Is Thibs playing a disingenuous double game with Julius to boost his trade value?
Perhaps.
That however, is not my reading of Thibs, as my key takeaway from his comments were what he perceived to be Randle's leadership.
CLEARLY, a coach's job is to create a setting in which the Knicks accentuate Julius' strengths while papering over his weaknesses, and seeking ways to make his pairing with Robinson more effective...STAY TUNED. Everyone puts that on Julius. Well, if Mitchell could develp and deploy an effective jumper from 12-18 feet, that would open up driving lanes, and pick and roll possibilitiesfor both Mitchell and Randle, as lanes to the hoop become more tenable, and defenders could no longer cheat off of them.
Other things that could make Julius more effective?
Outside shooting and more outside shooting, so he is not facing double and triple teams down in low post-midrange zone.
Whether that comes from Knox and Bullock and Barrett and Brazdeikis? Not looking good at the moment.
And of course, some reliable, dependable PG rudder, preferably, while offering dependable outside shooting and drive to the lane threats. Again, not looking all that clear at the moment.
Reliable outside shooting with a clear and present and persistent-consistent threat of three pointers from the corner? PGs who can guide, score, facilitate ball movement, motion, spacing and easy baskets? Development of our miracle second rounder at center and our core lottery picks Ntilikina, Knox and Barret,(perhaps even our other second rounders Dotson and Brazdeikis).
Our undrafted G-Leaguers Wooten and Harper.
And God only knows how the #8, #27 and #38 picks play out.
Among players who might slip, and whom intrigue ME, there are questions about Haliburton's slender frame, but he could give us a good defender capable of playing point or off guard and hitting threes, though his abillity to create for himself is also an issue. Vassell could prove a 3 & D wing with defensive tenacity and a terrific three-point stroke.
Not sure the #1 or #2 picks will be in play, least ways, they would prove costly.
I believe Ball is the #1 pick, not Edwards. Would Golden State pass on Edwards to choose Wiseman or even Avdija (though with Wiggins in tow, not sure how THAT would play out, even in the small ball era.
After the first three picks, the next ten are anyone's guess. Conceivably both Killian Hayes and Haliburton could be gone by the time we pick.
In any event, the narrative in which somehow it is Julius Randle's failings which are dragging us down are highly suspect.
It's up to Thibs to sort it all out, and opotimize what we have.
Again, his comments about Randle's leadership are interesting.
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