Knicks · Robin Lopez is a back up (page 1)

callmened wrote:He's an injury prone big man who can't guard the pnr like he used to. I'm sure someone will pay him a nice contract based on reputation alone. It wouldn't surprise me if that's the knicks

How is he injury prone? He was hurt once this year and had been healthy before that. Played 82 games per year. And he's only 26 years old i think. yet you talk like he's past his prime. I think he's a decent option, i just wish he was more athletic.

smackeddog wrote:At this point, assuming we miss out on Towns, who is the best defensive C out there this offseason?- the options are dwindling

Asik is a free agent. But you have to figure that New Orleans will do whatever it takes to resign him since they traded a first round pick for him. Also, he has stone hands so not exactly a triangle C.

BRIGGS wrote:Talent on a good team. I know Portland has been a good regular season team but they don't have nearly enough for the playoffs starting at the 5 and the over rated Lopez. Whoever is stupid and pays him big money deserves what they get

smackeddog wrote:At this point, assuming we miss out on Towns, who is the best defensive C out there this offseason?- the options are dwindling

callmened wrote:asik is also a center that has regressed. we all know hes a zero on offense but at least he gave u defense. but now in this NBA world, one needs a big man who can guard the pick n roll. he used to be ok at this but now hes sucks. golden state knows this and is completely taking advantage of that. i would NOT want him on the knicks

I agree. But which FA could we target that would be able to anchor our defense? Honestly, I don't know. I was inclined to pick Alexis Ajinca or Robin Lopez and split their game time with KAT if we manage to draft him.
We also desperately need rebound and Asik, Lopez can help on this front.

BRIGGS wrote:Talent on a good team. I know Portland has been a good regular season team but they don't have nearly enough for the playoffs starting at the 5 and the over rated Lopez. Whoever is stupid and pays him big money deserves what they get

Well the knicks are not a good team. Therefore, R.Lopez is a quality starter, who will provide a similar impact to Monroe, but at a cheaper price. I say R.Lopez is a great option for us as a starting center, especially if we draft Towns or OK4. How much better is Monroe over Lopez? I think their salaries will be different, but their wins / loss impact will be the same.

newyorker4ever wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:Talent on a good team. I know Portland has been a good regular season team but they don't have nearly enough for the playoffs starting at the 5 and the over rated Lopez. Whoever is stupid and pays him big money deserves what they get

Well depending on who the Knicks get to play the 4 he could end up being a Knick.

Just keep Cole A for now 3 years 6mm. You'd have to pat 12mm for Lopez and that is just stupidity.

smackeddog wrote:Are they many good defensive PF's out there this offseason? If we draft OK4 it might be better to have him at C and instead target a defensive PF.

PF is a scoring position in the NBA

newyorker4ever wrote:

smackeddog wrote:At this point, assuming we miss out on Towns, who is the best defensive C out there this offseason?- the options are dwindling

D.Jordan would be the top defensive center out there for this free agency I would think and R.Hibbert, O.Asik, R.Lopez would be the others. I'm sure I'm missing some. B.Lopez has a opt out for next year but I don't see him opting out cause it's some outrageous amount like 16-17 million.

I know Larry Bird basically just told Hibbert to opt out- in the end of year Pacers press conference he said they planned on reducing his role, changing to a faster more offensive team, and having him come off the bench, and also had some uncomplimentary things to say about. If Hibbert is smart however, he will opt in this season, and become a free agent next year when the cap has blown up.

The issue with most of these defensive centers is that they're ultimately role players. Protecting the rim DOES have value in the NBA, and teams need that to win a title, but great rim protecting centers tend to be marginal at other aspects of the game. Roy Hibbert is practically the best rim-protecting center in the NBA still, but he doesn't do much else, so when Indiana doesn't have a lot of good players, they're still bad. Mozgov is a good rim protector that helps Cleveland win, but you can overpay for him when you have 3 real difference-makers. Teams like the Knicks have to spend resources on difference-makers first, then add the rim protector when they're ready to make a run.

The only good rim protector in the league that you can actually run an offense through is DeMarcus Cousins...

y2zipper wrote:Melo should be the PF for exactly the reason Briggs mentioned. It's a scoring position and that's what Melo does best, and he's got the size and rebounding to do it.

The issue with most of these defensive centers is that they're ultimately role players. Protecting the rim DOES have value in the NBA, and teams need that to win a title, but great rim protecting centers tend to be marginal at other aspects of the game. Roy Hibbert is practically the best rim-protecting center in the NBA still, but he doesn't do much else, so when Indiana doesn't have a lot of good players, they're still bad. Mozgov is a good rim protector that helps Cleveland win, but you can overpay for him when you have 3 real difference-makers. Teams like the Knicks have to spend resources on difference-makers first, then add the rim protector when they're ready to make a run.

The only good rim protector in the league that you can actually run an offense through is DeMarcus Cousins...

Thats why I dont think its bad to play with 2 5-4's like Atlanta does. Unless you have a Gobert type the 5 position is like a dinosaur--you need them but as role players.

smackeddog wrote:

newyorker4ever wrote:

smackeddog wrote:At this point, assuming we miss out on Towns, who is the best defensive C out there this offseason?- the options are dwindling

D.Jordan would be the top defensive center out there for this free agency I would think and R.Hibbert, O.Asik, R.Lopez would be the others. I'm sure I'm missing some. B.Lopez has a opt out for next year but I don't see him opting out cause it's some outrageous amount like 16-17 million.

I know Larry Bird basically just told Hibbert to opt out- in the end of year Pacers press conference he said they planned on reducing his role, changing to a faster more offensive team, and having him come off the bench, and also had some uncomplimentary things to say about. If Hibbert is smart however, he will opt in this season, and become a free agent next year when the cap has blown up.

Hmmm ... another team that is looking to do away with old school.

BRIGGS wrote:

y2zipper wrote:Melo should be the PF for exactly the reason Briggs mentioned. It's a scoring position and that's what Melo does best, and he's got the size and rebounding to do it.

The issue with most of these defensive centers is that they're ultimately role players. Protecting the rim DOES have value in the NBA, and teams need that to win a title, but great rim protecting centers tend to be marginal at other aspects of the game. Roy Hibbert is practically the best rim-protecting center in the NBA still, but he doesn't do much else, so when Indiana doesn't have a lot of good players, they're still bad. Mozgov is a good rim protector that helps Cleveland win, but you can overpay for him when you have 3 real difference-makers. Teams like the Knicks have to spend resources on difference-makers first, then add the rim protector when they're ready to make a run.

The only good rim protector in the league that you can actually run an offense through is DeMarcus Cousins...

Thats why I dont think its bad to play with 2 5-4's like Atlanta does. Unless you have a Gobert type the 5 position is like a dinosaur--you need them but as role players.

Noah and Gasol in Chicago is the best example of having a roster with 2 5-4's that works. Gasol plays C most of the time defensively because he can't move or guard the perimeter as well as Noah can at his age, but offensively, Gasol is a force at either position.

Differentiating between the PF and C positions in today's league doesn't make much sense. Generally speaking the guys that you want to play inside and that can't move as well defend centers, and the guys that are more versatile defensively play PF because they can defend the stretch players that are prominent at the 4 today.

BRIGGS wrote:

y2zipper wrote:Melo should be the PF for exactly the reason Briggs mentioned. It's a scoring position and that's what Melo does best, and he's got the size and rebounding to do it.

The issue with most of these defensive centers is that they're ultimately role players. Protecting the rim DOES have value in the NBA, and teams need that to win a title, but great rim protecting centers tend to be marginal at other aspects of the game. Roy Hibbert is practically the best rim-protecting center in the NBA still, but he doesn't do much else, so when Indiana doesn't have a lot of good players, they're still bad. Mozgov is a good rim protector that helps Cleveland win, but you can overpay for him when you have 3 real difference-makers. Teams like the Knicks have to spend resources on difference-makers first, then add the rim protector when they're ready to make a run.

The only good rim protector in the league that you can actually run an offense through is DeMarcus Cousins...

Thats why I dont think its bad to play with 2 5-4's like Atlanta does. Unless you have a Gobert type the 5 position is like a dinosaur--you need them but as role players.

Drafting Tim Hardaway JR was a mistake especially when he had JR Smith/Iman Shumpert at the time

Leaving out Gobert who had the HIGHEST upside/ceiling on the board was the GREATEST MISTAKE

Rusell or Mudiay, Shved/Galloway

Winslow/Mario Henzoja or Thanasis/ G/F's

Carroll/CA

Gobert

Gianness had the TOP 3 potential that was drafted in the middle of the board, had we utilized the assets we used to trade for AB, even if we overpaid with our future 1st rounders in the process, we could have stole the next TOP tier 2 way player with great versatility to play OFF and DEFENSE in multiple positions
We used 1 1st rounder and 2 2nd rounders for AB, and we still have 2 future 1st rounders that we could use to move up from 23 to about 10 in order to acquire him, so even if we REACHED to do this, it would be worth it

While both Giannes and Thanasis could be great DEFENSIVE players in the future, shooting is a skill that could be learned, especially if we continue add to the talent of the draft with this years pick to have a foundation moving forward
They have the potential to be LOCK DOWN DEFENDERS and at the Wing's, while Towns/OK4 and/or Ajinicia/Whiteside at a PF/C position to go with that youth and continued development to their high motor/work ethics

For instance

Russell/Mudiay
Thanasis
Giannes

Giannes *could play all 5 positions, realisticlly, and is a hybrid of Magic Johnson/Durant/Lebron/KG with his skill set and size, as a 7 footer and has so many verastile skills/talents/physical abilities
Mario Henzoja/Justice Winslow
Thanasis

could go with a PG, PF, C, or G/F, PF, C

Thanasis
Giannes
Durant/CA

Town's/OK4
Whiteside/AJinicia or Horford/Pau

There simply is so many different options in terms of flexiblity/roster building
we could have went with a YOUNG CORE to build around, while being a very strong team, and having a deep lineup due to having so much young talent on rookie contracts
instead we went for AB