I don’t think they move Randle. That Dallas Photo Op was a message to the league and fans and that message was simple. Randle ain’t for trade. Though Randle wasn’t the problem initially (he definitely became the problem later). The problem was the FO fukked up the offseason by playing it safe. They didn’t go completely stupid because the deals are movable in the right circumstance. However, without those guys over achieving like they did in a contract year. The Knicks never had a chance.
So here is my “Get the Knicks back into the plays plan”
I think they should trade Fournier, Burks, and Noel for Gordon Hayward and pick #15. I also think they trade that Dallas pick to move up to take Dyson/Mathurin/Davis (DMD) at pick 8 or 9 and draft Sochan/Liddel/Brown(SJB) at #15. They should grab Jalen Smith with their MLE. Resign Mitch, Extend RJ, let Cam, Obi, and IQ earn their money next summer.
IQ/Rose/McBride
RJ/Grimes/ (DMD)
Hayward/Reddish/(SJB)
Randle/Toppin/Taj
Mitch/Smith/Sims
The biggest difference is this year during the regular season. Thibs has to open the rotation. They got to get into his thick skull that once you get into the playoffs, then you can play 8 guys only to your hearts content. That would be the “deepest” Knicks roster, maybe ever of legit NBA talent. Hayward while very injury prone still has 1A upside too but on a two year contract.
Tradeoffs:
The Mavs picks has a top #10 protection on it but I think it’s safe to convert. The issue is looking at the Knicks, they are getting to the point they probably won’t need two 2023 picks. Especially if the Mavs one is likely in the 2020’s. The Knicks won the KP trade. If they do my plan they would of converted KP and the cap space he gave into IQ, Gordon Hayward, Cam Reddish, and whoever they trade up to take this year….. fukk the Mavs
Why the Hornets do it:
They save 10 Million in base salary in 2023 and avoid the repeater tax in 2023 as well and that 1 year gap allows them to avoid it again the first year they extend Lamelo in 2024. That’s a lot of money. Plus they get a defensive big and vet roleplayers for their young team.
FA Moves:
1) Resign Mitch because he deserves it and between him and Noel it’s clear Mitch is better healthy.
2) Extend RJ because he deserves it and is unofficially the leader of this team because Randle is a mental case
3) sign Jalen Smith to the MLE because he is a stretch 4/5 who fits the youth timeline and the pacers can’t match him anyway. He’s the right age too for the playoff push this team is going to make next year
4) Keep Randle because as much of a mental case he is his value is no where near 20/10/5 should be. Even inefficiently that is impressive when you look at his contract
5) Obi, IQ, and Reddish should be reupped because they ain’t earned shyt early.
Draft: I ain’t saying shyt about the draft to not jinx it but they should move up. It’s a narrow draft. No reason to stay at pick 11 move up and skip Washington who has the same needs as the Knicks. Pick 15 should be for whoever falls, preferably defense is the main goal this draft.
You work at the airport? Like a janitor(shoutout @DPresidential aka @DJanitorial) or TSA or something?
