The sticking point on the player side of the deal is probably the hold up.
The Jazz are likely asking for the moon. But realistically the Knicks can't trade their two best young players outside RJ (OBI and Grimes) in the same trade.
If you send Grimes to Utah, then Ainge can't have OBI and IQ
If you send OBI and IQ to Utah, then Ainge can't have Grimes
Ainge probably wants Grimes the most. He has the most years left on his rookie deal and he can fit in with his shooting and defense.
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If Ainge has a real hard-on for Grimes then I would construct a deal where we give up fewer of our own unprotected assets.
Evan+Rose+Grimes+Deuce
2 Unprotected FRPs
2 of our 3 FRPs from other teams.
Ainge gets a very good (more cost effective than Herro, and he plays D) young player, 2 very juicy unprotected picks, and 2 other protected picks.
If he wants more picks then i'm pulling back Grimes. That's how it works.
Yup.
We have the '6'4" combo guard Rokas Jokubaitis [our #34 pick in 2021] stashed in Spain, and he could come over to be worked in behind Brunson in 2023-24. His issue for 2022-23 was playing time in a Knicks rotation. Knicks POV was not to rush Rokas, and give him another year to ripen on the vine.
OBIVOUSLY, if the Knicks pull off the trade you propope, Kamiar, Mitchell joins Brunson and Quickley in a Triage of Point Guard/Combo Guard depth. ALL THREE ARE CAPABLE OF PLAYING EFFECTVELY BOTH ON AND OFF THE BALL. Based on last season, Mitchell is good for 26 ppg, 4 boards and 5 assists a game based on 20 shots per, while IQ is roughly 11-3-3.5 in 23 minutes, and Jalen roughly 16-4-5 during the 2021-22 regular season, though his playoff stats of 21.6-4.6-3.7 are probably closer to what we might expect, save that the lower assists numbers are more a reflection of his taking roughly 17 shots a game functioning more as a scoring option than a facilitator or second option, when he took roughly half the number of shots [9.6] during the gregular season, because Luka as the Big Dawg was hoisting 21.6 shots per game, you dig?
I think what you propose is a fair, generous offer. I don't think any of us is psyched about giving up Grimes. Rose & Conley are nice trading pieces and PG platoon while the Jazz wait on Harper and McBride to develop, while Grimes steps right into Mitchell's minutes and Fournier gives them a good big SF/SG wing for two years, or more trade options.
Not sure Ainge agrees. In lieu of ponying up IQ or Obi in addition to Grimeds and McBride, at least another of the protected #1 picks we gleaned in this summer's draft, some of of our remaining stockpile of #2s, some pickp swapping, would constitute a good offer. Ainge is looking for a CRAZY OFFER.
Brock Aller & Scott Perry & Walt Perrin [long time Jazz draft guru] are clearly not buying into the media pressure or buying into Ainge's Tradever Vic mystique. Clearly they are prepared to wait Ainge out, and let the other bidders come to the table. Miami could offer Herro and Robinson, but not our draft capital, and Herro is due a qualifying offer next summer and he is going to want to be paid, while Robinson is due roughly $17-18-19-20, with the final year a player option, a twice the guaranteed years of Fournier, and Robinson is already 28.
C: Robinson, Sims
PF-C: Randle, Hartenstein
SF-PF: Toppin,
HuntSG-SF: Barrett, Reddish,
KeelsPG-SG: Brunson, Mitchell, Quickley
That would consitute a pretty nice 10-man rotation, with a total of TWELVE players, including our Two-Way contracts, Hunt & Keels.
I just did a REAL GM Scenario where I amended your trade to bring back
Patrick Beverley, though he
cannot be included in a trade until September 6, as he was just dealt. Would give us a defensive stalwart on an expiring contract, more coverage at PG/SG, and a snarky competitive presence that would play well at the Garden and with Coach Thibs--PB has been a reserve PG playing 22-27 mpg over the paste four seasons.
Anyway, just a thought. Trade numbers work either way as a 1-for-4 [or a 2-4] with Mitchell FOR Fournier-Rose-Grimes-McBride.
Beverley would nicely round out a 13 man rotation.
Who would consistute 14 & 15 among our summer league, Westchester or remaining free agents?
I know Carmelo's name has been floated, with or without Beverley. LaMarcus Aldrdige is still out there. Blake Griffin. Jabari Parker. Josh Jackson.
Given the possible 10-man rotation, and the presence of our two-way pups, Melo would actually make some sense to fill Taj's vet mentor role and to challenge Julius, Obi, Reddish, Hunt and RJ in practice. He put up 13.3-4.2-1.0 while convertng FTs at a .830% clip and knocking down 149-397 treys in 26.0 minutes per game [.375%] which is quite respectable.
Anyway, spitballing on a hot summer's day, with no basketball to ponder, and NFL training camp on the horizon, and your trade ruminations got me to thinking.
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