Still...nothing there for Ainge to build around
At the end of the day, it is all about the draft assets.
As per the Sam Presti Model
https://www.si.com/nba/thunder/draft-coverage/a-comprehensive-guide-to-the-thunders-future-draft-picksIncluding the Thunder's own picks, Sam Presti has stockpiled 19 first rounders and 19 second rounders through 2029. Clearly, the Knicks
Brock Aller & Scott Perry, who have nurtured a very friendly Trader Vic relationship with Presti [
going back to Perry's Carmelo Anthony exchange, and including the #32 for #34/#36 exchange in 2021 which netted the Knicks point guards Jokubaitis & McBride, with the Thunder reeling in Villinova PF Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, and the Byzantine 2022 exchanges which got us four #1 picks, one of the which was directed towards Charlotte for Duren, who was in turn sent to Detroit to incentivize taking Kemba, Nerlens and Alec's salaries off of our cap in pursuit of Brunson & Hartenstein and re-upping Mitchell & Jericho] and derive considerable inspiration from
TRADER SAM PRESTI as well in terms of a slow build forward, vis a vis purposeful deployment of cap space and stockpiling of draft picks.
Remains to be seen whom amongst the veterans Ainge has brought in from the Minny deal is re-directed, but I do believe he is not above going into Partial Tank Mode while trying to offlad most of the players he got from Minny.
PG Mike Conley will be 35 in October, and is owed $22 & 24 million through 2024, something worth reflecting on amongst those who found the Knicks offer to the 26 year old Brunson excessive.
The contracts of Bojan Bogdanovic [$19.5] and Patrick Beverley [$13] expire in the summer of 2023.
Malik Beasley will be 26 this fall, and is due $15.5 with a team option for 2023-2024.
Jordan Clarkson just turned 30, is due $13 this season, with a player option for $14 in 2023-24.
Rudy Gay will be 36 in August, is due $6 this season with a player otpion for $6 in 2023-24.
The only keepers I can discern for the Jazz in the way of players from the trade are 6'9" PF Jartred Vanderbilt [23 years old], who is due $4.3 & 4.6 over the next two seasons, rookie center Walker Kessler, while sophomore Argentinian guard Leandro Balmoro [who was drafted by the Knicks, and forwarded to Minny in the machinations which led to us selecting Quickley] seems a little dicey.
So, in looking at all of this
mishegas, Ainge has a lot of work to do.
Tell you what, with all of the maneuvering, if we were to take back one of Ainge's vets in some Mitchell transaction, I would not look down my nose at the expiring contract of the 33 year old Patrick Beverley if Rose is out of here. He's a dog. Or Bogdonavich, who would ease the pain of losing Reddish, well...somewhat. He can flat out shoot.
Anyway, I am pleased to see the Knicks are taking their own sweet time on this deal, and I have made my peace with the fact that something is going to happen.