Knicks · Projecting what the offseason/ roster looks like (page 1)

Just trying to read the tea leaves and welcome feedback.

C Mitch PF Randle SF Barrett SG Grimes PG Brunson as starters

IQ (resigned), Hart (resigned) Hartenstein, Sims, McBride all feel likely returning

I think the Knicks roster 2 rookies next year : Jokubaitis and a player drafted.

Toppin, Fournier and Rose feel like near locks not to return. Toppin maybe but feels like Knicks will try to move him in some package.

RJ is probably the x-factor to significant roster improvement outside of small incremental improvements.

Players who will be on the radar are LaVine, Anunoby, and bridges. Lower level options like Bogdanovic and Cam Johnson are possible too. We can rule out Trae young or Lillard.

Focusing on the first 3 names, I see LaVine as being a far from perfect fit. The deal would have to be RJ and very minimal draft comp for it to really make sense. Certainly not 3 first round picks. As for OG, he’s an ideal fit on the court, but his contract situation makes it tough, plus the teams like New Orleans and Memphis who will inevitably revisit. Toronto will more likely want to send him west too. As for Bridges, on paper he feels like a perfect fit. Similar to OG but locked in contract and relationship with players. But Nets dealing with the Knicks I don’t see. And I don’t see him being worth RJ and picks. His fit is seamless, but at the end of the day he’s not a talent upgrade over RJ. So there’s a lot of question marks there.

But when it’s said and done, there’s a good chance the Knicks stick with their 5 plus IQ, Hart and Hartenstein and focus on a combination of replacing Toppin with a better fit, and trying to integrate 2 rookies to develop. I know the age doesn’t line up, but I’m still circling Bojan Bogdanović as a real option given the reported interest, the Knicks relationship with Detroit’s front office, his contract, and his fit over Toppin as a backup 4 who can also play some 3. Quickley, Hart, Bogdanović, and Hartenstein is a loaded bench rotation behind the starters. Just my thought. Unless someone is eager to trade Barrett and multiple picks for a LaVine or OG level player, I just see a modest bench improvement as most likely.

And for those wondering what a Bogdanović trade might look like; Fournier or Rose, Toppin, plus the detriot protected pick we own back to the Pistons, and the 2024 Detroit second round pick we own back to the pistons for Bogdanovic. Just an additional note, the second round pick is tied up in the Hart deal, only if the Knicks miss the playoffs.

2 things I am trying to avoid at all costs... players with bad knees and supermax guys. I guess the hope w/ Lavine is he's the next Booker who was chucker on bad teams until he wasnt.

I think the guy we get will be Towns and I think that we will look pretty good for it.

My guess is RJ/Obi/IQ + picks (maybe Fournier or Rose for salary et) for Towns.
We resign Josh.
We look something like:
PG Brunson
SG Grimes
SF Hart
PF Jules
C Towns
Bench: McBride/Mitch + some wing (Maybe Burks!

And you so how far you can get with that. Also in the mix is Rokus (if he's not used in the Towns trade)

you know IQ/Obi/Hart is an incredible up tempo open floor skilled bench. You can also just stick with our current starters and keep building around these 8. Maybe I am overrating our talent. We will see

fishmike wrote:2 things I am trying to avoid at all costs... players with bad knees and supermax guys. I guess the hope w/ Lavine is he's the next Booker who was chucker on bad teams until he wasnt.

I think the guy we get will be Towns and I think that we will look pretty good for it.

My guess is RJ/Obi/IQ + picks (maybe Fournier or Rose for salary et) for Towns.
We resign Josh.
We look something like:
PG Brunson
SG Grimes
SF Hart
PF Jules
C Towns
Bench: McBride/Mitch + some wing (Maybe Burks!

And you so how far you can get with that. Also in the mix is Rokus (if he's not used in the Towns trade)

Would love to see RJ gone. He'snot a very good shooter or rebounder and his D is Bad.

ccch wrote:

fishmike wrote:2 things I am trying to avoid at all costs... players with bad knees and supermax guys. I guess the hope w/ Lavine is he's the next Booker who was chucker on bad teams until he wasnt.

I think the guy we get will be Towns and I think that we will look pretty good for it.

My guess is RJ/Obi/IQ + picks (maybe Fournier or Rose for salary et) for Towns.
We resign Josh.
We look something like:
PG Brunson
SG Grimes
SF Hart
PF Jules
C Towns
Bench: McBride/Mitch + some wing (Maybe Burks!

And you so how far you can get with that. Also in the mix is Rokus (if he's not used in the Towns trade)

Would love to see RJ gone. He'snot a very good shooter or rebounder and his D is Bad.

Just remember he’s still only 22. He’s years away from his prime.

I'm so focused on our pivotal upcoming Postseason run to the point of not even having the mental capacity to wrap my 🧠 around Offseason talk right now.

Stars are born in the Playoffs are so are mega role players.

I'll have a better understanding of how I'd like to see our current roster constructed if able to have an opportunity to witness them perform (come postseason play).

I will say this:

As of right now. I love Mitchell Robinson as our Defensive Anchor and Starting Center etc but I'd already love to see upgrade over 1 of either Isaiah Hartenstein and/or Jericho Sims and only because out of our 3 Centers (combined) not a single 1 of them can stretch the floor with an outside/3 point shot.

Watching this sixers game, we lost to a great team, no shame in that, but Toppin has become a major weak link. Barrett is the target around here, but it really should be Toppin. No development on either side of the ball outside of becoming a league average spot up shooter. His activity level has declined and he just doesn’t bring anything to the rotation. Thibs said Hart can play PF minutes. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the plan. You don’t say that if you’re happy with Toppin off the bench. Offseason plan (outside of chasing the next star) is trying to find a Toppin deal that makes sense and find a more fitting piece.

Toppin will be traded to Indiana for two first rounders, then those two first rounders will be traded for future 2025 2027 protected firsts. We will then sign a free agent back up power forward. Whatever unless Indiana includes a back up forward to replace Obi

Knixkik wrote:

ccch wrote:

fishmike wrote:2 things I am trying to avoid at all costs... players with bad knees and supermax guys. I guess the hope w/ Lavine is he's the next Booker who was chucker on bad teams until he wasnt.

I think the guy we get will be Towns and I think that we will look pretty good for it.

My guess is RJ/Obi/IQ + picks (maybe Fournier or Rose for salary et) for Towns.
We resign Josh.
We look something like:
PG Brunson
SG Grimes
SF Hart
PF Jules
C Towns
Bench: McBride/Mitch + some wing (Maybe Burks!

And you so how far you can get with that. Also in the mix is Rokus (if he's not used in the Towns trade)

Would love to see RJ gone. He'snot a very good shooter or rebounder and his D is Bad.

Just remember he’s still only 22. He’s years away from his prime.

ccch wrote:

fishmike wrote:2 things I am trying to avoid at all costs... players with bad knees and supermax guys. I guess the hope w/ Lavine is he's the next Booker who was chucker on bad teams until he wasnt.

I think the guy we get will be Towns and I think that we will look pretty good for it.

My guess is RJ/Obi/IQ + picks (maybe Fournier or Rose for salary et) for Towns.
We resign Josh.
We look something like:
PG Brunson
SG Grimes
SF Hart
PF Jules
C Towns
Bench: McBride/Mitch + some wing (Maybe Burks!

And you so how far you can get with that. Also in the mix is Rokus (if he's not used in the Towns trade)

Would love to see RJ gone. He'snot a very good shooter or rebounder and his D is Bad.

Tough crowd. I guess you guys would like to return to what the Knicks were the 5 years before RJ got here

Knixkik wrote:Watching this sixers game, we lost to a great team, no shame in that, but Toppin has become a major weak link. Barrett is the target around here, but it really should be Toppin. No development on either side of the ball outside of becoming a league average spot up shooter. His activity level has declined and he just doesn’t bring anything to the rotation. Thibs said Hart can play PF minutes. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the plan. You don’t say that if you’re happy with Toppin off the bench. Offseason plan (outside of chasing the next star) is trying to find a Toppin deal that makes sense and find a more fitting piece.

Toppin will be traded in the offseason. I doubt he gets us more than one first round pick. We have done nothing to help his value besides bury him on the bench behind Randle for 3 years

I would prefer not to trade him within the East

Philc1 wrote:

Knixkik wrote:Watching this sixers game, we lost to a great team, no shame in that, but Toppin has become a major weak link. Barrett is the target around here, but it really should be Toppin. No development on either side of the ball outside of becoming a league average spot up shooter. His activity level has declined and he just doesn’t bring anything to the rotation. Thibs said Hart can play PF minutes. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the plan. You don’t say that if you’re happy with Toppin off the bench. Offseason plan (outside of chasing the next star) is trying to find a Toppin deal that makes sense and find a more fitting piece.

Toppin will be traded in the offseason. I doubt he gets us more than one first round pick. We have done nothing to help his value besides bury him on the bench behind Randle for 3 years

I would prefer not to trade him within the East

Agreed. Send him west. He can be good but he needs a different system. I can’t see the Knicks getting a first for him but can see them using him to trade up in the draft if they like a specific player, even if it’s only a few slots up.