Knicks

[Crow]

You don't want to be where Jackson has put the Knicks but he / they are there.

Trade chatter about Zingis? I don't like how they got there but I agree he is not untouchable. And if he isn't, now is an ok time to try to ask for a lot. Dunno what they will get offered yet or if it is enough but run a chaotic ship, this development is not that surprising.

Zingis didn't improve in broad terms by box score metrics in season 2 or second half of season 2. RPM short of plus 2 is good. All defense though. Will he become 2 way RPM strong or stay a defensive impact only guy? Certainly that matters greatly for how you build around him or if you punt, deciding his potential isn't top 10 or top 5 and you are shooting for titles and not just respectability.

Yes year 3 is upcoming and he might move forward... but in this team climate? Whatever chance there is of that is likely diminished from what it could have been or might be elsewhere.

I don't think this pure bluff but I dunno if this real serious or just more sloppy talk.

[JoshEngleman]

I think this could be interesting for Philly, if Porzingis is really on the table. I wonder how interested Phil would be in Saric, Okafor & a future pick/two. Philly's own '18 & OKC's 2020. I realize that's a ton to give up, but Porzingis would about as well as possible. Fultz - X - Covington - Zinger - Embiid. X = Redick makes a ton of sense.

Plus, Porzingis works as some sort of Embiid insurance.

Adding this on: is there any way Melo would accept a trade to Portland? My guess is no, but just throwing that out there.

[jgoldstein34]

Knicks reportedly already took Zingis off the table. He and the Knicks apparently haven't spoken at all in the entire off-season, it's bad.

They're just a mess, a bad terrible mess.

[Crow]

To dangle it and immediately pull back, does make it look not serious, petty.

As bad as Jackson has been, Zingis shouldn't have skipped his exit interview. Jackson is waiting for him to come in, apologize. He should. There is more to get thru but you don't blow off a normal job step with your boss.

[JoshEngleman]

This team is not very good, and they won't be very good for a long time.

Get rid of literally everything you can. Sit down with Melo, figure out where he'd be willing to go and then just take the best offer you can get from any of those teams. Cross your fingers that you can flip Courney Lee to a contender at the deadline. Same for Lance Thomas.

[jgoldstein34]

I agree you don't skip job interviews at a normal job, but this is the Knicks and basketball so it's anything but normal. I have no issues with him skipping given how awful Phil has handled everything. Plus Phil literally lying, Shaq skipped multiple exit interviews with him.

I've heard that the Knicks think Zings would go 1st in this draft and next years draft and are looking for a return of that nature. That begs the question, if they think Zings is that good why are they trading him?

[bigcymbal]

Does anyone see this team jumping on the analytics movement now that Phil Jackson is out?

[JoshEngleman]

Does anyone see this team jumping on the analytics movement now that Phil Jackson is out?

Partially. I would be shocked to see someone like Hinkie end up there, because there's no way New York could handle the full tear down he would want to do, but I think this looks like the perfect fit for David Griffin.

[JoshEngleman]

Welp, Woj just tweeted that Dolan is targeting Masai. That would be amazing for the Knicks. Hinkie could be interesting in Toronto.

[jgoldstein34]

Though the Raptors just signed Masai to an extension before the start of the season, no? Could see Griffin as a more realistic option.

[Crow]

I assume Phil is getting all his money... for reportedly light work (now down to none) and quite a mess. Oh well Dolan can afford his mistakes and Jackson can afford his retirement even more. That's the way it's goink.

Analytics, I assume they'll have more and use more. I dunno but wouldn't be surprised if much of the value of analytics still goes lightly tapped or untapped by GMs, Coaches and players in most organizations. The behavior in trades, free agency, lineup management and in the possessions often suggestions that.

[jgoldstein34]

It took Baseball a while to adjust to analytics, Basketball will get there within a few years I think. Teams will adapt or die.

[Crow]

Ron Baker 83th on RPM for SGs... give him what he wants! Can't afford to lose him.

Hardaway deal? Ok as GM deals go? But who was bidding near that?

Mills scaring away GM / Pres. competition by locking team into his decisions? Not that I care about them.

[jgoldstein34]

Yeah the Knicks did one thing right this summer when they got rid of Phil. But then they did a lot of bad things, so maybe Phil wasn't the only issue? *cough* owner *cough*