Knicks · Forget all the trades and potential FA's who is the best draft pick that fits in with the core we have on contract? (page 1)

At #8, there will likely be a choice of Monk, Dennis Smith, Ntilikina. Maybe Isaac if he falls that low, but unlikely.
Of the 3 more likey to be there (MonkvsSmithvsNtilikina) who is the best fit with the pieces we already have?

By that I mean

Porzingis
Hernangomez
Melo
Lee

I mean it's clear those are our top 4 guys with Rose now heading into free agency, and KP/Willy/Melo/Lee all have shown they can score.

So who fits best there?

Frank?
Dennis?
Malik?

May be overthinking things. Phil only stated his opinion that he thinks Melo should move on, not that he will trade Melo. He has done that song and dance with Kobe and Kobe recently said Melo needs to get on the same page with Phil and aim for championships. If we don't get the right pieces for Melo, we may just keep him. So in which case who is the best draft pick for us?

Frank would bring the most defensive impact/potential.
Dennis would bring the most speed, and point guard like play. A better Jennings? Jennings ignited this team at times but was inconsistent and couldn't score.
Monk is a great shooter and has some point skills that fit in the Triangle. He could be a deadly scorer between Melo/KP/Willy.

I honestly think with all this trade talk, Phil and Gaines are not even all that concerned with a Melo trade. I think they know Melo will be motivated to play well, he's in a contract year (opt out after this season). They have a top 8 pick.

So maybe the best thing here is to make a smart good draft pick that fits in with Willy/KP/Melo/Lee at the PG spot. Then use the 19 million to work on good role player free agents who will bring defense and outside shooting. All-Stars don't grow on trees, and if KP backs up his diva actions, we may have two all-star forwards on the team next year with an exciting young lottery talent guard. Plus around 20$ million to spend hopefully on defensive talented players and to improve the bench.

Am I crazy to think we may just keep the same core starters, add a young lottery pick guard , make some free agent signings for defense and move forward like that? Not like Melo is demanding out and not like Melo will play awful in a contract year. Not like Phil is trading Melo for peanuts, he has had those peanut offers for a year now, has always passed.

This could be opening day's starting 5

KP/Willy/Melo/Monk/Baker (Lee 6th man)
KP/Willy/Melo/Lee/Smith
KP/Willy/Melo/Lee/Ntilikina

They all could be solid fits for different reasons. My only concern with Ntilikina is lack of immediate contribution. He may not be ready to start. Monk is probably the best fit, as he brings a high-level NBA skill to the table, and surrounding KP and Willy with outside shooting is essential. All of them bring different skills to the table, and would fit well.

Monk should fit in immediately as a guard that can function On or Off the ball in the Triangle. Nitty is probably not an immediate impact player but should be brought along at his own pace. Smith is more likely to excel in Jeff's Uptempo Early Offense stuff with Spread PnR/Drag Screens Early in the shit clock! IMO there are no bad choices just different strengths. I also would include Donovan Mitchell as a ready to rock Defensive PG with more Offensive punch and explosion than Nitty.

I have Monk and Mitchell as my two favorites currently. Nitty is 3rd and Smith 4th out of the guards. My dream would be Isaac at #8 and somehow grab another pick and snag Mitchell. 2nd option is Monk or Mitchell at #8 and Justin Jackson with a 2nd 1st rd pick. I want a PG and SF.

Option 1: 8th Pick: Monk 44th Pick: Wesley Iwundu or PJ Dozier 58th Pick: Anthony Burton

Option 2: 8th Pick: Ntilikina 44th pick: Josh Hart or Derrick White 58th Pick: Anthony Burton

I like a Ron Baker/Malik Monk backcourt. Malik can take the smaller point guards on D, and Ron can take the bigger stronger physical guards. On offense, Ron is the one bringing the ball up, setting up the offense and this allows Malik to play with more freedom like he did in College. Malik has NBA level shooting and is a great athlete. He won't pass much, but he's an immediate scoring threat. Two young guards, who I think will play well off each other.

I'm probably in the minority on this but I would like to see us build off the way we closed the season. I thought guys like Baker, CLee, Willy, all played great basketball. They are players we should bring back in the same role. I don't want major changes, I want us to show some continuity.

The only major change I am ok with is a Melo trade, if it gets us back a younger prospect at the wing. I don't want to be big spenders in free agency either. If you can't find a good Melo trade, then keep him, he is in a contract year and will play well. The X-factor is Kristaps. If he backs up his words/actions, he should come in a monster and ready to be a consistent force. If the team has two all-stars next year with Melo and KP, we will be a competitive team.

No panic moves, no rush. Draft well. Allow your draft pick (Monk or Smith or whomever) to start immediately. Let them develop with KP and Willy. See what happens with Melo, if it works out trade wise or not. Run the same system all year (which I think we will). Work on defense.

I just want some consistency, effort, no drama and teamwork. I think we can get it with guys like Willy, Baker, Lee. KP and Melo need to step up as leaders and cut out the drama as well. This isn't a bad team. This team has potential to have 2 all-stars next year and also has some young players that can develop in Willy, Baker and either Monk/Smith (Or maybe Ntilinkina)

If we keep Melo, then use the $19M on a veteran backup point guard and a defensive wing. Not long contracts. Again, I think I am in the minority on this, but if KP steps up next year and is the player I think he can be, we can have two all-stars on the same team and we will have some emerging young talent in Willy/8th pick in the draft/Baker. This team can be both younger and win more games next year.