Offseason Thread Continued - Atlanta Got Crabbes and We're Panicking

[Stannis]

Even somebody as injury prone Amare rejected a deal with team options to get a fully guaranteed deal.

I don't see how some are thinking "oh yea, Durant, who is regarded as the best player in the NBA, is injured. So we should offer him a 4 year deal with the last two having a team option. That's fair".

Please don't do that to yourselves. He's getting the max.

[El Poochio]

Why are people so obsessed with championships holy shiet cant I just enjoy a young up n coming team playing modern basketball in the best possible arena in the world

We are not even working for Knicks getting paid for wins we are fans of basketball

DLO
RJ
Knox
Oubre
Mitch

Lets get it so much positive youth energy

[F N 11]

DSJ
Dotson
Kawhi
AD
Mitch

This was the latest leaked team anyway

Control what you can

DSJ
DOTSON
RJ
KNOX
MITCH

[2010]

I find it funny that all the people who speak with such certainty are the people who live and die by Twitter leads that fluctuate more than an unstable stock market.

[Juco24]

I'm surprised so many are counting Durant out.. you don't become GREAT by not honing your craft and working hard & harder to become great! Spending countless hours over and over and over. This guy's mindset is different than most - if not, he wouldn't be who he is! Whether he plays for the Knicks or not, is not relevant but watch this guy come back and show he's still got it! Just watch...

All injuries are different as are all mindsets different. It's not the injury itself that makes you but what you become afterwards. My favorite player ever in LJ didn't learn the nuances of basketball until the back injury. I'm sure KD has had people doubt him his entire career and thus to me - this is another opportunity for him to prove the doubters wrong. Again, it may not be in a Knicks uniform but I'm taking bets that this guy will come back and be an all-star. He's too damn good to allow this injury to beat him.

Excerpt from Nique's interview:

When you came back, your statistical output was pretty good. I think you two All-Star appearances after that and you obviously played well before retiring. But did you feel your game being any different?

It was different in this way. I learned how to play the game on the ground more than in the air. What I mean by that is I learned to become even more fundamentally strong. When I was shooting and stuff like that, it made me appreciate the little things more. Back to the basket moves. Jump hooks. Fadeaways. Bank shots. All that kind of stuff made me appreciate that stuff more. When it got to the point where I needed to play above the rim, I could do that. It made me appreciate playing on the ground more.

How much do you think that will apply for Kobe with his footwork and post game?

That part won’t change. Those things I did. I was a great post player. That’s something I always had. I felt like I could do more of it now because I didn’t know if I could come back and play at that level again. It made me appreciate the little things, shooting fadeawAys, bank shots and that stuff, getting to the free throw line more. With Kobe, it’s the same situation. He already has those things. But having that Achilles tendon tear is going to make him pace himself a little bit more and appreciate the fundamental side even more and not relying on that athleticism that he had. I went through that. It makes you a better player. Not that he needed to be better. It’s a different way to stay effective.

[Stannis]

Didn't Dolan say that he's heard that free agents want to come here and want to get paid, and that he's going to pay them?

This doesn't sound like a guy who is ready to keep his wallet in his pockets.

[NYF13]

DSJ
Dotson
Kawhi
AD
Mitch

This was the latest leaked team anyway

Control what you can

DSJ
DOTSON
RJ
KNOX
MITCH

THIS!!!

[KnixinSix]

Kawhi ain’t coming here.

he really aint. even that chris carter was claiming that the knicks would use durant to convince kawhi. and he still said it was a long shot.

Next up:

Knicks trade EVERYTHING to get AD on the team at the draft, to make a big play for Kawhi
Kawhi joins the Sacramento Kings because "they make him feel nice"
AD gets hurt badly 20 games into Knick career.
Knicks struggle along at 25 win seasons for the next 4 years except they don't have any Mavs picks and traded two of their own. And no young guys except Dotson and DSJr. Who leaves as a FA because, according to his Instagram post "The Knicks just suck, as always"

The thing about AD is he is a 'long haul' guy at the prime entering age of 26. You get him on the team (if he is amenable) and you have quite a few years (6-8 yrs) of prime window. KD on the other hand may have only 2-3 years of elite level play left .

But AD will obviously want another max. Would he be OK waiting for KD? If not , could we get KD and another guy like Kemba or Butler or Kawhi that can play alongside AD next year?

[El Poochio]

DSJ
Dotson
Kawhi
AD
Mitch

This was the latest leaked team anyway

Control what you can

DSJ
DOTSON
RJ
KNOX
MITCH

DLO DSJ double bubble plus Oubre infectious energy perfect for MSG

[Cookies4Life]

There hasn't been that many Achilles injuries, say in comparison to ACL tears in the NBA but the one constant is those that rupture their Achilles tendon don't recover in the same manner as someone with a damaged knee. Kobe and Cousins are probably the most recent examples, and neither man looked like their former selves after that catastrophic injury.

They still have to wait on confirmation from his MRI report that he did suffer an Achilles tear but if he did, the FO should be highly reticent to offer Durant a full level max when he's already 31 years old and coming off such a devastating injury. We'd be paying top dollar to a guy into his mid 30's and this fanbase will worry throughout his entire tenure here about him re-injuring himself. It's a HUGE gamble if his MRI report comes back confirming a ruptured Achilles.

[2010]

If/when the Knicks offer KD the full max players would take notice. That's all I'ma say.

Now carry on with your "xxx is not coming here" ... "xxx is not happening" ... "we have no shot" ... etc.

Let chit play out ladies.

[thebuzzardman]

he really aint. even that chris carter was claiming that the knicks would use durant to convince kawhi. and he still said it was a long shot.

Next up:

Knicks trade EVERYTHING to get AD on the team at the draft, to make a big play for Kawhi
Kawhi joins the Sacramento Kings because "they make him feel nice"
AD gets hurt badly 20 games into Knick career.
Knicks struggle along at 25 win seasons for the next 4 years except they don't have any Mavs picks and traded two of their own. And no young guys except Dotson and DSJr. Who leaves as a FA because, according to his Instagram post "The Knicks just suck, as always"

The thing about AD is he is a 'long haul' guy at the prime entering age of 26. You get him on the team (if he is amenable) and you have quite a few years (6-8 yrs) of prime window. KD on the other hand may have only 2-3 years of elite level play left .

But AD will obviously want another max. Would he be OK waiting for KD? If not , could we get KD and another guy like Kemba or Butler or Kawhi that can play alongside AD next year?

As great as AD is, gutting the team and having the core of AD/Kemba or AD/Butler is something I'm not totally sold on.
Kawhi? hell yeah. But that's just wishing.

[3toheadmelo]

I’m excited to see DSJ, RJ, Mitch and Knox next year

[F N 11]

If/when the Knicks offer KD the full max players would take notice. That's all I'ma say.

Now carry on with your "xxx is not coming here" ... "xxx is not happening" ... "we have no shot" ... etc.

Let chit play out ladies.

My stance has not changed.

[newyorker4ever]

I offer Durant

2 years fully guarantee, prior to year 3 Knicks have option to fully guarantee the last 2 years. Durant gets a player option in year 4.

If you insult KD with a contract like this, he won't come. Plenty of other teams will guarantee his contract like nothing happened. And so will James Dolan

Bobby Marks was on Get Up and said he already spoke to 3 teams that all said they'd still have no problem giving KD a max contract offer. He didn't specify which teams but KD will still have plenty of options and wouldn't doubt if a max offer from the Knicks is one of them.

[F N 11]

I’m excited to see DSJ, RJ, Mitch and Knox next year

I dont understand why its hard to believe knick players can take big leaps. We never develop our own. We were in most games and just didnt have experience. Thats 3 lottery picks and Mitch who should of been a lottery pick. Give them a chance. I think Mitch is a given but DSJ or Knox has a chance to legit break out. They are not bums.

Also summer league is right around the corner . I dont see us playing DSJ, Knox, or Mitch.

[reub]

It's looking like KD has a serious Achilles injury so what should we do with our cap space?

Nothing. Save it. Go with the yutes.

DSJr/Frank
Dot/Trier
Barrett
Knox
Mitch

Heck, bring back Mudiay, Vonleh, Mario, Kadeem and Kornet too.

[Fury]

I offer Durant

2 years fully guarantee, prior to year 3 Knicks have option to fully guarantee the last 2 years. Durant gets a player option in year 4.

If you insult KD with a contract like this, he won't come. Plenty of other teams will guarantee his contract like nothing happened. And so will James Dolan

Bobby Marks was on Get Up and said he already spoke to 3 teams that all said they'd still have no problem giving KD a max contract offer. He didn't specify which teams but KD will still have plenty of options and wouldn't doubt if a max offer from the Knicks is one of them.

IR: Kevin Durant

Can't wait

[F N 11]

It's looking like KD has a serious Achilles injury so what should we do with our cap space?

Nothing. Save it. Go with the yutes.

DSJr/Frank
Dot/Trier
Barrett
Knox
Mitch

Heck, bring back Mudiay, Vonleh, Mario, Kadeem and Kornet too.

I can see JJ Reddick and Morris taking big 1 year deals from us and people making fun of us even though its the right thing to do. Covers 2 bases in vets and shooting.

[thebuzzardman]

If/when the Knicks offer KD the full max players would take notice. That's all I'ma say.

Now carry on with your "xxx is not coming here" ... "xxx is not happening" ... "we have no shot" ... etc.

Let chit play out ladies.

I'm hoping your predictions turn out right.

But a main one for you revolves around Kawhi. Which would be awesome. Who I'd want here more than KD.

But if we combine your rumors with King Ken and Knicks signing Achilles KD, there's no money left for Kawhi. Assuming his rumor of AD getting traded at the draft are true.

I'm sure a lot of players would respect the Knicks for giving KD money and hope to see him well and play with AD, but in a bottom line business where most guys try to maximize their $ while they can still play, how many ring chasers and how good, are joining the team?
I guess it's about the same as would happen if the Knicks traded for AD under King Kens scenario, retained a few worthwhile players.

Talking to myself now - I guess they aren't mutually exclusive - players joining the Knicks. Just not Kawhi.