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Knicks Trade Target - Jordan Poole, GS Warriors/Michigan, 6'4, 194LBS, 21 Years Old, 2019 28th Overall (Point Guard)
TripleThreat @ 10/7/2020 3:45 AM
I wanted the Knicks to trade for Jordan Poole right after his rookie year, which by all accounts, was pretty horrific. But I was interested in his ability to get to the rim. The belief back then was that the Warriors were in a much different asset position and trading off Poole might have been in keeping with the theory that they might sell him off before his stock tanked even further. He was a late first round pick so the level of compensation wouldn't have been as much, certainly not what they'd ask for today. Which goes back to what I've discussed in the past about the value of those rookie contracts, particularly with slotting at where Poole was drafted. That's really a very small amount of money for the potential for some impact. I recognize the Knicks could have traded for Poole and he could have tanked on them even further than he did for the Warriors. But he's a fearless player, certainly not a perfect one as I'm still not a fan of his shot selection and his efficiencies, and he can penetrate and get to the cup. That kind of player who would have opened up the offense for this team.
Again,as I've said before, there's a reason why I tout the players that I do.
3) I pointed out the draft targets, well the guys I liked, were Moses Moody, Johnny Juzang, Aaron Henry, Julian Champagnie, Kessler Edwards and Josh Primo. I wasn't sure Moody would fall that far, I doubted it, but I wanted him given where the Knicks were actually picking. I wanted Primo as I thought he would fall that far and no one could predict the Spurs would take him so early.
The Knicks would have been better off trading for a big bad contract and taking in picks to do it. I know that would suck for many people who wanted Lonzo Ball or some other free agent but I didn't see those guys coming to the Knicks. That one bad contract chews up free cap but also frees up roster spots. One massively overpaid guy like Wall is one roster spot. Combining Noel, Fournier and Walker is three roster spots. Under my view, then the Knicks could have no MCC type veterans, just barely good enough to start and making too much money to bench, but not good enough to give the team a real future, and then just play their rookies. I'm NOT a huge Obi Toppin fan, but I do believe since he's here, give him some good minutes and see what you do have.
Fournier is a problem. He's on the high end of a MCC, he's not that great of a defender, he's streaky as a shooter, he's not really your prototype 3 And D wing, he's going to be hard to trade, he has a long time left on his contract and he's blocking younger players from valuable minutes.
Long story short, the Knicks should listen to me. They should have listened to me like a decade ago, the team would be in a better place for it.
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Knicks Trade Target - Keldon Johnson, SA Spurs/Kentucky, 6'5, 220LBS, 20 Years Old, 2019 29th Overall
TripleThreat @ 9/20/2020 12:32 PM
DeRozan and Rudy Gay (16 million) are far better than what the Knicks could sign in Tier 4 of free agency. It may be far better than the Chris Paul/Conley rumblings. A sign and trade would mean the Knicks would have to give DeRozan a three year deal, so better to just trade for the one year and see how it goes. DeRozan, Gay, Keldon Johnson would all be instant starters along with MRob and RJ Barrett. It's not perfect. Shooting would still be problematic but less so than before. Team defense would be a bit of an adventure but it can't be that much worse than before. Might be good for Barrett, MRob and this years #8 to be around a couple of established veterans.
Milutinov might be someone the Spurs want to try to make a run at ( though buying him out of his CSKA contract might be too much for them now) or they can toss him into the trade.
The West looks loaded so the Spurs have no reason to treadmill it. Given the players would move East/West, that's more of an ideal for San Antonio to do a contract dump.
I like Keldon Johnson a lot. Maybe the Knicks can get Johnson, Milutinov and something else moderate to eat that much money.
If it doesn't work out, DeRozan and Gay can keep moving. Since DeRozan will come with full Bird Rights, maybe the Knicks can do a light sign and trade with him if the market shrinks his AAV enough. Maybe DeRozan and/or Gay work out enough to stay for much cheaper after the year.
I'm looking for win/win trade scenarios.
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This is not a F*** You moment, but for years I said the Knicks should listen to me on personnel. Or listened to someone who had a similar outlook on resource management as I did and do.
In 2020, I wanted Keldon Johnson, a late first round pick who ended up in San Antonio. This was before he was an Olympian and before he was a legitimate 6th Man asset in the league. I also was open to DeRozan, before his late career breakout.
Also in 2020, I wanted Jordan Poole, before his breakout for the championship Warriors, but I suggested it after his horrific first season in the league, when his price might be cheaper to acquire. I also noted a desire to look at Julian Champagnie, who was a key bargain cost starter for the recent Spurs Finals team. And I pointed out my consistent distaste for Fournier and Toppin, where both were wasted assets spent for the Knick back then. Also I saw Kemba Walker as a waste of assets to sign.
Of course, I liked Josh Primo, and he ended up a criminal psychopath, so I didn't win them all. Interesting that Keldon Johnson and Champagnie had recent intersection on the current Spurs Finals team. And DeRozan had previous history with them, as well as Primo.
I didn't make a ton of "touts" on this forum, but still, fully believe the Knicks would have better off sooner had they followed more of my blueprint for team building. But that's just my view on it.
