Knicks Future

[NYman15]

I’m just curious what everyone’s outlook is on the Knicks’s future. The Knick’s have a team that is mainly locked in to long term deals outside of Bridges and Mitch. It’s assumed Bridges will likely extend this summer. The core is all under 30 at this point. However, the Knick’s have traded all of their trade able first round picks outside of the protected Washington pick which is likely to become two 2nd rounders.

I think the team has looked at it similarly to the Cavs and Celtics they will improve with chemistry over time and adding pieces around the edges for depth. Also it’s a possibility the Celtics won’t be able to keep their core together with raises coming for some of their key players. Do you see the Knick’s looking to still upgrade in the offseason? Will they have the assets to make another big trade? Who would you like to see them go after? Or does it depend for you on where they finish this year?

[KOA]

It seems like people forget that the Knicks have 4 rookies on their roster:
- Kolek has shown flashes in Summer league and earned the largest recorded contract for a second round pick
- Dadiet is still an unknown, very young, good size and athleticism with a nice skillset but still fairly raw
- Hukporti has been able to show more in 1 year than Sims did in 4 years. Can grow into a solid rotational piece
- McCullar was drafted where he was due to his injury. He's had lot of hype pre-injury and will be interesting to see if he can develop into the Josh Hart type of player people were calling for.

Hard to talk about the future without knowing what we may already have from this draft class and without playing even 1 regular season game with a fully healthy rotation.

[sol537]

I think we fall in the 2nd round to Boston this year, lick our wounds and upgrade Thibs with a guy like Dan Hurley.

Then we upgrade our bench and run it back again while keeping a close eye on guys like Giannis who may ask out..

[Nostrand Ave]

I think we fall in the 2nd round to Boston this year, lick our wounds and upgrade Thibs with a guy like Dan Hurley.

Then we upgrade our bench and run it back again while keeping a close eye on guys like Giannis who may ask out..

Yeah, it's pretty much a waiting game right now for the Knicks.

[sol537]

I’d love to be proven wrong about this playoffs. I’m hopeful Mitch and OG come back healthy and we send Hart to the bench and figure out a better scheme against teams like Boston and Cleveland. Instead of letting Tatum torch you, why not dare Brown and Kornet to shoot them by helping off of them and doubling Tatum? They dare Hart and Precious to shoot.

[knicksNOTslick]

This whole apron BS is making it more difficult for top teams to upgrade especially when they've sort of gone all in like the Knicks have. But I still trust the Knicks front office to make the right moves.

We will see how the rookies improve for next year and what we do to strengthen the bench. We can't really get impatient about this whole thing and get down on our team because they got beat down by the Celtics. But at the same time, we don't have the luck of the Lakers with Doncic falling on their laps and don't have draft luck in getting a Wemby either. So the Knicks will have to win by overcoming the odds.

[HopelessKnick]

This whole apron BS is making it more difficult for top teams to upgrade especially when they've sort of gone all in like the Knicks have. But I still trust the Knicks front office to make the right moves.

We will see how the rookies improve for next year and what we do to strengthen the bench. We can't really get impatient about this whole thing and get down on our team because they got beat down by the Celtics. But at the same time, we don't have the luck of the Lakers with Doncic falling on their laps and don't have draft luck in getting a Wemby either. So the Knicks will have to win by overcoming the odds.

Interesting and much needed thread.

I have thought about this a lot recently due to the apparent gap to the top teams. I'm no cap expert so I may stand corrected but the way I comprehend the matter is that it will be very difficult to improve via trade. Not only because of our limited assets, but also due to the contract situation. If you take it as a given that the FO is not going to break up the starters before 2026 offseason at the earliest---then it will be essentially difficult to trade for any player making 20mill+ ---that means you either have to find a diamond in the rough that is still on a small scale contract (I feel like this is in today's NBA with all the metrics etc. more difficult)...or you have to develop your rookies. Not only because we can still draft, but simply because with an improving rookie you can squeeze out 4-5 years on a pretty low salary.

I think the second route is much more achievable than the first. Of course Thibs does not seem to be the most favorable person to do this --to put it mildly.

To give an example: Leading up to the deadline I was reading that the Bulls as well as the Pacers were considering moving White and Turner. Not in a trade for each other but generally. I was surprised because I thought they are super solid players. However, I think both are likely eyeing bigger extensions (probably in the 25mill.+ range). So, even if you could somehow hypothetically talk the Bulls into trading you White for a package (extremely unlikely) you would have to extend him for a much bigger contract.

Essentially with the current CBA--if you have 5 guys making 20mill.+ you have to have 4-5 strong rotational pieces making less than 12mill.

[HopelessKnick]

BTW just a hunch based on recent rumors: I feel like the FO has already made up their mind on Mitch. I can't see them extending Mitch --which basically would have to happen in the upcoming offseason. Of course they'd need a very strong replacement there.

Thus they may look at combining Mitch with either Deuce, Payne or Precious in a trade for a 6th man type of player. Unfortunately we do not have they picks to give that package real high value.

Given the Knicks current roster situation the franchise would have many reasons to give PT to Hukporti and test whether he could be a solid 15-20 minutes guy in the foreseeable future....given all the injuries to our frontcourt guys I find surprising that this has not happened yet.

[JBreezeNY]

All depends on if we continue with Thibs or not honestly.

If we stay with Thibs we’re a perennial 2nd round exit every year.

We’re handicapped by the first apron and some of the talent on this team but a more open minded coach can take this team to another level, easily.

[Davis18]

I know most of us are disappointed with recent loss.
But in reality team is in best position in like 30 years?
Let's not get too greedy.

[HopelessKnick]

I know most of us are disappointed with recent loss.
But in reality team is in best position in like 30 years?
Let's not get too greedy.

I don't think anyone is getting greedy. I think in sports it is a natural progression to look at how a team can be improved---whether you are a lottery team or a title contender. I personally am pretty happy with the larger picture and where the team is at.

I would just love to see JB get rewarded here with a ring. He has been nothing short of amazing on the court and off the court in every imaginable way so I hope he gets a couple real shots at a title. Being a 50-55 win team is a solid place to be in right now (especially given the past 20 years).

[ctorres]

Our entire future is riding on how well we perform in the playoffs with this roster.

It's really hard to predict anything right now.

If we lose in a close game 7 in the 2nd round that comes down to the final minute at Boston, I would only make minor tweaks to the roster, but that is it.

Unless a trade for Zion comes our way without having to give up Brunson or KAT for him.

[ctorres]

BTW just a hunch based on recent rumors: I feel like the FO has already made up their mind on Mitch. I can't see them extending Mitch --which basically would have to happen in the upcoming offseason. Of course they'd need a very strong replacement there.

I think the Knicks will set up Mitch to make money and get minutes elsewhere if he is doing his part this season in helping develop Hukporti to be Towns' back-up for the foreseeable future.

It would be too generous of the Knicks to pay Mitch starter-level money just to come off the bench.

We don't know yet if Mitch is still a starter-level player in this league.

[HopelessKnick]

BTW just a hunch based on recent rumors: I feel like the FO has already made up their mind on Mitch. I can't see them extending Mitch --which basically would have to happen in the upcoming offseason. Of course they'd need a very strong replacement there.

I think the Knicks will set up Mitch to make money and get minutes elsewhere if he is doing his part this season in helping develop Hukporti to be Towns' back-up for the foreseeable future.

It would be too generous of the Knicks to pay Mitch starter-level money just to come off the bench.

We don't know yet if Mitch is still a starter-level player in this league.

I think if he could ever stay healthy he would definitely be a starter in this league---however that "if" has never truly come to fruition on a consistant basis yet. I mean they could theoretically see if he stays healthy for the final 25 games and playoffs and then wait into next season to see if he remains healthy and then make a decision or increase his trade value. Given the restictive cap situation I just have the feeling the FO is not going to tie up longterm money into Mitch anymore. I don't however see any suitable replacement candidate via trade or so.

The catch for me on any Mitch trade is this: If he stays healthy and restores any sort of good trade value you'd probably be better off just keeping him and extending him---it'd essentially mean that he looks pretty good again and would be still only 26/27 years old. In case he can't stay healthy it would be a straight salary dump with some minor assets...which likely shuts us out of true title contention anyways. If he stays healthy the Lakers would likely be interested and with DFS they have a player that would match the timeline and contract wise and they have that 2031 pick as well. But overall it isn't anything really exciting. Maybe in some sort of 3 way trade where we'd get back DFS and a good replacement.....

Do we have any FRPs for the upcoming draft? nbadraft.net says we'd get the Bucks FRP if it stays outside the top 4 but that must be an error, right?

[Spree2Houston]

I would consider trading Anunoby because the current team is too top heavy and his contract is big enough to return multiple players in a trade.

[3toheadmelo]

We’re a good team but not contenders. We won’t be able to beat Boston/Cavs with KAT at the 5 and Mikal’s defense is highly suspect. Move them both for Giannis.

[HopelessKnick]

I would consider trading Anunoby because the current team is too top heavy and his contract is big enough to return multiple players in a trade.

For me JB and OG are the lone untouchables. Anunoby's impact is just too big IMO to even consider trading him.

[thebuzzardman]

Team sucks, is capped out, not a contender, with a fossil coach.

Other than that, future is so bright, gotta wear shades.

[Richard4444]

BTW just a hunch based on recent rumors: I feel like the FO has already made up their mind on Mitch. I can't see them extending Mitch --which basically would have to happen in the upcoming offseason. Of course they'd need a very strong replacement there.

I think the Knicks will set up Mitch to make money and get minutes elsewhere if he is doing his part this season in helping develop Hukporti to be Towns' back-up for the foreseeable future.

It would be too generous of the Knicks to pay Mitch starter-level money just to come off the bench.

We don't know yet if Mitch is still a starter-level player in this league.

I

Do we have any FRPs for the upcoming draft? nbadraft.net says we'd get the Bucks FRP if it stays outside the top 4 but that must be an error, right?

Yes, it was a mistake. We traded this pick in Mikal"s trade.

[Richard4444]

We hope to get good ring chasers this summer.

Maybe we can use the Tax MLE (5,5M). But it can be tough to hold Precious although we have his bird rights.

Which wings can we have cheap next season: Burks, Bojan, Timmy, Prince, Trent, Kennard, Malik, Middleton, Yabusele, Bruce Brown, Boucher, Nance, Ben Simmons, Javonte Green, Melton, Batum, Lyles, GP2, Tate, Watford?

Who could be an upgrade for Payne? CP3, Brogdon, Tyus Jones, DLo, WB, Schroeder, Jerome, Dinwiddie, Tre Jones, Lowry?