Kris, Nice recap of what was, for a large part, a very hard to watch summer league. My take going forward is that Diawara has something that is not on the Knicks current roster, Yes, he's still green, but I'd give him the rookie roster spot. He'll have fellow Frenchmen Yabusele & Dadiet to help him adjust to both basketball & living in the USA! McCullar keeps his two way & I agree 100% with you, Pate needs to get the second two way as he. like Diawara, has talents not on the Knicks roster. I assume the 3rd two way would go to either Beauchamp or Watson & my preference would be Watson, as he seems to have a sweeter shot & at least plays some defense, something Beauchamp has struggles with! LGK!
Thanks Kris! You’re right, individual game performances ain’t it… overview is the point. Great takes. Herr are some crappier ones!
I found myself watching the games looking for improvement from PacDaddi and awareness from McCullar. Pac played solid fundamental defense at times, which will help as he still seems a little slow. His awareness and positioning seemed solid. McCullar shares Hart’s antipathy for 3 pt shots, but also his hustle. Am happy to see more. Not sure what to make of Pate but he seems well worth a shot… his physical tools are awesome. Need to know more about his mindset and work ethic. I already made the most unreasonable and unfair Knicks CEILING comp for Diawara (Anthony Mason) and am sticking w it. Yes I know that’s insane. But the tools (especially passing) are there. Unfortunately so is the foul shot but if he can get to the low 70% like Mase did it’s fine. Want to see him play the 4 next to OG (3) and KAT (5) because I’m insane. Beauchamp feels like a fringe player until he gets his head straight. I have no idea what to think of Nnaji.
I actually completely agree with you about Mo between OG and KAT and have thought about this long before this convo. Not crazy! Feels like a “later, not just yet!” thing but who knows with new staff.
I like all five of the players listed (I thought Kolek was pretty bad but he showed flashes in actual NBA games and was great in G League).
My question is whether we are able to retain our rights to all of them without a stash in Europe. Do we have enough cap room and two ways to accommodate them all. Both Pate and Diawara are, as they say, a year away from being a year away. Dadiet may be in that camp too.
Biggest disappointment was Naaji. I was excited for him and he looks like an NNA player for exactly as long as he is standing still.
I thought that both Watson and Beauchamp were end of bench players and agree with Bill that Watson was the better fit as doing a little bit of everything and hitting his open shots but is there room for either of them if we want to keep rights to the five players that were discussed.
Excellent analysis. Without having any real draft picks for the next number of years, I definitely think there is some talent here that can be developed. i like that new assistant that worked for Brown in Sacramento. I have heard good things about him as a player development guy.
Summer league is so interesting. It has more in common with your local pickup game than with professional or college basketball. The difference is that these are all world class athletes that are at the inflection point of their lifelong dream of making it to the NBA.
I definitely noticed a lot of defensive intensity this year. It's actually nice to see marginal players embracing that end of the floor.
Most of these guys came to be prospects by dominating in their environments. It's such a weird scenario, but like a pickup game, there are lots of skilled guys but it's the players that recognize what needs to happen to get stops and baskets, and instinctively start working together, that create success. I think a lot of these players haven't been great in that way, this is a tough environment to develop it because they're desperately trying to show out individually.
It's a tough environment for a guy like Kolek, who's trying to use the time to try out some new skills. But he still looked like one of the guys that has good instincts and awareness. I thought Diawara showed some of that as well, as well as Hukporti.
It's always a shock to go from watching real NBA games to summer league, and even more so now that the Knicks are good. It takes a few games to relax into it and enjoy it for what it is.
You know what they say - "Dance like no one is watching". Well, I guess Kris might be watching, but at least he is going to find the positives. :)
Kris, Nice recap of what was, for a large part, a very hard to watch summer league. My take going forward is that Diawara has something that is not on the Knicks current roster, Yes, he's still green, but I'd give him the rookie roster spot. He'll have fellow Frenchmen Yabusele & Dadiet to help him adjust to both basketball & living in the USA! McCullar keeps his two way & I agree 100% with you, Pate needs to get the second two way as he. like Diawara, has talents not on the Knicks roster. I assume the 3rd two way would go to either Beauchamp or Watson & my preference would be Watson, as he seems to have a sweeter shot & at least plays some defense, something Beauchamp has struggles with! LGK!
Really glad you enjoyed. I agree about Mo. I think Perrin specifically is high on him…
Thanks Kris! You’re right, individual game performances ain’t it… overview is the point. Great takes. Herr are some crappier ones!
I found myself watching the games looking for improvement from PacDaddi and awareness from McCullar. Pac played solid fundamental defense at times, which will help as he still seems a little slow. His awareness and positioning seemed solid. McCullar shares Hart’s antipathy for 3 pt shots, but also his hustle. Am happy to see more. Not sure what to make of Pate but he seems well worth a shot… his physical tools are awesome. Need to know more about his mindset and work ethic. I already made the most unreasonable and unfair Knicks CEILING comp for Diawara (Anthony Mason) and am sticking w it. Yes I know that’s insane. But the tools (especially passing) are there. Unfortunately so is the foul shot but if he can get to the low 70% like Mase did it’s fine. Want to see him play the 4 next to OG (3) and KAT (5) because I’m insane. Beauchamp feels like a fringe player until he gets his head straight. I have no idea what to think of Nnaji.
I actually completely agree with you about Mo between OG and KAT and have thought about this long before this convo. Not crazy! Feels like a “later, not just yet!” thing but who knows with new staff.
I like all five of the players listed (I thought Kolek was pretty bad but he showed flashes in actual NBA games and was great in G League).
My question is whether we are able to retain our rights to all of them without a stash in Europe. Do we have enough cap room and two ways to accommodate them all. Both Pate and Diawara are, as they say, a year away from being a year away. Dadiet may be in that camp too.
Yes they can but Pate has to be on a two-way which means no Beauchamp/Watson
Diawara reminds me of Siakam. Same body type, ground game. Can he shoot?
I don't know about that, but the passes showed a vision and court awareness that is encouraging.
Hellyeah Kris. Agree with Pac and Mo at 2 and 1. Go Knicks!
👊👊
A good comp for McCullar Jr. is Landry Fields.
Biggest disappointment was Naaji. I was excited for him and he looks like an NNA player for exactly as long as he is standing still.
I thought that both Watson and Beauchamp were end of bench players and agree with Bill that Watson was the better fit as doing a little bit of everything and hitting his open shots but is there room for either of them if we want to keep rights to the five players that were discussed.
Excellent analysis. Without having any real draft picks for the next number of years, I definitely think there is some talent here that can be developed. i like that new assistant that worked for Brown in Sacramento. I have heard good things about him as a player development guy.
Thank you Phil! Yes, I’m in on Fois
Summer league is so interesting. It has more in common with your local pickup game than with professional or college basketball. The difference is that these are all world class athletes that are at the inflection point of their lifelong dream of making it to the NBA.
I definitely noticed a lot of defensive intensity this year. It's actually nice to see marginal players embracing that end of the floor.
Most of these guys came to be prospects by dominating in their environments. It's such a weird scenario, but like a pickup game, there are lots of skilled guys but it's the players that recognize what needs to happen to get stops and baskets, and instinctively start working together, that create success. I think a lot of these players haven't been great in that way, this is a tough environment to develop it because they're desperately trying to show out individually.
It's a tough environment for a guy like Kolek, who's trying to use the time to try out some new skills. But he still looked like one of the guys that has good instincts and awareness. I thought Diawara showed some of that as well, as well as Hukporti.
It's always a shock to go from watching real NBA games to summer league, and even more so now that the Knicks are good. It takes a few games to relax into it and enjoy it for what it is.
You know what they say - "Dance like no one is watching". Well, I guess Kris might be watching, but at least he is going to find the positives. :)
Good Read....Thx!!!!!!!!!!
Love this analysis. I'm wondering how the Knicks roster will shake out especially the last few spots and who from this list will make it
Thank you and very informative.