The Knicks’ top executive, Leon Rose, needs to go all out this summer to sign free agent Jalen Brunson, Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post opines. The Knicks settled for Kemba Walker last summer instead of engaging in an all-out bidding war for Fred VanVleet. The same mistake can’t be made this time around, in Vaccaro’s view, so Rose must figure out a way to clear more cap space and give Brunson a competitive offer. Vaccaro also notes Brunson’s father, Rick Brunson, was Rose’s first ever client as a player agent.
We have more on the New York teams:
- Amar’e Stoudemire clarified comments he made on ESPN shows regarding Kyrie Irving and the Nets organization in an Instagram post (hat tip to Chris Milholen of NetsDaily.com). Stoudemire told coach Steve Nash he was leaving his post as a player development coach due to his religious obligations prior to his TV appearances and has no issue with Nash or GM Sean Marks. He also said he wasn’t trying to blast Irving when he said Irving “hurt us” due to his lack of availability during the season. “You’re not going to turn me against Kyrie. You’re not going to turn me against the Nets. You’re not going to turn me against anyone. So you can forget about it,” Stoudemire said.
- The Knicks have quietly added Vince Baldwin — a longtime Nike talent scout — as a “talent evaluator,” Marc Berman of the New York Post reports. Baldwin has extensive contacts in the high school and college ranks and is close with Knicks senior executive William Wesley. The Knicks also hired Tim Hardaway Sr. as a scout without making an official announcement.
- Center prospect Kai Sotto will work out for the Knicks on Monday, Adam Zagoria of Zagsblog.com tweets. The 7’3” big man from the Philippines spent last season in Australia’s National Basketball League, averaging 7.5 PPG and 4.5 RPG for the Adelaide 36ers.
Tyus Jones is a MUCH better option for NYK to pursue. Brunson is a great guard but doesn’t have that pg mentality. Tyus was born with it. Knicks need that type of guy to bring all their disparate parts together. Brunson will improve the team obv but Tyus is very clearly what they need. It makes too much sense for NYK to actually do that tho
Actually watching this Euroleague Final reminds me that Vasilje Micic is definitely ready to be a starting pg in this league. Much like Tyus he’s a pure point guard that makes his teammates better. He’d obv be a rookie in the NBA so Tyus is more ready to lead a team but Tyus would also be a good deal more expensive. Either Tyus or Micic would be absolutely perfect for what NYK needs. They should probably still draft either Hardy or TyTy with their lottery pick tho.
I’m a fan of getting Tyus over Brunson.
My evaluation formula
Jalen Brunson current market value
4-year $110 million
Demand is high because of low supply
No cap no problem
Lakers would like to make trade offer for LaVine
Knicks can make offer for Brunson
Knicks could have both Donovan Mitchell and Brunson
Yeah and I could buy a Ferrari tomorrow, too. How are the Knicks gonna clear enough space to add two max (or near max) players? Who’s taking Randle, and how much do they have to add to get someone to do it? That’s a near immovable contract/
@Seam
27 yo…20+/10/5 averaging under $30 mil in the day and age that guys are making $40-$$50 and suck. No picks needed to move him.
Knicks have $2 million salary cap space to sign free agents.
4 teams have salary cap room
Magic $29 million
Pistons $26 million only because of ghost salary
Pacers $25 million
Spurs $23 million
Thunder have no cap space because of huge ghost salary
No other teams have meaningful cap space.
Excluding player options (Beal, Harden, Irving …) and restricted FA (Ayton, Bridges, Sexton, Bamba)
These are top 8 unrestricted FA in July 1.
My ranking
Brunson
Looney
Tyus Jones
GP II
Gary Harris
Monk
Mitch (Knicks)
Oladipo
Those 4 salary cap teams are unlikely to make offers for these guys. The rest of the teams will have to make trade offers to get these top 8 unrestricted FA.
Knicks fans, who are you going to offer for these 8 SNT players?
I’m prepared for 2 months of this nonsense, and it could get particularly bad with Brunson, since the NYK FO will fain interest in him if he or his Dad asks. Reality is NOBODY is clearing cap space to pay Brunson 25 mm or close. Hopefully, he’ll re-up with DAL well before the FA period starts.
NY media can be as frustrated as they like (as can the 2k’ers). Rose & Co., unlike prior regimes, had a plan coming in, and are implementing it. This year, they have the expiring deals for a S&T (but that’s for a star), and next year, they have cap space (so, aside from a star, I don’t see a regular trade this year that interferes with that). This year, FA signings will be limited by the MLE.
I highly doubt that starting Alec Burks at pg for pretty much this entire season was part of their original plan. They’re winging it like everyone else
No, it wasn’t intended to rely on Burks at PG specifically. A rebuilding plan that specific wouldn’t be workable and would lead to winging it. Anyway, the original NYK plan obviously didn’t call for Burks at PG, but did called for limiting long term money that affected filling out the position. They started last year with stop gap veterans (Rose and Kemba) ahead of longer term possibilities Quickley, McBride (GL) and Jokubaitis (EUR). This year it’s Rose/ Quickley/ McBride with Jokubaitis staying in EUR. They could add to it, but (short of a star) it would likely be a short term or low priced vet. After next season, they’ll know more about the young PGs, when they’ll have lots of cap space and no long term money committed at the position. All per the plan. Staying the plan doesn’t mandate success. But wandering from it mindlessly every time a nice player might be available likely mandates failure.
Rose was hurt ….. had nothing to do with winging it. Knicks plan was playing PG by committee. Hoping someone would stand out. Injuries killed that plan. Imo I still believe Randle sabotaged Kemba. He was jealous of all attention he got. And still can’t get why NY doesn’t want him. Real NYers don’t want malcontents in NY. It doesn’t matter who is the hero. Only thing that matters is Knicks progress as a team. Randle got his feelings hurt. Here we DGAF about your feelings. Win and you will see how much we feel about you then.
“Win and you will see how much we feel about you then.”
He kinda did check that box and thus they signed the check (117 mill)
Still contest that 21′ (while fun for fans) kinda hurt the Knicks a little in the long run
Nothing major, a flat tire on what was going to be a cross-country trip anyway. Trade market should be lively this offseason and Randle still has appeal today despite the naysayers.
Buckle up, grab a magazine there’s a lotta road ahead still for this NY team. It’s panic season for 25+ fanbases, cooler heads will prevail as the summer drifts away and sensible bball talk can resume
Need to know the whole story about Randle. Too long for me to explain it to you. You should know by now. I’m not a hater. I always look at bright side of life. Randle has had more than his chance in NY.
He came here when nobody wanted him. He played selfish and was up and down for two yrs. Then we drafted Obi. After all yr fans wanted him gone. The media wanted him gone. Most real fans wanted him gone. Then he has that yr under new coach. Then signs and regressed back to what he was. Cause his feelings are hurt. I don’t think outsiders understand where Knicks are. We have Never rebuilt thru the draft. We can’t let a malcontent sabotage our rebuild. There is no turning back for us now. Play Obi Now and dump the guy who needs a hug. What does a contract mean lol m. this is business. KP is gone cause he thought he was bigger than Team. Randle is next. No one is bigger than NYK … no one. Dolan got more money than any owner in sports. Yet he can’t build a team …. Let alone a contender. That’s our real problem. It’s why building thru draft is a MUST……. freak Randle
I know Randle all too well
Actually I’m very Impressed by the strides he has made in NY; especially on the passing /facilitating side. He’s also became a lot better outside shooter than I’d ever imagine and his dribbles in the open court are pretty special for a 4 as well. He didn’t have that patience/vision/execution in LA
I didn’t view him as a keeper in La w a 20+ mill salary looming but he’s earned that contract where we sit today so good for him
He can be dealt was my point above (and not at a loss like most posters blast out) so the flat tire analogy above might have been just 2022′ to further my point. Still…… long road….just pound pavement best ya can in the meantime
@C&C –
Yes, that’s NYK fan reality at this time. Hard for many accept, but they have little choice. NYK are NOT blowing it up (we’re halfway through a 4 year plan, the demolition phase ended awhile ago). It’s highly unlikely the FO even sells low (forget salary dump) on Randle until mid-year at the earliest. Also unlikely NYK sign or do S&Ts with FAs, except for MLE. If there’s a major trade, it will be with an eye on 2023 cap space (i.e., not adding to it).
Yeah I agree he can help another team. He’s just worn out his welcome in NY. His emotions are getting in the way of his game. He’s in the wrong city for that. I just handle him no more. I’m done. I want to move on.
I agree Al, not the city to have the wheels come off
I always like to entertain the thoughts of trades but maybe NYK is better off waiting till the next cycle (trade deadline next year) than trading him in the offseason
They shouldn’t feel rushed
Time moves fast in the NBA but for now (*this cycle) it should be viewed in their corner which means you should only hear out offers and If another GM is desperate (overpay) then maybe swoop, otherwise there’s no issues just laying low
Can understand the frustration tho, some of his antics were beyond puzzling last year
But he’s shown the ability to tier up before, I’ll always take that over potential (un-shown) upside
It behooves him to play at his best in 23, he still has another 75~120 mill to potentially make after this contract. It’s a good time to be an above avg NBA player these days
Knicks need to build around rj. I believe he will be great player if randle leave.give him 2 good robins,toppin and a good pg.
@Knick
KP is gone because he demanded a trade. Please stop acting like the Knicks didn’t want him.
Maybe Hardaway can help them find a PG lol. Sotto is not ready for the NBA. If you sign him as undrafted to G-league. I’m all for it.
Knicks do need a real PG. Quickley has made big steps in that direction. I still don’t get why they don’t play McBride more. How can a PG with a future sit for a 37-45 Team.
Tyus is a career backup. Brunson is not a pass first PG. Makes no sense taking either over Quickley and McBride. Plus Rose is our backup next yr. Knicks PG situation is not getting fixed till they move Randle. Randle is biggest road block to a PG having success here. He’s got to go. And if Thibs can’t see this. Then he’s got to go too.
Move Randle to Dallas for Dinwiddie. It’s that simple. Dinwiddie starting with Rose, McBride backing him up.
Quickley, Grimes, Mitch, Noel can be used to get Grant from Pistons……….
PG — Dinwiddie
SG — RJ
SF — Grant
PF — Obi1
C — Duren
You and Dinwiddie…
Pass on Grant. Pass on Duren. Keep IQ and see if there’s any takers for Randle and Fournier. Example: Randle, Fournier and the 11th pick for John Wall and their 2nd rounder. Tons of cap room going forward in 2023 and gives Wall a chance to see if he can create any trade deadline value. Same with Rose.
He’s the only one who has been available. He’s like a real get. Not a fantasy. What so hard to understand. I live in reality dude. Problem is Thibs seems reluctant to give up on Randle. So it seems this is next war in FO imo.
Thibs will love duren.very good defensive center
@Padam
Randle should NOT require us to give up a 1st round pick for the luxury of acquiring John Wall. He’s flawed but is still relatively young and is a 20/10/5 guy in a down year.
You’re hilarious dude. It’s going to cost more than a 1st to unload that little whiner. At least Wall has talent. Randle is nothing but a numbers compiler on a bad team. Not a winning bone in his body, just like the rest of the Knicks.
No one wants to play for the Knicks, the worst run organization in the NBA. Randle sabotaged the season in hopes of being moved, tibs despises the gm, worst owner in the league, my God a real dumpster fire.
Yeah thank you Steven A. Geez I hope one day we can know what you know.
Knicks were the 4th seed last yr. We are one of youngest teams in NBA. With 10 picks in the next three yrs. Go rant at the mirror. That’s your audience lol.
Nobody will be running to sign with the Knicks, the worst franchise in sports, this offseason.
The few fans they have left will be talking about “next season” again come November.
Kemba vs FVV wasn’t some huge mistake. They didn’t overpay for a player. The mistake is a Thibs and the rest of the roster construction. Kemba would be fine for 25mpg and if the Knicks cut him I’d gladly have the Sixers scoop him up. Kemba isn’t washed, he’s a no D guard that has knee issues. Rested and in a reserve role he can contribute. He isn’t a starter they have expected him to be a starter or savior.
Knicks are a team that needed Jaden Ivey and Jabari Smith to get into that Grizzlies level young team that can compete.
Instead I must settle for TyTy Washington and Kai Sotto in round 2. These are the one step slower from being the same caliber players. Unfortunately that is a trait that rarely improves except for maybe Miles Turner accomplishing this.
A trade for Brunson or Sexton is really only possible if Mitchell Robinson allows a sign and trade.
Other possibility he walks or signs greatly influence the direction that they take next year.
The Knicks shd give the 7’3” Kai Sotto a chance to join the line up. He can start as a poor man’s KP and would like develop in to a very reliable centre for the team