It's hilarious, I found this old post of mine about the Knicks 2016 off-season...
What I said...
sportscrazy wrote:2016 Off-Season Goals:
1. Establish a true triangle offense culture in terms of system and locker room culture.
-Basically just acquire players that fit in the system with a head coach open to a modernized version of philosophies of the system even if it is not carried out in full.
2. Go all in on the 2017 off-season.
-There is two reasons for this: A.) The 2017 free agent class is much deeper on the top level of free agents available so there is better chances of convincing a top tier free agent or two to come to New York where as in 2016 if you miss out on Durant (which 29 teams will), you basically aren't getting an elite free agent and B.) It gives you a chance to study the impact the raised cap has on how teams pursue free agency through their 2016 spending because right now we all have theories of how the cap increased affects free agency, but have no idea how it actually will. Waiting until 2017 gives you the time to properly assess how to maximize the cap increase.
3. Maximize the 2017 first round draft pick.
-If you can land Durant in 2016, scratch this part. However, if you miss out on Durant (most likely scenario) then it would be better to maximize the first draft pick you have with consecutive draft picks in the following years for the first time in a long time in New York and have a poor 2016-17 season where we grow the young assets than a decent 2016-17 season where we get eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
Off-Season Plan:
1.Hire Tom Thibodeau as Head Coach with the agreement that Brian Shaw would be Head Assistant Coach to enforce triangle philosophies on the offensive side of the ball.
-Thibodeau would establish a defensive culture that has not been seen in New York arguably since Jeff Van Gundy. His ability to hold players accountable on the defensive end would go a long way towards developing winning habits in the development of New York's young players. Brian Shaw is a poor enough Head Coach that there would be no "looking over the shoulder" threat to replace Thibodeau, but he is familiar enough with the triangle offense system that he could be an "offensive coordinator" to further enhance Thibodeau's offense that uses bits and pieces of the triangle already.
2. Sit down with Carmelo Anthony and discuss that the Knicks are going to rebuild through the draft and 2017 free agency going forward then let him tell you which teams he would waive his no trade clause for.
-Carmelo Anthony has been set on not waiving his no trade clause, but I think a real discussion could lead to him be open minded about it this off-season giving his list of teams he would consider going to. I'm assuming this list would consist of the Bulls, Warriors, Rockets, Clippers, Heat and Spurs. Most of those teams have packages that would either not be enough to get 'Melo or would be too much for the other party to consider giving up for 'Melo. However, one of those teams does have a trade package that I think would be right on point for both sides.
3. Trade Carmelo Anthony to the Chicago Bulls on draft night for Mike Dunleavy, Doug McDermott, Taj Gibson, Nikola Mirotic, the 2016 Chicago Bulls first round draft pick and a top 3 protected 2018 Chicago Bulls first round draft pick.
-The Bulls do this because Derrick Rose at this point of his career is still one of the top 5 point guards 'Melo has played with in his entire NBA career and Jimmy Butler would be the best co-star BY FAR that 'Melo has ever played with in his entire NBA career. I don't think people realize how much that would maximize what 'Melo could do on the court and minimize his minutes to prevent injury with other offensive scoring options unlike the current Knicks then when you add in re-signing Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah, the Bulls look like a solid Eastern Conference team. As for the Knicks, there isn't an overwhelming big piece they get back, but what they do get is a good blend of veterans and youth that could be great fits in the triangle and establish that culture in the locker room that 'Melo didn't help to progress. The two draft picks are great for the Knicks because of their current pick situation as well.
4. Use the Bulls 2016 draft pick to draft Denzel Valentine.
-Valentine has a high basketball IQ, good work ethic and a good shot selection with range. Those are great qualities as a young piece in the triangle culture.
5. Hold off on bringing Guillermo Hernangomez to the NBA for one more season.
-It would be better to let him polish his game for one more season overseas while letting his contract buy out situation play out over one more year as well then bring him over once the triangle offense is more established after one full post-Carmelo Anthony season. Again, the theme here is patience.
6. Do not stretch Jose Calderon's contract.
-At this point, it would be better to minimize Calderon's role on the team in terms of minutes and importance then have his contract fall off in full in the 2017 off-season than to create additional cap space in 2016. Calderon could be serviceable as a mentor to the younger point guards (Galloway/Grant).
7. Renounce all free agent cap holds besides Lou Amundson, Cleanthony Early and Langston Galloway.
-Arron Afflalo, Derrick Williams and Lance Thomas are solid, but probably not worth what they will get on the open market with the salary cap being raised. Galloway should be attainable for a reasonable price and Early/Amundson could be re-signed for the minimum most likely as injured reserve guys familiar with the system.
8. Trade Kyle O'Quinn for Devin Harris.
-The Mavericks break up their point guard glut for a decent big man on a great contract. As for the Knicks, Devin Harris would be a great option to hold down the fort for a year until they try to find an upgrade. In the 2014-15 season, Devin Harris was the only non-superstar point guard that was top 30 among point guards in three point percentage, three pointers made AND assists per turnover. That kind of efficiency and shooting could really go a long way towards helping the Knicks point guard situation. As for O'Qunn, as much as I like him, with Robin Lopez, Kristaps Porzingis, Taj Gibson and Nikola Mirotic on board, it may be more efficient to trade him in for a starting point guard.
9. Trade for Tyreke Evans and Omer Asik using traded player exceptions via cap space.
-The Pelicans would create additional cap space to help them land established talent around Anthony Davis while the Knicks get a solid passing guard in Evans to help facilitate the offense a bit while taking a risk on Omer Asik. Asik has been terrible, but if Thibodeau can get him to be his old self, then we have a great back-up center on a great contract (wait until you see what free agents get this off-season compared to Asik's deal). Personally, I would rather take the risk on Asik for a 4 year deal starting at $10 Million with Tyreke Evans coming in addition on a one year contract than pay Kent Bazemore a four year deal starting around $20 Million this off-season.
2016-17 New York Knicks
Head Coach: Tom Thibodeau
Head Assistant Coach: Brian Shaw
C-Kristaps Porzingis/Robin Lopez/Omer Asik
PF-Taj Gibson/Nikola Mirotic
SF-Mike Dunleavy/Doug McDermott
SG-Tyreke Evans/Denzel Valentine
PG-Devin Harris/Langston Galloway/Jerian Grant
IR: Lou Amundson, Cleanthony Early, Jose Calderon
When you look at the goals in the beginning of this post with the theme of this plan basically being patience, I think this is a great set up for the 2017 Off-Season (which most Knicks fans do not want to hear). I just look at the Warriors (drafted Green, Curry, Thompson), the Thunder (drafted Westbrook, Durant, Ibaka) and the Spurs (drafted Duncan, Leonard, Parker, Ginobili), I think it is important to build through the draft patiently if you want to create a true contender rather than an overnight success.
haha, perfect tanking roster for 2017 draft where I would have drafted De'Aaron Fox (I loved him in 2017) under coach Thibs and the rest would have been history. Instead the Knicks just paid Joakim Noah a billion dollars that off-season.
.