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Jonathan Bailey's avatar

A continuing thank you to you and the KFS Crew.

While fan ire is directed at Thibs and Randle, I ask this central question: Looking at the Eastern teams sitting ahead of the Knicks in the Conference standings, who the eff are the Knicks (from a personnel/talent perspective) really better than? Boston, Miami, the Champs, the Sixers, the Bulls, the Raptors, the Cavs, the Hornets, the Nets, the Hawks? While the Knicks, on any night, can beat these teams, they aren't vastly superior to any one of them.

So, the true failure of this season ISN'T missing the postseason, it's failing to play up to their own abilities. Injuries played a part, but all teams have that excuse. It was the bad attitude that Julius sometimes displayed. A lack of flexibility by the coaches [are we to believe that all the other coaches would be silent if Thibs wrongly buried guys who should be playing]. Their unwillingness to experiment and improvise.

Thibs, however, is great because he is a plow horse. Straight ahead. Slow and steady. Dependable. And, this franchise has so badly needed stability. So... And, maybe, just maybe the kids weren't ready early in the campaign. Unearned playing time-false sense of entitlement, frustration & embarrassment, epic failure---all can destroy promising professional careers, too. We will never know.

The team has, at least to the public, held together through difficulties and disappointments. That's a start!

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Andrew Horne's avatar

Your comment that IQ is the best, most cost-efficient realistic option is spot on. Unless Randle is traded, bringing in a new free agent point guard like Brunson or Brogdon who are not stars to "finally solve the point guard position" has a high risk of not working since Julius and RJ both want to have the ball. While the numbers are relevant (and IQ's per 36 minutes are about the same as Brunson's), perhaps most importantly we already know that he can play with Julius and RJ. IQ is bigger and a better defender than Brunson and knows what Thibs wants. Brogdon would be a good fit but he has an injury history. IQ has earned the opportunity and we would have Burks, Deuce, and Rose to be the second unit PG.

Also, last season the front office set everything up for a 2 year run with this group. We don't have cap space to sign Brunson or Brogdon so will have to give up something to get them. Unless we somehow get rid of Fournier or Randle, bringing in Brunson or Brogdon will clog a 2023 cap space.

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