Shams: Knicks, Guerschon Yabusele agree to deal

[FrozenEnvelope]

Surprised we were able to sign players even though we don't have a coach. Makes me wonder if Clarkson and Yabusele already know who the coach will be.

[BKlutch]

That dunk on Lebron in the Olympics gave him a ticket back to the NBA, I like this signing.

I totally remember that, and it stayed with me. I love this about him, and looking for more of the same.

[BKlutch]

I watched Yabu live during the last olympics and was blown away how good he looked. Watched a ton of his highlights with Philly. He will quickly become a fan favorite imo.

No surprise you like him so much, because some of what he does is the best of Randle's. Better handles, tho.

[matchman]

The belief was also that no FA's would sign here without talking to a coach.

There's a lot that happens that we just don't have an understanding of

I honestly think that FA's who are bench type players wouldn't want to sign here if Thibs was coaching. Who wants to come to a place where you won't get burn and an opportunity to shine or develop? Firing Thibs probably helped acquire these 2 new signings IMO.

It's also a leap for these players to sign with a team not knowing who the coach is.

Hi Yabu, would you join us now without knowing who the coach is?

Yabu: Is Thibs still there?

Nah.

Ok I'm in.

[Jalen Bluntson]

I watched a lot of Philly, and this dude is GOOD. I haven't been around much to chat about the off-season, but he was my #1 target for that MLE.

His length, basketball IQ, strength, passing and offensive versatility make him someone who can really productively eat minutes up front. We'll be glad to have him in New York.

I wonder if he can start for us. Hart and Mitch off the bench.

Everyone healthy . . . it starts to feel like we have a legit long rotation

Mitch
Huk
Yabusele
KAT
OGA
Bridges
Hart
Brunson
Clarkson
McBride

That's 10 deep, not counting Kolek who might be ready. The teams that won 60 games last year, and Indiana, who came on strong after a slow start, all had long rotations and rested players. We haven't had this kind of depth in a while.

Huk is still a ? and I have my doubts about Clarkson for now but, we could be a pretty deep team when all is said and done. Top 8 is already better just adding Yabusele. I feel good about the roster right now.

[thebuzzardman]

Still need a backup wing

[Luv those Knicks]

I see the Knicks are adding talent but how do these pieces actually fit together? Brunson and KAT are very talented but they aren't the greatest fit. Do any of these new pieces address the issue of the fit between Brunson and KAT on both sides of the court because those are the two players the team is built around?

I think Clarkson, another PG type, does address the Brunson (ball dominant), KAT (great scorer) problem a bit. It can open up the passing. Yabu can do what Precious did, and shoot 3s. The offensive options got better and the rotation got deeper.

Those are good things, no matter how you slice it. The right coach probably helps too. Brunson is not a selfish player either. There's not a chemistry problem; it was more of a managing the players problem.

[Luv those Knicks]

Still need a backup wing

outside of a trade, that's not happening. They don't even have enough money for a vet minimum signing at this point.

[CharlesOakley]

Still need a backup wing

Hopefully Dadiet can round into form.

[Context]

Read on Twitter

[kNicksGmen]

Still need a backup wing

Josh Hart

[Luv those Knicks]

Did the Knicks just trigger the second apron?

No. In fact, I don't think you can trigger the 2nd apron with a free agent signing, only resigning your own player.

That said, they're right up next to it. Very little room left. A trade to clear a bit of space wouldn't surprise me, but if they don't see a trade they like, they can operate from here, maybe a million under the 2nd apron, but it's snug. They don't even have room for a vet minimum signing now. Maybe a Shamut, part of the year signing. That's it.

[eagle54]

Let's go, what a surprise the french Big Bears in NY with a little salary ! Good job Leon.

[Jalen Bluntson]

Did the Knicks just trigger the second apron?

No. In fact, I don't think you can trigger the 2nd apron with a free agent signing, only resigning your own player.

That said, they're right up next to it. Very little room left. A trade to clear a bit of space wouldn't surprise me, but if they don't see a trade they like, they can operate from here, maybe a million under the 2nd apron, but it's snug. They don't even have room for a vet minimum signing now. Maybe a Shamut, part of the year signing. That's it.

I am hearing there's still room for another vet mini and rookie mini and then be right under the apron. Something about the TPMLE being less restrictive using it in the summer vs the middle of the season. Aller is a mad man so, I trust we are in good cap shape to go over the apron next summer and not this one,

[BKlutch]

Read on Twitter

His best play ever. I just love this so much. Count me on Team Yabu!

[LookToShoot]

I wasn’t expecting this, but I like the signing.

[Luv those Knicks]

Did the Knicks just trigger the second apron?

No. In fact, I don't think you can trigger the 2nd apron with a free agent signing, only resigning your own player.

That said, they're right up next to it. Very little room left. A trade to clear a bit of space wouldn't surprise me, but if they don't see a trade they like, they can operate from here, maybe a million under the 2nd apron, but it's snug. They don't even have room for a vet minimum signing now. Maybe a Shamut, part of the year signing. That's it.

I am hearing there's still room for another vet mini and rookie mini and then be right under the apron. Something about the TPMLE being less restrictive using it in the summer vs the middle of the season. Aller is a mad man so, I trust we are in good cap shape to go over the apron next summer and not this one,

If this tweet is right, then there isn't room for a vet minimum, just a rookie minimum, or part of the year deal like they did last year with Shamet & Matt Ryan. They're right up against the ceiling.

Great signing, but they do have some roster problems right now. I see a couple two-way deals. Summer league is going to be a deciding factor I think.

Unless their 2nd round pick, or a euro or maybe Dink step up, I don't see them signing a rookie deal. They will almost certainly have a few two-way deals.

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[JayTWill]

I see the Knicks are adding talent but how do these pieces actually fit together? Brunson and KAT are very talented but they aren't the greatest fit. Do any of these new pieces address the issue of the fit between Brunson and KAT on both sides of the court because those are the two players the team is built around?

That's a weird way of seeing things. Other than trading either KAT or Brunson, what exactly are you proposing? What kind of players would "help" with the chemistry between them?

You already have defensive locks in OG and Mitch (and sometimes Mikal). IMO swapping out Thibs and his robotic reliance on iso-dribble drive rim attack should help more than anything.

Last year we had a bunch of small guards, bigs and limited playable wing depth and no natural playmakers/floor generals in the rotation. Somehow we have the same issue once again. When we were playing the Pacers and their pace and ball movement I wasn't thinking to myself that we need someone like Yabusele and Clarkson. I know beggars can't be choosers but did we really need a 4th big and another small guard?

And that Brunson/Mikal/OG/KAT/Mitch had a defensive rating of 122 with opponents shooting 44% from 3 and the Knicks having -5 net rating in the postseason. Anything is better than that original starting lineup but that small sample size wasn't really an indication that they solved the defensive issues. We had trouble pairing KAT and Brunson together defensively. It seems like we added a couple more guys that will be questionable fits on the defensive end with those two also but I admit never really paying attention to Yabusele's defense which is why asked the original question.

On offense Thibs is as basic as it gets but we also lacked sound decision/playmakers with the ball in their hands. Clarkson wasn't really the guy I imagine lifting the group up with many mouths to feed. He can do things with the ball in his hand but he also does it in a very sloppy inefficient way. He has some Jordan Poole in him.

[8516knicks]

I watched a lot of Philly, and this dude is GOOD. I haven't been around much to chat about the off-season, but he was my #1 target for that MLE.

His length, basketball IQ, strength, passing and offensive versatility make him someone who can really productively eat minutes up front. We'll be glad to have him in New York.

I wonder if he can start for us. Hart and Mitch off the bench.

Everyone healthy . . . it starts to feel like we have a legit long rotation

Mitch
Huk
Yabusele
KAT
OGA
Bridges
Hart
Brunson
Clarkson
McBride

That's 10 deep, not counting Kolek who might be ready. The teams that won 60 games last year, and Indiana, who came on strong after a slow start, all had long rotations and rested players. We haven't had this kind of depth in a while.

Huk is still a ? and I have my doubts about Clarkson for now but, we could be a pretty deep team when all is said and done. Top 8 is already better just adding Yabusele. I feel good about the roster right now.

It's a top 8. Huk will occupy the "Jericho Sims" bench chair all season.

[8516knicks]

Still need a backup wing

Hopefully Dadiet can round into form.

Welcome to Paris on the Hudson.