Alright yall, I'm finally feeling antsy about basketball again and figure I'll take a quick stab at offseason goals and strategy. With the lottery undecided and players still rocking; a lot is up in the air. So this is heavy speculation and this one is focused entirely on FA's which at least feel more realistic. I'm also trying to pick draft picks that being mocked consistently around our selection spot, so LaMelo Ball is the wishful scenario but I'm working with the sixth pick and he won't be there.
Anyway, let's start with the current roster. A lot of players are expiring or on options that I suspect we let go. Beyond those guys, I think Julius Randle will be shopped. There's a safe core of players, a group I think we're likely to give another year audition and then vets that I could see being brought back.
Safe core:
RJ Barrett
Mitchell Robinson
Likely Keep:
Frank Ntilikina
Ignas Brazdeikis
Kenny Wooten
Kevin Knox
Vets:
Reggie Bullock
Taj Gibson
I'd also offer the 2 million dollar QO to Damyean Dotson. I'm not sure what the interest will be in him and I suspect we'll be drafting a wing plus I intend to sign one. But for this hypothetical set up, I'm making room for Dot as a third in line at both wing spots. So the team looks something like this until we add draft picks and FA's...
PG - Frank
SG - Bullock/Dot
SF - Barrett/Knox
PF - Wooten/Iggy
C - Mitch/Taj
The big needs are clear. We need starters for PG and PF; we could use more depth with big men and with our cap space a reliable starter at SG isn't a stretch. I'd like to add a couple of veteran starters to the unit who don't demand the ball and who stretch the floor. We'll be drafting a PG; so I'm taking the abundance of cap space and chasing proven vets at the wing and PF position. Joe Harris and Danilo Gallinari are my first two targets of the offseason. I'd hope to get them on 2 or 3 year deals and hopefully the limited market makes them affordable.
Why Harris and Gallo? Well Harris shot 6 threes a game at a 42% clip; Gallo attempted over 7 per game at a 41% clip. Neither player had crazy Usage either. Gallo barely beats RJ Barrett on usage for this past season and he produced a 19, 5 and 2 season. Harris is a decent defender and Gallo isn't a complete mess on that end. So now we'd be looking at:
Pg - Frank
SG - Harris/Bullock/Dot
SF - Barrett/Knox
PF - Gallo/Wooten/Iggy
C - Mitch/Taj
We still need a playmaker to put all these pieces together. If the Knicks win the draft lottery; that's no problem. LaMelo Ball is the answer. If they stay put or drop a little; they'll still be in pretty good shape though. After Ball, if we stood pat at 6 then the big names would be Hayes and Haliburton. Rumor has it that Hayes isn't as loved by NBA scouts as the internet scouts though and personally; I don't think the gap is big from Haliburton or Hayes to Lewis or Cole Anthony. So while it's a bit of a copout, my move with the 6th pick would be to look at trading down into the late lottery. I'll still get a PG and my preferred PG has been mocked as low as the late-teens.
So who's my guy? Well, I look at the unit I'm putting together and I think the biggest need is some speed. We have a wide open floor with a lot of size to boot. Kira Lewis' speed reminds me of Deaaron Fox on tape. I don't want to compare them top to bottom as players; but just explosive speed wise, Lewis changes the gamehow Fox used to. Lewis also has nice form and a pretty nice jumper; he projects to be a good shooter. Here's Spencer Pearlman's breakdown of the prospect:
Kira Lewis Scouting Report - The Stepien
What about the second pick? It's a lot harder to predict who will be there with that pick. I think you kinda have to take Jaden McDaniels if he's there like some mocks suggest. Tyler Bey would be another player I just don't pass on. But I kinda picture both guys getting grabbed too early for us. A really intriguing prospect is chilling right there though in Aleksi Pokusevski. He's a 7 foot PF; rail thin but with a game that looks the part of a wing. He's an absolute project, but that's fine. I think learning from Gallo and facing against Wooten every day would really boost him up and if he were to stay overseas to pack on muscle for the move; we could oblige that as well.
Aleksej Pokuševski Scouting Report - The Stepien
In the second round, I really want Cassius Stanley to reach the Knicks pick. If the Knicks could take a flier on a freak athlete with the upside of Stanley, I think they'd have to take it. That makes back to back boom or bust picks; but with a ton of young prospects already on the roster needing time...I like the idea of using these late picks on home run swings that we understand will need a year or two to develop. We're not in a rush.
So
Lewis/Frank
Harris/Bullock/Dot - Stanley in the G-League waiting
Barrett/Knox/Iggy
Gallo/Wooten/Pokusevski
Mitch/Taj
At this point, I want another C and a third PG. Neither of these have to be world beaters. I'd prefer a center that can steal Taj's minutes. My pick here would be Aron Baynes though I think he might have competition because dude is a really solid piece for any bench. Favors would be another interesting player to grab short term. At PG; how much do we trust Thibs? Because DJ Augustin knows the system, has succeeded in it and seems like a guy who is comfortable taking a backseat role but who can step up when needed. He'd make a solid mentor for Lewis and could offer some craftiness to Frank as well...plus Frank spends all practice chasing quick, shifty PG's aka his toughest challenges...but this only works if we trust Thibs not to throw development out the window for wins.
So this is an all FA and Draft pick line-up that I think could lives within the realm of possibility:
Lewis/Frank/Augustin
Harris/Bullock/Dotson
Barrett/Knox/Iggy
Gallo/Wooten/Pokusevski
Mitch/Baynes/Taj
I think that's a competitive squad out the gate. You wouldn't break the bank on anyone. The big contract vets would be guys that don't demand huge touches and that would leave Lewis and Barrett with plenty of opportunity to run the offense and develop. The bench also leaves plenty of touches for Frank and Knox with Bullock and Baynes as guiding vets. It's balanced and should the young guys make leaps then you've got a serious squad on your hands. If not; flexibility is maintained to move young guys that didn't work out and bring in more talent.
This also leaves out trade options. We've heard LaVine interest this week; Booker is constantly name dropped and it's a weird case where I don't see it happening but there's more smoke than I understand; and Victor Oladipo could quickly become a really interesting name in the conversation too. This offseason is gonna see cash strapped teams which could totally change how the market functions. So there's a lot to consider...but I think this is at least somewhat realistic. Sub Bertans for Gallo if the Thunder decide to pay him big.
