A lot of annoying overreactions in this thread. Iāll ignore the non Knicks fans for now. That being said all this trade trade trade nonsense for a team who just made it to the second round when you nikkas werenāt even sure this was a play-in team is dumb.
You have to look at where the money is going first. Hart and Quick will both be resigned (Marc stein has already reported its imminent with Hart) and Immanuel Quickley despite the playoffs showed his two way abilities. IQ is not only World Wide Wes guy (remember the emotional hug he got after the Cleveland series? Then add to the fact IQ is the only player Thibs has said quote on quote āThatās my guyā means IQ is not going anywhere. (So those two are returning).
Julius will easily return as him and Brunson literally make off of the most potent one two punches in the league. Since January 1st Brunson is averaging 28 and Julius is averaging 26. Itās clear from Ian Bagley reporting last year how the organization consults with Randle on everything, Dolan personally paying Julius fines, using the MSG P.R department to make him unavailable if anything goes wrong and the executives flying him to recruit both Donovan and Brunson (remember that infamous photo at the Dallas game). Itās clear Dolan sees Julius as the guy who saved his franchise (He did BTW).
Obi has to get traded and itās not even fair to him or us at this point. Tom Thibs clearly donāt like this nikka. He rather put Barrett or Josh Hart as his back up 4. How many times have we heard Thibs say Barrett can play the backup 4 or Hart can play the backup 4. Shyt the old man put a lineup of Hartenstein and Mitch out there for a couple of games (still the wildest shyt Iāve seen all season). Thibs doesnāt like his lack of rebounding or his ability to lose downlow in the post. Itās clear itās time to move on from the Obi situation. I have to assume Indiana and the Knicks will bring up the Duarte for Obi trade again and probably complete it this time. Obi should do well with a pure point guard like Halliburton.
Mitchell Robinson is an interesting scenerio. Mitchell Robinson has made it crystal crystal clear heās not interested in the role heās been given. Whether through Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, whatever Mitchell Robinson does not like his role in the offense and wants more. Thibs has talked to him, Brunson has talked to him, Julius has talked to him, I have to assume the organization may have said something (Iām not sure of that) but itās clear there has to be something done here. I donāt see Mitch excepting this role for a third straight year. So something has to give. Remember Katz and Bagley reported that the contract negotiations between the two were very contentious and there were hurt feelings there (Ian words). Mitch contract is literally set up for that reason. His story is the most intriguing to follow.
Evan Fournier contract now becomes a 17 million dollar expiring.
With Derrick Rose I hope he considers retirement because possibly getting rid of him is such an emotional move. Heās too loved in the city for this not to stir up emotions. Good luck to Leon on that one because that can come with some backlash.
Barrett is the key to all of this. Our future and our present. You know Julius and Brunson are returning, Deuce, Quick, the Hart foundation, Grimes and Sims are locks to return. Barrett is the kingmaker for this team. Barrett regressed this season and it was ugly but he played better in the playoffs. Barrett will be the second highest paid player on this team next year and it comes down to this fact can RJ make another leap next year?? I personally think he can, I know some of you Knicks fans donāt and the organization maybe split (Iām not sure) but Barrett has a lot of emotional capital with the fam base and the media. As much as Julius was the signing that helped. RJ was that Pick. He was the Pick that helped transform this team. Thereās a lot of investment in Barrett. I donāt think the Knicks have the Heart to trade Barrett unless itās a superstar available (Harden, Embiid, etc). So we just have to wait it out.
About immediate trades. O.G is a good piece but again I donāt know we have the young pieces Toronto wants to surround Scottie (who is so Overrated) with. Maybe the Knicks try to look into Zach Lavine again in the off-season. Chicago is at an inroads right now
