Woj Kemba buying out of okc signing with NYC

[HarthorneWingo]

I don't hate it, but this is such a quintessential Knicks move. Grab a former star PG in the twilight of his career.

We've now had past his prime Steve Francis, Baron Davis, JKidd, Chauncey... now Kemba. I have no doubt we'll sign Westbrook when he loses the last of his hops.

this is such a quintessential woe is me, loser knick fan mentality response.

kemba is only making pennies on the dollar and he's not asked to be the #1 or #2.

@ENYK It's not the "quintessential ... Knicks' move." The quintessential Knicks' move would've been to make a trade with OKC that would've costs us young talent and draft picks. This was a smart, low risk move.

[The Lamma]

I don't hate it, but this is such a quintessential Knicks move. Grab a former star PG in the twilight of his career.

We've now had past his prime Steve Francis, Baron Davis, JKidd, Chauncey... now Kemba. I have no doubt we'll sign Westbrook when he loses the last of his hops.

No, a quintessential Knicks move would have been to trade for the remaining years on Kemba's contract in the twilight of his career. Then try to sell it to the fanbase that we have a former star PG. What we did was pounce on a rare opportunity to grab an upgrade with little to no risk and without giving away any assets.

This is what smart teams do.

And putting him on a team that has zero other quality players. That's another thing that makes this different. On most of our teams dating back that far he'd have to be the man, but now he just has to contribute. We'll even be aight if he can't play for a stretch. Might even be a weird blessing in that case to get a better look at Vildoza or McBride

[GnarlsOakley]

It appears the FO strategy is to accumulate as many knights, bishops, and rooks as possible. If and when the opportunity arises, bundle extra pieces for a King or a Queen. If not, be equipped to battle with solid pieces anyway.

PG - Walker/Rose/McBride
SG - Barrett/Quickley/Vildoza
SF - Fournier/Burks/Grimes
PF - Randle/Toppin/Knox
C - Robinson/Noel/Taj

Starting 5 is solid. Depth is insanely good. When you have 3rd string guys you want to see on the floor, in particular between the 1-3 you know this is a good problem to have.

THIS is the exact reason why I was so glad when the Knicks missed out on Durant & Kyrie - because this sort of team is exactly what a 20+ years-long rebuild should produce

We have current, former & future all-stars all playing on value contracts, a good mix of old & young - not to mention a small war chest of draft assets - entrenched starters who will get a boost by importing Boston’s backcourt at the end of the season

Our depth is CRAZY. The ATL series really exposed our weaknesses 1-3, and the Knicks have more than made up for that by bringing in Kemba, Fournier, Vildoza, Grimes and McBride

Kemba Walker, especially, seems like a match made in Heaven. He complements our existing starters insanely well, and these are the absolute best conditions under which this could’ve happened. Bc in the past, Knicks would’ve traded for him at his OKC contract level, or surrendered assets to get him. This time - there’s none of that! Lowest possible risk, highest possible reward. Our team was good a few days ago, but questionable w/ D-Rose as starter at PG. and now we add the perfect homecoming / Bronx-born hometown kid / U-Conn / Big East tourney game-winner storyline for $8mil/year …. GO NEW YORK GO NEW YORK GO

[Meat]

I don't hate it, but this is such a quintessential Knicks move. Grab a former star PG in the twilight of his career.

We've now had past his prime Steve Francis, Baron Davis, JKidd, Chauncey... now Kemba. I have no doubt we'll sign Westbrook when he loses the last of his hops.

31 is still prime, lets not act like he's not the best pg the knicks have had since walt if he's remotely healthy.

[robillionaire]

I don't hate it, but this is such a quintessential Knicks move. Grab a former star PG in the twilight of his career.

We've now had past his prime Steve Francis, Baron Davis, JKidd, Chauncey... now Kemba. I have no doubt we'll sign Westbrook when he loses the last of his hops.

31 is still prime, lets not act like he's not the best pg the knicks have had since walt if he's remotely healthy.

The "quintessential Knicks move" would have been to trade multiple unprotected first round picks for him or to sign him to a 40 million dollar contract or something.

the new Knicks got him without parting with any assets in free agency for a dirt cheap 2 year deal. that's the glaring difference here

[Meat]

I don't hate it, but this is such a quintessential Knicks move. Grab a former star PG in the twilight of his career.

We've now had past his prime Steve Francis, Baron Davis, JKidd, Chauncey... now Kemba. I have no doubt we'll sign Westbrook when he loses the last of his hops.

31 is still prime, lets not act like he's not the best pg the knicks have had since walt if he's remotely healthy.

The "quintessential Knicks move" would have been to trade multiple unprotected first round picks for him or to sign him to a 40 million dollar contract or something.

the new Knicks got him without parting with any assets in free agency for a dirt cheap 2 year deal. that's the glaring difference here

also.. he's being signed for cheap.. on an already established playoff team. when the was the last time the knicks added a good player on a playoff team? when they got h20 and lg? nothing quintessential about this at all

[Meat]

I don't hate it, but this is such a quintessential Knicks move. Grab a former star PG in the twilight of his career.

We've now had past his prime Steve Francis, Baron Davis, JKidd, Chauncey... now Kemba. I have no doubt we'll sign Westbrook when he loses the last of his hops.

this is such a quintessential woe is me, loser knick fan mentality response.

kemba is only making pennies on the dollar and he's not asked to be the #1 or #2.

what? kemba is at least the #2 on this team, skill wise he's easily #1

[robillionaire]

I don't hate it, but this is such a quintessential Knicks move. Grab a former star PG in the twilight of his career.

We've now had past his prime Steve Francis, Baron Davis, JKidd, Chauncey... now Kemba. I have no doubt we'll sign Westbrook when he loses the last of his hops.

this is such a quintessential woe is me, loser knick fan mentality response.

kemba is only making pennies on the dollar and he's not asked to be the #1 or #2.

what? kemba is at least the #2 on this team, skill wise he's easily #1

I don't know how to order the #1, 2, 3, 4 option with Kemba, Randle, RJ, and Fournier, but that's a really good problem to have. Any of those guys as a 4th option on offense is pretty damn good. Maybe it's better to just look at it as a team game instead of a pecking order of options. But yeah, if Kemba is healthy he can go out there and play like a #1 option and so can Rose

[omerome]

this is such a quintessential woe is me, loser knick fan mentality response.

kemba is only making pennies on the dollar and he's not asked to be the #1 or #2.

what? kemba is at least the #2 on this team, skill wise he's easily #1

I don't know how to order the #1, 2, 3, 4 option with Kemba, Randle, RJ, and Fournier, but that's a really good problem to have. Any of those guys as a 4th option on offense is pretty damn good. Maybe it's better to just look at it as a team game instead of a pecking order of options. But yeah, if Kemba is healthy he can go out there and play like a #1 option and so can Rose

Yup. This makes me feel optimistic about this team because it makes it difficult to game plan against. It's a pick your poison type of deal with the opposition.

Think about a team like the Hawks where many of us were disappointed that Trae essentially rested on defense because Bullock wasn't much of an offensive threat. Now? It's much different.

[Meat]

if he's healthy it's an obvious kemba>randle right?

[SARGO127]

Wonder what number he wears with 15 retired and 1, 8 occupied.

[prophet_of_rage]

Interesting that teams will pay a lot for a guy who is healthy but nothing spectacular, like DD, but if you have an injury, like KW and VO, it sinks your value. But unless we don't know something, Kemba's injuries were not that bad. He was pretty productive although definitely not part of a team that exceeded or even met expectations.

He also doesn't look broken to the eye test. Moving well.

That's the only thing I semi worry about. OKC hasn't been one to buy out guys. Maybe the knee is to the point they didn't think they could rehab his value? Or maybe doing a solid to a respected and well liked pro to gain player/agent favor? I hope its the later

They couldn't find takers and the Knicks offer to pay out 8 million or so was too good to pass up.

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[K_ick_God]

Interesting that teams will pay a lot for a guy who is healthy but nothing spectacular, like DD, but if you have an injury, like KW and VO, it sinks your value. But unless we don't know something, Kemba's injuries were not that bad. He was pretty productive although definitely not part of a team that exceeded or even met expectations.

He also doesn't look broken to the eye test. Moving well.

That's the only thing I semi worry about. OKC hasn't been one to buy out guys. Maybe the knee is to the point they didn't think they could rehab his value? Or maybe doing a solid to a respected and well liked pro to gain player/agent favor? I hope its the later

They couldn't find takers and the Knicks offer to pay out 8 million or so was too good to pass up.

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Nah I'm (a) excited about Kemba 100% but (b) nervous with good reason that his health isn't great. Generally if a guy takes less and is not kept by a team, both things in this instance, it's good reason to worry.

But who knows maybe he'll be good enough. Nobody would have predicted Rose to have lasted this long, been mostly injury free, and still with game. Kemba not the athlete Rose was but he's got a lot of offensive game.

[stuporman]

I'd like it if Kemba can rehabilitate the number 6 after the one who won't be named and the one who must be forgotten.

What was his elementary public school in the Bronx? Maybe he can use that number the same way Taj does his.

Or he can just throw some cash at Grimes and buy 8... get him a new whip.

[Esq-4]

this is such a quintessential woe is me, loser knick fan mentality response.

kemba is only making pennies on the dollar and he's not asked to be the #1 or #2.

what? kemba is at least the #2 on this team, skill wise he's easily #1

I don't know how to order the #1, 2, 3, 4 option with Kemba, Randle, RJ, and Fournier, but that's a really good problem to have. Any of those guys as a 4th option on offense is pretty damn good. Maybe it's better to just look at it as a team game instead of a pecking order of options. But yeah, if Kemba is healthy he can go out there and play like a #1 option and so can Rose

Don't sleep on Rose either. He's in that mix as well, if healthy. Big if, but if Kemba and Rose are managed right, which is doable considering they play the same position, could be huge.

[prophet_of_rage]

That's the only thing I semi worry about. OKC hasn't been one to buy out guys. Maybe the knee is to the point they didn't think they could rehab his value? Or maybe doing a solid to a respected and well liked pro to gain player/agent favor? I hope its the later

They couldn't find takers and the Knicks offer to pay out 8 million or so was too good to pass up.

Sent from my SM-N970W using Tapatalk

Nah I'm (a) excited about Kemba 100% but (b) nervous with good reason that his health isn't great. Generally if a guy takes less and is not kept by a team, both things in this instance, it's good reason to worry.

But who knows maybe he'll be good enough. Nobody would have predicted Rose to have lasted this long, been mostly injury free, and still with game. Kemba not the athlete Rose was but he's got a lot of offensive game.

His health is a concern but he took less on a buyout because the Knicks were fronting the 8. OKC agreed to the buyout because they saved 8 versus the normal two. And the Knicks offered the 8 to induce the buyout.

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[Appleshampoo]

Wonder what number he wears with 15 retired and 1, 8 occupied.

It'd be cool if flips 15 to 51. Homage to Yankee hero Bernie Williams.

[KnicksGadfly]

if he's healthy it's an obvious kemba>randle right?

Nope. Julius has been on the team longer, gotten paid more, and is on the longer term contract. But I’m sure everyone would love if Kemba was his old self again and killing it.

Thibs is gonna have to do some work to get everyone their shots. This is one of the deepest teams we’ve had in a while. Kinda exciting actually.

[robillionaire]

what? kemba is at least the #2 on this team, skill wise he's easily #1

I don't know how to order the #1, 2, 3, 4 option with Kemba, Randle, RJ, and Fournier, but that's a really good problem to have. Any of those guys as a 4th option on offense is pretty damn good. Maybe it's better to just look at it as a team game instead of a pecking order of options. But yeah, if Kemba is healthy he can go out there and play like a #1 option and so can Rose

Don't sleep on Rose either. He's in that mix as well, if healthy. Big if, but if Kemba and Rose are managed right, which is doable considering they play the same position, could be huge.

Yeah I actually mentioned him too at the end of my post, I just have him chalked up as the 6th man, but yeah I agree

[K_ick_God]

They couldn't find takers and the Knicks offer to pay out 8 million or so was too good to pass up.

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Nah I'm (a) excited about Kemba 100% but (b) nervous with good reason that his health isn't great. Generally if a guy takes less and is not kept by a team, both things in this instance, it's good reason to worry.

But who knows maybe he'll be good enough. Nobody would have predicted Rose to have lasted this long, been mostly injury free, and still with game. Kemba not the athlete Rose was but he's got a lot of offensive game.

His health is a concern but he took less on a buyout because the Knicks were fronting the 8. OKC agreed to the buyout because they saved 8 versus the normal two. And the Knicks offered the 8 to induce the buyout.

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I get all that and OKC is a less wealthy owner and stuff. So that all makes sense. But if Presti thought he could get a pick for him, he'd have held on to him maybe. Hope for the best but maybe his medicals are not great. He looked decent on the court. Boston had a bad year all around. Tatum really wasn't able to break out. Just hope he can recover, nobody really knows (here) what his knee looks like.