of his career, do you trust him to go through a 100 games?

KAT was at least as good as KD last season--arguably better (nearly identical counting stats, KAT was +3.4 epm last season, KD +3.1 epm, KAT was healthier, etc. etc.). That's combining offense and defense.

More to the point, KAT remains a leader on this team--the other players look up to him and feed off his energy on and off the court--and KAT handles the NY media well. KD brings none of this back, he does not lead (by his own admission), and doesn't do well with the media. At their respective ages, adding KD next season would be a downgrade.

There, I said it. Flame away.

(Giannis, I could understand...though I don't think we could get him without trading so much of our core that what's left is basically "Milwaukee lite.")

they all complained that he doesn't seem to care about defense

They took time in a historic choke to all take turns frying his ass up on the bench for not getting to the level of the screen.

[taikibansei]

If we trade him for KD.. I don't know. Wouldn't do it. Obv he is a monster when healthy, but at this point of his career, do you trust him to go through a 100 games?

KAT was at least as good as KD last season--arguably better (nearly identical counting stats, KAT was +3.4 epm last season, KD +3.1 epm, KAT was healthier, etc. etc.). That's combining offense and defense.

More to the point, KAT remains a leader on this team--the other players look up to him and feed off his energy on and off the court--and KAT handles the NY media well. KD brings none of this back, he does not lead (by his own admission), and doesn't do well with the media. At their respective ages, adding KD next season would be a downgrade.

There, I said it. Flame away.

(Giannis, I could understand...though I don't think we could get him without trading so much of our core that what's left is basically "Milwaukee lite.")

they all complained that he doesn't seem to care about defense

Yeah, I read all that...personally, due at least partly to the timing of the leaks, I don't know how true/serious all that is. Dude has always been extremely supportive of his teammates in interviews, and the on-court interactions that I've seen (hard to judge but still...) seemed mostly to be pretty friendly as well?

If true, though, then KAT will likely be gone--though hopefully not for KD (who I absolutely detest).

[BKlutch]

If we trade him for KD.. I don't know. Wouldn't do it. Obv he is a monster when healthy, but at this point of his career, do you trust him to go through a 100 games?

KAT was at least as good as KD last season--arguably better (nearly identical counting stats, KAT was +3.4 epm last season, KD +3.1 epm, KAT was healthier, etc. etc.). That's combining offense and defense.

More to the point, KAT remains a leader on this team--the other players look up to him and feed off his energy on and off the court--and KAT handles the NY media well. KD brings none of this back, he does not lead (by his own admission), and doesn't do well with the media. At their respective ages, adding KD next season would be a downgrade.

There, I said it. Flame away.

(Giannis, I could understand...though I don't think we could get him without trading so much of our core that what's left is basically "Milwaukee lite.")

Agree with all you said, and one more thing: KD does not have a winner mentality. Stepping on the line for Brooklyn isn't an isolated event.

[taikibansei]

KAT was at least as good as KD last season--arguably better (nearly identical counting stats, KAT was +3.4 epm last season, KD +3.1 epm, KAT was healthier, etc. etc.). That's combining offense and defense.

More to the point, KAT remains a leader on this team--the other players look up to him and feed off his energy on and off the court--and KAT handles the NY media well. KD brings none of this back, he does not lead (by his own admission), and doesn't do well with the media. At their respective ages, adding KD next season would be a downgrade.

There, I said it. Flame away.

(Giannis, I could understand...though I don't think we could get him without trading so much of our core that what's left is basically "Milwaukee lite.")

they all complained that he doesn't seem to care about defense

Yeah, I read all that...personally, due at least partly to the timing of the leaks, I don't know how true/serious all that is. Dude has always been extremely supportive of his teammates in interviews, and the on-court interactions that I've seen (hard to judge but still...) seemed mostly to be pretty friendly as well?

If true, though, then KAT will likely be gone--though hopefully not for KD (who I absolutely detest).

These further tweets (about Brunson's dad this time! ) are more examples of why I distrust the "sources" suddenly talking about KAT now.

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

I.e., too often, the NBA media--desperate to find additional storylines (and so help keep their jobs) after a season ends--suddenly comes up with a flurry of stories citing anonymous "sources" hinting at behind-the-scenes dramas that somehow "explain" everything that went wrong. Too often, most of it is exaggerated, untrue or taken out of context.

That said, again, if KAT really is a serious problem, then sure, trade him--though not for **** KD....

[god shammgod]

they all complained that he doesn't seem to care about defense

Yeah, I read all that...personally, due at least partly to the timing of the leaks, I don't know how true/serious all that is. Dude has always been extremely supportive of his teammates in interviews, and the on-court interactions that I've seen (hard to judge but still...) seemed mostly to be pretty friendly as well?

If true, though, then KAT will likely be gone--though hopefully not for KD (who I absolutely detest).

These further tweets (about Brunson's dad this time! ) are more examples of why I distrust the "sources" suddenly talking about KAT now.

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=W09F6FrMDfp5_y1gKYgF1g

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=W09F6FrMDfp5_y1gKYgF1g

I.e., too often, the NBA media--desperate to find additional storylines (and so help keep their jobs) after a season ends--suddenly comes up with a flurry of stories citing anonymous "sources" hinting at behind-the-scenes dramas that somehow "explain" everything that went wrong. Too often, most of it is exaggerated, untrue or taken out of context.

That said, again, if KAT really is a serious problem, then sure, trade him--though not for **** KD....

they were literally yelling at kat on the bench a couple weeks ago. it was on video.

[taikibansei]

Yeah, I read all that...personally, due at least partly to the timing of the leaks, I don't know how true/serious all that is. Dude has always been extremely supportive of his teammates in interviews, and the on-court interactions that I've seen (hard to judge but still...) seemed mostly to be pretty friendly as well?

If true, though, then KAT will likely be gone--though hopefully not for KD (who I absolutely detest).

These further tweets (about Brunson's dad this time! ) are more examples of why I distrust the "sources" suddenly talking about KAT now.

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=W09F6FrMDfp5_y1gKYgF1g

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=W09F6FrMDfp5_y1gKYgF1g

I.e., too often, the NBA media--desperate to find additional storylines (and so help keep their jobs) after a season ends--suddenly comes up with a flurry of stories citing anonymous "sources" hinting at behind-the-scenes dramas that somehow "explain" everything that went wrong. Too often, most of it is exaggerated, untrue or taken out of context.

That said, again, if KAT really is a serious problem, then sure, trade him--though not for **** KD....

they were literally yelling at kat on the bench a couple weeks ago. it was on video.

That said, again, if KAT really is a serious problem, then sure, trade him--though not for **** KD....

[HopelessKnick]

Wow.......KAT with very strong defense in game 7 last year...maybe the smartest thing would be to stand pat and bring in JVG as defensive assistant to make KAT more consistant on defense. Like Johnnie Bryant as HC helping to make our offense elite and JVG making sure we are a top 8 defense in the league.

https://www.reddit.com/r/timberwolves/comments/1cx23j3/karlanthony_towns_is_the_real_defensive_player_of/

[Wildcat]

Wow.......KAT with very strong defense in game 7 last year...maybe the smartest thing would be to stand pat and bring in JVG as defensive assistant to make KAT more consistant on defense. Like Johnnie Bryant as HC helping to make our offense elite and JVG making sure we are a top 8 defense in the league.

https://www.reddit.com/r/timberwolves/comments/1cx23j3/karlanthony_towns_is_the_real_defensive_player_of/

10 years in the league and we're still thinking a 30 year old can change his habits.