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

[3toheadmelo]

The only free agent I want is Randle. 24 years old and is improving every year.

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[Stannis]

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.

How reliable is Bobby Marks?

I'm guessing those 3 teams are:

Knicks, Nets, Clippers.

I don't see the Lakers. Pairing an older LeBron with an injured Durant is too risky. Dallas will have to offer KP a contract. Kings aren't worth mentioning.

[G_K_F]

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.

Stop it man.

This is a devastating injury and the guy will be on the wrong side of 30. He’ll never be the same player again.

I’m not paying this guy max money for years on the slim chance he will beat the odds and play at his old self at 31-32 years old after not playing for one year due to a major injury. It’s simply not worth the risk, unless you’re okay with an Amare 2.0 scenario in your roster for the next 4 years.

[F N 11]

Even tho Steven A said he would still max KD with Achilles injury but I bet they backtrack and say the knicks are dysfunctional if they do such a thing.

[2010]

A lot of y'all like to poke and chide KD for being emotional, impulsive, and thin-skinned. But look at how some of y'all keep changing your minds on your opinions, and how y'all keep riding an emotional roller coaster based on what the talking heads tweet or say on any given morning. Y'all are the same ones who speak in absolutes and present opinions as facts with no ties. Then sneak diss others who are consistent yet speak in measured words.

Get off the roller coaster and understand this is a business. Relationships matter.

[SmoothLefty21]

We'd need some things to fall in to place but it's possible that this works out for us, assuming KD returns to a 85-90% of the player he was.

KD opts in. AD is traded to somewhere besides LAL. Both are UFA next summer.

We sign both without giving up any assets. Add Barrett this summer and another Top 7 pick next summer.

[Stannis]

Why are people so obsessed with championships holy shiet

playoff basketball is best basketball

[will34]

A lot of y'all like to poke and chide KD for being emotional, impulsive, and thin-skinned. But look at how some of y'all keep changing your minds on your opinions, and how y'all keep riding an emotional roller coaster based on what the talking heads tweet or say on any given morning. Y'all are the same ones who speak in absolutes and present opinions as facts with no ties. Then sneak diss others who are consistent yet speak in measured words.

Get off the roller coaster and understand this is a business. Relationships matter.

Knicks gonna offer him a max.

[G_K_F]

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.

Offering KD the full max now is nothing to be happy or excited about.

[thebuzzardman]

Sign D’Angelo Russell & Julius Randle
Trade Frank & Dotson for Picks

D’Angelo Russell — Dennis Smith Jr.
R.J. Barrett — Allonzo Trier
Kevin Knox — ???????
Julius Randle
Mitchell Robinson — Luke Kornet

I’d rather Russell over Kemba since the age disparity is huge. Kid still has growing to do and pretty near elite.

Kevin Knox is going to take the next step. And RJ Barrett will also be a scoring threat right away. That’s a playoff team.

treammill team is the Knicks in the early 2010’s

That’s a young squad. And we would still have tons of picks. Randle and Russell are borderline stars, RJ will be a star, Knox will be a threat, and Mitch gonna be Mitch. I’d like it *shrugs*

I wouldn't tie up that money in DLo. Or Randle.

Randle maybe, if the team had developed more and a primary star was signed. Maybe.

[El Poochio]

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.

Championship for Knicks should be giving a rookie drafted by Knicks a second contract

No championships since Charlie Ward

[ItsPajama]

Damn man, I'm really hurt behind this as if KD was a Knick already or something smh. Hate to see it regardless

[Cookies4Life]

We'd need some things to fall in to place but it's possible that this works out for us, assuming KD returns to a 85-90% of the player he was.

KD opts in. AD is traded to somewhere besides LAL. Both are UFA next summer.

We sign both without giving up any assets. Add Barrett this summer and another Top 7 pick next summer.

So he tears his Achilles, misses a season, comes back at 32 and you think he'll be at 85-90%?

That is the most optimistic post I've read here. Achilles injuries are a LOT different from the more common injuries such as an ACL tear. I would be hesitant to max him if he was 26 years old and coming off this injury. Him being 31 already with this potential injury is a major, major red flag.

[robillionaire]

Year 1 of KD being here but not playing wouldn't even be that bad. It gives us another year to develop and rebuild. It's only if he comes back in year 2, 3, and 4, and isn't the same player because of the achilles and basically plays like post achilles kobe that would be bad. We'd really have to hope he has one of those miracle dominique wilkins achilles recoveries. And he'll be 32 by then. He could very likely come back have no lift be 1/2 the player he is now at best. And by that time it would probably be too late to just shut him down and tank because we probably sign other FAs in 2020 for his comeback

[BeagleBoss]

Even if Durant is Kobe in his recovery, he still doesn't make it back, and then only as a more limited player, halfway through next season. Or whatever mid december is.

Now the Knicks would be paying max money for 3.5 years for a player who'll be at best 90% of what he was.

Dream is over. Nice while it lasted.
At least it didn't happen while he was a Knick.
Baby steps of progress.

90%? You're being generous. More like 50%.

[Fat Kat]

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[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.

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.

You are forgetting the trade can be agreed upon in principle. Then 30 days after the #3 pick is signed it would be official. Griffin would just have to let the Knicks draft his preferred player for him. It's really that simple. The trade doesn't HAVE to be official by the draft. Griffin just wants to coax everyone's best offer with no dragging of feet well into free agency. #issabusiness

[Apples]

I feel the achilles was the original injury. Not the calf.

[El Poochio]

Why are people so obsessed with championships holy shiet

playoff basketball is best basketball

Give me the #8 seed with hungry youngins than #1 with mercenaries baby 99 spirit

[Triple C]

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