Knicks · Battle for the Bench: Knicks Sign Everybody (page 4)

Philc1 wrote:

SergioNYK wrote:Wiseman is always hurt so I don't think I trust him on this type of team. Even as a 3rd string! I'd much rather have a steady vet like Eubanks who can def play some rotation minutes in a pinch!

Also rooting for Dadiet to ball out in training camp and preseason cause there is talent there. But if he still doesn't show growth, replacing him with a vet like Konchar or Brown is fine.

I get the concern about Wiseman’s injury history and that he’s been a bust but it’s definitely a low risk signing that can payoff if he can be a viable backup C

My bet is on Eubanks of it comes down between him and Wiseman. Wiseman is not the last big talent to be derailed by injuries and wasted potential. I'm down on him being able to stay healthy. He isn't dependable while Eubanks has been except for the injury he got last season. Eubanks likely is a lower ceiling but his floor is competent for a back up. Plus, Eubanks sets screens, finishes around the rim, and he blocks one shot a game in his limited minutes. Eubanks can hustle and impress the fans with the overachiever he is being undrafted

Nalod wrote:
If Dadiet don't make the grade one has to hope Nickel is able to.

I came away from SL thinking Nickel is the anti-Dadiet

Whereas Dadiet slinks around the court with limited presence and occasional bursts of activity, I always knew where Nickel was on the floor, watching him move with an innate conviction on where to be on the floor. He knew where to go and he was directing his teammates where to go.

The difference is between a player who often doesn't know how to make his mark on the game and a player who pretty much knows exactly what his role is and how to execute it.

I already believe in Nickel's ability to contribute in a rotation role. I've never felt that way about Dadiet

Ian got some notes. His assumption on McCullar is unexpected? For some

https://sny.tv/articles/3-things-to-watc...

As of Friday morning, the Knicks have 18 players under contract -- teams can have a maximum of 21 players under contract during training camp. I expect that rookie Tyler Nickel will take up one of the remaining spots, and I expect versatile third-year wing Kevin McCullar will eventually have a roster spot, as well.

Will the Knicks add another veteran ahead of camp?

martin wrote:Ian got some notes. His assumption on McCullar is unexpected? For some

https://sny.tv/articles/3-things-to-watc...

As of Friday morning, the Knicks have 18 players under contract -- teams can have a maximum of 21 players under contract during training camp. I expect that rookie Tyler Nickel will take up one of the remaining spots, and I expect versatile third-year wing Kevin McCullar will eventually have a roster spot, as well.

Will the Knicks add another veteran ahead of camp?

Shhhhhhhhhhhhh

Don't tell KnixHix (that McCullar is actually an NBA caliber player)

BlueKnickers wrote:

Nalod wrote:
If Dadiet don't make the grade one has to hope Nickel is able to.

I came away from SL thinking Nickel is the anti-Dadiet

Whereas Dadiet slinks around the court with limited presence and occasional bursts of activity, I always knew where Nickel was on the floor, watching him move with an innate conviction on where to be on the floor. He knew where to go and he was directing his teammates where to go.

The difference is between a player who often doesn't know how to make his mark on the game and a player who pretty much knows exactly what his role is and how to execute it.

I already believe in Nickel's ability to contribute in a rotation role. I've never felt that way about Dadiet

Dadiet plays like he is still so happy to be here. He is so passive and needs to be more aggressive. Hope, he finds his mojo one day. But team looks like i t has no choice. Brown or Konchar replacing him on the roster will be a better trade piece at the deadline then Dadiet as well. Too bad he has all the size and skill set to be a rotation player. He reminds me of Frank Ntikina all the size but both lacked the confidence to play in the NBA. Dadiet has already earned millions, won a chip, gotten play off bonuses, and practiced with great teammates, all before age 22. Packme should be able to play back in Europe and retire comfortably before age 28, to then start a new chapter in life,

BlueKnickers wrote:

martin wrote:Ian got some notes. His assumption on McCullar is unexpected? For some

https://sny.tv/articles/3-things-to-watc...

As of Friday morning, the Knicks have 18 players under contract -- teams can have a maximum of 21 players under contract during training camp. I expect that rookie Tyler Nickel will take up one of the remaining spots, and I expect versatile third-year wing Kevin McCullar will eventually have a roster spot, as well.

Will the Knicks add another veteran ahead of camp?

Shhhhhhhhhhhhh

Don't tell KnixHix (that McCullar is actually an NBA caliber player)

You realize he’s talking about a potential camp invite (21 players get them) not an actual roster spot right ? You would hope he might get an invite, maybe even a 2-way spot. But a last minute training camp invite is hardly a sign of team confidence, besides them trying to bury him in the gleague.

Guys I was high on McCullar coming out of college. I thought he could be a nice role player. My concern is he’s already 25 and has yet to show a real nba skill besides hustle/ defense. And now when you have guys like Brown, Agbaji, Konchar etc who are fighting for roster spots, what does that say about McCullar’s chances to make an nba roster? He is interesting as a useable wing, but he’s just several tiers below these established players.

Knixkik wrote:

BlueKnickers wrote:

martin wrote:Ian got some notes. His assumption on McCullar is unexpected? For some

https://sny.tv/articles/3-things-to-watc...

As of Friday morning, the Knicks have 18 players under contract -- teams can have a maximum of 21 players under contract during training camp. I expect that rookie Tyler Nickel will take up one of the remaining spots, and I expect versatile third-year wing Kevin McCullar will eventually have a roster spot, as well.

Will the Knicks add another veteran ahead of camp?

Shhhhhhhhhhhhh

Don't tell KnixHix (that McCullar is actually an NBA caliber player)

You realize he’s talking about a potential camp invite (21 players get them) not an actual roster spot right ? You would hope he might get an invite, maybe even a 2-way spot. But a last minute training camp invite is hardly a sign of team confidence, besides them trying to bury him in the gleague.

Just fcking with you man

We'll just have to wait and see if Kev fares better than this bloke

BlueKnickers wrote:

Knixkik wrote:

BlueKnickers wrote:

martin wrote:Ian got some notes. His assumption on McCullar is unexpected? For some

https://sny.tv/articles/3-things-to-watc...

As of Friday morning, the Knicks have 18 players under contract -- teams can have a maximum of 21 players under contract during training camp. I expect that rookie Tyler Nickel will take up one of the remaining spots, and I expect versatile third-year wing Kevin McCullar will eventually have a roster spot, as well.

Will the Knicks add another veteran ahead of camp?

Shhhhhhhhhhhhh

Don't tell KnixHix (that McCullar is actually an NBA caliber player)

You realize he’s talking about a potential camp invite (21 players get them) not an actual roster spot right ? You would hope he might get an invite, maybe even a 2-way spot. But a last minute training camp invite is hardly a sign of team confidence, besides them trying to bury him in the gleague.

Just fcking with you man

We'll just have to wait and see if Kev fares better than this bloke

Haha I love how I have become the McCullar-hater on this board. Not my intention, I promise!

There it is! Nickel and McCullar on 2-ways. Assuming a 3rd 2-way goes to a big man at some point. And it does make sense. Nickel probably gets bumped to a second round deal eventually. McCullar may never see an nba contract, but he’s been in the system for quite some time.

Knixkik wrote:There it is! Nickel and McCullar on 2-ways. Assuming a 3rd 2-way goes to a big man at some point. And it does make sense. Nickel probably gets bumped to a second round deal eventually. McCullar may never see an nba contract, but he’s been in the system for quite some time.

I’d say that the Knicks FO does pretty much everything with purpose. McCullar is coming back for a reason, from his perspective and the team’s.

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martin wrote:

Knixkik wrote:There it is! Nickel and McCullar on 2-ways. Assuming a 3rd 2-way goes to a big man at some point. And it does make sense. Nickel probably gets bumped to a second round deal eventually. McCullar may never see an nba contract, but he’s been in the system for quite some time.

I’d say that the Knicks FO does pretty much everything with purpose. McCullar is coming back for a reason, from his perspective and the team’s.

Yes

If McCullar didn't have confidence in himself and if the FO felt he held little to no value Kevin could not have held out for this current deal.

He would have had to go seek employment elsewhere.

But the reigning NBA champs had him in their plans which says they do see value in him, even if he is just there for depth right now.

If McCullar was a total scrub, he would have signed elsewhere by now, hence you and I correctly deduced the silence around him meant he still had a ticket to punch with the Knicks.

McCullar's fate as a Knick thus far has largely been dictated by the depth chart being mostly filled.

In reality, he has only had one active season, since the first year was rehab only.

This says they saw enough in that one year to keep him around.

All it takes is some injuries on the roster and a few good performances by him to change the narrative. That's why he stuck around. He hopes to crack the rotation of the champs because he thinks he can. Someone within the organization must think so too. They clearly intended to bring him back after getting all of their other ducks in a row.

I still believe this guy can be a terrific contributor if he gets his shot and nails his opportunity.

He is a big swing guard that can change games with his defense and guard players our smaller guards cannot. Size and strength-wise he is on par with Shamet, just even better on defense. And he is really underrated as a set-up man and passer. His offense is good enough.

He can complement everyone on the team when he subs in. He should work well alongside Wingstop or Nickel or Shamet. Put him and Deuce in a 2nd unit backcourt and it frees up Deuce to be the off-ball shooter he's best at being while Kevin runs the sets. There you'd have a big and a small guard with defensive intensity. He is the kind of player like Shamet you need that can fit into almost any lineup configuration.

If McCullar can break through and become a rotation player, I believe he will be a swiss army knife player who can contribute in various ways based on the players he's on the floor with. That would be valuable.

OK, Kevin, prove me right. Get er done. I'm backing you

BlueKnickers wrote:

martin wrote:

Knixkik wrote:There it is! Nickel and McCullar on 2-ways. Assuming a 3rd 2-way goes to a big man at some point. And it does make sense. Nickel probably gets bumped to a second round deal eventually. McCullar may never see an nba contract, but he’s been in the system for quite some time.

I’d say that the Knicks FO does pretty much everything with purpose. McCullar is coming back for a reason, from his perspective and the team’s.

Yes

If McCullar didn't have confidence in himself and if the FO felt he held little to no value Kevin could not have held out for this current deal.

He would have had to go seek employment elsewhere.

But the reigning NBA champs had him in their plans which says they do see value in him, even if he is just there for depth right now.

If McCullar was a total scrub, he would have signed elsewhere by now, hence you and I correctly deduced the silence around him meant he still had a ticket to punch with the Knicks.

McCullar's fate as a Knick thus far has largely been dictated by the depth chart being mostly filled.

In reality, he has only had one active season, since the first year was rehab only.

This says they saw enough in that one year to keep him around.

All it takes is some injuries on the roster and a few good performances by him to change the narrative. That's why he stuck around. He hopes to crack the rotation of the champs because he thinks he can. Someone within the organization must think so too. They clearly intended to bring him back after getting all of their other ducks in a row.

I still believe this guy can be a terrific contributor if he gets his shot and nails his opportunity.

He is a big swing guard that can change games with his defense and guard players our smaller guards cannot. Size and strength-wise he is on par with Shamet, just even better on defense. And he is really underrated as a set-up man and passer. His offense is good enough.

He can complement everyone on the team when he subs in. He should work well alongside Wingstop or Nickel or Shamet. Put him and Deuce in a 2nd unit backcourt and it frees up Deuce to be the off-ball shooter he's best at being while Kevin runs the sets. There you'd have a big and a small guard with defensive intensity. He is the kind of player like Shamet you need that can fit into almost any lineup configuration.

If McCullar can break through and become a rotation player, I believe he will be a swiss army knife player who can contribute in various ways based on the players he's on the floor with. That would be valuable.

OK, Kevin, prove me right. Get er done. I'm backing you

Good recap

Thibs was always happy to point out that there's more to the team than just games. If you have a big guard going at 110% on defense every practice and being a likable guy in the locker room, you want to keep him around regardless of how much time he's playing in games.

I think the Alex Caruso mold may be a good path and comparison for McCullar, with the obvious early injury bug tacked on and obviously tempered for ceiling upside. I think Caruso spent 2-3 years in the Gleague, first solid season in NBA was at 23. Caruso seems to have a lower center of gravity and just stronger but McCullar is listed as taller and 15lbs heavier but those could be old weight listing for Alex.

Maybe a wing version of iHart: a guy who wants to play defense and do the small things and pass before he shoots. Wings are plentiful in the league compared to centers so there is a steep climb. To get a chance with the Knicks, injury and probably a trade needs to happen. To survive in the league, Kevin will need to show that he isn't afraid of his 3point shot and stays healthy.

I still find it totally wild that his last few games in the Gleague included time running the point, Kevin had triple doubles doing it but you never know what that means stats-wise. It's super interesting to me that they had him handle the ball and offense. I think Kevin is decent in the mid range and rim shooting AND he is a super willing passer. Knicks do well collapsing and passing and that circle jerk flow offense they run, and Kevin will fit into that. Same with Dadiet, or at least that is the hope as a cutter, mover but for the shooting.

McCullar was a defensive player of the year type at the NCAA level before injury? I think he can be a fuck-it-up defender in the Josh Hart mold and role. Just does a little bit of everything and you hope the distance shooting doesn't become his kryptonite.

If I had to make a guess: The Knicks favor wing guys that know how to operate within the defense and offense at a certain level - knowing where to be and when to move, and the overall read and react type stuff - and are willing to be very patient on the shooting side of things (especially with a plus defender whose motor is always on), knowing they can grow that side of a player with time and reps reps reps. All things being equal, shooting is easier to gain than the other IQ and decision making stuff, and that's why we see guys like Deuce, Shamet, Kolek, Mo, Dadiet, McCullar marinate and get chances. Diawara was a fast grow shooter; Dadiet is on the opposite end. Deuce shot piss poor his first 2 seasons while bopping back and forth to the GLeague but the Knicks had faith. Could barely pass or dribble at the NBA too and he was a PG in college.

There are tons of example of guys coming out of nowhere and adding 3point shooting to their arsenal. It's just like FTs, confidence and reps. You cannot do that in other areas of the game so easily and that's what the Knicks target and look for first. IMHO McCullar fits that mold and he is waiting on a chance to prove it.

Knicks have until Oct 1 to guarantee Dadiet's next year? That'll show us what the Knicks FO thinks of him.

Bought this up recently about about that Dadiet could need a draft pick to incentivize teams and recently read something that alludes this is happening as he is being shopped. Also mentioned as a reminder Brown had given all players an opportunity to get their minutes.
Comeptition matters. Diawa slid in and has outperformed Dadiet. If So then I expect no drama but Dadiet agent needs to get him to a team that can offer a pathway as he is still very very young. Too early to label him a bust but timelines change especially when another player steps up. Diawa ceiling looks to be higher at this moment and his contract extension validates knicks commitment. That he was a second round pick worked to his advantage in this case.
Likley situation could involve Deuce/Dadiet as a trade package perhaps with a second round pick(s) go get a covited young rim defender who can be developed and suppliment as needed this year.

McCullar I guess was always in the mix with a handshake promise as was nikel who could have gone back to NCAA div one for a nice payday.

martin wrote:Knicks have until Oct 1 to guarantee Dadiet's next year? That'll show us what the Knicks FO thinks of him.

Simply buisness. He is set to make $5mil next season on a team squeezing every dollar they can. Unlikey to commit those dollar to Dadiet this early, and thats if he even sticks on the roster. He would need injuries putting him in place to get PT. Then produce well enough for the Knicks to consider retaining him in the offseason. In comparison it took Shamet & Jose heroic playoff performances to get their contracts.

All of which is unlikely, but possible.

BlueKnickers wrote:

martin wrote:

Knixkik wrote:There it is! Nickel and McCullar on 2-ways. Assuming a 3rd 2-way goes to a big man at some point. And it does make sense. Nickel probably gets bumped to a second round deal eventually. McCullar may never see an nba contract, but he’s been in the system for quite some time.

I’d say that the Knicks FO does pretty much everything with purpose. McCullar is coming back for a reason, from his perspective and the team’s.

Yes

If McCullar didn't have confidence in himself and if the FO felt he held little to no value Kevin could not have held out for this current deal.

He would have had to go seek employment elsewhere.

But the reigning NBA champs had him in their plans which says they do see value in him, even if he is just there for depth right now.

If McCullar was a total scrub, he would have signed elsewhere by now, hence you and I correctly deduced the silence around him meant he still had a ticket to punch with the Knicks.

McCullar's fate as a Knick thus far has largely been dictated by the depth chart being mostly filled.

In reality, he has only had one active season, since the first year was rehab only.

This says they saw enough in that one year to keep him around.

All it takes is some injuries on the roster and a few good performances by him to change the narrative. That's why he stuck around. He hopes to crack the rotation of the champs because he thinks he can. Someone within the organization must think so too. They clearly intended to bring him back after getting all of their other ducks in a row.

I still believe this guy can be a terrific contributor if he gets his shot and nails his opportunity.

He is a big swing guard that can change games with his defense and guard players our smaller guards cannot. Size and strength-wise he is on par with Shamet, just even better on defense. And he is really underrated as a set-up man and passer. His offense is good enough.

He can complement everyone on the team when he subs in. He should work well alongside Wingstop or Nickel or Shamet. Put him and Deuce in a 2nd unit backcourt and it frees up Deuce to be the off-ball shooter he's best at being while Kevin runs the sets. There you'd have a big and a small guard with defensive intensity. He is the kind of player like Shamet you need that can fit into almost any lineup configuration.

If McCullar can break through and become a rotation player, I believe he will be a swiss army knife player who can contribute in various ways based on the players he's on the floor with. That would be valuable.

OK, Kevin, prove me right. Get er done. I'm backing you

Sounds about right.

martin wrote:I think the Alex Caruso mold may be a good path and comparison for McCullar, with the obvious early injury bug tacked on and obviously tempered for ceiling upside. I think Caruso spent 2-3 years in the Gleague, first solid season in NBA was at 23. Caruso seems to have a lower center of gravity and just stronger but McCullar is listed as taller and 15lbs heavier but those could be old weight listing for Alex.

Maybe a wing version of iHart: a guy who wants to play defense and do the small things and pass before he shoots. Wings are plentiful in the league compared to centers so there is a steep climb. To get a chance with the Knicks, injury and probably a trade needs to happen. To survive in the league, Kevin will need to show that he isn't afraid of his 3point shot and stays healthy.

I still find it totally wild that his last few games in the Gleague included time running the point, Kevin had triple doubles doing it but you never know what that means stats-wise. It's super interesting to me that they had him handle the ball and offense. I think Kevin is decent in the mid range and rim shooting AND he is a super willing passer. Knicks do well collapsing and passing and that circle jerk flow offense they run, and Kevin will fit into that. Same with Dadiet, or at least that is the hope as a cutter, mover but for the shooting.

McCullar was a defensive player of the year type at the NCAA level before injury? I think he can be a fuck-it-up defender in the Josh Hart mold and role. Just does a little bit of everything and you hope the distance shooting doesn't become his kryptonite.

If I had to make a guess: The Knicks favor wing guys that know how to operate within the defense and offense at a certain level - knowing where to be and when to move, and the overall read and react type stuff - and are willing to be very patient on the shooting side of things (especially with a plus defender whose motor is always on), knowing they can grow that side of a player with time and reps reps reps. All things being equal, shooting is easier to gain than the other IQ and decision making stuff, and that's why we see guys like Deuce, Shamet, Kolek, Mo, Dadiet, McCullar marinate and get chances. Diawara was a fast grow shooter; Dadiet is on the opposite end. Deuce shot piss poor his first 2 seasons while bopping back and forth to the GLeague but the Knicks had faith. Could barely pass or dribble at the NBA too and he was a PG in college.

There are tons of example of guys coming out of nowhere and adding 3point shooting to their arsenal. It's just like FTs, confidence and reps. You cannot do that in other areas of the game so easily and that's what the Knicks target and look for first. IMHO McCullar fits that mold and he is waiting on a chance to prove it.

That was a meat and potatoes post my man

I like the Caruso comp. It highlights how very good players don't always have an easy journey to becoming established, but once they do they tend to become sought after pieces. Caruso was one of the free agents I coveted over the years while Leon was assembling our champs.

Yes, McCullar could be a Josh 2.0 on the roster whom you can sic on various sized bodies as a disruptor. Hart is the king of small rebounders so I'm not sure about that aspect, but everything else has similar possibilities to what Hart brings to the team. If anything, he might be a more disciplined version of Hart less prone to his lapses in attention, but we need reps to say that with any certainty. I just get the impression he's pretty locked in and understands game flow.

If he had it in him to be one of the nation's top defensive players in school, that ability does translate to the NBA as long as his ability to react laterally is/was not diminished due to past injury. I did not see any flaw in his footwork and reactions on D last year so I think that remains solid.

I forget which main club game he got his most minutes last season, but IIRC I think that was the game he was one of the primary reasons we won a game down the stretch due to his multiple defensive plays and interceptions late in the game, the kinds of plays Mikal pulls out of his ass during the playoffs to close out games defensively. One game, big deal, but still I saw him do stuff other guys rarely do. That was the one time last year Brown rode Kevin to the finish because he was balling. He did not get many opportunities after that. Anyway, he's a ball hawk with good hands. He gets into lanes and strips the ball off his opponents.

And you're right, the one skill he can level up happens all the time. My favorite example is Trevor Ariza who could not hit the side of a barn as a rookie, but went on to become the prototype for the modern 3 & D player. What I saw in G League last year was games where his form was clean and he was hitting his threes. He could be very close to turning the corner if he's working on his shooting form religiously, because he was already looking better.

If you get average or plus shooting numbers out of McCullar he suddenly becomes someone everyone will be talking about because his bag is already pretty full IMO.