RIP Championship aspiration Knicks
10AM February 8th, 2024, - 2PM February 8th 2024
The Knicks are now a real contender. They picked up great defense and solid reliable offense
I’m thinking the Kings PLAYERS know who they want to be, and the Kings COACHES know who they want the team to be, but the two VISIONS are not the same, which is creating rifts and morale problems.
A lot of hard work for our support group.So 74 pages to this thread essentially for what..
Eh, nah.
They're very good, they're not Boston/LAC/DEN/Minny/OKC good though. Could probably put them in front of CLE and MIL (maybe?), but I wouldn't be surprised at all if either of those teams beat NYK in the playoffs. And I'd be stunned if BOS loses to anybody.
Props to them for going for it, but they better make some magic happen this season:
-All their youth (RJ/Quickley/Grimes) went out in these trades
Hartenstein is a UFA and with Mitch Rob already locked into the next 2 seasons, hard to see them pay him. Dude is a stud (as I said 2 years ago)
-OG is very likely headed for a max type contract.
-Burks a UFA
-Achiuwa is a RFA, with all the GTD money they have on the books, hard to see how the keep him if he gets any sort of starting caliber offer. He's been good for them.
Still, I like Brunson/DDV/OG/Randle/Hart as a core. But we'll see if they can keep any of this depth too.
they also have like 7 or 8 first round picks to dangle.
Really? Dang. And they have their two best players making a combined 55 million or so next season. I think they might not be done adding. This summer they could easily use those picks and salary filler in the form of Hart/Robinson to add something else to it. Paying OG max would hurt but that gives them a legit run next season to push as far as they can. They've also never appeared to be in love with Randle so who knows what a deal of Randle could bring back this summer on top of it.
Thank you... great post and thoughtful as always. I'm frustrated that we didn't at least make a few tweaks around the edges, but agree Monte overall has the right approach. Had they made a more meaningful move in the offseason I might be less antsy, but need to consider the long term plan.I’m totally fine with McNair’s decision to stay as is (all things considered).
The focus should and needs to be on the long term goal. Sabonis is 27, Fox is 26, Monk is 26, Huerter is 25, and Murray is 23. This core has a longer window than many on this forum seem to think. McNair said it himself last year that growth is not always linear. When you understand that reality, it helps you avoid knee jerk reactions and making moves out of desperation (which usually don’t work out in your favor).
I’ve made this point before but I’ll make it again now….the Kings (as currently constructed) are not a contender. If the goal is in fact to one day become a contender, you must ask yourself what is the team lacking to get to that level? From my perspective, we’re missing a true #2 option.
Sabonis is a great player but he’s not someone who’s going to enforce his will from a scoring perspective like a Embiid, Jokic, etc. Don’t get me wrong. He’s a very solid scorer but I think his game is perfect for that 3rd scorer/playmaker role as he naturally looks to setup others and has known scoring limitations/weaknesses that defenses can try and exploit.
Perhaps some posters here think that simply improving the defense would be enough to catapult us into contender status. While that’s certainly important, we’re not going to be a true contender without that 2nd star/go-to option who can help Fox when defenses clamp down in the playoffs. For example, a team of…
PG - Fox
SG - O’Neale
SF - Murray
PF - Finney-Smith
C - Sabonis
6MAN - Monk
…would be much better defensively than it is today but that team is still not a contender. Again, we need a legit #2 option to potentially enter the conversation. And the fit of that #2 option, the quality of the complementary pieces, and the level of defense around Fox, Sabonis, and that #2 option will ultimately decide if that becomes a reality.
The convenient path to get there would be for Murray to develop into that #2 option. And that is certainly a possibility with how much he continues to improve. However, he’s obviously not that player today hence why we’re not considered contenders.
The plan should be to allow our 1st to convey to ATL (should be this year) which then frees up all of our 1sts again in a trade starting in the 2024 off-season. Then it would just be about monitoring Murray’s development at that point. If he continues to develop and we feel confident he will reach that #2 star level, then you can move those picks for other complementary pieces (or draft those complementary pieces). If his development starts to plateau, then you have Murray and/or a bunch of picks to dangle as a trade package for a 2nd star.
The way the Kings are setup currently, patience is key. I totally understand McNair wanting to hold onto as many assets as possible until you know Murray can become that player. It wouldn’t really be wise to surrender those assets in the short term for complementary pieces when you don’t yet know that you even have the necessary firepower at the top of your roster to be a contender. Those assets need to be saved in case Murray doesn’t reach that level. Watching Keegan in year 3 may be the last data point McNair is waiting on before making a big move.
I’m totally fine with McNair’s decision to stay as is (all things considered).
The focus should and needs to be on the long term goal. Sabonis is 27, Fox is 26, Monk is 26, Huerter is 25, and Murray is 23. This core has a longer window than many on this forum seem to think. McNair said it himself last year that growth is not always linear. When you understand that reality, it helps you avoid knee jerk reactions and making moves out of desperation (which usually don’t work out in your favor).
I’ve made this point before but I’ll make it again now….the Kings (as currently constructed) are not a contender. If the goal is in fact to one day become a contender, you must ask yourself what is the team lacking to get to that level? From my perspective, we’re missing a true #2 option.
Sabonis is a great player but he’s not someone who’s going to enforce his will from a scoring perspective like a Embiid, Jokic, etc. Don’t get me wrong. He’s a very solid scorer but I think his game is perfect for that 3rd scorer/playmaker role as he naturally looks to setup others and has known scoring limitations/weaknesses that defenses can try and exploit.
Perhaps some posters here think that simply improving the defense would be enough to catapult us into contender status. While that’s certainly important, we’re not going to be a true contender without that 2nd star/go-to option who can help Fox when defenses clamp down in the playoffs. For example, a team of…
PG - Fox
SG - O’Neale
SF - Murray
PF - Finney-Smith
C - Sabonis
6MAN - Monk
…would be much better defensively than it is today but that team is still not a contender. Again, we need a legit #2 option to potentially enter the conversation. And the fit of that #2 option, the quality of the complementary pieces, and the level of defense around Fox, Sabonis, and that #2 option will ultimately decide if that becomes a reality.
The convenient path to get there would be for Murray to develop into that #2 option. And that is certainly a possibility with how much he continues to improve. However, he’s obviously not that player today hence why we’re not considered contenders.
The plan should be to allow our 1st to convey to ATL (should be this year) which then frees up all of our 1sts again in a trade starting in the 2024 off-season. Then it would just be about monitoring Murray’s development at that point. If he continues to develop and we feel confident he will reach that #2 star level, then you can move those picks for other complementary pieces (or draft those complementary pieces). If his development starts to plateau, then you have Murray and/or a bunch of picks to dangle as a trade package for a 2nd star.
The way the Kings are setup currently, patience is key. I totally understand McNair wanting to hold onto as many assets as possible until you know Murray can become that player. It wouldn’t really be wise to surrender those assets in the short term for complementary pieces when you don’t yet know that you even have the necessary firepower at the top of your roster to be a contender. Those assets need to be saved in case Murray doesn’t reach that level. Watching Keegan in year 3 may be the last data point McNair is waiting on before making a big move.
I’m totally fine with McNair’s decision to stay as is (all things considered).
The focus should and needs to be on the long term goal. Sabonis is 27, Fox is 26, Monk is 26, Huerter is 25, and Murray is 23. This core has a longer window than many on this forum seem to think. McNair said it himself last year that growth is not always linear. When you understand that reality, it helps you avoid knee jerk reactions and making moves out of desperation (which usually don’t work out in your favor).
I’ve made this point before but I’ll make it again now….the Kings (as currently constructed) are not a contender. If the goal is in fact to one day become a contender, you must ask yourself what is the team lacking to get to that level? From my perspective, we’re missing a true #2 option.
Sabonis is a great player but he’s not someone who’s going to enforce his will from a scoring perspective like a Embiid, Jokic, etc. Don’t get me wrong. He’s a very solid scorer but I think his game is perfect for that 3rd scorer/playmaker role as he naturally looks to setup others and has known scoring limitations/weaknesses that defenses can try and exploit.
Perhaps some posters here think that simply improving the defense would be enough to catapult us into contender status. While that’s certainly important, we’re not going to be a true contender without that 2nd star/go-to option who can help Fox when defenses clamp down in the playoffs. For example, a team of…
PG - Fox
SG - O’Neale
SF - Murray
PF - Finney-Smith
C - Sabonis
6MAN - Monk
…would be much better defensively than it is today but that team is still not a contender. Again, we need a legit #2 option to potentially enter the conversation. And the fit of that #2 option, the quality of the complementary pieces, and the level of defense around Fox, Sabonis, and that #2 option will ultimately decide if that becomes a reality.
The convenient path to get there would be for Murray to develop into that #2 option. And that is certainly a possibility with how much he continues to improve. However, he’s obviously not that player today hence why we’re not considered contenders.
The plan should be to allow our 1st to convey to ATL (should be this year) which then frees up all of our 1sts again in a trade starting in the 2024 off-season. Then it would just be about monitoring Murray’s development at that point. If he continues to develop and we feel confident he will reach that #2 star level, then you can move those picks for other complementary pieces (or draft those complementary pieces). If his development starts to plateau, then you have Murray and/or a bunch of picks to dangle as a trade package for a 2nd star.
The way the Kings are setup currently, patience is key. I totally understand McNair wanting to hold onto as many assets as possible until you know Murray can become that player. It wouldn’t really be wise to surrender those assets in the short term for complementary pieces when you don’t yet know that you even have the necessary firepower at the top of your roster to be a contender. Those assets need to be saved in case Murray doesn’t reach that level. Watching Keegan in year 3 may be the last data point McNair is waiting on before making that final decision.
The Knicks and Kings started to rise at the same time. The Knicks just surged beyond that barrier both teams are facing in their stage of development probably. Dang.
The report was OG Anunoby didn't want to come to Sacramento. What are we gonna do? Sacramento and NYC about as far apart as you can get in terms of "life outside basketball" and that plays a big role in who does and (more typically) who does not want to go there.
I’m totally fine with McNair’s decision to stay as is (all things considered).
The focus should and needs to be on the long term goal. Sabonis is 27, Fox is 26, Monk is 26, Huerter is 25, and Murray is 23. This core has a longer window than many on this forum seem to think. McNair said it himself last year that growth is not always linear. When you understand that reality, it helps you avoid knee jerk reactions and making moves out of desperation (which usually don’t work out in your favor).
I’ve made this point before but I’ll make it again now….the Kings (as currently constructed) are not a contender. If the goal is in fact to one day become a contender, you must ask yourself what is the team lacking to get to that level? From my perspective, we’re missing a true #2 option.
Sabonis is a great player but he’s not someone who’s going to enforce his will from a scoring perspective like a Embiid, Jokic, etc. Don’t get me wrong. He’s a very solid scorer but I think his game is perfect for that 3rd scorer/playmaker role as he naturally looks to setup others and has known scoring limitations/weaknesses that defenses can try and exploit.
Perhaps some posters here think that simply improving the defense would be enough to catapult us into contender status. While that’s certainly important, we’re not going to be a true contender without that 2nd star/go-to option who can help Fox when defenses clamp down in the playoffs. For example, a team of…
PG - Fox
SG - O’Neale
SF - Murray
PF - Finney-Smith
C - Sabonis
6MAN - Monk
…would be much better defensively than it is today but that team is still not a contender. Again, we need a legit #2 option to potentially enter the conversation. And the fit of that #2 option, the quality of the complementary pieces, and the level of defense around Fox, Sabonis, and that #2 option will ultimately decide if that becomes a reality.
The convenient path to get there would be for Murray to develop into that #2 option. And that is certainly a possibility with how much he continues to improve. However, he’s obviously not that player today hence why we’re not considered contenders.
The plan should be to allow our 1st to convey to ATL (should be this year) which then frees up all of our 1sts again in a trade starting in the 2024 off-season. Then it would just be about monitoring Murray’s development at that point. If he continues to develop and we feel confident he will reach that #2 star level, then you can move those picks for other complementary pieces (or draft those complementary pieces). If his development starts to plateau, then you have Murray and/or a bunch of picks to dangle as a trade package for a 2nd star.
The way the Kings are setup currently, patience is key. I totally understand McNair wanting to hold onto as many assets as possible until you know Murray can become that player. It wouldn’t really be wise to surrender those assets in the short term for complementary pieces when you don’t yet know that you even have the necessary firepower at the top of your roster to be a contender. Those assets need to be saved in case Murray doesn’t reach that level. Watching Keegan in year 3 may be the last data point McNair is waiting on before making that final decision.
I’m totally fine with McNair’s decision to stay as is (all things considered).
The focus should and needs to be on the long term goal. Sabonis is 27, Fox is 26, Monk is 26, Huerter is 25, and Murray is 23. This core has a longer window than many on this forum seem to think. McNair said it himself last year that growth is not always linear. When you understand that reality, it helps you avoid knee jerk reactions and making moves out of desperation (which usually don’t work out in your favor).
I’ve made this point before but I’ll make it again now….the Kings (as currently constructed) are not a contender. If the goal is in fact to one day become a contender, you must ask yourself what is the team lacking to get to that level? From my perspective, we’re missing a true #2 option.
Sabonis is a great player but he’s not someone who’s going to enforce his will from a scoring perspective like a Embiid, Jokic, etc. Don’t get me wrong. He’s a very solid scorer but I think his game is perfect for that 3rd scorer/playmaker role as he naturally looks to setup others and has known scoring limitations/weaknesses that defenses can try and exploit.
Perhaps some posters here think that simply improving the defense would be enough to catapult us into contender status. While that’s certainly important, we’re not going to be a true contender without that 2nd star/go-to option who can help Fox when defenses clamp down in the playoffs. For example, a team of…
PG - Fox
SG - O’Neale
SF - Murray
PF - Finney-Smith
C - Sabonis
6MAN - Monk
…would be much better defensively than it is today but that team is still not a contender. Again, we need a legit #2 option to potentially enter the conversation. And the fit of that #2 option, the quality of the complementary pieces, and the level of defense around Fox, Sabonis, and that #2 option will ultimately decide if that becomes a reality.
The convenient path to get there would be for Murray to develop into that #2 option. And that is certainly a possibility with how much he continues to improve. However, he’s obviously not that player today hence why we’re not considered contenders.
The plan should be to allow our 1st to convey to ATL (should be this year) which then frees up all of our 1sts again in a trade starting in the 2024 off-season. Then it would just be about monitoring Murray’s development at that point. If he continues to develop and we feel confident he will reach that #2 star level, then you can move those picks for other complementary pieces (or draft those complementary pieces). If his development starts to plateau, then you have Murray and/or a bunch of picks to dangle as a trade package for a 2nd star.
The way the Kings are setup currently, patience is key. I totally understand McNair wanting to hold onto as many assets as possible until you know Murray can become that player. It wouldn’t really be wise to surrender those assets in the short term for complementary pieces when you don’t yet know that you even have the necessary firepower at the top of your roster to be a contender. Those assets need to be saved in case Murray doesn’t reach that level. Watching Keegan in year 3 may be the last data point McNair is waiting on before making that final decision.
James Bouknight was released. I remember a poster since departed who was all on that train...
Somewhere kb02 is yelling at his screen reading this. IYKYKJames Bouknight was released. I remember a poster since departed who was all on that train...
It does seem to align with what we’ve been seeing and hearing. This has the feel of a n established youth group led by an adult trying to take them in a different direction the next year without their buy-in. I don’t see a strong sense of ownership of this new defense-focused direction from most of the players, with the exception of Domas (who was raised in a different culture) and Trey (who looks up to Domas).Interesting opinion. I've heard a few different times in the media that originally some of the Kings' players thought they could win without defense. It makes you wonder who those players are and whether they still believe it.
Now I get the feeling that some of these guys are more like adolescents - they know that they should play defense and they even talk about playing it, but deep down they want to try to cheat on the principle of defense and still win, trying to have their cake and eat it too. So they keep trying to cheat, get caught cheating (by losing), get embarrassed, play some defense for a while, go into the denial stage, and then they start the whole cycle again by cheating. It's very immature. . There are no shortcuts. Eventually, either the immature players have to grow up or there has to be some major changes made to personnel.
It does seem to align with what we’ve been seeing and hearing. This has the feel of a n established youth group led by an adult trying to take them in a different direction the next year without their buy-in. I don’t see a strong sense of ownership of this new defense-focused direction from most of the players, with the exception of Domas (who was raised in a different culture) and Trey (who looks up to Domas).
“It's not the destination, it's the journey.”So 74 pages to this thread essentially for what..