The 2022 New York Knicks: Kemba Comes Home

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: The 2022 New York Knicks: Kemba Comes Home

I don't know how much deeper next year's class is going to be but there will definitely be talent there at 11 for us should we stay put.

If Ivey falls out of the top 4 I think you do what ever you can to move up to get him. Otherwise, at least one of Dyson Daniels, Bennedict Mathurin, Johnny Davis, Jalen Duren, or Malachi Branham should be there and I'd be content.

This seems like the type of draft to have someone really hit at around the 10-13 range and become a star. We need to move off some of these vets, though, to free up some minutes for other guys.

Can’t see Benn or Davis falling to 11.

Daniels wouldn’t see the floor.

Duren? Not sure what his role would be in this Randle-clogging offense.

I like Ivey but not enough to trade up for him. Would cost too much IMO.

I don’t think there’s a star in this entire draft outside of Jabari. Pure role players who can develop over time after the Top 5-8 or so.

I like Dieng but again what would his role be. I’d trade down to get him.

I also like Daniels but I hate what our coach would do to him.

[Hassan Darkside]

Re: The 2022 New York Knicks: Kemba Comes Home

Duren would be the pick only if we decided we weren't going to retain Mitch.

Every year there's some consensus mock top 10 player that slides down the board or some player that a team falls in love with and reaches for.

I like Dieng's potential too and he might work as a guy who isn't thrown into action immediately and has a chance to learn the game and be ready to play in 2 years or so.

Bigger picture, the team needs to figure out what they're doing. As long as Thibs is here his goal is going to be to win games, and he'll always believe his 32 year old pet cat is better suited to do that than a 20 year old rookie. If the Front Office doesn't want that to happen, they need to start moving his pet cats.

I honestly could see 11 being packaged with some other assets to get a guy in a consolidation type move.

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: The 2022 New York Knicks: Kemba Comes Home

I really like Bryce McGowens

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: The 2022 New York Knicks: Kemba Comes Home

I don’t know why but I’ve fully bought into the Shaedon Sharpe hype. Probably FOMO from Darius Garland.

[Jeffx]

Re: The 2022 New York Knicks: Kemba Comes Home

Bigger picture, the team needs to figure out what they're doing.

How long have we been saying that about the Knicks organization?

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: The 2022 New York Knicks: Kemba Comes Home

How long have we been saying that about the Knicks organization?

They’ve drafted well in recent years. Free agency on the other hand has been a disaster.

Looks like we’re in prime position to just miss out on top prospects in this coming draft. Love those late season pushes we make every single year after we’ve been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.

[bigeastbumrush]

The 2022 New York Knicks: Kemba Comes Home

Everyone is saying we are locked in for SG Malaki Branham.

Looks like a bigger bodied Khris Middleton.

Edit- He reminds me of Joe Johnson

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: The 2022 New York Knicks: Kemba Comes Home

Drafting is something this front office has done pretty well so I’m hoping that continues and I can just trust whoever they pick. I like Branham from what I’ve heard.

[ehh]

Re: The 2022 New York Knicks: Kemba Comes Home

Everyone is saying we are locked in for SG Malaki Branham.

Looks good to me at #11.

I'd just like these silly rumors to die down about us sending Randle + other assets to the Kings for #4.

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: The 2022 New York Knicks: Kemba Comes Home

I’m reading Blood in the Garden and in the chapter I’m in now, the Knicks were on a 4 game losing streak, so Pat the Rat took the guys to Reno and spread 10k of his own money out for them to go gamble…he then got mad when he sent in the expense report and there was a delay in him being repaid because people at the team weren’t sure how to expense it to Paramount.

Then Dave Checketts wife wanted to get a new car so she asked Dave what color he’d be okay with. Dave didn’t care so when she said green, he was like whatever. The rat vetoed it because it was Celtics colors. Then she wanted a red one, and the rat vetoed it because they were Bulls colors. Dave told his wife “you better not come home with anything other than a blue one”. [emoji23] This guy was such a nut I have to respect the level of insanity he was ready to go to.

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: The 2022 New York Knicks: Kemba Comes Home

Riley was the greatest thing to happen to this franchise in my lifetime (aside from drafting Ewing).

Funny, I never viewed him as a rat. Didn’t understand everything at my age at the time but could tell it was just bad business on both sides.

He’s wired differently.

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: The 2022 New York Knicks: Kemba Comes Home

When people leave amicably I’m fine with it. The way he left and who he left to was just gross. Negotiating in the middle of a playoff series that we would end up losing is awful too, it’s one thing for an assistant coach, imagine in the middle of the Finals Kerr agreed to coach the Hornets, it’s insane.

The odd thing with him is I almost never believe when people say something isn’t about money, but I really do think he wanted more control, and as we know the only way to really secure yourself in a lot of places is to make yourself too expensive to get rid of. He was never going to get ownership shares but they should’ve made him president. Hard to argue against that given the people being protected didn’t make it another few years in those roles.

[Hassan Darkside]

Re: The 2022 New York Knicks: Kemba Comes Home

Here's my draft board hopes for the Knicks based on how I'd react:

Immanuel Quickley griddy down the court:
Jaden Ivey - This is one of the few times I'm all for trading up. I think he would pair well with the other guards we have and could develop into a primary option. Not sure RJ is consistently that on a playoff team.

Obi Toppin stare and smile
Bennedict Mathurin - I've made my peace with us not getting him, but would be thrilled if we somehow managed to.
Dyson Daniels - The only other guard that makes sense for us and probably fits into the current team construction. Can play and guard multiple positions, can play make, plays hard, shot form looks ok but needs some tweaking. I feel like there's a good chance some team trades up and snags him, though.

RJ Barrett nod of approval:
AJ Griffin - Durability concerns me but seems like the type of player that scouts over-critique and he slides for no great reason. Can spot shoot, create for self, cut off ball, and has the size to be able to guard 2-4, and is athletic. Not a great defender but he'll quickly learn he won't get on the court for Thibs if he doesn't put forth the effort.

Johnny Davis - Can't quite figure out how I feel about him but seems like a player that could have a sneaky high ceiling. He should fit into a 3-and-D role early in career but has a level of offensive skill that could make him a 20 PPG scorer at some point.

Malaki Branham - He's similar to Davis to me but minus the defensive effort and consistency. Should have a lot of potential as a 19 year old.

Jalen Williams - Only in a trade-down scenario.

Tom Thibodeau emotionless stare:
Jeremy Sochan - I just am not with the hype. Could be a good role player but I don't see him with a high ceiling. I see him as maybe a glue guy in the league.

Jalen Duren/Mark Williams - I'm not convinced big men that can't shoot threes are worth lottery picks. I'd be okay with either as they would fill a need, but not thrilled to have them.

Tari Eason - The hype around him has waxed and waned. Should be an okay role player.

Julius Randle thumbs down:
TyTy Washington - Drafting IQ, Deuce, and then TyTy in three straight years feels like trying to convince yourself that three quarters is pretty much 1 dollar. At some point you gotta just get a damn dollar.

Ousmane Dieng - The "2 years away from being 2 years away" prospect this year. If we were in straight rebuild mode, then maybe.

Ochai Agbaji - Feels like a slightly more athletic Quentin Grimes that wouldn't move the needle at all


My guess is that there's virtually no chance we pick at 11. We either trade up or trade for some other "win now" player and maybe a lower pick. I doubt Randle gets moved and think it's more likely IQ gets moved in a trade up scenario.

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: The 2022 New York Knicks: Kemba Comes Home

When people leave amicably I’m fine with it. The way he left and who he left to was just gross. Negotiating in the middle of a playoff series that we would end up losing is awful too, it’s one thing for an assistant coach, imagine in the middle of the Finals Kerr agreed to coach the Hornets, it’s insane.

The odd thing with him is I almost never believe when people say something isn’t about money, but I really do think he wanted more control, and as we know the only way to really secure yourself in a lot of places is to make yourself too expensive to get rid of. He was never going to get ownership shares but they should’ve made him president. Hard to argue against that given the people being protected didn’t make it another few years in those roles.

The problem is we never know what’s going on behind the scenes.

This was peak power hungry Dolan years where he was interfering in everything.

Riley had the accomplishments to ask for more. I don’t know all the details but I’m on his side.

Regardless of the sport, the elite coaches are just cut differently. Their ways work. He proved it while he was here, before he was here, and after he left. That is just undeniable.

You bring up Kerr as an example but do you think Warriors ownership ever dicked the guy around? No. They’ve given him everything he’s ever asked for because he has proven himself with results.

Riley deserved the same treatment. That’s just what it is.

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: The 2022 New York Knicks: Kemba Comes Home

Here's my draft board hopes for the Knicks based on how I'd react:

Immanuel Quickley griddy down the court:
Jaden Ivey - This is one of the few times I'm all for trading up. I think he would pair well with the other guards we have and could develop into a primary option. Not sure RJ is consistently that on a playoff team.

Obi Toppin stare and smile
Bennedict Mathurin - I've made my peace with us not getting him, but would be thrilled if we somehow managed to.
Dyson Daniels - The only other guard that makes sense for us and probably fits into the current team construction. Can play and guard multiple positions, can play make, plays hard, shot form looks ok but needs some tweaking. I feel like there's a good chance some team trades up and snags him, though.

RJ Barrett nod of approval:
AJ Griffin - Durability concerns me but seems like the type of player that scouts over-critique and he slides for no great reason. Can spot shoot, create for self, cut off ball, and has the size to be able to guard 2-4, and is athletic. Not a great defender but he'll quickly learn he won't get on the court for Thibs if he doesn't put forth the effort.

Johnny Davis - Can't quite figure out how I feel about him but seems like a player that could have a sneaky high ceiling. He should fit into a 3-and-D role early in career but has a level of offensive skill that could make him a 20 PPG scorer at some point.

Malaki Branham - He's similar to Davis to me but minus the defensive effort and consistency. Should have a lot of potential as a 19 year old.

Jalen Williams - Only in a trade-down scenario.

Tom Thibodeau emotionless stare:
Jeremy Sochan - I just am not with the hype. Could be a good role player but I don't see him with a high ceiling. I see him as maybe a glue guy in the league.

Jalen Duren/Mark Williams - I'm not convinced big men that can't shoot threes are worth lottery picks. I'd be okay with either as they would fill a need, but not thrilled to have them.

Tari Eason - The hype around him has waxed and waned. Should be an okay role player.

Julius Ranlde thumbs down:
TyTy Washington - Drafting IQ, Deuce, and then TyTy in three straight years feels like trying to convince yourself that three quarters is pretty much 1 dollar. At some point you gotta just get a damn dollar.

Ousmane Dieng - The "2 years away from being 2 years away" prospect this year. If we were in straight rebuild mode, then maybe.

Ochai Agbaji - Feels like a slightly more athletic Quentin Grimes that wouldn't move the needle at all


My guess is that there's virtually no chance we pick at 11. We either trade up or trade for some other "win now" player and maybe a lower pick. I doubt Randle gets moved and think it's more likely IQ gets moved in a trade up scenario.

Excellent.

My preferences in order regardless even if it’s reality or not:

1. Ivey- trade #11, next year’s 1st, Reddish and yes, even IQ. I don’t care at this point.

2. Daniels- Lonzo Ball/LaMelo Ball hybrid

3. Branham- trade Fournier for a bag of croissants and start this kid from Day 1

My do not want list:
1. AJ Griffin- just don’t believe he can stay healthy nor do I believe he’s big time

2. Johnny Davis- was very high on him but it has waned tremendously

3. Schoan- no explanation needed

4. Duren/Williams- just re-sign Mitch and stop being cute

My I’m done with this franchise forever list:
1. They trade #11 for Brogdan