Westbrook traded for Wall

 Hollinger claims that the next shoe to drop will be a Harden trade.

The clear message Houston has sent to the Nets is that Irving is not an acceptable Harden trade component.  In other words, we (Houston) may have to trade Harden but you (the Nets) can choke on the chemistry.

Dust Still Settling

I wanted to wait until the roster took a final form before attempting to evaluate what the team now looks like.  There may yet be changes but...

Some general observations that we can make are as follows.

The Knicks are serious about development.

The Knicks haven't kicked anyone to the side.  Randall, Payton, Knox, and DSJ are still here.  This a mixed blessing.  Teams that stay together jell together more quickly with time. Somebody will prove their worth and others will follow their bliss elsewhere.

There is a LOT of uncertainty as to who will play and who will sit at the guard and swing positions.

The frontcourt has taken on a much more defined profile.  Robinson and Noel will hold down the center spot and Obi and Randall will lock down the PF position.  This is a very healthy development in terms of potential playing time and confidence.  

IMO, this is an upgrade from last year.  Robinson is that much further down the road and Noel a younger, competent center backup.
Obi will be a beast and seeing less of Randall a good thing.

The Knicks are rich in picks.

The backbreaking truth is that this may be another unwatchable season in hell.  The lure of over-the-horizon talent has become like heroin to every front-office in recent memory.  This team will likely lose a LOT of games.

Time will tell.

Post-2020 Draft Analysis

 In numerous Knicks forum discussions I pointed out that the Knicks were no longer in an initial rebuild process.  I think many pundits like to assume that because the FO had a wholesale turnover that the Knicks were yet again starting from scratch.

That simply isn't true.  The rebuild started with Phil Jackson as one of two concurrent attempts to upright the franchise (the other being Melogate).

Coming into this season, the Knicks were well down the road from those initial rebuild attempts. And in looking at a likely second act, I (and others) noted that it would come as no surprise that the new regime might draft more mature talent in this draft.

And that's what they did. Obi Toppin is a plug-and-play future star.

Immanuel Quickly is almost assuredly an off-the-bench rotation option.

Time will tell but the Knicks drafted well.

I do regret that Devin Vassell could not somehow have been acquired - he being my personal choice at 8.

Misunderstanding Thibs

 The meme that just can't stop circulating is "Thibs wants to WIN NOW!"

Nothing could be further from the truth.  Thibs is a coach who ALWAYS wants to win.  There's nothing special about now.

2020 Draft Day

Knicks now only have 2 picks (27 and 38 to Jazz for 23) - 8 and 23...

Toppin and Terry?  

Westbrook?

Update: Most pundits are predicting Charlotte will get Westbrook but I'm thinking the opposite.

Randall is a better get for Houston who just traded Covington than Batum.

Houston would have no use for an expensive Rozier contract after acquiring Dinwiddie from the Nets. AND  Jordan is sounding as if he wants to draft Ball somehow.  

In fact Randall complements Allen.

I think Westbrook to Charlotte is an exagerrated rumor.

Right now it sounds as if Westbrook may wind up in Charlotte.

Should the Knicks be inquiring about Devonte Graham?  Seems like he's odd man out if Westbrook is a done deal.

I'm Relieved

Chris Paul to the Suns...

likely means no Melo

Thank god.

11/16 11:55 Update: Covington to Portland - that means the Melo return is still possible. 

11/17 morning Update - with the moves the Bucks have made to kep Giannis we don't have to listen to a season's worth of "sign Giannis" fantasy 

Thibodeau's Wild West Show?

The most sensational pre-draft rumor involves Russell Westbrook being traded to the Knicks for at least Julius Randal and a draft pick of unknown Knicks origin.

Westbrook wants out of Houston and there are only two plausible destinations; New York and Charlotte. 

New York offers a short, reasonable contract in Randle and lots of freed-up cap space.

Charlotte's deal almost inevitably involve's Houston assuming at least Terry Rozier's long, expensive contract.

The clock is ticking.  However, this kind of major transaction absolutely affects who gets drafted at 8.

If Westbrook is NY's PG w/Ntilikina as second wave then Haliburton and Vassell provide tempting candidates at 8 and both will be available there.

Secondly, if Westbrook is PG then 8 could well be trade bait for a rotation player to complement him.

The plot thickens.

What We Know Right Now

The Knicks are operating under the following assumptions:

Players currently under contract: Randle, RJ, Ntilikina, Mitchell Robinson, DSJ, Knox and some minor contracts.

Players whose options may or may not be resigned: Portis, Gibson, Ellington, Payton, Bullock

Free agents: Dotson, Harkless

2020 picks: 8, 27, 38

Many future picks.

Potential Cap space: Portis, Gibson, Ellington, Payton, Bullock, Dotson, Harkless

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Trades for expensive players therefore simply require moving any one of the players currently under contract and simply absorb the rest of the incoming contract.

Welcome Elba Immigrants

 I need to get back to maintaining this sucker.  You are all welcome to join.

Meanwhile check out the Strickland podcast with Hahn; https://www.thestrick.land/podcasts/zsj5kw9rgy1ptgnjsf5zv1bo7fig57