First preseason game is Wednesday night so it's time for a new thread.
We're all back for another year of Knicks basketball! 2015 was one of the bleakest years in franchise history. We hit the reset button, tried to tank, then screwed it up the last week of the regular season and wound up out of the Top 3 come draft night. Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise, we'll have to wait a few years to determine that.
Phil had his first full off season and didn't make any huge signings in FA but it became clear that there's a theme, a blueprint and a method to what he's trying to do. He brought in...
Robin Lopez (4 yr, $54M)
Aaron Afflalo (2 yr, $16M with PO after one year)
Kyle O'Quinn (4 yr, $16M)
Kevin Seraphin (1 yr, $2.8)
Derrick Williams (2 yr, $8.8M)
Plus Sasha Vujacic was brought back from the dead at about $1M for 1 year.
Derrick Williams was the signing that raised eyebrows and doesn't seem to fit in with Phil's plan but he's allowed to take a flier here and there. The other four are solid players without huge egos, motivation problems or giant holes in their game.
Other new additions are our two first rounders, Kristaps Porzingis and Jerian Grant. Porzingis was a very controversial pick that most fans seemed to have already come around on while the Grant pick was universally approved especially since we swapped him straight up for Tim Hardaway Jr.
I won't bother listing the subtractions since it was essentially a list of D-Leaguers.
Projected 2016 Lineup
PG: Calderon/Grant
SG: Afflalo/Galloway/Sasha
SF: Melo/Early/Thanasis/Thomas
PF: Porzingis/O'Quinn/Admundson
C: Lopez/Seraphin
Not the greatest collection of talent but at this point we know it's about the distant future, regardless of if Melo or Phil want to admit that. It's already about Porzingis and Grant and hoping we can build around them over the next several years. We are 27th in salary right now plus the huge cap increase next year means we'll have all the money we need to throw at FA's.
As for this year though, it seems like it'll be another trip to the lottery.
Some story lines to keep an eye on:
What are all your thoughts going into the season? Other areas of the team you're keeping your eye?
We're all back for another year of Knicks basketball! 2015 was one of the bleakest years in franchise history. We hit the reset button, tried to tank, then screwed it up the last week of the regular season and wound up out of the Top 3 come draft night. Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise, we'll have to wait a few years to determine that.
Phil had his first full off season and didn't make any huge signings in FA but it became clear that there's a theme, a blueprint and a method to what he's trying to do. He brought in...
Robin Lopez (4 yr, $54M)
Aaron Afflalo (2 yr, $16M with PO after one year)
Kyle O'Quinn (4 yr, $16M)
Kevin Seraphin (1 yr, $2.8)
Derrick Williams (2 yr, $8.8M)
Plus Sasha Vujacic was brought back from the dead at about $1M for 1 year.
Derrick Williams was the signing that raised eyebrows and doesn't seem to fit in with Phil's plan but he's allowed to take a flier here and there. The other four are solid players without huge egos, motivation problems or giant holes in their game.
Other new additions are our two first rounders, Kristaps Porzingis and Jerian Grant. Porzingis was a very controversial pick that most fans seemed to have already come around on while the Grant pick was universally approved especially since we swapped him straight up for Tim Hardaway Jr.
I won't bother listing the subtractions since it was essentially a list of D-Leaguers.
Projected 2016 Lineup
PG: Calderon/Grant
SG: Afflalo/Galloway/Sasha
SF: Melo/Early/Thanasis/Thomas
PF: Porzingis/O'Quinn/Admundson
C: Lopez/Seraphin
Not the greatest collection of talent but at this point we know it's about the distant future, regardless of if Melo or Phil want to admit that. It's already about Porzingis and Grant and hoping we can build around them over the next several years. We are 27th in salary right now plus the huge cap increase next year means we'll have all the money we need to throw at FA's.
As for this year though, it seems like it'll be another trip to the lottery.
Some story lines to keep an eye on:
- The PG position. Calderon is old, a poor defender and was never healthy last year. Will he be our starter? Grant will need time to adjust to NBA ball and Galloway simply isn't a point guard IMO.
- Porzingis - seems like he'll play about 20 MPG. Our highest draft pick since Ewing, naturally all eyes will be on him.
- Melo's return from surgery, plus how much will he play the 4?
- O'Quinn getting a shot a bigger role on a new team.
- Who will be our #2? Afflalo is the the likely answer, which isn't good if you're aiming to make the playoffs.
What are all your thoughts going into the season? Other areas of the team you're keeping your eye?
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