Should the Knicks tank in the '16-'17 season?

[Jalen Bluntson]

We're not tanking. We were a better team than our record last season. We just had inconsistent or just plain lousy rotations and lineups. Terrible coaching. DNPs for young players we should have been playing. We could have made a run at .500 IMO.

We just hired a HC who took a supposed lottery bound team to 48 wins in a tough western conference.

Not sure team tank is gonna get what they want.

we aren't, we're going to get the 14th pick in the draft. thank the lord we will at least have big body clarence the god on our side draft night.

I worry about that. I would love having a high lottery pick but, I don't see it. It would be great to have at least one more potential all star in KPs age bracket. Hopefully we have the best scouts in the world.

[Adelheid]

We should tank while the talent level on the roster is still not good. As seasons go and FO acquire better players, it becomes harder and harder to get low in standings. Just this year should be enough as I dont feel like tanking for 2017-2018.

[Juggynaut]

We're probably not tanking but making the playoffs next year ain't a cakewalk. Let's look at some of the East teams that didn't make the playoffs. Orlando is bound to improve a ton with Frank Vogel, Milwaukee is going to be scary now that Giannis is emerging, and even Philly is probably going to be a real NBA team now that Hinkie and his full tank strategy is gone.

We might improve but other teams are improving at a faster rate. The only chance I see the Knicks making the playoffs is if KP evolves into an allstar in his 2nd year.

[N Y K]

Barring some miracle, we aren't improving much through FA. It's like Melo says right? Continuity is so clutch.

Gimme one more good shot at a good draft pick with Gaines around to play long term with KP and build around that for years to come. That's all I ask for. Lol.

What's one more pathetic season in the grand scheme of things? Cause that draft pick plus the 2017 FA class having so much of what we need, feels like the stars aligning.

[blueNorange]

if the knicks want any shot of a productive future then yes they should tank and get a top pick because despite the majority here being in denial, melo won't be here when kristaps is in his prime. i'd rather have kristaps and a top pick grow together instead of kristaps having a gimpy melo carrying him down.

[blueNorange]

we owe it to melo to try imo.. i sincerely believe him when he says he wants to be ehre and wants ny to be competetive.

rationally tanking might be the smarter option tho

we owe nothing to melo.

[blueNorange]

I doubt that the rest of the conference improves so significantly that adding two quality guards to a team that was pretty good outside of its guard play would amount to a lateral move.

we won 32 games with Melo missing 9 games and KP missing 10. We lost nearly 20 games with really close scores. This team easily could have been 37 wins with better health and better execution.

You are insinuating that adding a good point guard and good 3/d shooting guard, our biggest weaknesses, would not improve the team at all.

It doesn't make sense.

I'm insinuating that Bazemore and Rondo aren't really that good. They had PERs of 13.4 and 16.9 respectively. While it's better than what we have, it's not earth shattering to the point that we become a top team. On top of that, Rondo is getting older and declining, and Bazemore really isn't that great offensively. He shoots 35.7% on 3s, which is decent but not outstanding, and he is not a great passer. You're left with the same situation as had this year: Melo and KP are the only legit scoring options, and Bazemore will have a good game every once in a while.

The fact is we're further away from contending than you realize. Not only do we need a better bench, which was putrid, but we need another superstar type of player. Melo is regressing and will regress more next year, and KP probably is not ready to make that jump.

This. The Knicks are not that close to being a legit contender by any stretch.. Some fans need to let that sink in and marinate! Adding Rondo and Bazemore adds maybe 5-10 more wins are most which means going off this year's standings we jump from 13th seed to maybe 9th or just barely making the 8th seed... which just ain't worth it.

some fans think melo is in his prime when he's not, outside of passing the ball he didn't have a good season. slow, unathletic, and no hops.

[blueNorange]

Aint tanking. There will be a lot of player development this year along with winning.

congrats on basketball purgatory then, 7th/8th seed with a first round bounce and a measly 10-14th pick.

[blueNorange]

You only tank when you have nothing going for you. We actually have some decent guys and a future all star in KP. With Horny on deck and actually having a real coach and our goal should be development and showing that we are relevant and competitive. Grow from within and plug in as we continue to grow and develop. Tanking will just stunt the development of the team and players, not to mention that this year is the year we need to show something considering how good free agency will be next year.

Then Jackson needs to talk Anthony into waiving his no trade clause.

Not if the goal is to improve and look attractive to stars next year. Stars want to play with other stars on teams that are on the upswing. Can't do that with just KP. You only ask Melo to waive his clause if you are looking to tank.

would you like to know a harsh secret?

star players don't want to play with melo, and that's why they're always passing on the knicks.

[blueNorange]

We're not tanking. We were a better team than our record last season. We just had inconsistent or just plain lousy rotations and lineups. Terrible coaching. DNPs for young players we should have been playing. We could have made a run at .500 IMO.

We just hired a HC who took a supposed lottery bound team to 48 wins in a tough western conference.

Not sure team tank is gonna get what they want.

and what does .500 do other than a wasted season?

first round bounce and mediocre draft pick, but we want to establish a winning culture for kristaps. hey at least melo knows a thing or two(or seven) about first round bounces.

[NewYorkPride85]

After thinking about it last night you guys are somewhat right. We barley had any draft picks in the past and its unfair to assume that we will continue to pick poorly given its a new front office. I do have faith in Gaines that we will find good talent no matter where we pick, I'm just not of the mind to tank. If we do tank we are fortunate and if we don't, we are still fortunate.

[NYKnicksTAPE]

adding a Josh Jackson or Markelle Fultz to this team to grow with KP>>>>>>>maybe making the 8th seed, getting bounced in the 1st round, and ending up with a mid 1st round pick

[delvec19]

You only tank when you have nothing going for you. We actually have some decent guys and a future all star in KP. With Horny on deck and actually having a real coach and our goal should be development and showing that we are relevant and competitive. Grow from within and plug in as we continue to grow and develop. Tanking will just stunt the development of the team and players, not to mention that this year is the year we need to show something considering how good free agency will be next year.

But we need another young stud to pair with Kp.. The other young players are future rotation players at best

How sure are you that whoever we get is going to be a stud? Like Alan Hahn says, picks are the currency of hope as in hope the player we get pans out (down the road). We should be focusing on improving and looking good for players that can help right away and advance KP's development. Take a look at the free agents for next year and you will see what I mean.

Wow same exact favorite teams! High five! Bummed about Whitehead leaving SHU bro.

[Worst_to_First]

We're not tanking. We were a better team than our record last season. We just had inconsistent or just plain lousy rotations and lineups. Terrible coaching. DNPs for young players we should have been playing. We could have made a run at .500 IMO.

We just hired a HC who took a supposed lottery bound team to 48 wins in a tough western conference.

Not sure team tank is gonna get what they want.

and what does .500 do other than a wasted season?

first round bounce and mediocre draft pick, but we want to establish a winning culture for kristaps. hey at least melo knows a thing or two(or seven) about first round bounces.

We just have to show Horny clips of this guy and we would be good to go.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyTu9BEaQQc[/youtube]

[BKlutch]

We can't tank this season because it would destroy the development of the team. Philly has nothing to show for all their picks because what they did was tank and tank again. This means that they did not develop their players to play in a sound NBA offense. They learned only to lose. We have a few good players, a few who may become good, and we may get a few more. Tanking to get a better draft pick would really damage the players we have.

That said, it is possible to take a player from a team that has played badly and integrate him into a healthier team. Look how much better JR has done with Cleveland, where his limited role has helped him to cope. He may still explode and go after shoe laces again, but he's played a good part as a limited role player there this year. So if Philly wants to deal Okafor or Noel, for example, either might prosper on a better team. But I don't look for Philly to do very well this season.

There has been a progression in the Knicks and I see it continuing. We may not win it all during Phil's (first?) 5 years, but I hope we will be on that trajectory by that time.

[BKlutch]

We can't tank this season because it would destroy the development of the team. Philly has nothing to show for all their picks because what they did was tank and tank again. This means that they did not develop their players to play in a sound NBA offense. They learned only to lose. We have a few good players, a few who may become good, and we may get a few more. Tanking to get a better draft pick would really damage the players we have.

That said, it is possible to take a player from a team that has played badly and integrate him into a healthier team. Look how much better JR has done with Cleveland, where his limited role has helped him to cope. He may still explode and go after shoe laces again, but he's played a good part as a limited role player there this year. So if Philly wants to deal Okafor or Noel, for example, either might prosper on a better team. But I don't look for Philly to do very well this season.

There has been a progression in the Knicks and I see it continuing. We may not win it all during Phil's (first?) 5 years, but I hope we will be on that trajectory by that time.

[Dr. Detfink]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfWlot6h_JM[/youtube]

You can Hate but the ugly truth is staring all Knick fans in the face....

The Knicks MUST tank. They gotta get younger, more talented, and CHEAPER.

I don't see Phil Jackson working miracles in free agency and/or trades. The cap is set to go up, so the "Aaron Afflalos" of the league think they're entitled to as much money as DeRozan is about to get from Toronto, and that will cascade into overpaying for mediocre talent.

I don't see Melo getting younger or having the same clout as Lebron, Wade or Kobe in getting good players to come to New York. All I see, one humungous contract and the rest can fight over table scraps.

People say, Philly's tanking has been damaging? I say, the Sixers just haven't drafted well despite the opportunities. Joel Emiid at #3? Evan Turner at #2? Okafor could still pan out...but Ben Simmons is too good to pass up.

The key, the Sixers are getting younger and more talented, keeping the payroll low on a young talent, then they can surround them with vets who are average without over paying.

[F N 11]

Aint tanking. There will be a lot of player development this year along with winning.

congrats on basketball purgatory then, 7th/8th seed with a first round bounce and a measly 10-14th pick.

Not tanking got us KP. No one hopes to tank. We can finally build something. Won more games last year than the year before now playoffs is definitely a possibility. Stop hoping to lose. Not tanking got us KP.

[NoLayupRule]

this thread is the pure pandering

[kingquan316]

Aint tanking. There will be a lot of player development this year along with winning.

congrats on basketball purgatory then, 7th/8th seed with a first round bounce and a measly 10-14th pick.

Not tanking got us KP. No one hopes to tank. We can finally build something. Won more games last year than the year before now playoffs is definitely a possibility. Stop hoping to lose. Not tanking got us KP.

I don't see how not tanking got us KP. Sure we won the last few games at the end of the season, but that team did tank for the majority of the year. Didn't get the worst record, but was bad enough to get a top 4 pick, which was the point in tanking.

As far as next season goes, I'm still leaning towards tanking, just because I don't know where this team is gonna get that second star from to help team up with Porzingis. U need at least 2 stars to compete and win a title, or u are doom to be a good team but a title pretender (Raps, Hawks, Grizzlies), and that is something I want to avoid at all costs. U can try to get one in free agency, but history shows that Knicks usually strike out on getting top 5 level talent. So you might have more success in getting a young potential superstar in the draft, and those are usually picked in the top 5 in drafts. So as much as I want to support Horny as a coach, if I had to choose right now, I would prefer to get a top 1-5 pick and take my chances on him becoming a star for us with Porzingis.