"Death to the Pessimistic State of Mind" - Nas Voice: NYK '23 Pre-Season Thread

[storyteller]

I don't get this narrative.

Reports were out for a minute that they wanted Toppin.

Reports were out for a minute they wanted IQ or Maxey.

Reports were out for a minute they wanted McBride.

Reports were out for a minute that they want Fournier.

When smoke comes out, there is fire. The surprises have typically come from having to back track and move picks around when they can't get who they're reported to (Duarte, Ivey). I think Reddish was the only exception to that.

This is kinda true, but in each case there rumors about a bunch of other players that made it tough to pick out which was legit.

Obi Toppin rumors were shared with trading up for LaMelo, Isaac Okoro, Deni Avdija, and Devin Vassell rumors. All but LaMelo were "Thibs' types" according to the reports.

IQ was paired with Tyrell Terry and Theo Maledon rumors because they needed a PG. When they traded up, it was recognized for Tyrese Maxey but both the trade up and the next trade back down for IQ were both news to everyone.

McBride had some steam, but Rokas was completely off the radar. Grimes was fairly surprising too, because they were expected to try and trade up for Duarte or stand pat and grab Tre Mann or Sharife Cooper. Sims was a surprise too, but that point in the draft is always impossible to predict.

Fournier was a given for sure. They'd tried to trade for him at the deadline, so their interest was well-known. But they were also linked to Lonzo Ball, Cam Payne, Nicolas Batum, Dennis Schroder and a bunch of other ish that didn't happen (Colin Sexton trade, Lauri Markannen trade).

The Brunson one fits with examples where it came true. Rumors that wouldn't go away and eventually came true. But there's always a handful of rumors and it's tough to pick through them all to find the ones with legs. We were supposed to be chasing Donovan Mitchell or Bradley Beal before Brunson became the rumor-mill darling. I feel like the only reliable considerations are that Kentucky and Duke are Leon's go-to college prospect spots and players with CAA connections are first in line for a meeting with the FO.

 

[storyteller]

Didn't realize they picked him up. Cool.

Always appreciate your perspective, it's always informed and always gives me the desire to be hopeful. I have none, but I appreciate it nonetheless.

Many thanks fam. This kid's a bit undersized and raw, but he's MADD fun to watch. He'll make it more fun to watch Westchester games in the worst case.

 

[RickyGQ]

If I'm not mistaken, you can only include one player in a sign and trade. But I've gotta look that up again. The cap rules are so damned weird it's hard to keep up with. I think that's why the TPE becomes important. If they can get a TPE, then they can use that as center-piece and mix and match all those picks they've stacked.

I always thought you could only send 1 player in a sign and trade? Like they couldn’t trade Zach and Cobi White for instance. You’re probably right though.

 

[RickyGQ]

I don't get this narrative.

Reports were out for a minute that they wanted Toppin.

Reports were out for a minute they wanted IQ or Maxey.

Reports were out for a minute they wanted McBride.

Reports were out for a minute that they want Fournier.

When smoke comes out, there is fire. The surprises have typically come from having to back track and move picks around when they can't get who they're reported to (Duarte, Ivey). I think Reddish was the only exception to that.

Eh, I remember McBride wasn’t really out there like that. Fournier reports were conjecture AFTER reports came out that Thibs wanted him at the deadline. Toppin was based on CAA connections and IQ and Maxey were based on the Kentucky connections.

 

[Peter Popoff]

The Kyrie trade could be a chess move to trade Randle.

 

[Peter Popoff]

Brunson would be a great piece but you gotta dump Randle.

Brunson, IQ, Barrett, Toppin, Mitch or
Brunson, Burk, Barrett, Toppin

Backcourt:
Duece, Grimes, Reddish, Taj, Sims

 

[Wargames]

Eh, I remember McBride wasn’t really out there like that. Fournier reports were conjecture AFTER reports came out that Thibs wanted him at the deadline. Toppin was based on CAA connections and IQ and Maxey were based on the Kentucky connections.

Bro I called McBride and Quickley before the media did



I really couldn’t make a prediction this year. I thought they liked MarJon.

 

[Wargames]

Brunson would be a great piece but you gotta dump Randle.

Brunson, IQ, Barrett, Toppin, Mitch or
Brunson, Burk, Barrett, Toppin

Backcourt:
Duece, Grimes, Reddish, Taj, Sims

Is not that good of a team. Brunson doesn’t fix RJ/Randle or make RJ/Toppin a lot better. Let’s see what they do first maybe there are additional moves plotted out.

 

[Peter Popoff]

Is not that good of a team. Brunson doesn’t fix RJ/Randle or make RJ/Toppin a lot better. Let’s see what they do first maybe there are additional moves plotted out.

Brunson, RJ and Randle is

No, NO, NO, NO, NO, I said dump Randle off somewhere.

Brunson, IQ and Toppin would be fun to watch.

You gotta have 2 shooters, 2 rebounders around him.

 

[Rev]

Honest question - who are the real talent evaluators and salary cap managers on Leon Rose’s staff?

 

[mvp_status]

this whole damn thread

 

[Anerdyblackguy]

Honest question - who are the real talent evaluators and salary cap managers on Leon Rose’s staff?

I can’t speak for talent evaluations but Scott Perry the GM handles all cap issues (That I’m sure of)

 

[Redguard]

 

[Wargames]

mintz is Rose’s nephew… and was Ivey’s agent too.

 

[Peter Popoff]

It's pretty much a given they getting him.