Effort and attention to detail can get most NBA players to average and maybe slightly above average.
Their physical attributes determine their ceiling on defense.
Kolek's physical attributes make it almost impossible for him to be more than average.
Any edge a player like Kolek would be able to develop is greater anticipation which leads to deflections and steals and disrupting lanes on switches. That comes from being a student of the game, knowing the league and its players and exerting will and intelligence. But he'll never be a great man defender. Average there would be more than satisfactory.
Nickel has enough attributes to aspire to being an above average man defender, but unless he trains for faster twitch muscles and a quicker first step he still will not have the physical attributes of Shamet who has quicker feet and a wiry frame while being very strong.
But Nickel looks like a smart ball player who excels at role playing. He works hard at perfecting what is expected of him, so I believe he will improve on D.
martin@ 8/4/2026 6:14 PM
I think the ruling to get a 5th year of eligibility for kids graduating high school in 2022 just came out a few days ago. Nickel would qualify. Prob make more money in college too.
Javascript is not enabled or there was problem with the URL: https://www.twitter.com/realgm/status/2084628663920644540?s=61&t=X2NvaBkjFz8kZPoGlCbCzA
The way I see it with our search for a 3rd string center is that everyone on the market would like to think they're a part-time starter or at least a rotation player on the right team. When the pickings get really slim that's when we'll be looking for more. At some point soon they'll come to terms with their reality that they're going to league min + deep bench status.
Once that happens, teams that have a shot at a ring are great options.
PatCummings@ 8/4/2026 10:42 PM
martin wrote:I think the ruling to get a 5th year of eligibility for kids graduating high school in 2022 just came out a few days ago. Nickel would qualify. Prob make more money in college too.
Javascript is not enabled or there was problem with the URL: https://www.twitter.com/realgm/status/2084628663920644540?s=61&t=X2NvaBkjFz8kZPoGlCbCzA
From that article: "Kayil is obliged to Mega Basket in Serbia — making him unable to sign a two-way contract for a year after any buyout. But Nickel was eligible for one all along. He was seemingly just waiting to find out what his real options were."
Didn't know that about Kayil.
Knixkik@ 8/5/2026 5:21 PM
Knicks could move Dadiet and seconds to New Orleans for Matkovic, sign Tyler Nickel to the 14th spot, and have enough room under the second apron to sign a 15th man at a full minimum contract. I understand saving Dadiet’s contract for a bigger deal, but this would be a nice scenario.
BlueKnickers@ 8/5/2026 8:55 PM
Nickel would be crazy to go back to college when he made such a strong case to sign and be in the rotation.
He has the ability to contribute to a champion looking to repeat. Wasting a year in school now would be downright bizarre.
Knixkik@ 8/6/2026 6:11 AM
Knixkik wrote:
NYKBocker wrote:
martin wrote:Did not know
Javascript is not enabled or there was problem with the URL: https://www.twitter.com/krispursiainen/status/2085009702010724560?s=20
We need clarification on this rule. Knicks didn’t offer diawara an exhibit-10 contract until sept 10 last year. So what is different this year? This is the first of this aug 5 thing being reported anywhere.
Philc1@ 8/6/2026 12:19 PM
Knixkik wrote:
Knixkik wrote:
NYKBocker wrote:
martin wrote:Did not know
Javascript is not enabled or there was problem with the URL: https://www.twitter.com/krispursiainen/status/2085009702010724560?s=20
We need clarification on this rule. Knicks didn’t offer diawara an exhibit-10 contract until sept 10 last year. So what is different this year? This is the first of this aug 5 thing being reported anywhere.
Required tender deadline on CBA is August 5th. Mo got offered a tender then subsequently signed an exhibit 10 contract later on.
martin@ 8/6/2026 12:21 PM
From 10pm last night, so before deadline
Knixkik@ 8/6/2026 2:26 PM
Philc1 wrote:
Knixkik wrote:
Knixkik wrote:
NYKBocker wrote:
martin wrote:Did not know
Javascript is not enabled or there was problem with the URL: https://www.twitter.com/krispursiainen/status/2085009702010724560?s=20
We need clarification on this rule. Knicks didn’t offer diawara an exhibit-10 contract until sept 10 last year. So what is different this year? This is the first of this aug 5 thing being reported anywhere.
Required tender deadline on CBA is August 5th. Mo got offered a tender then subsequently signed an exhibit 10 contract later on.
Just seems insignificant. There was zero info about any specific offer tendered to Mo last August. Nothing until sept 10. And this year Aug 5 came and went without any info on Nickel. This has been given some buzz due to his ability to go back to college, but I really don’t think this tender deadline actually matters.
martin@ 8/6/2026 5:01 PM
Hopefully
Javascript is not enabled or there was problem with the URL: https://www.twitter.com/fritzhandles/status/2085219910569844841?s=61&t=X2NvaBkjFz8kZPoGlCbCzA
Javascript is not enabled or there was problem with the URL: https://www.twitter.com/fritzhandles/status/2085219910569844841?s=61&t=X2NvaBkjFz8kZPoGlCbCzA
I’m sure they already told him their plans for him and he’s good with that.
BlueKnickers@ 8/6/2026 10:25 PM
Knixkik wrote:
martin wrote:Hopefully
Javascript is not enabled or there was problem with the URL: https://www.twitter.com/fritzhandles/status/2085219910569844841?s=61&t=X2NvaBkjFz8kZPoGlCbCzA
I’m sure they already told him their plans for him and he’s good with that.
I am confident you are correct.
Rose's track record is building trust with players and their agents. It explains many of our signings at discounts and his ability to bring back most of the roster under the 2nd apron.
It is simply improbable at this point that Nickel will not be on the main roster this season.
They found a legit sniper with a solid basketball IQ at a bargain price. They're keeping him.
A Nickel wearing 55 is too good to pass up.
martin@ 8/7/2026 6:45 AM
Some kinda vague language from Fred in a few spots, or at least it was confusing enough I had to read sentences a couple of times to figure out what he meant
According to this report, Knicks second-round pick Jack Kayil is heading back to Europe. August 5th was the deadline for teams to tender qualifying offers to retain the draft rights of unsigned second-round rookies, and that also didn't happen for other second-round pick Tyler Nickel, who I've heard is considering a return to college (more NIL money) over a two-way contract with the Knicks.
Javascript is not enabled or there was problem with the URL: https://www.twitter.com/jledwardsiii/status/2085676456751903072?s=61&t=X2NvaBkjFz8kZPoGlCbCzA
Some kinda vague language from Fred in a few spots, or at least it was confusing enough I had to read sentences a couple of times to figure out what he meant
According to this report, Knicks second-round pick Jack Kayil is heading back to Europe. August 5th was the deadline for teams to tender qualifying offers to retain the draft rights of unsigned second-round rookies, and that also didn't happen for other second-round pick Tyler Nickel, who I've heard is considering a return to college (more NIL money) over a two-way contract with the Knicks.
Javascript is not enabled or there was problem with the URL: https://www.twitter.com/jledwardsiii/status/2085676456751903072?s=61&t=X2NvaBkjFz8kZPoGlCbCzA
None of these media folks know what the deadline actually means. Obviously the Knicks aren’t just forgoing Nickel’s draft rights. What would be the point of that ?
