As for Frankie's development, well, this is the Knicks.. Its only now, with Miller as head coach, do our youth stand any chance of actually realizing their potential.
I don't understand this nonsense.
- Mitch, as a raw 2nd rounder, developed quite nicely last year under Fizz.
- No-names Trier & Dot were given plenty of opps, instead of getting buried on the bench.
- Knox and RJB were given tons of minutes and freedom as rooks (too much in my book).
- I'd agree Franc got jerked around a bit, but some of that is on Franc, with his timid inability to being the ball upcourt, paint allergy, embarrassingly telegraphed passes, and lack of shot or willingness to shoot, compounded by injuries last year.
Frankie is actually accelerating ... But he's a star in the making, maybe a generational Knicks player. His value today is small potatoes and the money nonsense is just hot air. This kid is playing his way into better days.
I'm not sure even Franc's close relatives believe this. Not just rose-colored glasses, but infra-rose vision, so you can see into a future that will not exist.
I actually like Franc and pull for him, but I find it real hard to see Franc as a starting PG. He's akin to Knox -- I like him , I pull for him, but there's so much for him to work on. I think Charlie Ward is about his upside, I doubt he can reach Pa Bev heights. I can see him as an effective bench player, playing long-armed D, efficiently shooting few shots, being capable of running a 2nd unit.
I'd like Franc (and Knox) to be 10+ year Knix, but I still think we badly need a starting caliber PG for now and the future. I'm even willing to take on 34 year old Chris Paul and his $40M to have one.
I also don't get this talk of needing a C, as though it was pressing. Sure it'd be nice to have a Baynes type bully, and this year has seen somewhat of a resurgence in C usage. But I'd prioritize a starting PG, a 3&D wing, and a deadeye shooter over a beefy C. It shouldn't be hard to pick up a Plumlee or Zeller or Len or Baynes or such on the cheap. At least we never boned up by dumping $15+M on a stiff like Mahinmi.(well, we did back in the day with Jerome James and Eddy Curry)