Have people had the chance to see Devin Vassell. Through the first two preseason games he is playing exactly how I envisioned he would play - bringing that DEFENSE. Plus he brings something else the Knicks desperately need - SHOOTING. Imaginge Vassell and Frank in the Knicks back court along with RJ and MitchRob/NerlinsNO Imagine that defense. I do like Obi though. He is talented offensively but I do but worry about him a lot on defense. Its early and two months from now if Obi is posterizing people Ill have to come back and admit I was wrong. But How good would the knicks defense look now with Vassel and Smokes in the back court. And again he brings that shooting we desperately need.
fishmike@ 12/16/2020 12:48 PM
would you prefer Vassell over RJ? Those are really the minutes you are talking about
awe1028@ 12/16/2020 1:09 PM
fishmike wrote:would you prefer Vassell over RJ? Those are really the minutes you are talking about
You don't have to make that choice you could have RJ at the The Three and Vassell at the two or vice versa. In fact Vassell is the ideal fit for RJ as his elite 3pt shot(42%) will stretch the defense and allow RJ the room he needs to operate.
awe1028@ 12/16/2020 1:43 PM
Here he is against Oklahoma City
and again vs Houston
Just imagine what it would've been like defensively with him and Frank in the back court. Wow.
KnickDanger@ 12/16/2020 1:48 PM
Another Hall of Famer we shoulda picked instead.
martin@ 12/16/2020 1:51 PM
Vassell looks like he will be a nice player and maybe his ceiling is a better version of Danny Green?
Obi has a ceiling of a different version of Amare
Knixkik@ 12/16/2020 1:59 PM
Vassell is good. I was a big fan, especially not thinking Toppin would be available. Not saying he will be a better player, but Obi just has a different level of upside.
awe1028@ 12/16/2020 2:24 PM
You guys are probably right he Knicks are probably better off long term with Obi in the long run If they can get a point guard like Suggs or Cade or even Lonzo to run the show. But that's a big if the way the knicks keep getting screwed in the lottery and we don't know exactly what NO would want for Lonzo.
I just think Vassell immediately gives the Knicks the identity of an elite defensive team. And a guy like Evan Mobley would be just as impactful as Obi the Knicks are looking at the 2021 draft for infusion of talent.
EwingsGlass@ 12/16/2020 2:30 PM
Devin definitely would have fit well here.
BigDaddyG@ 12/16/2020 3:12 PM
EwingsGlass wrote:Devin definitely would have fit well here.
Yeah, but this team can't afford to think purely in terms of fit. Wouldn't Vassel, who hasn't really developed as an off the dribble threat yet, suffer from the same PG issues? Obi has, or at least is perceived to have, higher upside. The Spurs have more in place for Vassel to develop at a normal pace. Obi's impact on the other hand should be more immediate.
awe1028@ 12/16/2020 4:33 PM
Picking Vassell would be about building an elite defense that would attract free agents to come here. In fact if the knicks could have gone after Christian Wood and he would be the power forward we needed or the could have waited for 2021 and get Evan Mobley. Mobley is actually quite similar to Mitch athletically on the defensive end but is much much further along offensively. Again how great the Knicks would be defensively with
Mitch Mobley RJ Vassll Frank
BigDaddyG@ 12/16/2020 4:41 PM
awe1028 wrote:Picking Vassell would be about building an elite defense that would attract free agents to come here. In fact if the knicks could have gone after Christian Wood and he would be the power forward we needed or the could have waited for 2021 and get Evan Mobley. Mobley is actually quite similar to Mitch athletically on the defensive end but is much much further along offensively. Again how great the Knicks would be defensively with
Mitch Mobley RJ Vassll Frank
Whose to say we get Mobley? I hope not, since I'm on the Suggs/Cunningham brigade. Even if we do get him, it just means we have more assets to trade. Wood's was probably not happening since we're stuck with Great Spinzoo. There will be other 3&D guys out there. I'm not crapping on Vassell, but Obi seemed to be the higher upside pick. Quickley is a good defender. The Knicks could Frank/IQ if defense is what you want. My thing is that talent in this roster is nauseating and the Knicks need to start hitting on these picks.
Philc1@ 12/16/2020 4:42 PM
Look, I was SCREAMING for Vassell prior to the draft. But Obi was as good or better as a prospect. At 8 it was either Obi or Vassell and either choice was going to be a home run.
Philc1@ 12/16/2020 4:43 PM
awe1028 wrote:Here he is against Oklahoma City
and again vs Houston
Just imagine what it would've been like defensively with him and Frank in the back court. Wow.
Vassell is Frank with 43% 3pt shooting
Philc1@ 12/16/2020 4:44 PM
BigDaddyG wrote:
EwingsGlass wrote:Devin definitely would have fit well here.
Yeah, but this team can't afford to think purely in terms of fit. Wouldn't Vassel, who hasn't really developed as an off the dribble threat yet, suffer from the same PG issues? Obi has, or at least is perceived to have, higher upside. The Spurs have more in place for Vassel to develop at a normal pace. Obi's impact on the other hand should be more immediate.
They are both going to be great players.
TheGame@ 12/16/2020 4:50 PM
I would have taken Vassell or the Italian kid before Obi but nothing we can do about it now. Toppin looks like he has potential too if his defense holds up.
BigDaddyG@ 12/16/2020 4:51 PM
Philc1 wrote:
BigDaddyG wrote:
EwingsGlass wrote:Devin definitely would have fit well here.
Yeah, but this team can't afford to think purely in terms of fit. Wouldn't Vassel, who hasn't really developed as an off the dribble threat yet, suffer from the same PG issues? Obi has, or at least is perceived to have, higher upside. The Spurs have more in place for Vassel to develop at a normal pace. Obi's impact on the other hand should be more immediate.
They are both going to be great players.
Agree. That's why I'm not too worried about it. I was more worried that we passed on on Deni, but I've calmed down. Pre-season is fun, but the season is long and rookies have a lot ups and downs.
ESOMKnicks@ 12/16/2020 5:30 PM
TheGame wrote:I would have taken Vassell or the Italian kid before Obi but nothing we can do about it now. Toppin looks like he has potential too if his defense holds up.
Which Italian kid? Nico Mannion was picked #48 by GS, why would you have picked him so high?
I would have been happy if we reached down for Nesmith, or picked Vassell or Haliburton. Cannot say I was unhappy with the Obi pick, but not my main preference.
Vassell looks like a stud, his shot is already money.
martin@ 12/16/2020 5:52 PM
ESOMKnicks wrote:
TheGame wrote:I would have taken Vassell or the Italian kid before Obi but nothing we can do about it now. Toppin looks like he has potential too if his defense holds up.
Which Italian kid? Nico Mannion was picked #48 by GS, why would you have picked him so high?
I would have been happy if we reached down for Nesmith, or picked Vassell or Haliburton. Cannot say I was unhappy with the Obi pick, but not my main preference.
Vassell looks like a stud, his shot is already money.
Prob meant Israeli: Deni Avdija
TheGame@ 12/16/2020 6:22 PM
martin wrote:
ESOMKnicks wrote:
TheGame wrote:I would have taken Vassell or the Italian kid before Obi but nothing we can do about it now. Toppin looks like he has potential too if his defense holds up.
Which Italian kid? Nico Mannion was picked #48 by GS, why would you have picked him so high?
I would have been happy if we reached down for Nesmith, or picked Vassell or Haliburton. Cannot say I was unhappy with the Obi pick, but not my main preference.
Vassell looks like a stud, his shot is already money.
Prob meant Israeli: Deni Avdija
Yes, meant Israeli. Deni Avdija has looked good too in preseason. I would have taken Vassell first, then Demi, and then Toppin but no point in crying over spilled milk. Hopefully, Toppin turns out to be a good pick.
Philc1@ 12/17/2020 3:40 AM
BigDaddyG wrote:
Philc1 wrote:
BigDaddyG wrote:
EwingsGlass wrote:Devin definitely would have fit well here.
Yeah, but this team can't afford to think purely in terms of fit. Wouldn't Vassel, who hasn't really developed as an off the dribble threat yet, suffer from the same PG issues? Obi has, or at least is perceived to have, higher upside. The Spurs have more in place for Vassel to develop at a normal pace. Obi's impact on the other hand should be more immediate.
They are both going to be great players.
Agree. That's why I'm not too worried about it. I was more worried that we passed on on Deni, but I've calmed down. Pre-season is fun, but the season is long and rookies have a lot ups and downs.
Obi has himself looked good in 2 out of 3 preseason games
Hopefully Thibs realizes Payton (and really DSJ) have no business in an nba rotation and Julius Randle only gets 15-20 minutes a night coming off the bench. Start Obi and let him develop. Quickly should also be starting I think we got a steal with him
