There is a strong possibility the NBA will open up a tampering investigation into the Knicks’ recruitment of Jalen Brunson, according to The Athletic’s Fred Katz. A rival team doesn’t necessarily need to file official tampering charges to make it happen, considering that reports of an agreement between the Knicks and Brunson surfaced before the two sides could negotiate. The Knicks also made salary-shedding moves with the confidence Brunson would come aboard if they opened up enough cap room.
We have more on the Knicks:
- Brunson’s college coach, Jay Wright, said the former Villanova star will embrace the pressure of playing in New York City, Zach Braziller of the New York Post writes. “He is very comfortable in having all that pressure on him,” Wright said of Brunson. “When Luka [Doncic] was out, he was very comfortable taking on that responsibility in the playoffs. But he’s really smart and he really knows that he needs good players around him, too. His basketball IQ is off the charts. He will look at the game like a coach and a general manager. His ego doesn’t get in the way. But he’ll never shy from the responsibility. He loves it.”
- If the Knicks don’t trade RJ Barrett or Julius Randle in a blockbuster deal for Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell, then either Derrick Rose or Evan Fournier would have to be dealt for salary-matching purposes. SNY TV’s Ian Begley looks at potential combinations of players that the Knicks could send out to Utah.
- Mitchell may be one of the top 10 offensive talents in the league but he’s not considered a top-10 player overall due to his defensive shortcomings. The Ringer’s Dan Devine explores whether Mitchell is the right star for the Knicks to pursue.
Please please trade rose so he can get bought out/traded and join a contender
Rose ain’t going anywhere. He’s a perfect backup. Now at TD since he has an expiring contract. He could be dealt for value.
Getting rid of Randle in any trade would be addition by subtraction. He’s a cancer with no desire to play hard at all. Please deal him.
His contract is bad, and he is a 4 who can’t play center, or guard the perimeter
I rather not trade for Mitchell and let see what Brunson can do . Mitchell and Brunson backcourt will be a disaster in defense . Let’s us see if grimes Sumer league play was legit and let him start over Fourier . Build the team slowly Mitchell will not get us to second round or even first
Knicks will struggle to get to, and out of, the first round if Brunson doesn’t have a 4/5-out offense to operate in. His 3PT shot off the dribble is putrid – something like 30%, as opposed to his efficiency in catch-and-shoot scenarios. And in terms of his driving & operating in the paint, he’s not surrounded by shooters on the Knicks the way the Mavs could put 4-5 outside threats on the floor (meaning the defense can’t sag off and play gaps without fear of their man catching and firing a respectable shot). RJ, Randle & Mitch on the floor at the same time annihilates spacing.
I think it’s fools-gold to look at any configuration of this current roster–Spida or no Spida–and talk playoffs. Knicks are easily 2-3 years away, and Donovan might be piece #1, but not the “final” piece when the foundation is looking shaky af.
Knicks lost 15 gms by 6 or less. After being the 4th seed the yr before. The record was 37- 45. And injuries more than anything hurt them last yr. Yeah so a real PG makes them 2 or 3 yrs away. I think you’ve been away.
I just want Randle to go away. Then we will fine with the rebuild. I’m certainly not waiting on DM.
All due respect but 4Quarters is right. Nix are at best a play in team now, with Mitchell maybe fighting for 6 seed and eliminated first round.
I like Thibs, especially with a few good shooters, as he gets D out of the most reluctant candidates, but PG is not the ‘last missing piece’, nor is Mitchell.
Perhaps Thibs can transform the rest of the roster into hustling defenders, but Nix still need more real talent – not just potential.
If it is a coachable roster they will be 50+ wins in 2 years, but no sooner, learning takes time and average players are still mostly average in games.
Begley is clueless. NYK will not include Rose in the package as salary filler. It doesn’t even make sense for UTH to ask for him. Any benefit from the expiring deal is far outweighed to a tanking team by the dilution it would have on the rest of the package. NYK, if they make a DM deal, are presumably trying to win. Rose is important to that end particularly if either Quickley or McBride are sent out in the deal.
Do you want the Knicks to go after DM now, trade deadline (if need be) or never ?
I’m not close enough to the Knicks to fully absorb the situation fully, wondering your thoughts … so many layers to it; really feels like only a Knicks fan can give an accurate representation on it to me
If there weren’t a sense that DM wants specifically to be here (who knows how true that is) I would be a firm never (since he’s not a great fit and is going to require a bunch of assets).
Since there is, I’m open to it, but still strongly prefer not now (that has less to do about DM, and more to do about our roster, after adding Brunson and with a few young guys looking ready to make the next step). A trade deadline deal after Ainge has stared down every suitor in the league (including us) for many months, and UTH has an unhappy player on its hands, might actually be on reasonable terms.
True on the deadline angle, and the info gathered those 40 games should give the Knicks some better understanding of if they even need to go all In for him –
Starting to have a similar view towards Westbrook, all these offers that are borderline now should be easier to obtain come deadline (and a lot cheaper). Can they tread 500 the first 45 games tho is the question.
My gut today tells me Danny wants to burn this whole thing to the ground but hasn’t found a Godfather offer for DM yet; Id guess/presume Knicks fans should be happy at this moment they haven’t overpayed and there’s not a 2nd strong suitor (Mia far from one even tho they think so) challenging them. If a viable 2nd team emerges Danny will always check back w NYK to give them a chance to top but until then no news is probably good news for the Knicks would be my guess in the end, even if that last 6 months
Making a deal earlier gets them closure, but the net from the deal will likely be better if they wait. Either to the time of another deal to piggyback or the deadline. Nobody wants to give up good players now, even if they have bad contracts. By mid-season, perspectives change. There’s the locker room and fans, but a FO has to look past that and get out of this contract when and in a manner that works best this year and next. Jeanie has to empower them to do that.
Let’s say Westbrook relents and has a decent, not spectacular, first half? Do you hang on to him at the deadline?
Lakers are in the playoff hunt in this scenario…
Lakers are in the title hunt in this scenario…
Sounds like the trade better happen before the league starts taking draft picks away. Doh!
Ian Begly is a genius.
If DA truly wishes to get 5-6 picks and two of our young players, he shouldn’t wait until the start of the season. I. Preseason may give our young players time to shine. 2. The first games of the season may do the same. 3. Suppose DM gets hurt. 4. DM may demand a trade if it drags out. 5. Any combo of the above.
Knicks act like New Yorkers and let this play itself out.
That’s certainly possible. However, what can also happen is another left field team decides they’re not any good and decide to blow up their team and trade for Don. Orlando could by then decide they’re good enough to start bringing in vets and offer a nice package. Houston and OKC could decide the same thing.
Really the only reason they do a trade with the Knicks is because it’s one of Don’s preferred destinations. However, if Don decides to alienate the team then they’d be less inclined to send him where he wants.
DA prefers draft picks but there are plenty of trade scenarios where the other team could offer a bevy of young players with fewer unrestricted draft picks.
Personally, I’d prefer them to decide before the season starts or wait and trade him to a team with a top 2-3 pick. Not 100% sold on the future #1 walking back/foot problem that everyone is in love with. It’s Greg Oden all over again, sorta.
Maybe Utah wants to turn Randle into a Carl Malone. I always thought they were similar. Knicks adding some good players but the best defensive addition looks to be Isaiah Hartenstein. The backup center. These moves for the Knicks may make them look more appealing to free agents and I think it will improve their win total but probably not enough to make the playoffs.
If this goes to the deadline Bulls should offer DeRozan and Vooch for Mitchell and Conley – presuming Bulls are in contention and Utah is not at that point.
Thing is, not having Gobert and having more perimeter defense might make a better team for Utah WITHOUT Gobert. Why is everyone assuming UT wants to tear it all down?