Wargames
One Of The Last Real Ones To Do It
I actually think this team was constructed with tanking in mind. That isn’t a bad concept at all when considering where the Knicks are as a team. They made responsible bids for some FA but didn’t make stupid contracts like what the Knicks did a year ago.
I think long term assets were added based on their fit to RJ (Quickley and Obi) but the short term the focus was on acquiring additional short term assets (playoff level roleplayers on short contracts) to pull trades that can gain the knicks long term assets (picks and players on rookie contracts with potential). That means short deals (like last year) that are cost effective (unlike last year).
Let’s say the Knicks actually like Spellman as a potential PF big. Then the Ed Davis trade was a perfect example of the type of moves the Knicks are doing this year.
In that scenario, the very cost effective contracts for Austin Rivers, Nerlins Noel, Elfrid Payton, and Alec Burks makes a lot of sense. Also Frank, and DSJ can be added to either pile (long term asset or short term asset) depending on if the Knicks like their fit or not as well. Julius Randle is a $18 Mil contract that expires into $4 Mil next year, and they can outright absorb another $18 Mil. So even non playoff teams that want to cut budgets could come knocking.
The Knicks could spend this whole season highlighting their short term assets while letting the long term assets get decent minutes, because there are not as many of them log jammed in the same position. Even when the Knicks lose a lot of games (and they will) it would on the low be the most productive season since we had 54 wins.
Next years Draft is stacked. The Mavs might miss the playoffs too. We’ll either have a lot of cap space again or draft capitol to compensate. This is what a rebuild looks like.
I think long term assets were added based on their fit to RJ (Quickley and Obi) but the short term the focus was on acquiring additional short term assets (playoff level roleplayers on short contracts) to pull trades that can gain the knicks long term assets (picks and players on rookie contracts with potential). That means short deals (like last year) that are cost effective (unlike last year).
Let’s say the Knicks actually like Spellman as a potential PF big. Then the Ed Davis trade was a perfect example of the type of moves the Knicks are doing this year.
In that scenario, the very cost effective contracts for Austin Rivers, Nerlins Noel, Elfrid Payton, and Alec Burks makes a lot of sense. Also Frank, and DSJ can be added to either pile (long term asset or short term asset) depending on if the Knicks like their fit or not as well. Julius Randle is a $18 Mil contract that expires into $4 Mil next year, and they can outright absorb another $18 Mil. So even non playoff teams that want to cut budgets could come knocking.
The Knicks could spend this whole season highlighting their short term assets while letting the long term assets get decent minutes, because there are not as many of them log jammed in the same position. Even when the Knicks lose a lot of games (and they will) it would on the low be the most productive season since we had 54 wins.
Next years Draft is stacked. The Mavs might miss the playoffs too. We’ll either have a lot of cap space again or draft capitol to compensate. This is what a rebuild looks like.
Last edited:
