I am asking this question this way for a reason. I am having a hard time making changes to the starting lineup unless we are replacing Barrett with a perennial allstar. I think any other changes, like replacing grimes with Levine or Brunson with Trae young (just 2 examples of guys rumored to eventually become available) doesn’t raise the ceiling while giving up the farm.
So I turn to the bench for the big upgrade. A guy like Fournier or reddish, who would typically be asked to be the bench spark on most teams won’t here unless of emergency. This Knicks team is dependent on a system that values guys like deuce and sims over Fournier and Reddish. So the goal becomes to find a guy who has both the talent and system fit to add to the bench and lead it alongside Quickley. It’s likely a wing who can score and defend multiple positions at least adequately enough. It’s someone who can be a real upgrade and fit in seamlessly. Knicks have a top performing starting 5 when it’s fully intact, so now it’s time to make the bench one of the best in the league while we have the means and flexibility.
So who is the player that can do this ? Who is the best player we can acquire either via trade or free agency that you think would be happy coming off the bench (probably eliminating guys like DeRozan, Kuzma, and crowder for example) who could help suck the life out of other team’s benches and fill in when a starter is out ? Give me a name or names of who makes sense ?
OG would be the perfect fit. The problem is the cost will be prohibitive. The idea is to KEEP IQ/Grimes/RJ and ADD to that pool.
I think our best options are going to come from within
fishmike wrote:OG would be the perfect fit. The problem is the cost will be prohibitive. The idea is to KEEP IQ/Grimes/RJ and ADD to that pool.I think our best options are going to come from within
As a player he is a great fit, but he falls into that category of players who would require a major trade and starting spot and probably doesn’t raise the ceiling overall for the cost.
I’ll give a name; I wonder about Josh hart. Good all around player. He’s been both a starter and bench spark during his career. Fit would be seamless. He has a player option this summer. Not sure if he would accept the MLE or if it would require freeing up some cap space by moving Fournier and Hartenstein, and declining Drose team option, but that’s not a problem and the cost to move Fournier and Hartenstein in the last year of their contracts would be minimal. Josh hart is good enough where he could easily find a starting spot in the league, or stay in the one he’s at in Portland. But as a starter he’s always replaceable. He’s former college teammate of Brunson, is repped by CAA and Thibs is known to be a fan. I guess Thibs wanted to draft him years ago. He’s one of the best rebounding wings in the league, can guard 1-4 and can knock down corner 3s. Sort of the ideal thibs system fit. A guy I would keep an eye on in the offseason if he opts out and Portland tries to make a bigger move. When you look at Portland’s starting lineup, hart remains the most replaceable considering Lillard will pressure them to continue to upgrade, and Sharpe is also there as an up and coming player.
Ok I'll play the pointless tradechecker game. Can we make a deal for Caris Levert/Kevin Love? Shed some salary, but add some bench pieces that fit better. Could take the whole group of Toppin, Rose, Fournier and Reddish and throw it over to the Cavs for Levert/Love+ bit pieces. Toppin, Fournier and Reddish fit better with the Cavs. Reddish could start there and they could use Fournier's shooting and Toppin's ability to run with their guards.
For us, Love is actually the right kind of backup to Randle for 15 mpg- can stretch the floor and rebound, pass the ball and provide some physicality. Levert is a guy who can provide scoring punch and provides some length/size on the wing. Worst case both are expiring deals and we free up some more cash at the end of the season.
Alright back to real life.
VDesai wrote:Ok I'll play the pointless tradechecker game. Can we make a deal for Caris Levert/Kevin Love? Shed some salary, but add some bench pieces that fit better. Could take the whole group of Toppin, Rose, Fournier and Reddish and throw it over to the Cavs for Levert/Love+ bit pieces. Toppin, Fournier and Reddish fit better with the Cavs. Reddish could start there and they could use Fournier's shooting and Toppin's ability to run with their guards.For us, Love is actually the right kind of backup to Randle for 15 mpg- can stretch the floor and rebound, pass the ball and provide some physicality. Levert is a guy who can provide scoring punch and provides some length/size on the wing. Worst case both are expiring deals and we free up some more cash at the end of the season.
Alright back to real life.
Let’s just sign levert this summer. Same level of player as Josh hart.
Obi, Cam, and Evan for what is worth are better then getting someone else at this point. Maybe trade for Kelly O for back up center or Erik Gordon to replace Deuce. Maybe trade Cam for Alec Burke.
VDesai wrote:Ok I'll play the pointless tradechecker game. Can we make a deal for Caris Levert/Kevin Love? Shed some salary, but add some bench pieces that fit better. Could take the whole group of Toppin, Rose, Fournier and Reddish and throw it over to the Cavs for Levert/Love+ bit pieces. Toppin, Fournier and Reddish fit better with the Cavs. Reddish could start there and they could use Fournier's shooting and Toppin's ability to run with their guards.For us, Love is actually the right kind of backup to Randle for 15 mpg- can stretch the floor and rebound, pass the ball and provide some physicality. Levert is a guy who can provide scoring punch and provides some length/size on the wing. Worst case both are expiring deals and we free up some more cash at the end of the season.
Alright back to real life.
Wouldn't be upset with this. I like Obi, but it's obvious he doesn't have a real future here. I'd like a wing with more size, but like you said, LoL are expiring anyway. Might want a protected first thrown in from the Cavs in that deal.
VDesai wrote:Ok I'll play the pointless tradechecker game. Can we make a deal for Caris Levert/Kevin Love? Shed some salary, but add some bench pieces that fit better. Could take the whole group of Toppin, Rose, Fournier and Reddish and throw it over to the Cavs for Levert/Love+ bit pieces. Toppin, Fournier and Reddish fit better with the Cavs. Reddish could start there and they could use Fournier's shooting and Toppin's ability to run with their guards.For us, Love is actually the right kind of backup to Randle for 15 mpg- can stretch the floor and rebound, pass the ball and provide some physicality. Levert is a guy who can provide scoring punch and provides some length/size on the wing. Worst case both are expiring deals and we free up some more cash at the end of the season.
Alright back to real life.
Fun trade idea and one that can give Cavs the depth it needs. They could parlay Cam into something else or let him walk.
We get to oggle over Kevin Loves wife.
Obi has a future with us a a back up. I don't think with players coming out of the draft the next few years that other teams will open the vault for him. Could be Obi is more valuable to us then to other teams and we keep him on a number acceptable to both the team and the player. Same for IQ.
Alpha1971 wrote:Obi has a future with us a a back up. I don't think with players coming out of the draft the next few years that other teams will open the vault for him. Could be Obi is more valuable to us then to other teams and we keep him on a number acceptable to both the team and the player. Same for IQ.
Hard to see Obi automatically starting on another team. Even the heavily rebuilding teams like Orlando and Houston have multiple big men they are committed to. The Indiana rumor does make sense because they are a good young team without a good PF. But outside of that , I do agree that his best role might just be backup PF here. He’s beloved by the fan base, gets to play at home, and is sort of shielded from any real pressure with Randle in front of him taking all the heat. He will get paid more then his production on his next contract too.
fishmike wrote:OG would be the perfect fit. The problem is the cost will be prohibitive. The idea is to KEEP IQ/Grimes/RJ and ADD to that pool.I think our best options are going to come from within
If I’m understanding this thread, OG would be a bad example unless he’s coming off the bench. He would definitely disrupt the chemistry in the starting unit which is a risk. And I doubt he would be motivated to play off the bench.
I agree with you to look within or in the draft for additional players to sure up the bench.
fishmike wrote:OG would be the perfect fit. The problem is the cost will be prohibitive. The idea is to KEEP IQ/Grimes/RJ and ADD to that pool.I think our best options are going to come from within
This.
Rather stick to small moves.
We have enough fat that the FO needs to focus on. Getting rid of Cam, EF, Rose is a big chunk. The FO also seem to be looking at getting rid of some of the youngins who may not feel fit long term. Maybe those two moves pick up some added help this year.
The third move is to add an elite player using our plethora of picks.
But don't that will happen till this summer.
Best players off the bench would be adding elite players that would force RJ and Grimes to the second unit. Would spell deep playoff run.
However, not sure that is available right now.
thats where draft picks come through tbh.
TPercy wrote:thats where draft picks come through tbh.
Agreed. The draft will have those guys if we draft right.
But I’ll want to look in free agency too. How about shake Milton? Another solid wing who stepped up during injuries for Philly but they may not have the luxury of keeping.
Watching Josh Richardson. He’s the type of player who would be really useful off the bench here. Already used to coming off the bench, is a 3 & D guy who can also handle the ball and create a little.
Knixkik wrote:Watching Josh Richardson. He’s the type of player who would be really useful off the bench here. Already used to coming off the bench, is a 3 & D guy who can also handle the ball and create a little.
I prefer Stanley Johnson since he's beefier, but both would be useful.
Fournier, Cam and a 1st for Buddy Hield isn’t a bad trade.
That’s a lot of fire power off the bench and should make the team better long term.
The weird part about Hield and Turner.... their team is not doing too badly either, so why would they give those guys up, right?
Indiana is in a strange place.
MS wrote:Fournier, Cam and a 1st for Buddy Hield isn’t a bad trade.That’s a lot of fire power off the bench and should make the team better long term.
Just looking at salary and Evan Fournier as the slot you'd want, I come up with Bojan Bogdanovic.
Surely Detroit would love to have a draft pick or two?
Knixkik wrote:Watching Josh Richardson. He’s the type of player who would be really useful off the bench here. Already used to coming off the bench, is a 3 & D guy who can also handle the ball and create a little.
So Stanley is more your type.
Alpha1971 wrote:Knixkik wrote:Watching Josh Richardson. He’s the type of player who would be really useful off the bench here. Already used to coming off the bench, is a 3 & D guy who can also handle the ball and create a little.
So Stanley is more your type.
Knixkix mentions the player he is looking towards and you divert to another?
WTF is that?
