I like the Julius Randle signing, and the arc of his improvement. He is a solid presence, good for 20-10-5 on many a night.
[Some beg to differ]
We got LUCKY with Marcus Morris. Blossomed into another level with an opportunity to lead. Snarky and can hit the trey.
[Cash him in]
Taj
[Can one truly ever have too many good undersized center/forwards?]
Reggie Bullock is tied up for two years at like 4.5. He plays D and can really hit the trey.
[No comments?]
Otherwise?
Our PG Scrum?
Wish Elfrid could hit from outside, but like his court vision and D.
Wish Frankie could build on his growth with consistency, but appreciate his defense and his evolution as a facilitator, as in his hook-up with Mitchell (only 21, folks).
Dennis? I don't know what to say. Loved his penetration and aggression last season. Jinxed this year, and still not Mister Dependable from outside or the FT line. Can't shake the feeling that if we jettison him, he will blossom from afar, and haunt us in Garden visits.
Kadeem Allen. Color me crazy, but I like him best. Can create his own offense, and every time he has been given some daylight, he has delivered. He and Elfrid made for a nice platoon against Miami.
Elfrid, Frankie, Dennis, Kadeem. So...who stays and who goes? PS: Fuck Chris Paul.
RJ. Has the makings of a really good wing. Every time he crashes and burns, he comes back with more determination. Yes, those were two big FTs he clanged at crunch time, but he got to the line ten times (impressive), drained eight (as one would hope for someone capable of getting to the stripe ten times a game), and set a really aggressive tone from the opening bell against a team with some tough wings of their own. Clyde & Wally suggest the mechanics of his shooting are pure, but both feel he is just looking for confidence and consistency. Character Person & A Fierce COMPETITOR.
Kevin. Like RJ, searching for consistency. Was proud of his game, coming off the pine for Reggie, and showing more in his offensive quiver than just a spot up J. More focused on D, and getting boards. Love his athleticism. Let's see him do it again. AND AGAIN.
Mitchell? Feast or Famine. Offers nuclear impact or takes himself out of the game with tadpole mistakes. I like the idea of him and Kenny Wooten going at it in practice. Two rim-protector/rim-rockers with strong defensive potential.
Facil & BoD's Neighborhood: Portis, Ellington, Dotson, Trier, a PG...another PG. All possible pieces in possible transactions. I like Bobby Portis. His D and mental focus tends to wander, but he competes hard if not always smart, and seems like every third game lights it up from trey. Would like to keep him, but he could make sense for some team looking for depth in a stretch four.
Not sure what is on the horizon, deal wise, but would expect the Knicks to do something.
No, Kiid, I would not be tossing around the Dallas picks. Probably mid first rounders at best, but you never know. Luca looks like the Second Coming, and KP solid when he's on the court, but how often is he not on the court.
The draft this summer?
Edwards.
Ball.
Edwards projected as a really tough talented combo guard, a la Donovan Mitchell.
Ball? Kiid swears by him. Remains to be seen. His fucking father concerns me.
At #3 NBA Draft.Net as center Wiseman dropping to us. That would be a nice platoon, and he might have the makings of an Anthony Davis Stretch 4-5.
Who
FUCKING
Knows
?
I am hoping Scott & Steve don't get too fucking ambitious before the deadline. Drummond? What if we end up with Robinson AND Wiseman? In any event. WAIT UNTIL FREE AGENCY. Chris Paul. Sweet Merciful Jesus...NO.
We do need to kind of thin out the herd don't we. I really like Dotson and Trier, but both seem redundant in light of Barrett and Bullock. And remains to be seen if Knicks project Frank as a sixth man/off guard/3& D wing. Has the D, what of the 3?
Our roster is such a fucking make it up as you go mish mosh.
We all want some sense of...balance...stability...coherence.
As if we had...A FUCKING PLAN.
I hesitate to say...PATIENCE, as I can recall saying that with some regularity for 20 fucking years.
What I MOST DEFINITELY DO NOT WANT, is to freak out and trade draft picks, or go for quick fixes. If we had a more coherent roster, and a clearer idea of what we look like moving forward, someone like Chris Paul would seem like less of a fucking reach, an act of desperation at the sight of a shiny object. Still a very fine player, and while whistling in the graveyard, well past his salad daze. Chauncey Billups anyone?
Anyway, bring on the Bucks and EMBRACE THE FUCKING PAIN.
To Be A Knicks Fan Is To Suffer. Take your beatdowns like a man...AND GIVE SOME BACK.