Leon's Choice
If the Knicks need to pick between Mitchell Robinson and Landry Shamet, who should they chose? We go through all the factors of that decision today.
Good morning! Are we really on the doorstep of free agency? No rest for the weary, I suppose…
Leon’s Choice
Much like it took well over a week for it to sink in that the Knicks were NBA champions (and no, it still hasn’t really sunk in), it’s taken just as long for me to accept the fact that the same squad likely won’t be back next year.
I’ve seen several theories posited regarding James Dolan’s public comments on staying below the second apron and the subsequent reporting surrounding the matter. Many have pointed out that the beat reporters seem to be echoing the frustrations of the front office, making it clear that this is a mandate from ownership and not a decision made by Leon Rose and his staff. I’ve read other theories that this is all posturing by the Knicks, and this stance is being used for negotiating purposes only. Someone even pitched that Dolan is hanging this over the players’ heads to persuade them to make good on his White House promise1.
Going into the draft, I decided to put conspiracy theories aside and take the owner at his word…and this was before Steph Bondy’s tweet last night that offered the strongest confirmation yet that this second apron avoidance was very, very real:
While this certainly paints a gloomy picture regarding Money Mitch’s chances to be back in blue and orange, I’ve learned to never say never, at least not until the ink is dry on someone’s contract.
With that spirit in mind, I’d like to end the week by looking at a world where the Knicks get to pick their poison and select only one of Mitch or Landry to return to New York - “Leon’s Choice,” if you will - and go through several factors that might play into that decision, starting with potential replacements that already exist on the roster.
