Ok time to take this thread serious and actually make predictions of trades that’ll never happen but if they do we can pretend like we know what we’re talking about. Since there’s no point in playing it safe since these won’t happen anyway, I’ll predict we make three trades. I’m also assuming Milwaukee isn’t trading Jabari, because he’d be my main target otherwise. Trade #1 This gets us under the tax. New York takes on a little over $3m and gambles on a young, potential starting SF. It’s relatively low risk. Harkless has a relationship with the Knicks GM and going home should reenergize him. Thomas isn’t completely useless either. He can knock down a three and is a decent enough defender. Best case we also get a second rounder out of this, but I wouldn’t care if we didn’t. Trade #2 Same thinking as the Knicks trade, and pretty much the Crabbe trade as well. Strictly financial on our side. It also gives us a little breathing room financially in case we wanted to sign someone. Trade #3 Napier and Barton should be close in value, especially with Barton’s impending unrestricted free agency, but Barton actually plays a position of need. I’m also confident he would re-sign in Portland because of Dame and some other factors. Other teams don’t have that certainty, which would give us some leverage. Napier profiles well next to both Murray and Harris. Vonleh for Hernangomez seems like a fair swap. Vonleh might be more proven, but we wouldn’t have to pay Hernangomez for another few years and he adds much needed shooting. I look forward to none of these happening.
One NBA source said the Knicks inquired about the Nets’ 23-year-old defensive forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, but Brooklyn asked for a first-rounder. That the Knicks’ pick is looking more like a lottery selection makes it virtually untouchable. According to sources, Kyle O’Quinn and Courtney Lee are the likeliest to go, even if the most inquiries the Knicks have received have been about center Willy Hernangomez, as The Post first reported. Trading O’Quinn opens the door for Hernagomez, 23, to play. Recently they are receiving more calls about the 32-year-old Lee, averaging a career-best 13.5 points. The Knicks won’t move him unless significant value comes back. Plus, his $11.7 million salary means the Knicks need to find a club with cap room such as the Jazz, or they would have to take back significant money. Knicks president Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry are vehemently opposed to inheriting any more bad contracts. https://nypost.com/2018/01/27/the-positives-jeff-hornacek-found-from-a-wobbly-west-coast-trip/ If the Knicks were interested in Hollis Jefferson, they should be interested in Harkless as well.
Won't do us any good this season: "If the player is waived from September 1 to June 30, then the current season is paid per the normal payment schedule...". BNM
One thing I’ve found looking around the league, is that it’s going be tough for us to improve the roster AND get under the tax. It makes guys like Davis and Aminu vulnerable imo. Guys with decent sized contracts who also have value around the league.
So if we waived and stretched Thomas then it would be like 7m per for the next 3-4 yrs and going down from there.
The things that sucks is lets say we trade, Davis, Aminu and Napier, that totally pisses off Dame. He will see that as packing it in. But if we don't look toward the future now, down the road we will have less options next year when the tax situation gets worse. Man, I almost think small markets should get even more amnesty clause options every year.
I think getting rid of anyone will on some level hurt Dame, since he seems like he gets along with everyone. But we have to do it. Last year they were all pissed when Plumlee was traded. But then they realized it made them better. Dame should know the deal by now. Besides, didn’t he talk specific targets with Paul? I mean, I’m pretty sure he’s not expecting to acquire them for free.
I’d love Hernangomez. He could play 18-20 minutes a night, like he did last year, as a backup to Nurk. I have read though that while many teams are interested, it’s more likely NY will move O’quinn. I’m of the opinion though that we’ll end up keeping Davis and re-signing him. But I literally said the same thing about Plumlee so bye bye Ed.
I'm sure everyone in the NBA knows it's a business and anything can happen. The fans probably take player movement harder than the players.
It’s true for the most part but I still remember the reaction to the Plumlee trade. I’ve never seen Dame, and specifically CJ so visibly frustrated. They struggled to hide their emotion.
As poorly as he's played this year, and with UFA coming up this summer, what trade value does Bradley really have?
I don't get it. The let KCP go because they wanted to invest in Bradley. Now they want to let Bradley go? So that they can play Luke Kennard more? Sidebar, I believe he is the fourth guy (after ET, Isaiah, Crowder) coming out of Boston who is clearly worse after leaving the Brad Stevens system. Dude is becoming the new Pop.
KCP wasn't working and he wanted to destroy their cap. Bradley isn't working and he wants to destroy their cap. LK may or may not work, but he sure isn't destroying their cap. I like AB. Dame likes AB. We'd be a much better defensive team with AB. AB is as cheap as he'll ever be. Therefore, we're not getting AB. Yes, the trend of players leaving Boston has been disconcerting.
