Happy for Enes. Was always taken aback as to how Knicks fans, and fucking Fizdale, seemed to focus on his limitations rather than his attributes. Enes has heart, and when he gets into his groove, an offensive rebounding/finishing around the rim beast. And no, would not have reupped him for 20 million, but for Nerlens Noel money? Portland might considerig him for a raise next season. Think the Celtics might be having second thoughts?
Oladipo. Feel sorry for the brother, because before he got hurt, he was positioned to ascend among the elite guards as a scorer, playmaker, defender. Odd career move turning down Houston's mega bucks extension. Would seem that Riley's strategy going foward is sign him to a team friendly contract. But it is an open question as to whether or not he will even play again this season.
Interesting roll of the dice, one which I was violently opposed to when the geek choruses in the blogosphere were chanting for us to give up serious assets for his ending contract. We have RJ. We have Burks. We have Quickley. Who sits?
For unpteenth time, we will be looking for point guards and 3&D SFs to make the next step team talent wise.
Thibs appears to love Reggie. He could be looking at some better offers than $4.2 Million come summer. Not so sure what if anything our commitment to Kevin might be, let alone Payton and French Frank [whose qualifying offer for 2021-22 is $8.3 million]. Rose and Gibson at a team friendly contracts seem tenable given Thibs' commitment to them and vicea versa.
But given our cap space and present status in the draft [17, 20, 32 (Detroit), 59 (Philly)], we have some interesting decisions to make, with 8 looming free agents, Julius' third year option and questions of a possible extension, the status of Frank's qualifying offer, assessment of Mitchell's health and possible extension, and judgements as to whether Knox, Harper and Pinson have a place in our plans moving forward.
C: Robinson, Noels, Gibson
PF: Randle, Toppin
SF: Bullock, Knox
SG: Barrett, Burks, Pinson
PG: Payton, Rose, Quickley, Ntilikina, Harper
Our coming home stand is most def propitious. I have noted Facil's half a prayer that we somehow finesse the neat trick of being both part of the playoff scrum AND the draft lottery. We are currently sitting precipitously at the #8 spot, 26-27, 10 games back of Philly/Brookley, with Indiana, Chicago and Toronto in the under .500 contingent, while just above us are Boston, Miami, Atlanta and Charlotte at 7-6-5-4 respectively.
We had best not sleep on Toronto, even withought those Knicks nemesis VanVleet and Lowry. Rookie PG Malachi Flynn had a big game last night in a rout of the Cavs [20-2-11-2], SF Yuta Watanabe showed some cajones [6-7 FGs, 2-2 from trey] and young studmuffin Gary Trent, recently aquired from Portland for Norman Powell, went FUCKING BALLISTIC [17-19 FGs, 7-9 from trey], and he lit up the Knikcs earlier this season on the Blazers.
The Raptors are a championship team, least ways they have muscle memory of such going back two years, a nice core of young pups, and are very PRIDEFUL.
Gulp.