College/Draft #6 - NCAA Finals + Draft Leadup W/ Knicks In The Top Seed!!!

[DOT]

dsj will have 0 impact (as he should) on who the knicks draft thinking anything otherwise is delusion

I just don't think Ja's that much better than him

And if there is a gap between Ja and guys like RJ, Hunter, and Culver, it's not that big either

It'd be my same thinking with Knox if we didn't have DSJ and I didn't think Knox and another wing could coexist. They're not really that much better than him or Ja, so go with the guy that doesn't double up on a position that can't play together, if that makes sense.

I just really hate it when people say "just draft BPA" cause Ja really isn't a clear BPA at 2, and if you don't have a clear BPA you don't draft the guy that can't coexist with the other guy you already have

It's why I thought the Cardinals drafting Murray was stupid

I agree with this premise whole heartedly but it’s a little different with the nfl, especially for qbs because they’re impact is insurmountable to other positions. if the cards really feel like murray is a franchise qb they were right for taking him. the upside is too high to pass up.

Yeah it is different I get that, but I just don't see it with Ja

He can absolutely become a good player, but he's not good enough in my book to say just take him and forget fit

I don't see All Star in him, he's not the type of player you can build around. Any other draft, he'd be talked about as a mid lotto pick, there's no way he goes top 5 any other year, but he's being talked about as the unanimous #2 which I just don't get. He's not that good

It's bad asset management to draft Ja imo

If we had a deal with say the Wolves to get their pick and Dieng's contract for DSJ, I'd be fine with drafting Ja even though I really don't see it in him, cause I don't see it in anyone else either (except Zion obviously). This draft class looks really bad right now

[Zenzibar]

Not old enough to remember ewing in college but who had the most ridiculous amount of hype coming into the NBA

Ewing
LeBron
Greg oden
Zion Williamson

Easily LeBron. They knew he was a god at like 15 years old. They aired his HS games on ESPN!

Patrick Ewing had gripped the nation by storm during his Georgetown years and therefore much much more media attention. He put Georgetown on the sports map and created a fine rivalry with St. Johns with Chris Mullen and Mark Jackson.

[3toheadmelo]

Easily the second best player of the draft. If the Knicks didn’t have DSJ, he would be my pick at #2

The Knicks should absolutely take the best player available. The only position were potentially set at is center, and even there Mitchell could always take a step backwards. I'm not 100% old on DSJ, but sen if I were, if Morant is the best player available, we take him.

It doesn’t seem likely that the Knicks will take Morant. Perry and mills have said that if there isn’t a big gap in talent at the same position (like DSJ and Morant) they will draft a player at a different position. You can pretty much pencil in RJ Barrett as the pick if we are #2.

Watch on YouTube

Also the Knicks are sending assistants to work with DSJ, they seem pretty committed to him. And there hasn’t been any rumors of us taking Morant or Garland. It’s only been Cam, Hunter, etc. I highly doubt we are drafting a point guard.

[Worst_to_First]

According to a scout, via NBC Sports Washington's Chris Miller, Morant plays with Russell Westbrook-like athleticism and the ball-handling skills of former Wizard, Rod Strickland.

"If that's the case", said Hayes, "then he has to be considered for the No. 1 pick."

Westbrook has been regarded as a top athlete for his speed, power and overall skill set.

On being compared to Rod Strickland, Haynes noted that "without Strickland, you would not have Kyrie Irving." Strickland had a certain control over the ball that made him a great point guard. He ranks 12th on the NBA all-time assist leaders.

The All-American sophomore led the NCAA in assists last season with 10.0 assists per game. This made him the first player to average double-digit assists since 1994-95. Is that more impressive at a mid-major school like Murray State? Kind of.

If Morant is drafted anywhere in the top three, as expected, he will become the first sophomore to do so since 2013. Who holds the 2013 honor? None other than former Wizard, Otto Porter Jr. This will also make him the first player from a mid-major university since Derrick Rose in 2008.

Haynes admits that "there are a few teams going back and forth between him and Zion.

Easily the second best player of the draft. If the Knicks didn’t have DSJ, he would be my pick at #2

I wonder which teams are doing the back and forth between Ja and Zion. Primary suspects are the Suns and Bulls. Not necessarily that they would take Ja over Zion at #1 but these teams might consider trading down in order to gain more assets.

Ja has the novelty edge over DSJ and would therefore command significantly more premium. A course of action I would take if we get #2 is to have a chat with those teams high on Ja and see what we could get.

If we are to get KD and some other max FA (I prefer Butler over Kyrie) and at the same time get #2, I would toy with the idea of trading both Ja and Frank to the Suns in exchange for their unprotected 2020 pick, the Bucks 2020 pick and whatever other draft assets we can squeeze given that Phoenix is usally rumored as enamored in taking on Ntilikina.

I don’t think Monty and Ja can turn things around in Phoenix this year and it is the 2020 studs like Wiseman and Edwards that I want to have a shot in having regardless how slim it may be.

Passing on Ja and unloading Frank will also free up about $12 mil in cap space that could help us get one more veteran help like Danny Green or re-sign DeAndre Jordan to further help tutor Mitch and ensure his development. We would also have the MLE to use, which we could on bringing Mario back.

Mitch/DJ
Hezonja/Knox
KD
Butler/Dotson
DSJ/Trier

I would prefer the rebuild route rather than a quick fix but this is something I could deal with while keeping even a semblance of a Wiseman or Edwards dream intact.

[Zenzibar]

Easily the second best player of the draft. If the Knicks didn’t have DSJ, he would be my pick at #2

The Knicks should absolutely take the best player available. The only position were potentially set at is center, and even there Mitchell could always take a step backwards. I'm not 100% old on DSJ, but sen if I were, if Morant is the best player available, we take him.

It doesn’t seem likely that the Knicks will take Morant. Perry and mills have said that if there isn’t a big gap in talent at the same position (like DSJ and Morant) they will draft a player at a different position. You can pretty much pencil in RJ Barrett as the pick if we are #2.

Watch on YouTube

Also the Knicks are sending assistants to work with DSJ, they seem pretty committed to him. And there hasn’t been any rumors of us taking Morant or Garland. It’s only been Cam, Hunter, etc. I highly doubt we are drafting a point guard.

Good point.

Looking at DSJ's potential gives promise that he can achieve a higher level as long as he has a team working with him on his game. He has that with this new Knicks' development program. Look at Mudiay's 1 season turnaround and if it translates to DSJ the team has a keeper. To me it's Zion or trade down in a three team trade for a young power forward. Again my hope is that the team works on developing Mitchell into a power forward to play alongside DJ. Not on the AD bandwagon YET.

Watch on YouTube

[Worst_to_First]

The Knicks should absolutely take the best player available. The only position were potentially set at is center, and even there Mitchell could always take a step backwards. I'm not 100% old on DSJ, but sen if I were, if Morant is the best player available, we take him.

It doesn’t seem likely that the Knicks will take Morant. Perry and mills have said that if there isn’t a big gap in talent at the same position (like DSJ and Morant) they will draft a player at a different position. You can pretty much pencil in RJ Barrett as the pick if we are #2.

Watch on YouTube

Also the Knicks are sending assistants to work with DSJ, they seem pretty committed to him. And there hasn’t been any rumors of us taking Morant or Garland. It’s only been Cam, Hunter, etc. I highly doubt we are drafting a point guard.

Good point.

Looking at DSJ's potential gives promise that he can achieve a higher level as long as he has a team working with him on his game. He has that with this new Knicks' development program. Look at Mudiay's 1 season turnaround and if it translates to DSJ the team has a keeper. To me it's Zion or trade down in a three team trade for a young power forward. Again my hope is that the team works on developing Mitchell into a power forward to play alongside DJ. Not on the AD bandwagon YET.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=82&v=tFm9efxeJTk[/youtube]

Yeah am very optimistic on DSJ. If he can get his conditioning and shooting percentages up he can be KD’s new Westbrook without the craziness and stat padding.

I can’t find the video but what I like about DSJ is that when he was asked who he thought was the best PG between Curry and Russ, he insisted on saying that it was Chris Paul.

There really is a desire for DSJ in becoming a true floor general rather than simply being a scoring PG that some would make him out to be.

[Zenzibar]

It doesn’t seem likely that the Knicks will take Morant. Perry and mills have said that if there isn’t a big gap in talent at the same position (like DSJ and Morant) they will draft a player at a different position. You can pretty much pencil in RJ Barrett as the pick if we are #2.

Watch on YouTube

Also the Knicks are sending assistants to work with DSJ, they seem pretty committed to him. And there hasn’t been any rumors of us taking Morant or Garland. It’s only been Cam, Hunter, etc. I highly doubt we are drafting a point guard.

Good point.

Looking at DSJ's potential gives promise that he can achieve a higher level as long as he has a team working with him on his game. He has that with this new Knicks' development program. Look at Mudiay's 1 season turnaround and if it translates to DSJ the team has a keeper. To me it's Zion or trade down in a three team trade for a young power forward. Again my hope is that the team works on developing Mitchell into a power forward to play alongside DJ. Not on the AD bandwagon YET.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=82&v=tFm9efxeJTk[/youtube]

Yeah am very optimistic on DSJ. If he can get his conditioning and shooting percentages up he can be KD’s new Westbrook without the craziness and stat padding.

I can’t find the video but what I like about DSJ is that when he was asked who he thought was the best PG between Curry and Russ, he insisted on saying that it was Chris Paul.

There really is a desire for DSJ in becoming a true floor general rather than simply being a scoring PG that some would make him out to be.

I'm optimistic as well, not sold completely until he comes back after this summer. Would also love to see Dot develop into a bonafide shooting guard, this kid has great tools. Having Frank Ntilikina, Kevin Knox and DSJ coming off the bench would be great from a depth and development perspective.

[3toheadmelo]

Easily the second best player of the draft. If the Knicks didn’t have DSJ, he would be my pick at #2

I wonder which teams are doing the back and forth between Ja and Zion. Primary suspects are the Suns and Bulls. Not necessarily that they would take Ja over Zion at #1 but these teams might consider trading down in order to gain more assets.

Ja has the novelty edge over DSJ and would therefore command significantly more premium. A course of action I would take if we get #2 is to have a chat with those teams high on Ja and see what we could get.

If we are to get KD and some other max FA (I prefer Butler over Kyrie) and at the same time get #2, I would toy with the idea of trading both Ja and Frank to the Suns in exchange for their unprotected 2020 pick, the Bucks 2020 pick and whatever other draft assets we can squeeze given that Phoenix is usally rumored as enamored in taking on Ntilikina.

I don’t think Monty and Ja can turn things around in Phoenix this year and it is the 2020 studs like Wiseman and Edwards that I want to have a shot in having regardless how slim it may be.

Passing on Ja and unloading Frank will also free up about $12 mil in cap space that could help us get one more veteran help like Danny Green or re-sign DeAndre Jordan to further help tutor Mitch and ensure his development. We would also have the MLE to use, which we could on bringing Mario back.

Mitch/DJ
Hezonja/Knox
KD
Butler/Dotson
DSJ/Trier

I would prefer the rebuild route rather than a quick fix but this is something I could deal with while keeping even a semblance of a Wiseman or Edwards dream intact.

Yeah the first thing I would do right after the lottery and we find out we are #2, I am putting that pick on the block and taking the highest bidder on Ja Morant. From what it looks like, some teams seem to be pretty thirsty for him. Probably the Bulls or Suns like you said.

I dig the 2020 Suns pick idea tho. I low key have some hope in the Suns being a better improved team under Monty. Especially knowing that he has worked with big men like Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis, Lamarcus Aldridge, etc. That should be good for Ayton. But I would def try to get their 2020 pick. I am desperate for Wiseman or Edwards too so any slim chance would do for now.

I prefer Jimmy Butler over Kyrie too but if we are going for the quick fix, I personally would feel a lot better if we somehow got KD and Kawhi together. That's pretty unstoppable. I don't have high hopes in KD+ Kyrie or KD+ Butler. I feel like our best case scenarios with those duos are ECF IMO.

[3toheadmelo]

It doesn’t seem likely that the Knicks will take Morant. Perry and mills have said that if there isn’t a big gap in talent at the same position (like DSJ and Morant) they will draft a player at a different position. You can pretty much pencil in RJ Barrett as the pick if we are #2.

Watch on YouTube

Also the Knicks are sending assistants to work with DSJ, they seem pretty committed to him. And there hasn’t been any rumors of us taking Morant or Garland. It’s only been Cam, Hunter, etc. I highly doubt we are drafting a point guard.

Good point.

Looking at DSJ's potential gives promise that he can achieve a higher level as long as he has a team working with him on his game. He has that with this new Knicks' development program. Look at Mudiay's 1 season turnaround and if it translates to DSJ the team has a keeper. To me it's Zion or trade down in a three team trade for a young power forward. Again my hope is that the team works on developing Mitchell into a power forward to play alongside DJ. Not on the AD bandwagon YET.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=82&v=tFm9efxeJTk[/youtube]

Yeah am very optimistic on DSJ. If he can get his conditioning and shooting percentages up he can be KD’s new Westbrook without the craziness and stat padding.

I can’t find the video but what I like about DSJ is that when he was asked who he thought was the best PG between Curry and Russ, he insisted on saying that it was Chris Paul.

There really is a desire for DSJ in becoming a true floor general rather than simply being a scoring PG that some would make him out to be.

Yep I remember that vid too. You can tell he wants to be a true floor general by his play also. Remember how many times he could've had 10+ assist games this season and it didn't happen cause of the bums we had missing open shots?

[DOT]

Good point.

Looking at DSJ's potential gives promise that he can achieve a higher level as long as he has a team working with him on his game. He has that with this new Knicks' development program. Look at Mudiay's 1 season turnaround and if it translates to DSJ the team has a keeper. To me it's Zion or trade down in a three team trade for a young power forward. Again my hope is that the team works on developing Mitchell into a power forward to play alongside DJ. Not on the AD bandwagon YET.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=82&v=tFm9efxeJTk[/youtube]

Yeah am very optimistic on DSJ. If he can get his conditioning and shooting percentages up he can be KD’s new Westbrook without the craziness and stat padding.

I can’t find the video but what I like about DSJ is that when he was asked who he thought was the best PG between Curry and Russ, he insisted on saying that it was Chris Paul.

There really is a desire for DSJ in becoming a true floor general rather than simply being a scoring PG that some would make him out to be.

Yep I remember that vid too. You can tell he wants to be a true floor general by his play also. Remember how many times he could've had 10+ assist games this season and it didn't happen cause of the bums we had missing open shots?

I seen a bunch of times him passing to run a set, not just to get an assist

He's not perfect at it, but people talked about him like he was Mudiay, which he isn't. Plus, he didn't look nearly as bad on defense as I thought he would

I think if he gets his shot consistent he'll be real good

Sent from my SM-G965U using RealGM mobile app

[Zenzibar]

Yeah am very optimistic on DSJ. If he can get his conditioning and shooting percentages up he can be KD’s new Westbrook without the craziness and stat padding.

I can’t find the video but what I like about DSJ is that when he was asked who he thought was the best PG between Curry and Russ, he insisted on saying that it was Chris Paul.

There really is a desire for DSJ in becoming a true floor general rather than simply being a scoring PG that some would make him out to be.

Yep I remember that vid too. You can tell he wants to be a true floor general by his play also. Remember how many times he could've had 10+ assist games this season and it didn't happen cause of the bums we had missing open shots?

I seen a bunch of times him passing to run a set, not just to get an assist

He's not perfect at it, but people talked about him like he was Mudiay, which he isn't. Plus, he didn't look nearly as bad on defense as I thought he would

I think if he gets his shot consistent he'll be real good

Sent from my SM-G965U using RealGM mobile app

Good point. There's real talent there to uncover.

Emmanuelle Mudiay is being used as an great example of our development program. We finally got to see some real good games, the hype coming from China and potential to be a good pro.

Watch on YouTube

For that matter Mario Herzonja lauded the development program and wished he had them around from his NBA beginnings. Once his point skills were unleashed on the NBA I was like, dam at 6'8" playing point, he's a problem being guarded.

Watch on YouTube

[DOT]

Yep I remember that vid too. You can tell he wants to be a true floor general by his play also. Remember how many times he could've had 10+ assist games this season and it didn't happen cause of the bums we had missing open shots?

I seen a bunch of times him passing to run a set, not just to get an assist

He's not perfect at it, but people talked about him like he was Mudiay, which he isn't. Plus, he didn't look nearly as bad on defense as I thought he would

I think if he gets his shot consistent he'll be real good

Sent from my SM-G965U using RealGM mobile app

Good point. There's real talent there to uncover.

Emmanuelle Mudiay is being used as an great example of our development program. We finally got to see some real good games, the hype coming from China and potential to be a good pro.

Watch on YouTube

For that matter Mario Herzonja lauded the development program and wished he had them around from his NBA beginnings. Once his point skills were unleashed on the NBA I was like, dam at 6'8" playing point, he's a problem being guarded.

Watch on YouTube

Mudiay and Mario ain't sh*t though

We saw the same sh*t with Burke last year we saw with Mudiay, dude has a fluke year from mid after being garbage which makes him look better than he is, then next year he regresses back to the mean. Dude only had better stats because Fiz was fine with just letting him take whatever shot he wanted with no accountability

Mario had a few fluke good games. Dude's looking for a contract. Both those guys are fool's gold, especially considering their contracts are up, and I ain't paying them sh*t

DSJ can develop into something good though

[robillionaire]

DSJ just needs to fix that jump shot, hope he works with a shooting coach in the offseason. Also work on his shot selection. But I think he’s got a lot of promise, hope we keep him.

[Dantares]

DSJ just needs to fix that jump shot, hope he works with a shooting coach in the offseason. Also work on his shot selection. But I think he’s got a lot of promise, hope we keep him.

I think he is gone if we get kyrie. They are both small so they can't play together. I hope they trade Dennis sooner and get a 1st round pick than trade him later and get nothing when he complains about playing only 15-20 minutes per game and not playing with the ball in his hands. I can see mudiay being ok with that role behind kyrie.

[Zenzibar]

I seen a bunch of times him passing to run a set, not just to get an assist

He's not perfect at it, but people talked about him like he was Mudiay, which he isn't. Plus, he didn't look nearly as bad on defense as I thought he would

I think if he gets his shot consistent he'll be real good

Sent from my SM-G965U using RealGM mobile app

Good point. There's real talent there to uncover.

Emmanuelle Mudiay is being used as an great example of our development program. We finally got to see some real good games, the hype coming from China and potential to be a good pro.

Watch on YouTube

For that matter Mario Herzonja lauded the development program and wished he had them around from his NBA beginnings. Once his point skills were unleashed on the NBA I was like, dam at 6'8" playing point, he's a problem being guarded.

Watch on YouTube

Mudiay and Mario ain't sh*t though

We saw the same sh*t with Burke last year we saw with Mudiay, dude has a fluke year from mid after being garbage which makes him look better than he is, then next year he regresses back to the mean. Dude only had better stats because Fiz was fine with just letting him take whatever shot he wanted with no accountability

Mario had a few fluke good games. Dude's looking for a contract. Both those guys are fool's gold, especially considering their contracts are up, and I ain't paying them sh*t

DSJ can develop into something good though

We can disagree on these young players' trajectory all night. But we can at least agree that Mudiay's improved play was a direct result of this management team, which has a good program in place for developing young players.

[DOT]

Good point. There's real talent there to uncover.

Emmanuelle Mudiay is being used as an great example of our development program. We finally got to see some real good games, the hype coming from China and potential to be a good pro.

Watch on YouTube

For that matter Mario Herzonja lauded the development program and wished he had them around from his NBA beginnings. Once his point skills were unleashed on the NBA I was like, dam at 6'8" playing point, he's a problem being guarded.

Watch on YouTube

Mudiay and Mario ain't sh*t though

We saw the same sh*t with Burke last year we saw with Mudiay, dude has a fluke year from mid after being garbage which makes him look better than he is, then next year he regresses back to the mean. Dude only had better stats because Fiz was fine with just letting him take whatever shot he wanted with no accountability

Mario had a few fluke good games. Dude's looking for a contract. Both those guys are fool's gold, especially considering their contracts are up, and I ain't paying them sh*t

DSJ can develop into something good though

We can disagree on these young players' trajectory all night. But we can at least agree that Mudiay's improved play was a direct result of this management team, which has a good program in place for developing young players.

What program?

You mean, "Hey, just do whatever you want, we're not gonna run plays, and there's no reprucussions for taking bad shots or not playing defense, as long as you're taking as many shots as you can you're golden"?

Cause that's what we did. There's no system, there's no program, there really wasn't much development, and Mudiay didn't really improve

[robillionaire]

DSJ just needs to fix that jump shot, hope he works with a shooting coach in the offseason. Also work on his shot selection. But I think he’s got a lot of promise, hope we keep him.

I think he is gone if we get kyrie. They are both small so they can't play together. I hope they trade Dennis sooner and get a 1st round pick than trade him later and get nothing when he complains about playing only 15-20 minutes per game and not playing with the ball in his hands. I can see mudiay being ok with that role behind kyrie.

I’m not totally sure that DSJ wouldn’t accept a bench role playing backup to Kyrie. I know he was disgruntled in Dallas but that was a different situation

[Worst_to_First]

Good point.

Looking at DSJ's potential gives promise that he can achieve a higher level as long as he has a team working with him on his game. He has that with this new Knicks' development program. Look at Mudiay's 1 season turnaround and if it translates to DSJ the team has a keeper. To me it's Zion or trade down in a three team trade for a young power forward. Again my hope is that the team works on developing Mitchell into a power forward to play alongside DJ. Not on the AD bandwagon YET.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=82&v=tFm9efxeJTk[/youtube]

Yeah am very optimistic on DSJ. If he can get his conditioning and shooting percentages up he can be KD’s new Westbrook without the craziness and stat padding.

I can’t find the video but what I like about DSJ is that when he was asked who he thought was the best PG between Curry and Russ, he insisted on saying that it was Chris Paul.

There really is a desire for DSJ in becoming a true floor general rather than simply being a scoring PG that some would make him out to be.

Yep I remember that vid too. You can tell he wants to be a true floor general by his play also. Remember how many times he could've had 10+ assist games this season and it didn't happen cause of the bums we had missing open shots?

There was a suggestion in the Celtics board to do a sign-and-trade for Kyrie to get DSJ from us.

It will be very depressing to see both DSJ and Tatum on the Celtics while we get stuck paying top dollar for Kyrie.

[awy]

dsj is so far away from kyrie. has a bad back too.

tatum looking like fools gold.

give me kyrie over these two any day

[Worst_to_First]

I’d love to have Kyrie if he would help us get two #1 picks like what happened in Cleveland.