2025-26 Lineup Thread -- How's it shakin out?

[9 and 20]

Looking forward to this season! Kind of - mostly to see us lose while a few of our key young guys look better. Bilal getting injured is a bummer but maybe a blessing in disguise. Opens up a few more minutes for other young guys or maybe Kispert or Middleton plays well enough that we can trade one/both for something good.

Still hilarious that 3/4 of the team is made up of guys 6'6" or 6'7" and I have no idea how it will play out. Would still be happy to add another in that mold in Peterson next year - we do need a guy who can break down the defense, especially if Cam doesn't learn to pass.

[doclinkin]

Looking forward to this season! Kind of - mostly to see us lose while a few of our key young guys look better. Bilal getting injured is a bummer but maybe a blessing in disguise. Opens up a few more minutes for other young guys or maybe Kispert or Middleton plays well enough that we can trade one/both for something good.

Still hilarious that 3/4 of the team is made up of guys 6'6" or 6'7" and I have no idea how it will play out. Would still be happy to add another in that mold in Peterson next year - we do need a guy who can break down the defense, especially if Cam doesn't learn to pass.

Add Darryn Peterson to this group and we are a physical rebounding defensive big away from being a problem in waiting.....

Right. Or add Cam Boozer and be that problem. At least on the defensive end. Watching breakdowns of his game you can see how cleanly he’d click in next to Sarr.

Suddenly we’d be the team that nobody can shoot over or drive past. Every position would have a guy who defends out to the 3pt line. With Boozer as an instant defensive captain on the back line. Calling out switches and blindside picks. Adjusting to fill where someone breaks down. Strong enough to stand up and stifle opposing Bigs even if he’s not 8’ tall himself.

Both he and Sarr are 4/5’s not strictly Center defenders. But Boozer has the muscle and quickness to deny post position and stall the attack. We add our screener, pick and roll monster, high post passer. Immediate ‘veteran’ post player.

Then try to grow our own breakdown attacker out of Tre, Cam, Bilal, Bub, Riley whoever.

[payitforward]

May it be so!!!!

[SUPERBALLMAN]

Is it my imagination or does it seem like they're emphasizing Cam in their promos?

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[payitforward]

Not sure what you mean to be pointing at. First is a mile a minute montage of pretty much every player in the new uni. The second is Will answering a question about Cam. He answered questions about a bunch of players.

That said, Cam being a local kid would make sense as a promo focus -- Bub too.

[DCZards]

Not sure what you mean to be pointing at. First is a mile a minute montage of pretty much every player in the new uni. The second is Will answering a question about Cam. He answered questions about a bunch of players.

That said, Cam being a local kid would make sense as a promo focus -- Bub too.

Pretty much every player? I see 5-6 players, mostly Cam, Bub, AJ, Kyshawn & Tre...with a brief cameo by Gill. Clearly a focus on hyping the youngins.

[doclinkin]

I think it’s who was in town and available at the time they did the photo shoot.

[DCZards]

I think it’s who was in town and available at the time they did the photo shoot.

True. I’m sure Sarr and Bilal would have been in it if available.

[9 and 20]

Serious Arenas vibes in these unis. Glad nobody broke out the finger guns during the video shoot.

[nate33]

[SUPERBALLMAN]

I have a question. Could the Knicks file a grievance against the Wizards about this 2026 1st round pick they own top 8 protected if its viewed that the Wizards are compromising the competitive integrity of the league by intentionally tanking specifically to prevent that pick from conveying to the Knicks? I mean we’re taking about a potentially valuable asset the Knicks acquired in good faith that the Wizards are circumventing the system to prevent the Knicks from receiving the asset.

[nate33]

I have a question. Could the Knicks file a grievance against the Wizards about this 2026 1st round pick they own top 8 protected if its viewed that the Wizards are compromising the competitive integrity of the league by intentionally tanking specifically to prevent that pick from conveying to the Knicks? I mean we’re taking about a potentially valuable asset the Knicks acquired in good faith that the Wizards are circumventing the system to prevent the Knicks from receiving the asset.

There's only so much the league can do to "prove" a team is intentionally losing. The league can't stop a team from opting to prioritize talent development over winning every single minute of every game. Certainly Philly's "Process" and Utah's last two years of squandering Markkanen's career demonstrate that some level of tanking is allowable.

Also, Houston was fully aware at the time they made the Westbrook for Wall-plus-protected-first trade that Washington would soon be entering a rebuild phase, which would impact their chances of acquiring that pick. And NY knew when they traded for that pick that it was fairly unlikely to convey.

[payitforward]

In any case, I really don't think any team (of 5 players in the game) is '"intentionally" losing.' They are simply being outplayed.

For that matter, I doubt there was any improved substitution pattern that would have led us to a better record last year.

[dckingsfan]

In any case, I really don't think any team (of 5 players in the game) is '"intentionally" losing.' They are simply being outplayed.

For that matter, I doubt there was any improved substitution pattern that would have led us to a better record last year.

I disagree with that - I think if you start and play Jonas 30+ minutes per night the win count would have risen.

[payitforward]

You're right, of course. Jonas w/ Holmes backing him up would have upped our wins.

[DCZards]

You're right, of course. Jonas w/ Holmes backing him up would have upped our wins.

Zards get maybe 4-5 more wins by playing Jonas and Holmes more minutes.

But neither the Knicks nor anyone else in the NBA can blame the rebuilding Zards for prioritizing and playing Sarr and Vuk, youngsters with upside, over 2 journeymen bigs.

[doclinkin]

Think you probably get another win or three playing JC over Kuzma. But we absolutely had to play that veteran Enough to put up at least a game or two of good numbers in order to get rid of him.

[payitforward]

You're right, of course. Jonas w/ Holmes backing him up would have upped our wins.

Zards get maybe 4-5 more wins by playing Jonas and Holmes more minutes.

But neither the Knicks nor anyone else in the NBA can blame the rebuilding Zards for prioritizing and playing Sarr and Vuk, youngsters with upside, over 2 journeymen bigs.

correct! We are rebuilding -- as is our right & which was, obviously, the right thing to do!

[payitforward]

Think you probably get another win or three playing JC over Kuzma. But we absolutely had to play that veteran Enough to put up at least a game or two of good numbers in order to get rid of him.

Absolutely.