Check this out:
https://wfan.radio.com/articles/news/nba-rumors-knicks-feel-they-can-trade-for-disgruntled-starI dunno fellas.. I can't believe even one person in our front office thinks this. Can't believe there's even one guy still with the "quick fix" mentality.. How has this thinking served us in the past? Not good, right? It's just not how you build a team the right way imo. Not even sure who exactly they might be thinking about -- someone like Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, or DeMar DeRozan? Those are the names I'm hearing linked to the Knicks.. Forget those guys, man. DeRozan isn't Michael Jordan, not even close, and even Jordan needed a good supporting cast. Mitchell and Gobert are on the same team (supposedly don't like each other anymore), and they're not even there yet..
Up me, I'm concentrating on this draft to keep building the foundation. That's got to be step 1. I have my eye on a few of players in this draft that I've talked about that I think would go a long way toward building a great foundation:
(1) Daniel Oturu -- obviously, if we jump uo into the top 3, you have to consider Wiseman or Toppin. But even Wiseman -- who hear is convinced he's the next David Robinson? I mean based on what exactly?? Yeah, he had a good first couple of games, then got suspended, then elected to not return to school. There's just no body of work there to go on, but ok i get it, he'd have to get a long look with a top-3 pick. I get it. Toppin too. But who are we kidding -- we're the NY Knicks, there's no way we're jumping up 3 spots from 6 to 2 or 3. lol.. So I'm going with we're gonna pick at 6. To me, this dude Oturu is worth pick 6, in this draft or any draft. 6'10" 240, legit center, long, and plays both sides of the ball and impacts all areas you'd expect him to. I know we already have Mitch and I like him but fear he'll never evolve into a complete big man. He'll do what he does and do it well (protect the rim, rebound some, and convert many lobs for dunks). Oturu's a different animal entirely. This kid has those elements plus he's got a budding inside game, can pop in the mid-range and has a very nice looking 3-pt shot for someone that big. With enough touches, I think this guy has 20/10/2 potential. No question in my mind. Who wouldn't want that/what team couldn't us that? As much as I like Mitch, i don't ever see him as a consistent 20/10/2 guy, putting a team on his back a-la Pat Ewing, making all-star teams, etc. I think this kid's worth pick 6, esp. with Wiseman and Toppin off the board. It's about turning every position possible into a net plus -- now Oturu TOGETHER with Robinson -- that's a very good tandem that I'd put up against any team's 5 man duo in the league, so I'd then see the 5 spot as a net plus. I'd be shocked if Oturu didn't pan out into a better version of Al Horford.
(2) At 25, I really like Saddiq Bey. I'm warming up to Aaron Nesmith here but Bey is still my guy. I see Nesmith as more of a 2G; but Bey at 6'8" 220-ish is a legit SF with all the tools. You'd probably expect a little more rebounding from him just looking at the numbers, but that aside, I love his game. Deadly shooter, probably one of 2 of the best shooters in this draft (the other being Nesmith), but I think we should be coveting a SF more. My plan would be to resign both Damyean Dotson and Zo Trier and let them handle the SG spot. I think that would be a good duo there and adequately cover that spot--Rose just needs to get both back on board. I'd then move Barrett over to starting SF and grab Bey in this draft to back him up. So now in my mind -- Oturu/Robinson is a plus at the 5 for years to come, Dot and Trier is a plus at SG, and Barrett/Bey would be a plus at the 3 -- that'd be 3 key positions with good youth/depth/production, that's how I continue to look at it. Only thing I question is if Bey will even be there at 25 -- I don't think he will be. So I think I'd look to use 25 and another asset or 2, whether that be a future draft asset, Frank, DSjr., Knox, Brazdekis, the rights to Sanon/Labeyrie and or Jaramaz, cash, to move up to at least 20 to have a legit shot at this guy. Again, DYNAMITE shooter with more to create for himself in other ways as well.
(3) I understand we need help at the point, I just don't see a star with any of these PGs projected to go top 10. I just don't see the game-changer. In fact, with guys like Ball and Anthony specifically, I see the chance for disappointment because everyone will see them as a game-changer... Personally, I see a lot of value much lower in this draft, specifically with a guy like Devon Dotson. He's the guy I'd target at 38, again using an asset or two to move up a little to secure him. The drawback: he's got small arms, only shot 31% from 3 (down from 36% the year before), and historically Kansas players haven't panned out well in the draft. That aside, i like his game. He got great speed, is strong/a good finisher (good 2-pt %), I like the 3-pt stroke even though the results were a bit low this year, he runs the offense well and he's got quick hands/good instincts defensively. I think he's great value at 38 or a bit higher and a guy worth targeting. Another guy I want a real good look at is this Issuf Sanon. I've seen a lot of tape and I like what I see. This kid reminds me of John Starks a lot. Not sure if he's a pure point (he feels more like a combo guard), but his game's got John Starks written all over it. Just need to see if he can run an offense, even if it's just part time. We need to see that, along with maintaining himself as a scoring threat -- really looking forward to Summer League to take a good look at this guy (if we even have a Summer league, who knows).
(4) The 4th player I'd like to see the Knicks think about targeting in this draft (would have to acquire another pick somehow) is Jalen Smith from Maryland, another guy I've talked about. This dude is 6'10", only about 220, but strong, extremely quick and agile, A FANTASTIC rim protector, excellent rebounder and he's a very good shooter from distance as well. He looks suprisingly strong too -- check out the tape of all his thunder dunks and how he's able to body up down low with players bigger than him. I'm not sure where this guy get picked (I've seen anywhere from the low teens to the 2nd round) but with any available asset(s) left over, I'd look to deal ourselves in for a crack at this guy. Guys like Portis and Gibson probably are only here next year, and that's even debatable (Portis has a team option for over $15mm and Gibson can be waived by a specific date in June and only cost the Knicks $1mm -- I believe Payton, Ellington and Bullock are all in the same boat (can be waived by this date in June and only cost $1mm). Even Randle doesn't feel long-term and could be gone if we found a taker. I'd love to get someone young, talented and cheap to beef up the 4 spot as well.
What I'd love to see:
1. Resign Dotson and Trier to man the SG spot. We could do a hell of a lot worse. So one spot instantly fortified here by two semi-already proven players..
2. Grab Daniel Oturu for his legit 20/10/2 production potential in the middle.Together with Mitch, the middle is now fortified for years to come..
3. Move Barrett to starting 3, draft Saddiq Bey to back him up. Aaron Nesmith at 6'6" with that pure stroke is a possibility here too. 3-spot fortified..
4. Put ourselves in position to draft Devon Dotson as a PG in waiting after another year of Payton/DSJr./Frank to see if any of those 3 finally rise to the occasion and seize an opportunity. If not, this guy Dotson would be a great understudy PG prospect in waiting to target late in this draft -- get me this kid, stash him in Westchester and allow him to marinate for the year unless called upon (he'd probably be more of a 2021-22 option -- that's ok, groom him as such). I think the potential's there to be as good as Cole Anthony, who I think is getting hyped to a ridiculous level. My thinking -- we get Cole Anthony at 6, we're set up for some disappointment because everyone would be expecting a game-changer. We get Devon Dotson around 30 or so however, i feel we'll be pleasantly surprised at the value we'd be getting there.
5. Instead of trading all assets for "a disgruntled star," use those assets to go after a 4th draft pick and target Jalen Smith as a quality understudy PF for 2021-22, when guy like Portis and Gibson will be gone (Randle too maybe).
6. If not traded to move up/acquire an additional pick in this draft, give Issuf Sanon a long look in Summer League and see if he's the next John Starks.
Forget this disgruntled star nonsense. That serves us no purpose right now. Start with this draft and build the foundation the right way. Let potential FAs look at a re-tooled roster and see the depth, the youth and the potential.
Field of Dreams -- "If you build it, he will come." Build it first!!!
