There are several different scenarios to think of:
If we take Okafor, then you have to sign a 4 who can cover for him and Melo defensively.
If we take Towns, you can either play Melo at the 4 or sign a 5 and leave Melo at the 3.
If we take any of the guards (Mudiay/Russell) you have to either sign a 3/4 or 4/5 combo of players depending on where you play Melo.
If we take Winslow you either sign a 4/5 pairing or just sign a 5 and let Melo play the 4.
This team has plenty of holes in it. There's also a chance we don't address them all.
I wouldn't go after Love. He'd help out offensively but defensively we'd be TRASH. Love is struggling to play with Bron, I doubt he can fit in with Melo even with the Triangle. Harris if we go small would be good, he's pretty much Melo with much less talent and more hustle but can he defend? I'm more worried about defense more than anything.
Solid run down here. I agree with most of what you said and I am very excited for this summer. So many different directions the Knicks can go. There isnt a clear cut draft pick we are going to get or even target and there isnt a clear cut free agent to go after either (although the big superstars probably wont sign withy us anyway) so there are so many different options I can see the Knicks headed in and they are all related to each other. The draft pick relates to who we go after in FA and because we arent going all in on just one or 2 main guys. Each FA we make a move one effects the others that we try to sign after all seperately and uniquely.
This is why I just laugh at the NY media trying to criticize Phil/Fisher like they are failures. Their jobs havent even started yet. Butr this summer (and next summer) will be very interesting. Starting this summer Phil will take Melo, a top draft pick, whatever guaranteed rookie contracts we have, $30+ million in cap space, as well as the triangle offense and try and create a basketball team that works well together, have different areas of strength, an d players who compensate for each others' weaknesses. Phil may not be coaching, but he knows what kind of players he likes and the kind of players he needs and want to bring here to play with what we have. I am being cautiously optimistic but I am ready to put my faith in the Zen Master this summer.
First things first and my one criticism of your breakdown and a lot of things I have been reading/hearing lately, can we PLEASE quit it with the Justice Winslow talk? I have been watching Duke all year long and like him as a prospect. He kind of reminds me of a player who could become a Latrell Sprewell type with his head screwed on straight down the road. But he is just so raw and so not there yet and this team needs a PG or center with their first pick (especially because there are better centers/PGs than Winslow is on the wing. The Knicks will not and should not by any means draft Justice Winslow in the top 4. Only possible way I could justify it is if they trade down or get screwed into the 4th pick and Russell, Towns, and Okafor are all off the board and Phil really doesnt like Mudiay in the triangle. But even then I would be skeptical. I am intrigued by Winslow but he is just the hot topic right now and all that will die down closer to draft time. Thanks but no thanks.
The next thing is that free agency really interests me this season. Phil really needs to look at not only which players are the most talented but which players fit with what he have and which players he can see himself getting the most out of in NY in a specific role. The Knicks need a PG and a center first and foremost. One of them will be adressed in the draft and the other becomes free agency priority numero uno.
I love the idea of the Knicks drafting D'Angelo Russell to play point and then make a serious play for Gasol in free agency although I dont see Gasol coming here. Greg Monroe would be another attractive and possibly more attainable option. His old school offensive style is practically built for the triangle offense, he is a great passer, and I love that he is only 23 years old. I would consider him a top free agent option for the Knicks this summer but with Monroe comes defensive liabilities. You absolutely need a defensive minded 4 to guard the block in between Melo and Monroe or even Melo and Okafor if that happens
That creates the possible option of overpaying a player like Draymond Green. I absolutely love Draymond Greem. Warriors have been my #2 squad ever since they traded for David Lee back in 2010 and I obviously love watching them this year and seeing everything that Draymond does. sure, the only way we could possibly bring him here is to overpay and hope that Golden state doesnt match knowing they have to pay Curry again and Klay Thompson major money down the road. With Green though there are concerns. The main concern would obviously be is that he is a hustle player and I am typically wary of giving big contracts to players who make a living on hustle and defense. This has often ended very badly. I always look at Ben Wallace as the classic example. Right now, Green is on a team that he fits perfectly next to that passes the ball very well and he has the luxory of playing next to a rim protector in Bogut. Will he play as hard if he comes to NY with a big pay check? Hes a bit undersized so is he the piost defender 4 that we need to play in between Melo and Greg Monroe or Jahil Okafor?
All of these are very serious concerns, but I would be lying if I said I wasnt very intrigued by the possibility of trying to acquire Draymond Green. Especially after all the ******* **** the Warriors have stolen for us. Seriously **** them sometimes even though they are my 2nd favorite team. I mean we let David Lee walk so Im not gonna blame him for that. But Steph Curry one pick before us kills me to my very core (I was also at that draft). I also still 100% believe that Golden State doesnt even consider Steve Kerr as Head Coach unless they saw that Phil Jackson was confident enough to make him a head coaching offer. Sure you can tell me that I am wrong or ignorant about that, but I whole heartedly believe so.
But anyway my point is there are so manyways to go I am so anxious, excited, nervous, and so many other adjectives about what to come. 2010 was basically Lebron or bust and maybe a few other guys. This summer we have a top draft pick in an extremely talented draft and so many players to decide from in free agency idk what to ******* expect.
I got to go back to work but I will be back ranting in this thread throughout the rest of the season and offseason. Just felt like checking in and sharing my emotions.
Final thought that really made it hit me how interesting this summer can get was the other day when reading a BR article about 5 "under the radar" free agent options outside of the main superstars. The 5 players were Danny Green, Demarre Carroll, Tobias Harris, Khris middleton, and Robin Lopez. While I would hardly consider any of those players to be under the radar right now it just really made me think. Like I bet you that one of those players if not 2 of them will end up being Knicks next season once we likely miss out on most of the top dogs. Our primary option will probably have to be to overpay good role players like that.
Normally I would be very against overpaying role players in free agency but in this case im not. And the reason is that the Knicks will not be signing these guys to be anything more than role players. Unlike 2010, we are not looking to strike gold and expect Khris Middleton to become the face of the NY Knicks. We have Melo for that and we have a top pick for that. Those will be the frnachise centerpieces for the Knicks. Melo for the next 3-4 and then he hopefully is able to pass the torch to whomever we draft.
The reason thata rticle made me think so much is because all 5 of those players could potentially be great role players for us if they fit into and buy into the system. They all bring different things to the table that we may very well need. That is why all this is so exciting. Because none of them are even close to sure things either. All of them have the distinct possibility (as well as Draymond Green) that they just peaked on the right team during a contract year and will be a huge bust once they collect their new fancy pay check and head to NY. That is why this summer is so ******* important. I dont mind overpaying for role players, we willl have the $$ to do so and that is what the $ is for unless a Kevin Love or Marc Gasol or Greg MNonroe or Milsap decide to sign here (and they might). But we will most likely be spending our $ to figure out the best mix of second tier free agents to bring to New York and become the right combination to win basketball games around Carmelo and whomever we decide to draft.
That is why that article hit home so much with me. these guys are so hit or miss. Phil's job starts with trying to hit gold and bring the right crop of role players to New York to make all the puzzle pieces fit together, We have Melo he will be our scorer/franchise player. We need to make center/PG a priority in the draft and first and foremost in free agency. But beyond that the most difficult/strategic part of the summer will be finding the right crop of role players to make everything work. Guys who keep the ball moving. Guys who play defense. Guys who hustle. Guys who rebound. Guys who hit from outside. Etc. Etc.
My point is that while the draft is huge and we rightfully should be worried about who we will be taking, the little moves will make or break the Knicks this summer and see how savvy of a General Manager Phil Jackson really is. And if he really knows what makes winning teams as much as he says he does/should, I trust him to make the right moves at the right time.
I'm saying doe, I want a quality player. The first couple projected picks are inter-changeable IMO so let's not get caught up in numbers. Admittedly, I don't watch a lot of college hoops but read about players. What I saw from Okafor vs what I've heard about him left me with a meh feeling. I hope we draft a big tho..
