Well, yeah, but....
there's an obvious logic to getting rid of Julius in this deal. So it's not crazy that the Knicks would be exploring those options.
I knew we can't afford Randle, RJ, Brunson + Mitchell into the future (RJ will need to get paid next year), but I was hoping for one year with all 4, so that we can better see what's what. Who stays, who needs to go.
But I can see that for those who feel RJ is a definite star or Randle is a definite liability, it's best to make the move now.
The argument about affording multiple star contracts seems...well, YOU PAY FOR TALENT IN THIS LEAGUE, one way or another. Assuming for a moment we cop Mitchell to go with Jalen and RJ, absent Julius, if a "superstar" comes on the market, and we make a run at them, we pay for that much as, if not more than, we pay for Julius.
Also, it would seem a fairly good idea to rebuild Julius' value, so that the "selling price" resembles 2020-21 rather than 2021-22.
The feeding frenzy regading dumping Julius before he has even had a chance to take the court in a presumably NEW offensive look chaired by an actual factual PG....Jalen Brunson--seems rather self-immolating to me, the legit arguments in favor of dispensing with the contractual commitments to JR & Fournier notwithstanding.
And yes, opting out of Julius would certainly have a ripple effect, opening up significant minutes for Sims at the 5, Hartenstein at the 5 & Stretch 4, Obi at the 4, Feron Hunt at the 3-4, and Cam at the 2-3-4. BUT ARE ANY OF THEM Significantly BETTER THAN JULIUS? And, assuming for a moment that a deal for Donovan does not materialize, and we stand pat, the absence of Burks opens up more minutes not only for RJ and Grimes, but Fournier and Reddish.
And speaking for myself, I would really like to see Derek Rose play 2022-23 with Brunson, Quickley and McBride. Team option for 2023-24, so there goes his $14 million cap hit. What Jalen and our fellow puppies could glean from practicing with him is invaluable, let alone providing Thibs with a veteran security blanket.
PS: Donovan due 30-32-34-37 over the next four years, 2025-2026 a player option.
PPS: Our current contractual obligations, which would suggest the possibility RJ signs for Julius/Jalen money or something south of Donovan money
Julius: 23-25-27-29 [final season player option, plus contract has a 15% trade kicker]
Fournier: 18-18-19 [final season team option]
Mitchell: 17-15-14-13 [fully guaranteed]
Anyway, y'all, BusyBusyBusy, keepin' all reet in the mid summer heat with naught to compete as we beat on our meats 'til summer's complete and training camp beckons with the promise of further defeats in the fall of fresh expectations...