Where is it written that Knicks fans must innure themselves to the team offloading youth.
Think about it: you can't effectively develop 9 players at the same time. Better to trim the bonsai tree so the best branches flourish. Or something.
Point Taken.
Nor do you eat your youth as Knicks have largely been doing for 40 years.
[
Komives, Bowman,
Stallworth,
Cazzie, Dollar Bill, Willis,
Van Arsdale, Clyde, Jackson,
Riordan]
Van Arsdale > Phoenix [Expansions Draft]
Komives & Bellamy > DeBussshere
Stallworth & Riordan > Monroe
Cazzie > Lucas
SO...out of our 10 Puppies, 5 were cashed in, 1 lost in the expansion draft.
Bellamy was a Hall Of Famer, but a case of addition by subtraction, as Reed moved from PF to Center, and DeBusshere became our PF.
With Dick Barnett getting a little long in the tooth, when Monroe came available, we exchanged two top reserves.
Cazzie's peak season was 68-69, when he logged 33 minutes a game and averaged 18-4-2. Was a 20 minute a night Sixth Man in our championship season, losing minutes to Bradley and Stallworth. Cazzie was a great all around scorer, but Bradley was a better facilitator and defender.
So, nothing is guaranteed for our puppies, but out of our 9 players under 23, we have already seen significant growth by RJ [3rd Season], IQ [2nd Season] and Mitchell [4th Season], and to a lesser extent, Obi [2nd Season] and Quentin [Rookie]. They have all attained significant rotation minutes under Thibs.
So, NO, everyone and everything is on the table.
But you need to deal from strength.
The deal with Atlanta was from strength.
Might we be looking at other deals?
Seems likely.
But sorry...for what it's worth [not much] giving Obi and #1 picks to Dallas for someone who is slated to be an UFA this summer?
Right, where might the money come from?
Other than Noah's $6.4 million?
Good point.
Obi > Jalen works straight up.
Kemba would have to bring back another contract.
Adding a #1 or two?
Nah.
Gibson, Rose, Walker, Burks and Noel are all guaranteed for 2022-2023, come off the cap in the summer of 2023 when, coincidentally, the Dallas #1 pick comes due.
Also, we have to fish or cut bait with Mitchell.
So moves coming, but I don't think Leon will deal Obi.
For Brunson, anyway.
Lillard? Likely out for the season. Turns 32 this summer, and a post-serious injury recovery scenario complicates things in the unlikely event he is even in play.
And in scanning POINT GUARDS throughout the league?
Are we really in play for Westbrook or Wall? BoD, Please Pick Up The Hospitality Phone. Brunson, is surely tempting, but I think the best we would/could offer would be draft assets.
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