Offseason Thread: The Waiting is the Hardest Part

[digitaldropoff]

Dlo wasnt even the best player on his team.

This love affair with this guy is ridiculous.

I'd rather bring back mudiay instead of giving dlo a max.

To be fair, it doesn't look like the Knicks are going to be getting anything worthwhile this offseason. They've wasted more money on lesser players than Dlo

[Worst_to_First]

Dlo wasnt even the best player on his team.

This love affair with this guy is ridiculous.

I'd rather bring back mudiay instead of giving dlo a max.

I wouldn’t go that far.

Don’t worry about D-Lo though I think he ends up back in LA.

[Bob Ross]

Jesus Christ get it together yall. The only giant contracts offered should be to difference makers and that's it. Legit difference makers, not maybe we can get the 8th seed. Are you all unable to see these are the same kind of moves done over and over that resulted in failed seasons? Russell? Plays no defense. That's a hard and easy pass for a guy who is not all NBA level on offense. We've already had that kind of player so many times. How young are yall?

[Deeeez Knicks]

I am only paying the top free agents max dollars (no D’Angelo). I am also not willing to pay big multi-year deals to the non-star players (Brogdon, Randle).

We are young. We have time. Just keep the flexibility open and I think we will have more opportunities.

In the case of Russell, there’s a chance he keeps getting better and is well worth the max. There’s also a chance he will always have some big flaws. I just don’t think he is a good fit with the rest of our young core and I’m not convinced he is worth it. Would rather pass on him.

This all may mean we don’t sign anyone to a big deal, but that may be the best move for now.

[spree2kawhi]

Jesus Christ get it together yall. The only giant contracts offered should be to difference makers and that's it. Legit difference makers, not maybe we can get the 8th seed. Are you all unable to see these are the same kind of moves done over and over that resulted in failed seasons? Russell? Plays no defense. That's a hard and easy pass for a guy who is not all NBA level on offense. We've already had that kind of player so many times. How young are yall?

But he's so cute with the hair and all...

[3toheadmelo]

D-Lo not even linked to us so we’re not getting him at the end of the day

[Juco24]

This is why I brought up Porzingis because when it was talked about resigning him to a 150 mil max deal, nobody was saying that the rebuild was abandoned. Now you replace him with another 23 year old who plays a different position but brings just as much if not more impact and all of a sudden we are going away from the initial plan? Just doesn't make sense but whatever

Here's the difference. The Knicks drafted Porzingis. IF, at the end of his contract, they thought he was worth it, they would have made a move to give him that contract.

Also, if some fans think trading KP wasnt keeping with the "original plan" , or, conversely, signing DLo isn't part of an original plan, in a way, they'd be incorrect both times.

The Knicks FO has stated they want to build via the draft, and in FA, for players they feel are worth the big contract.
KP was drafted. They decided not to continue to rebuild WITH KP, but the plan of drafting players to build the team remained as an organizational goal, one could say.
(Note - I'm not trying to engage in mental gymnastics to fit stuff together. I know the Knicks drafted KP when they had Melo etc, and post Melo, I guess they were trying to "build" around him, but that really amounted to like 2 seasons, one of which he was hurt. Also, there is the question of if they considered KP the centerpiece or "a piece""

Also, if the Knicks FO felt DLo was worth a max contract, it wouldn't necessarily be outside their plan either, as they moved to use their space to put in a guy around the team with that salary slot. IF DLo is worth the spot, it's a nice fit as he's young and puts him on a timeline with the rest of the players.

Personally, I think that DLo has barely earned the max money slot in one season, no less his career. It's not just him. The NBA CBA is structured, and the reality of talent is such, that there's always a bunch of guys who maxed out who really shouldn't be - or not by certain teams. DLo feels like one of those guys. Then the counter is is that he's "rising" and "will be worth it". Could be true. Hell of a risk. Expensive risk, both in actual dollars, but also in the cost of roster construction and flexibility after.

Totally agree!! DLo was once deemed a sure thing until he got into the league and after spending time with the Lakers, he was considered a bust until he got into a new system at a new location and had a breakout year in his 4th year in the league.

Hhhmmmm... I wonder how smart would it be for the Knicks to wait and see if DSJ can do the same before throwing max money at a player who is not THAT difference maker. Too too many times the Knicks have signed guys that have failed in expectation. Chris Childs, Jared Jeffries, Jerome were just not what we thought and it's worth it (with such a young squad) to make the attempt to develop Smith as he has all the tools needed to be as good as DLo. Now wouldn't that be something... sign DLo based on one good year and then he goes back to pattern - meanwhile, Smith puts it together and becomes a better PG.

[Juco24]

Dlo wasnt even the best player on his team.

This love affair with this guy is ridiculous.

I'd rather bring back mudiay instead of giving dlo a max.

I wouldn’t go that far.

Don’t worry about D-Lo though I think he ends up back in LA.

Lord, I hope that was a joke about Muddy. Lol

[WargamesX]

Some dlo stats with minimal context

DLo before LeVert went down (15 games)
16.5 PPG 3.5 RPG 5.1 APG
41% on 15.1 FGA / 39% on 6.3 3PA / 74% on 2.3 FTA

Dlo while LeVert was out (40 games)
21.0 PPG 3.8 RPG 7.0 APG 1.2 SPG
45% on 18.6 FGA / 38% on 7.6 3PA / 86% FT on 1.9 FTA

Dlo after LeVert came back (26 games)
24.0 PPG 4.4 RPG 8.0 APG 1.4 SPG
43% on 21.1 FGA / 36% on 9.2 3PA / 72% on 3.6 FTA

His FGA to pt ratio is a Red Flag. We're comparing him to Timmy, but Timmy actually has a better ratio of FGA to scoring taking 15 shots for 19 pts on average.

People worth max salaries tend to shoot less and score more than DLo. I won't lie there is some promising stuff here stat wise, but then when you watch the games you notice how he has a tendency to shoot 3pts over driving. Plus he got shutdown in the playoffs once Philly forced him out of his hotspots on the floor. Plus the total lack of defense.....

[WargamesX]

I am only paying the top free agents max dollars (no D’Angelo). I am also not willing to pay big multi-year deals to the non-star players (Brogdon, Randle).

We are young. We have time. Just keep the flexibility open and I think we will have more opportunities.

In the case of Russell, there’s a chance he keeps getting better and is well worth the max. There’s also a chance he will always have some big flaws. I just don’t think he is a good fit with the rest of our young core and I’m not convinced he is worth it. Would rather pass on him.

This all may mean we don’t sign anyone to a big deal, but that may be the best move for now.

At least with Randle the team has a legit need for a PF......

[Chanel Bomber]

Brogdan and DLo y’all got signing fever huh.

Genuinely curious, on which FA could the Knicks realistically splash money in 2020 and 2021? If we can get talented young players to add to our core, it could actually raise the ceiling for this team while putting them in a position to compete earlier than expected. It wouldn’t be the end of the world.

The only better option arguably would be to take on bad contracts for draft picks. You then have to build very carefully around the young guys because the potential for dysfunction and disgruntlement will be significant when the losses start piling up. Not saying it can’t be done, but you still need need to surround the kids with some high-character vets.

The fact that it’s been so quiet these days means a plot twist is possible. We might still be in play for KD-Kyrie. We shall see.

[Stannis]

Well the Mets have a very heated exchange with a NYDN reporter. Manager Callaway cursed at the manager numerous times, and Jason Vargas said something like "you wanna go, i'll f* you up, bro".

This could have been prevented if they banned (or don't invite) the NYDN like Dolan did

[thebuzzardman]

We've reached the "Max out DLo and Randle" part of the pre FA process.

DLo\DSJr (the no D&D boys)
RJ\Trier
Knox\Iggy Brazzers
Randle\Mario (assumption he returns)
Mitch\DJ (another assumption)
Assorted extras: Frank, Kadeem, Kornet, 2 spots for (Wilkes or Hinton or Jenkins or Zak Irvin or Peters or VJ King or Ellenson)


45 win team maxed out for 4 years?

[Juco24]

We've reached the "Max out DLo and Randle" part of the pre FA process.

Scary stuff bro!

[Cookies4Life]

The case for D'Angelo Russell :

How often do you get the possibility to acquire an up-and-coming, barely entering his prime, 23 years old, without injury or character issues, cost-controlled All-Star? Is there even a precedent in the last 10 years? Usually you only get a shot at these guys at the end of their 2nd contract, and they became older and more expensive.

Brooklyn is not in a hurry to ditch him. At all. In fact it seems there's a strong debate in their front office about going for Kyrie if he's not coming with a 2nd superstar, or staying the course with DAR instead (listen to the last Lowe Post). The fact that this is even a decision shows how strongly they value him.

And the Lakers didn't "dump" him. They needed max cap space to prepare for Lebron and/or Paul George, and were desperate to get rid of the Mozgov contract and had to attach a serious asset with it. Obviously the Nick Young fiasco didn't help, but honestly it sounds more like being young and stupid than being a bad teammate.

Russell is for sure still a flawed player, and not what we expected just a few weeks ago. But at this point, he's probably the only clear positive move we can make to improve the team now and in the future. Remember he's cheaper than all the crappy veterans out there, and will be an asset we can trade at some point if needed.

Why would the Lakers get rid of him if he's the kind of wonderful talent you make him out to be?

You can say whatever you want about the Lakers dumping him for salary cap reasons to pursue Lebron, but the fact is they DUMPED their #2 pick only 2 seasons after drafting him. They could've attached other young prospects on their team with Mozgov's contract to make cap space, but they chose D'Angelo. Magic mentioned he was immature and didn't possess the leadership qualities he was looking for. Doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement to me.

I don't know anyone even at 21-22 that does something that wreckless to a friend where they post something online that has such a detrimental effect to that player's personal life. Do you know any other player in the history of the NBA that's does something so harmful on a personal level to a teammate? It screams poor decision making capabilities and just plain old idiotic.

Ok, you want to chalk it up to 21 year old stupidity? He's undergone this maturation process and isn't a shell of his immature former self? Than why did he get busted for WEED AT AN AIRPORT earlier this summer? During the most important summer of his career from a financial perspective, he goes into an airport with weed on him? I have no problem with anyone blazing up, but seriously his idiotic @ss brought it with him into an airport? That just corroborates my stance from the previous paragraph. That's on some Damon Stoudemire level of stupidity.

Yea, I don't need this kid anywhere near Mitchell, RJ and the bunch. He's not worth the headache whatsoever.

[Deeeez Knicks]

I am only paying the top free agents max dollars (no D’Angelo). I am also not willing to pay big multi-year deals to the non-star players (Brogdon, Randle).

We are young. We have time. Just keep the flexibility open and I think we will have more opportunities.

In the case of Russell, there’s a chance he keeps getting better and is well worth the max. There’s also a chance he will always have some big flaws. I just don’t think he is a good fit with the rest of our young core and I’m not convinced he is worth it. Would rather pass on him.

This all may mean we don’t sign anyone to a big deal, but that may be the best move for now.

At least with Randle the team has a legit need for a PF......

We should be developing Knox as a PF

[El Poochio]

Louis King we gotta pounce on him offer camp spot down by the river

[thebuzzardman]

Louis King we gotta pounce on him offer camp spot down by the river

Watch on YouTube

[Cookies4Life]

Dlo wasnt even the best player on his team.

This love affair with this guy is ridiculous.

I'd rather bring back mudiay instead of giving dlo a max.

To be fair, it doesn't look like the Knicks are going to be getting anything worthwhile this offseason. They've wasted more money on lesser players than Dlo

It doesn't mean they have to continue the pattern of overpaying for lesser players. The FO have mentioned time and time again they're not going to be going after 2nd tier guys if they're handing out max contracts. Russell is a 2nd tier guy.

[digitaldropoff]

We've reached the "Max out DLo and Randle" part of the pre FA process.

DLo\DSJr (the no D&D boys)
RJ\Trier
Knox\Iggy Brazzers
Randle\Mario (assumption he returns)
Mitch\DJ (another assumption)
Assorted extras: Frank, Kadeem, Kornet, 2 spots for (Wilkes or Hinton or Jenkins or Zak Irvin or Peters or VJ King or Ellenson)


45 win team maxed out for 4 years?

I know....what happened to KD and Kyrie?