Knicks · Stars aren't always the answer. (page 1)
Balance Wins GamesThe New York Knicks have every reason to pursue a big name in 2016. With that being said, writing off the other guys would be a sign of ignorance to how important role players are to a team’s success.
Most role players wouldn’t be stars on their own, but in a system that enables them to focus specifically on their strengths, they can be crucial.
In a perfect world, the Knicks will sign a player such as Nicolas Batum, Mike Conley, DeMar DeRozan, or Rajon Rondo. Even with one of those players, however, a number of voids would remain.
Thus, if a role player has a specific skill that fits the system, then adding them for an affordable cost should be a priority.
The second unit was abhorrent in 2015-16; both starting guard positions are flawed; there aren’t even many players under contract entering 2016-17. In other words, the second unit is weak, and signing one player to a big contract would the flexibility New York has in improving it.
If the Knicks sign a non-superstar to a max contract, then where does one expect the team to find the money to sign players to fill the other voids?
Reading this section of the article it seems to me that it's entirely possible that the Knicks could end up with one of these players and that Rondo, Conley and DeRozan are actually STARS. They may not be the Elite of the Elite but adding one of them will make a HUGE improvement in the team.
The thing is that our guard play was so poor that it warps the view of just what talent we do have. Melo, KP and RoLo are a pretty talented Frontcourt and they're going to get better. Especially with upgrades at guard. That will make such a huge improvement that it's hard to see it right now. Everyone on the team will get better with an improvement at the guard spots.
The so called holes on the roster are made to look much worse when you don't have adequate guard depth. Pretty much all we had playing well were our bigs and you can't win like that. Whenever we got decent production from our guards the team was very competitive. We will be able to add some better bench bigs, wings and with Grant and Wroten in the Mix I suspect the depth at guard will be much better if they can add a Rondo or Conley and some other young guards who can shoot. The Role players Phil will have to add will be important as well.
I know there will be the temptation to chase a free agent PG and overpay them. In my opinion, with only $30 mill to spend, the knicks wont have enough to upgrade their roster. The knicks should look to next yrs 2017 draft to select a franchise PG (during "off days" I watch HS bball). Now Im not advocating to tank but im being realistic when i say, the knicks wont be a good team overnight (sure i hope we get KDurant and other game changers but i doubt it). Sure they could sneak into the playoffs but i doubt it. next yrs NBA draft will be 15 deep full of PGs and PFs
To me the DRAFT is where it all starts. draft a franchise PG (that will cost 5 mill at age 19, instead of paying 25 mill to a 29 yr old). There are about 4 ELITE muscular (>6-3), PGs and what impresses me is their intelligence, defense and shooting ability that complements their athleticism. I've seen these guys play in action in various games: please see high lights below
- Dennis Smith (NC State) =
- Lonzo Ball (UCLA) = best passer in the draft
- Markelle Fultz (Washington) - my favorite, mr versatile =
- Frank Jackson (Duke) = strongest athlete =
These are simply youtube tapes - these kids arent perfect. and you never know what will happen during their freshman years. my overall point (no pun intended) is that the knicks shouldnt go panicking for a free agent PG - now or next yr. Next yrs draft will be like 15 deep (since there are even better PFs in the class) so one of these kids will be available
Overall = be patient, save your money and build around KP and a franchise home grown PG
callmened wrote:to me, free agents arent always the answer. they usually cost a lot of money and theyre past their prime. plus lately, the good ones dont seem to want to come here. if rather get a 2nd or 3rd tier free agent - like crabbe. take our chances with grant and wroten in a new system and the chips fall where they may (which is most likely 30-40 wins - with either a free agent or not). like my "signature" says, id rather save money and have it roll over a couple yrs later when the cap STOPS increasing.I know there will be the temptation to chase a free agent PG and overpay them. In my opinion, with only $30 mill to spend, the knicks wont have enough to upgrade their roster. The knicks should look to next yrs 2017 draft to select a franchise PG (during "off days" I watch HS bball). Now Im not advocating to tank but im being realistic when i say, the knicks wont be a good team overnight (sure i hope we get KDurant and other game changers but i doubt it). Sure they could sneak into the playoffs but i doubt it. next yrs NBA draft will be 15 deep full of PGs and PFs
To me the DRAFT is where it all starts. draft a franchise PG (that will cost 5 mill at age 19, instead of paying 25 mill to a 29 yr old). There are about 4 ELITE muscular (>6-3), PGs and what impresses me is their intelligence, defense and shooting ability that complements their athleticism. I've seen these guys play in action in various games: please see high lights below
- Dennis Smith (NC State) =
- Lonzo Ball (UCLA) = best passer in the draft
- Markelle Fultz (Washington) - my favorite, mr versatile =
- Frank Jackson (Duke) = strongest athlete =These are simply youtube tapes - these kids arent perfect. and you never know what will happen during their freshman years. my overall point (no pun intended) is that the knicks shouldnt go panicking for a free agent PG - now or next yr. Next yrs draft will be like 15 deep (since there are even better PFs in the class) so one of these kids will be available
Overall = be patient, save your money and build around KP and a franchise home grown PG
Great post! Thank you
nixluva wrote:Balance Wins GamesThe New York Knicks have every reason to pursue a big name in 2016. With that being said, writing off the other guys would be a sign of ignorance to how important role players are to a team’s success.
Most role players wouldn’t be stars on their own, but in a system that enables them to focus specifically on their strengths, they can be crucial.
In a perfect world, the Knicks will sign a player such as Nicolas Batum, Mike Conley, DeMar DeRozan, or Rajon Rondo. Even with one of those players, however, a number of voids would remain.
Thus, if a role player has a specific skill that fits the system, then adding them for an affordable cost should be a priority.
The second unit was abhorrent in 2015-16; both starting guard positions are flawed; there aren’t even many players under contract entering 2016-17. In other words, the second unit is weak, and signing one player to a big contract would the flexibility New York has in improving it.
If the Knicks sign a non-superstar to a max contract, then where does one expect the team to find the money to sign players to fill the other voids?
Reading this section of the article it seems to me that it's entirely possible that the Knicks could end up with one of these players and that Rondo, Conley and DeRozan are actually STARS. They may not be the Elite of the Elite but adding one of them will make a HUGE improvement in the team.
The thing is that our guard play was so poor that it warps the view of just what talent we do have. Melo, KP and RoLo are a pretty talented Frontcourt and they're going to get better. Especially with upgrades at guard. That will make such a huge improvement that it's hard to see it right now. Everyone on the team will get better with an improvement at the guard spots.
The so called holes on the roster are made to look much worse when you don't have adequate guard depth. Pretty much all we had playing well were our bigs and you can't win like that. Whenever we got decent production from our guards the team was very competitive. We will be able to add some better bench bigs, wings and with Grant and Wroten in the Mix I suspect the depth at guard will be much better if they can add a Rondo or Conley and some other young guards who can shoot. The Role players Phil will have to add will be important as well.
I've been saying that this team isn't as far away from being a good team and playoff team as a lot of people think they are. If we added one of M.Conley, R.Rondo, D.Derozan or N.Batum we would be instantly a good team and that's without filling out spots around Melo, KP, Rolo and one of the four i just mentioned.
callmened wrote:to me, free agents arent always the answer. they usually cost a lot of money and theyre past their prime. plus lately, the good ones dont seem to want to come here. if rather get a 2nd or 3rd tier free agent - like crabbe. take our chances with grant and wroten in a new system and the chips fall where they may (which is most likely 30-40 wins - with either a free agent or not). like my "signature" says, id rather save money and have it roll over a couple yrs later when the cap STOPS increasing.I know there will be the temptation to chase a free agent PG and overpay them. In my opinion, with only $30 mill to spend, the knicks wont have enough to upgrade their roster. The knicks should look to next yrs 2017 draft to select a franchise PG (during "off days" I watch HS bball). Now Im not advocating to tank but im being realistic when i say, the knicks wont be a good team overnight (sure i hope we get KDurant and other game changers but i doubt it). Sure they could sneak into the playoffs but i doubt it. next yrs NBA draft will be 15 deep full of PGs and PFs
To me the DRAFT is where it all starts. draft a franchise PG (that will cost 5 mill at age 19, instead of paying 25 mill to a 29 yr old). There are about 4 ELITE muscular (>6-3), PGs and what impresses me is their intelligence, defense and shooting ability that complements their athleticism. I've seen these guys play in action in various games: please see high lights below
- Dennis Smith (NC State) =
- Lonzo Ball (UCLA) = best passer in the draft
- Markelle Fultz (Washington) - my favorite, mr versatile =
- Frank Jackson (Duke) = strongest athlete =These are simply youtube tapes - these kids arent perfect. and you never know what will happen during their freshman years. my overall point (no pun intended) is that the knicks shouldnt go panicking for a free agent PG - now or next yr. Next yrs draft will be like 15 deep (since there are even better PFs in the class) so one of these kids will be available
Overall = be patient, save your money and build around KP and a franchise home grown PG
Hold on a second here, did you just say that $30 million isn't enough to upgrade our roster? Wow that's absolutely crazy talk. One legit guard and a few tier 3 or 4 players upgrade our roster greatly and put us in the playoffs next year.
I understand what you're saying about building a team through the draft but i would only get behind that if Melo waives his NTC and we get some good young players and picks in return, but with Melo we need to build through free agency cause we can be a legit team with the right additions to this team which is a legit PG and a legit SG which we could easily add one this off season and the other the following off season and we'd be a legit not only playoff team but legit playoff team that would make some noise in the playoffs.
That's a lot of legit's.