Wait.
So now Jimmy Biutler isn't worth pursuing if we are giving up NOTHING?
Right. Got it.
$40 Million Per X Over Five Years? THAT AIN'T NOTHING.
That's KEVIN DURANT Money. KAWHI LEONARD Money. Players with championship rings
Are you going to front and pretend that Jimmy Butler is that kind of team changer. You, the handicapper who declared that 25 Million would be irresponsible for Klay Thompson.
Notice all of the teams lining up to surrender serious assets for Butler
Don't Bogart that joint my friend.
Butler will prove/disprove that he is worth those bucks by his (continued great or declining) play in 2018-19.
He's on the clock.
But at issue is that you dont feel signing top free agents is wise - after all this incessant talk of clearing room for two "max" players.
That the Knicks would really be in position to clear such room, then TURN DOWN such player is a bit ridiculous.
"Jimmy Butler is NOT a max player based on current NBA valuation methods" can be discussed. Discuss away. But its tough when all you have is age and some mangled version of "he is not a good teammate" as neg factors.
Your factoring in "teams not lining up" when
a) they did
and
b) he has just the one year left
is silly.
That there were even multiple suitors in such a scenario shows the player's high value.
**Latest is Wolves and Heat have suspended talks - this due to Thibs demands (wanted to rework parameters). Current coach values this player so highly that he would rather walk away with nothing for next year than up this year's win potential.
A) Signing top free agents pre supposes what CONSTITUES a top tier free agent. Depends on the player, depends on the team, depends on the match. Butler wants what Butler wants, which is a max deal for five years. By training camp 2019, he will be 30. Kawhi, on the other hand, speaking of someone with who I had issues as per how he leveraged his team to get out of Dodge, will be 28. Multiple teams vying for someone's services indicated perceived value, and Butler most certainly has that, However, looking at the last free agents we signed (Stoudamire, Anthony, Lopez, Noah, Lee, Hardaway), gives one pause. The commitment we made to Anthony in particular, locked the team into an arrangement which did not lift the team up, but pulled it down, and we found ourselves with a declining market for a talented player on the downside of a fine career with a no-trade clause, compliments of Phool Of Himself Jackass. I can recall you in particular, making an argument as to how Ryan Anderson was a good return, locking us into a one-dimensional player for years to come. Jimmy Butler is significant talent, true, but one who will be 30 come the 2019 season, which in and of itself is not a negative. LOCKING OUR TEAM INTO THIS MOTHERFUCKER AS OUR BELL COW FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? Now that seems rather dubious, especially considering how many young, maturing and up and coming wings we already have, such as Timmy, Frank, Allonzo and Demeyan.
B) Now if we were talking Kyrie Irving, a top-tier talent, representing a need at PG, well, then a scenario in which you back up the Brinks Truck makes some sense. Will be 27 next season, entering his prime, not exiting it.
C) Again, one needs to think long and hard about making a long term commitment to a max free agent. And there is no NEED to accumulate cap space just to wily nilly use it. Would I use it if we had a legit shot at Durant or Leonard. YES I WOULD. They are difference makers. You perceive Butler as a difference maker at THAT LEVEL. Well, we part company on THAT.
D) As for me being an idiot, asked and answered. I have been a Knicks fan since 1961, and I have seen this team lurch from one short term solution after another. Those great Knicks teams that competed for championships from 68-75, certainly made significant inroads with trades, such as Bellamy-Komives/DeBussherre, Riordan-Stallworth/Monroe, Cazzie/Lucas, but many of the most critical elements, such as Van Arsdale, Cazzie, Bradley, Reed, Jackson, Frazier, arrived via the draft. A patient approach, and when we'd had time to identify areas of need and chemistry issues, we pulled the trigger on the DeBussherre trade, and it is worth remembering that, Bellamy was a Hall Of Famer, Komives was our starting PG. Trading Bells allowed Reed to slide over from PF to center, while trading Komives opened the door for Clyde at PG. CHEMISTRY.
E) My caution about Butler is based on what we have, what we need, and how we are going to move forward...is Butler really the ideal fit, the titular leader, the man you give all of that hard earned cap space to? Worthy of consideration? Possibly, but again, someone who will be 35 at the end of his contract, and who has had injury issues? Nice tits, but can he cook?
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