Knicks · Knicks traded for Towns (finally official 10/1) (page 34)

BigDaddyG @ 10/2/2024 7:08 PM
Well... At least he doesn't spin while turning the ball over.
HofstraBBall @ 10/2/2024 7:24 PM
nycericanguy wrote:Ihart leaving was a blessing, this team badly needed a stretch big. KP was such a big get for BOS.

Much rather be paying KAT $50m then paying Randle and Ihart 50m.

we are a much better team now and more versatile. we can still go big with Mitch, but most of the time with KAT at the 5 our spacing will be Celtics-esque.

KAT over Ihart and Randle significantly raises our ceiling.

I don’t see the significantly when decreasing the depth of a team. Especially when you add someone who was huge in first round in Divo.

Significantly would be if a player, let’s say that can single-handedly be the main reason why you beat Boston or let’s say a team like the Mavs in the conference finals.

Hoping that Thibs can make KAT the final piece but a bit concerned after watching him play against the Mavs last year. Don’t think that should make me a hater or one who has no confidence he can up his game to a true $60 million difference maker.

HofstraBBall @ 10/2/2024 7:25 PM
BigDaddyG wrote:Well... At least he doesn't spin while turning the ball over.

Thought you hated Randle?
Or just hate KAT? More
Trade?

GustavBahler @ 10/2/2024 7:28 PM
BigDaddyG wrote:Well... At least he doesn't spin while turning the ball over.

KAT used to be an elite post player, and could take it to the rim. Hope he is more than mainly a spot up shooter in NY. Shows that part of his game again. Would make Towns a top 20 player.

HofstraBBall @ 10/2/2024 7:41 PM
GustavBahler wrote:
BigDaddyG wrote:Well... At least he doesn't spin while turning the ball over.

KAT used to be an elite post player, and could take it to the rim. Hope he is more than mainly a spot up shooter in NY. Shows that part of his game again. Would make Towns a top 20 player.

Agreed!

Biggest issue for me is that he averaged 2 trips to the stripe in the Dallas series. Over 4 just twice. As PF.

The two games they lost by larger margins he shot 0-8 and 2-9 from three. That’s a lot of threes from a 7 foot player.

For the ones that always crucified Randle for his playoff performances, KAT shot 38% and was a - 16 in Mavs series. Benched the last 2 minutes in winning game for Mohammed.

$50 Million.

GustavBahler @ 10/2/2024 8:01 PM
HofstraBBall wrote:
GustavBahler wrote:
BigDaddyG wrote:Well... At least he doesn't spin while turning the ball over.

KAT used to be an elite post player, and could take it to the rim. Hope he is more than mainly a spot up shooter in NY. Shows that part of his game again. Would make Towns a top 20 player.

Agreed!

Biggest issue for me is that he averaged 2 trips to the stripe in the Dallas series. Over 4 just twice. As PF.

The two games they lost by larger margins he shot 0-8 and 2-9 from three. That’s a lot of threes from a 7 foot player.

For the ones that always crucified Randle for his playoff performances, KAT shot 38% and was a - 16 in Mavs series. Benched the last 2 minutes in winning game for Mohammed.

$50 Million.

It would also keep the defense honest.

HofstraBBall @ 10/2/2024 8:09 PM
GustavBahler wrote:
HofstraBBall wrote:
GustavBahler wrote:
BigDaddyG wrote:Well... At least he doesn't spin while turning the ball over.

KAT used to be an elite post player, and could take it to the rim. Hope he is more than mainly a spot up shooter in NY. Shows that part of his game again. Would make Towns a top 20 player.

Agreed!

Biggest issue for me is that he averaged 2 trips to the stripe in the Dallas series. Over 4 just twice. As PF.

The two games they lost by larger margins he shot 0-8 and 2-9 from three. That’s a lot of threes from a 7 foot player.

For the ones that always crucified Randle for his playoff performances, KAT shot 38% and was a - 16 in Mavs series. Benched the last 2 minutes in winning game for Mohammed.

$50 Million.

It would also keep the defense honest.

My gut is that Thibs will want a five out system that promotes drives, kicks and ball rotation. Aka what Miami does. Think that will get KAT to do what you mentioned.

EwingsGlass @ 10/2/2024 8:33 PM
HofstraBBall wrote:
GustavBahler wrote:
HofstraBBall wrote:
GustavBahler wrote:
BigDaddyG wrote:Well... At least he doesn't spin while turning the ball over.

KAT used to be an elite post player, and could take it to the rim. Hope he is more than mainly a spot up shooter in NY. Shows that part of his game again. Would make Towns a top 20 player.

Agreed!

Biggest issue for me is that he averaged 2 trips to the stripe in the Dallas series. Over 4 just twice. As PF.

The two games they lost by larger margins he shot 0-8 and 2-9 from three. That’s a lot of threes from a 7 foot player.

For the ones that always crucified Randle for his playoff performances, KAT shot 38% and was a - 16 in Mavs series. Benched the last 2 minutes in winning game for Mohammed.

$50 Million.

It would also keep the defense honest.

My gut is that Thibs will want a five out system that promotes drives, kicks and ball rotation. Aka what Miami does. Think that will get KAT to do what you mentioned.

Exactly, unless the opposing team tries to go small ball where they can switch to a 4-1.

martin @ 10/2/2024 8:44 PM
Dangit now I’m gonna miss the spinover

BigDaddyG wrote:Well... At least he doesn't spin while turning the ball over.
martin @ 10/2/2024 8:51 PM
martin @ 10/2/2024 9:09 PM
Thoughts from Leon: “KAT, noted.”

BigDaddyG @ 10/2/2024 10:20 PM
HofstraBBall wrote:
BigDaddyG wrote:Well... At least he doesn't spin while turning the ball over.

Thought you hated Randle?
Or just hate KAT? More
Trade?


Don't worry. You'll know when my hate reaches it's ultimate peak.
martin @ 10/3/2024 7:40 AM
martin @ 10/3/2024 7:51 AM
Really like this one

martin @ 10/3/2024 8:43 AM
Thoughts from the other side. Knicks Film School got a Minny podcaster talkin

VDesai @ 10/3/2024 9:10 AM
martin wrote:Thoughts from the other side. Knicks Film School got a Minny podcaster talkin

I listened to that this morning. Kinda hated this guy's take to be honest. Was calling KAT a low volume 3 pt shooter - guy was top 100 in attempts and is 7 feet tall so what is this take? Basically sounded like the typical Knick fan who hates on Randle, but just substitute KAT in the madlib. He was also pushing Naz Reid at the 3 and wanted to see a Reid-Randle-Gobert lineup. Good luck with that buddy.

Nalod @ 10/3/2024 9:44 AM
VDesai wrote:
martin wrote:Thoughts from the other side. Knicks Film School got a Minny podcaster talkin

I listened to that this morning. Kinda hated this guy's take to be honest. Was calling KAT a low volume 3 pt shooter - guy was top 100 in attempts and is 7 feet tall so what is this take? Basically sounded like the typical Knick fan who hates on Randle, but just substitute KAT in the madlib. He was also pushing Naz Reid at the 3 and wanted to see a Reid-Randle-Gobert lineup. Good luck with that buddy.

Good observation. Fans get fixated on love or hate and run with it. While we all prefer success there is that thing that fans do which is fascinating.
The context of the moment and hindsight of a big trade does change. Naturally the outcome matters. If Knicks fail to start strong, or start amazingly fast will matter. Guys like KAT came out in great fanfare as the no. 1 pick and did not become a bonafide super star. But he is very very good.
WE as knick fans also view Thibs in Minny as a failure because the way it ended. Funny, Thibs as Coach and President of Minny had turned them around making the playoffs after a 14 year drought in his second year. Ok, What's funny was Scott Layden was his GM! Thibs regression in year three lead to his firing as both coach and team president. Harsh, but the Jimmy Butler thing really hurt his stature. Jimmy was out of line and did not give Thibs time to fix it. Jimmy was also intoxicated with his toxic brand and had not learned when to back off. Rather than lead a young core with a tough coach he divided the team.
Not like Thibs was not on the hot seat either in NY, but in time he saved his ass and the team responded. Leon was patient. It a payed off.

The KAT Trade is very interesting for both teams. Not sure what they do with Randle going forward But Naz Reid has improved each year and perhaps they set Jules loose. Maybe Randles long game has always been to get to Texas at some point? Seems like we came to a crossroads with him and a natural parting was in both best interests? At the end of the day we used some cap space gained from KP trade to sign Randle, he served the knicks and himself really well here, then trade him with another free agent in DDV, add the Detroit pick and we get KAT 9 years after he was drafted 1st and KP 4th!

Unicorns exist but they are over rated and fragile. Thus we tear them down.
Embiid, KP and Towns all are great talents but have varying degrees of being fragile. Jokic and Giannis came in with little to no fanfare and exceeded.

newyorknewyork @ 10/3/2024 10:01 AM
I see Thibs looking to replicate how he had IHart operating last season while enhancing it with a talent like Towns.

Towns will work between 2-man game with Brunson like they did with Randle. And run the offense from the high post when Brunson is getting a breather like IHart.

Moonangie @ 10/3/2024 10:10 AM
blkexec wrote:
nycericanguy wrote:the OG trade was tough to swallow for me, because RJ & IQ are both really good. And OG is always hurt. But it was also that I didn't think it left us enough assets for a true star.

So to turn around and get KAT & Mikal months later is really impressive. I think we overpaid for Mikal, but underpaid for KAT.

I can argue we overpaid for both, and in the same breath say I agree with these moves. Sometimes when timing is a key variable (JBs prime years is now), you have to over pay to get what you want. With that said, Leon is a genius with cap management, regardless of the over or under pay. He’s always setting this franchise up with short term and long term strategies in check.

Will be fun to watch:
1. KAT exceed defensive expectations
2. Deuce growth as a 6th man impact player
3. Thibs rotation and minutes distribution

Even if these were "overpayments"...they're smart team building moves. When the right pieces become available...you do what it takes to acquire them. Leon has the knack for building the Knicks.

VDesai @ 10/3/2024 5:33 PM
Thibs coached this guy once and wanted him back - it says a lot because ultimately his coaching legacy is gonna rest on this. Macri made this point on the podcast linked above - if it fails, KAT has a really difficult contract to trade, but it's easy to fire a coach. Thibs knows this player and his coachability and has a plan.
VDesai @ 10/3/2024 5:44 PM
Knicks may have "overpaid" in trades, but they got back the type of talent they needed. But they had the luxury to give talent to get talent because they essentially "underpaid" in FA in the draft to the talent they got. Randle, Brunson, Donte all out played their contracts and Quickley overplayed his draft position, which allowed them to have the resources to obtain "expensive" talent. They used the draft in a way to stockpile additional resources without losing out on good talent when they needed it. It has been a masterclass in resource management and also coaching and development.
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