The Official Knicks offseason thread

[RickyGQ]

brehs, we better start training now, cause once the season starts, the Melo hate will be STRONG...

 

[Youhadasparkwhenustarted]

If this arbitration ruling stands, I'm actually really optimistic about the Knicks chances of doing good next season, first time in a while really. With D.Rose being hurt, Celtics transitioning to a pseudo rebuilding phase, Orlando in turmoil, and the rest of the division being pretty mediocre, It's the Knicks best chance in a while to actually have some success, seeing as how the Knicks actually have the individual talent to separate themselves from the pack. Amare co-existing with Melo still worries me though, someone is going to have to make some major changes to their game to make this work....

 

[RickyGQ]

no reason we're not top 3 in the east next season... maybe even 2 seed...

 

[The War Report]

 

[Constellations]

fat melo no longer fat?

 

[Youhadasparkwhenustarted]

usually by this time of year he's already put on about 20 pounds, dude is serious about next season.

 

[ryda518]

love the hunger(or not)from melo

 

[The War Report]

Knicks Now - Shumpert's Basketball Clinic

Shump with the children.

 

[The War Report]

If the arbitrator had ruled in favor of the NBA and Lin did not maintain his Early Bird Rights, the Knicks would be extremely limited this offseason. Basically, they would be at the mercy of opposing teams signing Lin to an offer sheet that would cost the Knicks their entire full MLE. That, in turn, would trigger a clause in the NBA which caps non-taxpaying teams that use the full MLE to a limit of $4 million over the luxury tax threshold. So not only would the MLE be gone, but there would be very little room to do anything else, even with the $1.9 million Bi-Annual Exception and veteran's minimum deals.

This is why the arbitrator's decision is such a huge win for the Knicks.

By Lin maintaining Early Bird Rights, the team still has both exceptions, the MLE (either $3 million or $5 million) and the BAE, but it is still tricky here. The team will not likely use the full $5 million exception because of that clause we just mentioned that triggers the hard cap.

[Technically, the Knicks could use the full MLE, but it would be a great risk. Why? Because if they are held at the instituted hard cap, they can not add any more players for the entire 2012-13 season. This means if a player is injured, you can not sign a free agent to a veteran's minimum or even a D-League player to a 10-day contract.]

Instead, expect the Knicks to go with the $3 million tax-payer MLE, which would not trigger the $4 million apron and hard cap. It would allow them to sign a free agent at $3 million, use the $1.9 million bi-annual to sign another player and still have the luxury of adding as many veteran's minimum contracts as they please throughout the season. Trust me, this matters, especially when a player is amnestied or waived after the trade deadline.

So how do the Knicks sign Steve Nash with only the $3 million mid-level? The answer is simple: they don't.

Instead, look for the Knicks to talk to several veteran point guards, from Jason Kidd to Raymond Felton, and possibly former Sixth Man of the Year Lamar Odom or veteran shooter Ray Allen, with the MLE and BAE in their pocket. Will they be enough to make a significant move? That remains to be seen. That depends on whether some of these veterans want to be part of taking on the Miami Heat. They are the new standard in the East and the Knicks know they have to build to beat them.

This is why I also look forward to seeing if Glen Grunwald and his crafty group can come up with another Tyson Chandler-type plan, using some of the other assets on this team. Consider the value in Landry Fields ($2.6 million qualifyer), Toney Douglas' expiring contract ($2 million) and non-guaranteed money in Dan Gadzuric ($1.3 million), Josh Harrellson ($762,195) and Jerome Jordan ($762, 195).

If a team is looking to sell and take nothing back, the Knicks have the pieces, plus $3 million in cash considerations, to put on the table. It's not much, but as the Heat showed us, stars can get you far in this league, but a solid supporting cast (Shane Battier, Mike Miller) can get you to the top.

So as of now, the Knicks believe they can count on bringing back its starting five, plus one major piece of that Mobb Deep bench if Novak is interested. J.R. Smith has until Tuesday to decide whether he will pick up his $2.5 million option for next season or become a free agent. Even if he does not pick up the option and becomes a free agent, the Knicks can re-sign Smith for a 120-percent raise. In my opinion, it's safe to pencil Smith in right now.

Jared Jeffries was a solid defensive big off the bench and has a place here, too, if he wants to return.

 

[NY's #1 Draft Pick]

The league wants to appeal.

League stay trying to fukk the Knicks.

Anyway who would y'all rather have allen or Nash?

 

[aixenv]

Knicks need a lot of help, that is not a team, it's a bunch of individuals

amare and melo will never learn to play together

the defense is terrible, even with Tyson Chandler anchoring

that is an underachieving no chemistry group if I ever saw one

 

[GetInTheTruck]

Knicks need a lot of help, that is not a team, it's a bunch of individuals

amare and melo will never learn to play together

the defense is terrible, even with Tyson Chandler anchoring

that is an underachieving no chemistry group if I ever saw one

Defense is terrible? Thanks for letting us know your opinion is worthles

 

[The War Report]

League stay trying to fukk the Knicks.

Anyway who would y'all rather have allen or Nash?

Nash isn't coming for $3M. Jason Kidd said he would like to play here with money not being a concern. We can only offer $3M of the MLE and the only players that I think can fit in well are Odom as a versatile big man off the bench and Ray Allen a shooter who can space the floor.

 

[WhyYouCry]

Saw hundreds of Linsanity shirts for like 90 percent off at sport authority.

 

[NY's #1 Draft Pick]

Y'all think "shoot first ask questions last" smith gonna resign?