Knicks · Would you clear cap space, get super young, and trade for Westbrook and picks? (page 1)

Lakers Trade: Westbrook, picks (starting in 2026)? How many picks? Lakers last traded pick is 2024.

Knicks Trade: Randle, Fournier, Burks (or Rose)

The Lakers are into this for better players than Westbrook. Knicks want to shed salary, get cap space and make Brock Aller happy with his future picks.

You want this trade set up so that Knicks outgoing salary is more than Westbrook so that it frees up more cap space to sign Brunson; outgoing salary has to be within 125% of $47M (under $58.7). The difference in outgoing v incoming well obviously be the additional cap space you create over $16M Knicks have today to sign Brunson.

Randle ($23.8), Fournier ($18M), Rose ($14.5) = $56M. $9M in additional cap space.
Randle ($23.8), Fournier ($18M), Burks ($10) = $51.7M. $4.7M in additional cap space.

KNICKS

Brunson, Grimes, RJ, Obi, Mitch
Rose(Burks)/McBride, IQ, Cam, ?/Taj, Noel/Sims

OR

Brunson, RJ, Cam, Obi, Mitch
Rose(Burks)/McBride, IQ, Grimes, ?/Taj, Noel/Sims

Outside of Taj, Noel, Rose your entire roster is 25 and younger and getting TONS of playing time all around. Knicks also have a super clean cap with more picks. They are literally loaded over the next 5 years.

LAKERS

Lakers do this just cause Westbrook is literally useless?

AD, Randle, LeBron, Fournier, THT
Dwight, Melo, Monk, Nun, Rose

Not sure how many picks that takes. I might do that to clear Fournier, Noel and Burks. Feel like Randle has more value. In any event, switch Noel for Burks, no?

Once you are there, do you even sign Brunson? You pretty much have to flip Robinson also. Haven’t spreadsheeted this scenario but 40mm+ expiring next year becomes a lot less when you go over the cap to sign Robinson.

This offseason is an interesting one to make a splash. I wouldn’t go crazy over Robinson’s cap hold, but if the team were to try and make a move on FAs with expirings and draft picks, this is as good as any.

I could see them pressing for Donovan Mitchell as a trade, Zach Lavine as a UFA, Mo Bamba as a RFA. Kick tires on Beal. Kick tires on Ayton.

It’s probably all for Brunson, but I think the FO will do their diligence.

It’s not a terrible idea though, just a soft reset.

for as far as I think we are to having a really competitive team, I would not ever break it down that way.

I have faith in some of these guys to become really good: IQ, M Rob.

I have faith that RJ can be solid, not great, but solid.

And I do believe Randle can produce a good year, better than last.

And Thibs is the best man to try to do this.

And if the FO gets Brunson or Murray, then I can see them being able to build a championship- it might take 10 years, but given the competitive nature of the NBA, that seems really good.

martin wrote:Lakers Trade: Westbrook, picks (starting in 2026)? How many picks? Lakers last traded pick is 2024.

Knicks Trade: Randle, Fournier, Burks (or Rose)

The Lakers are into this for better players than Westbrook. Knicks want to shed salary, get cap space and make Brock Aller happy with his future picks.

You want this trade set up so that Knicks outgoing salary is more than Westbrook so that it frees up more cap space to sign Brunson; outgoing salary has to be within 125% of $47M (under $58.7). The difference in outgoing v incoming well obviously be the additional cap space you create over $16M Knicks have today to sign Brunson.

Randle ($23.8), Fournier ($18M), Rose ($14.5) = $56M. $9M in additional cap space.
Randle ($23.8), Fournier ($18M), Burks ($10) = $51.7M. $4.7M in additional cap space.

KNICKS

Brunson, Grimes, RJ, Obi, Mitch
Rose(Burks)/McBride, IQ, Cam, ?/Taj, Noel/Sims

OR

Brunson, RJ, Cam, Obi, Mitch
Rose(Burks)/McBride, IQ, Grimes, ?/Taj, Noel/Sims

Outside of Taj, Noel, Rose your entire roster is 25 and younger and getting TONS of playing time all around. Knicks also have a super clean cap with more picks. They are literally loaded over the next 5 years.

LAKERS

Lakers do this just cause Westbrook is literally useless?

AD, Randle, LeBron, Fournier, THT
Dwight, Melo, Monk, Nun, Rose

Yes - I would do this trade as I don't think Randle holds much value around the league and would rather take my chances with Westbrook playing (or being waived) vs Randle showing up and waiting for things to go downhill once things don't go well. Westbrook plays his heart out - whether he can contribute to help the team or needs to be waived is much easier vs hoping Randle all the sudden matures, thickens his skin, shoots much better, and responds to criticism in a non-damaging manner. Plus Thibs would be forced to give Obi some run and find out if he can start, is a bench spark or otherwise. Burks and Rose traded means Thibs will have to give more minutes to Grimes, McBride and Cam. Can't take another season of being mediocre while we have young players on the bench due to Thibs preferences to solidify a non-playoff record by playing his trusted vets.

You had me at trade Randle.

This trade will definitely re-set the direction of this team as long as Westbrook is John Walled. I hesitate to eat onto the cap with Brunson but ultimately,

A part of me says sign Brunson because I think Obi, RJ and the rest need an efficient floor leader to maximize the potential of our young players which should give us a clearer read on what to do. contractually with Obi amd especially RJ.

On the other hand, I wouldn't mind getting a stop gap pg, on a cheaper deal and positioning ourselves for a top draft pick.... I highly doubt the front office trades Randle without a promising player (Brunson) to replace him.

Can we just be rid of Randle and Fournier and keep Burks? Would Brunson still want to come here after that?

Been thinking about the whole Brunson pursuit and I’m starting to think a big part of addingBrunson would be to reset the teams leadership dynamics.

I think Brunson has special leadership characteristics and the type of personality that won’t takes sh*t from anyone including Randle.

I think plan is to add true leader and push Randle down a notch in that regard — in effect allowing him to just concentrate on balling while at same time you take the ball out of his hands more. If Randle acts up or refuses to defend, trots back on D you have Brunson putting him in his place.

So crazy it just might work - (Larry Brown).

LivingLegend wrote:Been thinking about the whole Brunson pursuit and I’m starting to think a big part of addingBrunson would be to reset the teams leadership dynamics.

I think Brunson has special leadership characteristics and the type of personality that won’t takes sh*t from anyone including Randle.

I think plan is to add true leader and push Randle down a notch in that regard — in effect allowing him to just concentrate on balling while at same time you take the ball out of his hands more. If Randle acts up or refuses to defend, trots back on D you have Brunson putting him in his place.

So crazy it just might work - (Larry Brown).

100%

Pretty sure Rose already tried trading a couple of our bad contracts for Westbrook last season

TPercy wrote:Can we just be rid of Randle and Fournier and keep Burks? Would Brunson still want to come here after that?

Our real core is RJ, Mitch, Obi and IQ. If we offer $100 mil yes

LivingLegend wrote:Been thinking about the whole Brunson pursuit and I’m starting to think a big part of addingBrunson would be to reset the teams leadership dynamics.

I think Brunson has special leadership characteristics and the type of personality that won’t takes sh*t from anyone including Randle.

I think plan is to add true leader and push Randle down a notch in that regard — in effect allowing him to just concentrate on balling while at same time you take the ball out of his hands more. If Randle acts up or refuses to defend, trots back on D you have Brunson putting him in his place.

So crazy it just might work - (Larry Brown).

i like the way this sounds.

that said he'd be gone in the first bona fide trade. Don't want to be managing such volatile egos

What I don't get is the bball commentators begging us to deal for Westbrook for ONE lakers PROTECTED 2025 or 27 first round pick SWAP, saying it would be good to dump the salaries of Fournier, Randle or Rose or whatever and reset the cap space, are literally the same people who laughed us getting THREE first round picks and clearing space (by dumping Kemba) in the process saying we were moving heaven and earth (Bill Simmons) and giving up everything just to go after Brunson. I mean a few weeks/months ago he was saying we should do the Westbrook trade.

Philc1 wrote:

TPercy wrote:Can we just be rid of Randle and Fournier and keep Burks? Would Brunson still want to come here after that?

Our real core is RJ, Mitch, Obi and IQ. If we offer $100 mil yes

Idk what his aspirations are but if we can keep Burks and Rose, while offloading Randle and Fournier then I’m content with it. I’m also content with keeping him and rehabbing his trade value. My issue wth Randle was the way he responded when he had a down year. Didn’t try to make it up defensively, disrespecting teammates and assistant coaches? It’s a bad vibe and I didn’t hear any acknowledgement of accountability. Talking shit to fans is one thing that I don’t mind, but when you project yourself onto other people I just know it’s a bad vibe.

also what if we didn't have to eat westbrooks contract but another team ate it for us? Like the Magic or pacers