Griffin or Williams would have replaced Fournier who does not have the all around game for a major role on a decent team, much less on a good one.
Your hard on for Fournier is well documented.
And some of us are growing weary of it and your endless
TRADER VIC scenarios where Fournier And/Or Julius are offloaded for a bag of candy corn scenarios. Not that we are turning our noses up at cap space. Still...
As for Griffin and Williams.
We already have a pretty crowded back court.
We ALREADY have Barrett, we have Reddish, we have Grimes, a trio of big, talented two way wings, plus Burks AND Fournier if they remain Knicks. PLUS second rounder Trevor Keels. Keels' stats don't knock one's socks off, but he is a Dukie with a mature NBA body [6'4" 221]. That's SIX big wings at SG-SF.
Not to mention Rose, Quickley and McBride. IQ surely demonstrated some combo guard game of a piece with his Kentucky homie Maxey after the All-Star Break [oh, and we didn't pass on Maxey...he was gone at #21, and we got IQ at #25, followed thereafter by Bones Hyland].
I am quite sure the Knicks are shopping Fournier AND Burks AND Reddish. And much as I like Reddish, if he somehow could have gotten us a shot at Ivey, as utterly hopeless as that pursuit surely was, well...
I am not opposed to shopping Fournier, not in the least, though I find your scenarios, with all due respect...is nonsensical too strong? YES, offloading Fournier in the interests of opening up cap space and playing time for our puppies? Count me in. Dumping Randle for NOTHING? Not a strategy going forward, particulary for a player whose shitty season was still 20-10-5, and who would benefit immeasurably from nor being tasked as a point forward, or an ISO-Bot in Thibs' unimaginative sets. ERGO, bring on a point guard, as opposed to just dumping JR, no?
In any event, it's a free country, and surely any number of bodies are on the chopping block, in the pursuit of cap space for Brunson.
Which brings us to your offhanded dismissal of Brunson, which flies in the face of Jalen's playoff performance and leadership. A big who can shoot? You mean like Julius & Obi? If, as it presently appears, we are standing pat at Center, and are re-upping Mitchell and going forward with Jericho, then the likelihood of small ball with Julius and Obi logging minutes at the 5 increase, even given Thibs' aversion...he weakened and deployed it from time to time in the second half.
Detroit and Dallas were significant landing spots for Mitchell, but with Jalen Duren and Christian Wood now on board, and Ayton in play, our puppy has less options, seemingly.
Brunson, if that manifests in New York, would represent a significant uptick, your dismissal notwithstanding.
Again, DOESN'T make his team mates better?
And that conclusion is based on what? Carrying the team with Luka nursing injuries, helping the Mavericks make it to the Western Fucking Conference FINALS?
Not going to make Julius better? BASED ON WHAT?
Brunson, a Villinova guy, a winning program, and, one hastens to add, who has gotten better every single season.
He is a worker bee, who plays D, and can hit the three, pull up in the near field off the bounce, or hit from midrange. HE PLAYS WITH PACE & CAN GET TO THE RACK AND FINISH. And those last few games with Obi and IQ we got a chance to see how much better the Knicks looked playing with some pace, motion and movement. In 32 minutes a game during the regular season, he was good for 16-4-5, got to the free throw line 213 times, and drained 179, for an .840%. He is an efficient all around scorer, who connected on 412-756 of his two pointers, which is a .545%, and 94 of 252 from three, a .373% clip, which is a very respectable.
Was some of that part and parcel of the attention Luka attracted. OF COURSE.
But that question was asked AND answered in the playoffs and the Mavs run to the Western Finals.
You like Alex Burks [so do I], but Jalen leaves you yawning?
Now, is Brunson a top tier, POINT GUARD OF OUR DREAMS? No, he is not.
Chris Paul, Steph Curry or Damian Lillard? NO. Trae Young, LaMelo Ball or Ja Morant? NO. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Dejounte Murray or Kyrie Irving? NO.
The GHOSTS OF POINT GUARDS PAST, like Wall or Westbrook? NO.
And SO FUCKING WHAT if he ain't.
In the company of Saint LUKA he demonstrated he could be effective playing on and off the ball. He could be the lead guard or a second-third option. He contributed to a Jason Kidd-like pace.
And? WHEN IT COUNTED, Jalen displayed leadership.
Is he worth $25,000,000 a year?
Who gives a fuck.
The kid is a competitor. Brunson is A WINNER.
As desperate as the Knicks are, Jaden Ivey ain't coming through that door. Exhale.
Would your turn your nose up at such dynamic smurfs as Fred Van Vleet, Kyle Lowry, Terry Rozier? SERIOUSLY? All 6'1" or thereabouts, all great competitors who play with pace, can score from deep or going North South. Their fearless aggression going to the rack inspires their team mates. And creates opportunites all around.
You cannot quantify LEADERSHIP, and THAT was the biggest takeaway from Brunson's playoff run.
On your next outing to the Space Shuttle, take some of this into account
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