Knicks · Agree very much with this Isola article - wooing Durant now isn't about this year, it's about next summer 2017 (page 1)

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basket...

What the Knicks are doing with Durant, the top free agent on the market, is actually quite clever; they have the home court advantage with Durant being in New York the past week and Carmelo serving as ambassador/tour guide/friend.

Everyone else must wait until July 1st to recruit Durant but the Knicks, via Carmelo, get a head start. All's fair in love, war and free agency.

Carmelo Anthony ‘reinvigorated’ in Knicks with Derrick Rose
"I do consider myself part of the Knicks," Anthony told ESPN on Monday, "so that meeting has already taken place."

Rest assured that this has gotten the attention of Oklahoma City front office, which has been on the lookout for possible tampering violations all season. Thunder president Sam Presti is always two steps ahead of everyone.

In fact, there was a photo circulating in recent days that appears to show Durant out on the town with a training staff member of the Westchester Knicks. That's a no-no.

But Carmelo wining, dining and hooping with Durant is perfectly legal. And it gives Phil the perfect alibi. He's like the Godfather, only less charming.

In theory, Durant is having his meeting with the Knicks at this very moment. It's been a week-long recruiting visit. Maybe that's why the Knicks have yet to be included among the teams Durant plans to meet with when free agency begins at 12:01 a.m. on July 1st. OKC, Golden State, San Antonio, Boston, Miami and the Clippers have already secured sit downs. But not the Knicks.

"Obviously they have a good team now with D-Rose, Melo and (Kristaps) Porzingis," Durant said on Monday, "so I will talk to my team and we will figure things out."

That sounds like a nice way of saying "I'll get back to you" when the guy has no intention of getting back to you.

How's this for a theory; the Knicks already know Durant is a pipe dream and Phil, whose ego is as big as Durant's, doesn't want to be part of a dog and pony show.

You can't blame Phil for that. There are other moves that need to he made and perhaps he doesn't want to be held up waiting for Durant to make official something Jackson and the Knicks already know.

This is why if you're the Knicks and you can't sign Durant you hope for him to do what many expect; return to OKC on a two-year deal with a one-year opt out. Under that scenario, Durant becomes a free agent in 12 months and it allows the Knicks to become a more attractive destination point.

Yes, Carmelo will be a year older but Porzingis will be a year wiser. The Knicks, who get Derrick Rose on a one-year rental, could make a run at point guard Kyle Lowry and sign Durant. FYI: Durant, Lowry and Anthony are Olympic teammates.

A person close to Durant says that in February the teams being targeted by Team Durant are the same teams he's scheduled meetings with in July. Nothing has changed.

If Knicks are shutout, it's not an abject failure. On the contrary, they're really set up for next summer when LeBron James could be free and Russell Westbrook will be available.

And if things go the way many believe they will, Durant will be a free agent again. And not only do the Knicks get a meeting but maybe they're actually in the running.

And Phil will have to thank Carmelo for laying the groundwork.

The key is to make the Knicks more attractive now for NEXT SUMMER. Show Free Agents what winning in NY looks like - what a developing KP looks like, what a good coach Hornacek looks like.

Next summer is the big FA crop - that's the time to make the splash.

This is the year to make the case to get into a FA's consideration.

I also found myself agreeing with the article and thinking it was the first cogent thing that Isola has written in quite a while.

It's a logical take on what the Knicks could be thinking. Regardless of what KD does, the Knicks have work to do and they know they will have an even better looking situation a year from now. I'm personally not worried about it at this point. Phil has his plan laid out for any eventuality and as always plan A, B, C and D. The Knicks are in a very good position to strike this summer.

I think Knicks should focus on making their team the best posssible for the next 3-4 years around KP, Melo, Rose and free agents will come themselves with the results.

Too much work and hype without a real impact any other way. Sure it is nice Melo got the recruitment going, and that KD may meet with the Knicks and that would be the only non playoff team from last year he met. However in the end I do not even know that I want so many high usage players around the unicorn.

If it so happens that in a year the Knicks have shown they can win close to 50 games and won a round in the playoffs, and that makes them front runners for a free agent like Westbrook, well so be it.

But I am just fine with no Durant or short cuts. Develop KP, put the onus on him to be an all star and reliable franchise level player. Onus on Melo to be the man now. Onus on Rose to prove he is still a top 10 point guard in the league and healthy. Hornachek to show he can add elements of his PHX offense and hybrid it with the Triangle, create a more modern Triangle. I want to see those things happen, and rest will take care of itself.

I'm not including Rose in the 3-4 year plan by any means at this point, but I completely agree with your last 2 paragraphs. Rose is a check it out this year situation. No attachments either way. See what happens and if the Knicks and him see things the same afterwards then let's do what makes sense. If not, thanks a ton and a sincere best of luck and then go after Westbrook or Lowry, among others, next offseason.

I really think the Knicks need another couple of players that have some level of shot creation and play making ability. When you watch the better teams you have to have more than one guy that can be a threat with the ball. Good defensive teams can shut down shooters that can't create with the ball. I'm pretty sure that Horny is asking Phil for more ball handlers. Rose is good but if he's out then what. So there's a lot of work to go. Phil likes well rounded players so I suspect he'll look to add guys that have Multiple Skills as he likes to say. There are guys we can get even guys like Lance Stephenson could help off the bench.

nychamp wrote:I'm not including Rose in the 3-4 year plan by any means at this point, but I completely agree with your last 2 paragraphs. Rose is a check it out this year situation. No attachments either way. See what happens and if the Knicks and him see things the same afterwards then let's do what makes sense. If not, thanks a ton and a sincere best of luck and then go after Westbrook or Lowry, among others, next offseason.

Rose is a 1 year investment with an intention to hopefully make it longer. At 27, he fits the 3-4 year window. The Melo/Rose/KP lineup has 3 years in my opinion, to get a ring. After that Melo will likely be too old. If we can sign a Dwight Howard or Hassan Whiteside, I really like our chances at securing a top 4 seed in the East. From there it is about KP getting better, and seeing how good Rose really is. If Rose is not good enough this year, we havethe opprtunity to replace him in 2017. We will also have our draft pick to add some talent. Should be keeping Galloway and Holiday as well. Everyone looks at a Rose or Howard and wants them to be the players they once were in Chicago/Orlando. I see it differently. I want them to be weapons around Melo and KP. With KP stretching the floor, with Melo at the wing, if the opposing team has to worry about Rose as a penetration threat, Howard as a cutter or roller after setting a screen, if we have a 3 point shooter at 2 guard, that is one of the most balanced teams the Knicks have had in decades. May not win a ring, but the talent is there to compete with anyone. I remain consistent on this. Forget the pipedream on Durant, go hard at Whiteside or Howard and a sniper 2 like Crabbe. Re-sign Galloway and Thomas using early bird rights and call it an offseason.

nyknickzingis wrote:

nychamp wrote:I'm not including Rose in the 3-4 year plan by any means at this point, but I completely agree with your last 2 paragraphs. Rose is a check it out this year situation. No attachments either way. See what happens and if the Knicks and him see things the same afterwards then let's do what makes sense. If not, thanks a ton and a sincere best of luck and then go after Westbrook or Lowry, among others, next offseason.

Rose is a 1 year investment with an intention to hopefully make it longer. At 27, he fits the 3-4 year window. The Melo/Rose/KP lineup has 3 years in my opinion, to get a ring. After that Melo will likely be too old. If we can sign a Dwight Howard or Hassan Whiteside, I really like our chances at securing a top 4 seed in the East. From there it is about KP getting better, and seeing how good Rose really is. If Rose is not good enough this year, we havethe opprtunity to replace him in 2017. We will also have our draft pick to add some talent. Should be keeping Galloway and Holiday as well. Everyone looks at a Rose or Howard and wants them to be the players they once were in Chicago/Orlando. I see it differently. I want them to be weapons around Melo and KP. With KP stretching the floor, with Melo at the wing, if the opposing team has to worry about Rose as a penetration threat, Howard as a cutter or roller after setting a screen, if we have a 3 point shooter at 2 guard, that is one of the most balanced teams the Knicks have had in decades. May not win a ring, but the talent is there to compete with anyone. I remain consistent on this. Forget the pipedream on Durant, go hard at Whiteside or Howard and a sniper 2 like Crabbe. Re-sign Galloway and Thomas using early bird rights and call it an offseason.

The game is all bout perimeter shooting, weather a or small. Whiteside and Howard don't run, neither does Lopez, those are half court players.

The knicks will end up with Noah and biyombo, at least that what i hope.

nychamp wrote:I'm not including Rose in the 3-4 year plan by any means at this point, but I completely agree with your last 2 paragraphs. Rose is a check it out this year situation. No attachments either way. See what happens and if the Knicks and him see things the same afterwards then let's do what makes sense. If not, thanks a ton and a sincere best of luck and then go after Westbrook or Lowry, among others, next offseason.

No he's not a check it out. His cap hold is 30+ million. You'd have to renounce his bird rights and eat into your own cap to keep him. which would be stupid to do, unless it's a short-term sweetheart deal, and even then...

nychamp wrote:I also found myself agreeing with the article and thinking it was the first cogent thing that Isola has written in quite a while.

Its the type of article Isola used to write back in the day. He really needs to get back to that

nychamp wrote:I also found myself agreeing with the article and thinking it was the first cogent thing that Isola has written in quite a while.

My thing is when do we start actually winning for today? Everything is next year and 3 years from now.... the Knicks have an opportunity to win in 2016. Get down or lay down

As I said a few days ago, Durant is more than likely on a listening tour for next summer. It gives him a chance to hear what other teams would do with him on the roster, and it gives other teams the time to make a case for Durant coming to their city. Even if NY isn't on the list, it doesn't necessarily mean that the Knicks are out of the picture.

If the list we've read in the press is accurate, its no big surprise that that the Knicks aren't on it. New coach, gutted roster, starting PG in questionable health. Knicks have a season to fill out the roster, prove that Rose is healthy and playing well, and Hornacek has a good handle on things.

EnySpree wrote:My thing is when do we start actually winning for today? Everything is next year and 3 years from now.... the Knicks have an opportunity to win in 2016. Get down or lay down

buddy - you win from within. impatient fans are why dolan "starphucked" the team into the 6th circle of hell. sounds like you're "laying down" for mediocrity and treadmilling. I'm getting down for home-grown brew, something to be proud about. Not this circle-jerk Super-Friends 4-year plan fiasco the league has turned into.

my "thing" is I'd like contention for a decade, not 2 years. As a fan, I have integrity. I don't wanna freaking poach players, I don't wanna collude, I don't wanna see guys flopping on MY court.

Knicks need to completely rebuild. But they won't. Look at the Wolves...no one's laughing now.

EnySpree wrote:My thing is when do we start actually winning for today? Everything is next year and 3 years from now.... the Knicks have an opportunity to win in 2016. Get down or lay down

Yes - try to win as much as they can this year. I mean, what does that look like? 45 games? 50 games?

It's enough to get them to the level where a big FA might consider them. Not enough to actually contend this year.

We're talking about winning more to convince bigger FA we can win.

EnySpree wrote:My thing is when do we start actually winning for today? Everything is next year and 3 years from now.... the Knicks have an opportunity to win in 2016. Get down or lay down

I completely agree with you. Let's try to win today while also leaving cap space and draft picks available for 2017. It's why I like the Rose trade. It's why I want Dwight, Hassan or even Al Horford. We are pretty much in win now mode now. Melo is 32. Rose is 27. KP may only be 20, but he is good for 15-17 ppg right away (and that's not taking into account improvement he may make within a year). Knicks were at one point with a fully healthy team playing .500 ball. With a better coach, better system, better point guard - the situation is there to get more wins. How Phil spends this remaining cap space will be vital to this years chances.

home33 wrote:

EnySpree wrote:My thing is when do we start actually winning for today? Everything is next year and 3 years from now.... the Knicks have an opportunity to win in 2016. Get down or lay down

buddy - you win from within. impatient fans are why dolan "starphucked" the team into the 6th circle of hell. sounds like you're "laying down" for mediocrity and treadmilling. I'm getting down for home-grown brew, something to be proud about. Not this circle-jerk Super-Friends 4-year plan fiasco the league has turned into.

my "thing" is I'd like contention for a decade, not 2 years. As a fan, I have integrity. I don't wanna freaking poach players, I don't wanna collude, I don't wanna see guys flopping on MY court.

Knicks need to completely rebuild. But they won't. Look at the Wolves...no one's laughing now.

but they have been laughing for decades and the jury still out. Next year they'll still be completing to not make the lottery.

I don't quite understand the notion of completely rebuild. What didn't the Knicks do to get that status besides resign Melo? Multiple years in the lottery?

The last 2 legitimate superstars to sign with another team were Lebron in 2010...and Shaq in 1996.

Let that sink in.

martin wrote:

home33 wrote:

EnySpree wrote:My thing is when do we start actually winning for today? Everything is next year and 3 years from now.... the Knicks have an opportunity to win in 2016. Get down or lay down

buddy - you win from within. impatient fans are why dolan "starphucked" the team into the 6th circle of hell. sounds like you're "laying down" for mediocrity and treadmilling. I'm getting down for home-grown brew, something to be proud about. Not this circle-jerk Super-Friends 4-year plan fiasco the league has turned into.

my "thing" is I'd like contention for a decade, not 2 years. As a fan, I have integrity. I don't wanna freaking poach players, I don't wanna collude, I don't wanna see guys flopping on MY court.

Knicks need to completely rebuild. But they won't. Look at the Wolves...no one's laughing now.

but they have been laughing for decades and the jury still out. Next year they'll still be completing to not make the lottery.

I don't quite understand the notion of completely rebuild. What didn't the Knicks do to get that status besides resign Melo? Multiple years in the lottery?

They've been laughing at the team that was run worse than the Knicks and has a running meme of "KHANNNN!"?

Yea...and? They couldn't draft to save their lives. They've learned from being stupid. They got rid of idiotic front office employees. The owner's less involved. A half-blind dog could see they have the brightest future in the NBA. They can do whatever they want. The world is their oyster.

I don't understand your last sentence at all. Do you not understand the concept of rebuild? The Knicks gave up lottery picks? And sucked. Don't do that for starters? 2017 Draft > 2017 FA.

You win from within. That's the concept.

home33 wrote:

EnySpree wrote:My thing is when do we start actually winning for today? Everything is next year and 3 years from now.... the Knicks have an opportunity to win in 2016. Get down or lay down

buddy - you win from within. impatient fans are why dolan "starphucked" the team into the 6th circle of hell. sounds like you're "laying down" for mediocrity and treadmilling. I'm getting down for home-grown brew, something to be proud about. Not this circle-jerk Super-Friends 4-year plan fiasco the league has turned into.

my "thing" is I'd like contention for a decade, not 2 years. As a fan, I have integrity. I don't wanna freaking poach players, I don't wanna collude, I don't wanna see guys flopping on MY court.

Knicks need to completely rebuild. But they won't. Look at the Wolves...no one's laughing now.

I'd not about being impatient or doing what we did the last 15 years.... you want contention 10 years....what do you expect to happen to achieve that? Phil secured cap flexibility and we have all our draft picks going forward. I'd say we are covered for the next 10 years. We don't have to drag our feet for 3 years just to start winning. We don't need to be looking at 2030.

We can win this year with Melo, KP, Rose and 2 free agent signings. That's not being impatient. Farming fit draft picks doesn't always work either. Ask Philly and Sacramento.

So like I said why can't we win today? We sin guys to manageable contracts luke we been doing and we all have call flexibility and all of our draft picks.