Post#388 » by finestrg » Mon May 24, 2021 4:27 pm
I'm interested to several players for two reasons: (1) to upgrade/shore up several positions and (2) to keep costs down and avoid the trap of overpaying for anything.
First, assessing our own FAs:
Players we have that'd I'd let go:
Payton -- Outta here, Jack. Just worthless and broken. Don't see how he can even be fixed in NY at this point. Was never good enough anyway, despite having an impact game every now and again. He just screams, 'cut him loose and go get something better.' As of now, that's probably Vildoza, and we'll see whatever else we can come up with.
Noel -- Respect for being a good shot-blocker but there's too may things I don't like about him -- just too small to man the 5 spot (don't care for his body type too--he's an injury waiting to happen). Then there's the lack of court awareness, despite the good timing with a lot of his blocks -- it's glaring (too may times he's out of position, has his head/back turned, doesn't recover well to protect like you think he would/should, etc..). He's got some quick hands on defense trying to poke balls away to be fair if you watch closely (something he subtly does well but this has negligible impact), but then terrible hands on offense, and has no real offensive game at all to speak of. He'll undoubtedly be looking for a raise off the good shot-blocking alone (what is he, 3rd in the league?), and probably deserves it, but I don't like him at any kind of significant cap increase. Just feel like there will be better options. i think 3 years/$30mm is overpaying...Not even solely about the money, he's just a pass for me, all things considered. I want a more well-rounded player in the middle. We haven't had that it so long and we need it.
Frank -- I feel two things here -- the Knicks failed him because, looking back in hindsight, they should've given Payton's role to him a long time ago, but they didn't (as I remember, he actually closed out last season playing well, but the Knicks never built off that with him and they probably should have). Too late now...But on the flip side, sorry Frank, but you never showed enough here with us anyway. His QO is over $8.3 for next season -- just don't see us retaining him, not at that cost. I feel like he'll never attain the level of play Phil saw in him when he drafted him, either here or for any other team. Like Reggie Bullock, I always felt his defense was overrated too, to be honest.
Pinson -- I get that he's the ultimate teammate and a great cheerleader but this aspect of what he brings is vastly overrated to me. i know others find this more valuable than I do, and that's fine -- I respect that opinion.. I just want to use this spot for a legit player that can play or at least develop in the G-League, not on a glorified cheerleader.
On the fence:
Bullock -- I get that he's been good for well over a month, probably two months, and that he's had a much greater impact over this stretch than earlier in the season when he was basically invisible, but I just don't love his game. He's a spot up shooter, that's it. Solid 3-pt shooter who can't create anything else for himself in other ways (or for others), and I think his D is vastly overrated. Shaky handle too... And another guy, like Noel, that has poor overall court awareness, and he's been prone to the occasional bone-head play, which has really hurt us at times...Still, he is a quality shooter, I get that...I wouldn't be upset if they brought him back -- like I said, he's risen his game over the past 1-2 months where he's had a greater impact but there's got to be a line with him salary-wise. Say of he wanted 3 years/$30mm, would you give him that? I don't know, does he deserve that? Probably, but doesn't mean that we have to give that to him just because we have the cap room. Just on the fence with him as a player and on what kind of salary I'd be comfortable retaining him at (probably much less than what he'll be looking for). Quality shooter but offers little else.
Leaning toward bringing back:
Rose -- he can still play at a high level but I'm worried about him holding up for a full season and also worried about what he'll want salary-wise to return. I'd be more inclined to overpay for him over Reggie Bullock, but again, like Bullock, there's got to be a line. Quickley will have a year under his belt and should be better next year, and we added Vildoza, then there are two guards I have my eye one (one a lead guard in the draft that should be in our range, the other an out-of-left-field offensive-minded PG playing in Australia that I think could fill this role if Rose wants too much money. But say 3 years/$30mm -- I think i could live with that if that's how they want to go with him. Hey, hopefully it's less than that, but I think i can live with that for what he brings. He's not MVP Rose, but still has a lot of gas left in the tank, obviously.
Burks -- Provided he's not looking for the moon to return, I'd love to have him back. Like I mentioned with Noel, Bullock, and Rose -- just throwing out 3 years/$30mm as a baseline potential raise -- I'd feel the most comfortable out of any of our FAs to give that amount to Burks and bring him back. Just so many intangibles -- crafty, heady, he can score, handle, initiate the offense, makes others better, impacts the game in a lot of ways, plays good enough D. Just feel he's a vastly superior player over Reggie Bullock, by comparison, and I said that in that specific thread, before the playoffs. Like any of these guys, though, there's got to be a line in the sand of what they think he's worth. There's one guy in the draft in particular that I think would make for a great replacement (Chris Duarte -- see below), if we had to go that direction.
Gibson -- if we could bring him back fairly cheap, I'd welcome him back. Didn't think he had much left but he can still play. Would still love for them to look around before just automatically re-upping him. I mean would a guy like Skal Labbisere be an upgrade? I think so -- taller, a better offensive game at this point, has a shot-blocking element that Taj's doesn't bring, but end of the day, Gibson has heart and still has some game, so I wouldn't be upset to see him back.
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Ok, so now considering replacements (with the 3 draft picks and the cap room):
Charles Bassey -- I think he's an upgrade over Noel all-around in the middle. He'd bring the same shot-blocking element, but he's bigger/more physical (6'11" 240-ish), should bring much more rebounding and he'd bring more offense. No-brainer upgrade here with one of those picks -- 21, 23 or 32. I think with Mitch/Bassey in the middle next year (and Pelle already under contract for more depth at the end of the bench), the 5 spot would now become a strength for us, rather than the question mark it is now (a question mark even before Mitch went down). Bassey would strengthen this position, no doubt about it. Again, it's a shame they didn't value Daniel Oturu with that second round pick we had in this past draft. I think he may have been further along as a player over Bassey, but what's done is done. Bassey would still be a great draft acquisition for us. Noel is a stopgap and isn't the answer moving ahead imho. We desperately need more size and skill at this position.
Ayo Dosunmu -- I like the size and skill level. Quality lead guard with size and game. Things he needs to work on (driving left, finishing left), but I think he'd be a good pick at one of those spots in the 20s, esp. considering Payton and Rose both could be gone. I like the Vildoza signing and can't wait to see what he's all about and what he can do, but I like this kid as well.
Johnny Juzang -- I like him as a Bullock upgrade. Dude had a fantastic tournament. Very good stroke (I think he'll only improve here) and unlike Bullock, he can go create a shot for himself if need be (I just hate that Bullock can't). Not thinking future NBA all-star here, just a solid rotation 3-man that's better than Bullock overall.
Chris Duarte -- I know we only have 3 impact draft picks (we may have another pick in the mid - lower 50s from Phily, not sure, but I'm not expecting anything there), but wondering if we use a guy like Knox, that pick in the 50s (if we do have it) and cash to dangle for a pick in the 25 range and target this kid as well. I might even consider trading a future pick, esp. if we come to the realization that Bullock and/or Burks won't be back. I think Duarte's an NBA-ready SG that can play some 3 too (he looks taller than 6'6" to me at times, and he's more athletic/bouncy than I've read him being credited for). Knock down shooter with perfect form, crafty/heady and he has an impact on D. I like him a lot for us, esp. if we can't come to terms with Bullock and/or Burks.
I know adding 3 or 4 rotation players from any one draft is outside the box for most, but again, thinking upgrades at a good price/ low cap impact, I think it's something we should consider. Might have to take an initial step back to get all these young guys acclimated and allow them to get their feet wet (might only take half a season, maybe not even), but moving forward, it could be a Godsend. We'd be adding quality, NBA-ready talent with any of these guys and they all fill the right needs. Plus, it'd be great cap management as well. Keep in mind how NBA-ready these 4 guys look! Getting Thibs to go along with something like this might take some convincing, I get it, but you make him understand that we're not overpaying for talent anymore. To me half the battle with putting together an NBA team is upgrading the talent level while managing the salary cap, more so than any other sport.
And my left field FA addition -- Bryce Cotton, Perth Wildcats, Australia. I just always loved this guy's game, going back to Providence and the D-League for the Austin Toros. Very exciting, dynamic player.. He's only 6' so I get that he's a tad small but man is he a fantastic little scorer. This dude could come in, like Derrick Rose, and put up points in a hurry. He can get his shot off on anybody. Just a real effective, gifted offensive player who's been ripping up that Australian NBL for several years now. Very dynamic player who will be 29 next year I believe. Say if Rose wants substantial money and it gives us pause -- I would love for the Knicks to consider this dude, say on a similar contract that we just gave Vildoza. It would be money well spent on a guy that I think could cover Rose's production for potentially a lot less. Just someone I hope they know about and might consider.
