Somehow, the Knicks went from a team with an experienced, successful head coach and a roster built to be together for two to three years to a coach-less team (for nearly three-weeks now) and a roster with a number of question marks (leading off with extensions for Bridges and Robinson) and an unknown preferable style (Kat at four, Kat at five, Kat out).
But with rumors circulating that Dolan had his fingerprints all over the firing, it all makes more sense. Dolan’s activity and interference usually brings chaos and poor decisions.
It is all very bizarre that the Knicks still do not have a coach; that there hasn’t been a peep about extension discussions with Robinson and Bridges (remember that Leon & Co generally do not like to go into a season where important players will be UFA in the following season.
I suppose we will have answers to a number of these questions before Summer League, but now that I know Dolan could be more involved, maybe we won’t have answers.
First, I want to say that I love the comments in these threads, they're well-thought out and there tends to be great discussions vs other Knicks' forums where there's a lot of emotion and name calling.
Re: the Dolan news, IDK why, but I don't care. I feel like for a good part of the season, we as fans questioned whether Thibs was the best coach for this team. Him getting fired was a surprise but at the same time, I think it's understandable. I also feel like no one mentions that maybe OG was a player in the exit interviews that wasn't happy with the coaching. I agree with Jon that I don't see KAT being one to complain, especially after being an All-star and All-NBA player this season.
I think things are quiet because the FO is waiting/hoping for some Giannis news, but also because of the salary constraints, they know they'll most likely bring some of the same guys back and make smaller moves. Going back to OG- for as great a piece as he is to any roster, maybe he is not the right culture fit for the team? Going back to Hart's comments early in the year about sacrificing, along with The Athletic article, I wouldn't be surprised if the Villanova crew didn't love the OG vibes. Any maybe, the Bridges' situation is tied to whatever they do with OG. If they decide, he's not the right fit for the team, they'll pay up on Bridges.
I have no idea about any of this but makes it fun to think about.
I would not be surprised in the slightest if OG had an issue with Thibs. I can't say for sure, but I've also never heard that he was a Thibs loyalist, or anything close to that. I worry about the culture fit as well, for the same reasons as you. It's why I haven't been completely dismissing the idea of trade built around OG for LeBron
thank you for summing up my feelings on the coaching search: "Re: the Dolan news, IDK why, but I don't care. I feel like for a good part of the season, we as fans questioned whether Thibs was the best coach for this team. Him getting fired was a surprise but at the same time, I think it's understandable."
At the end of the day I think moving on from Thibs was the right move, regardless of how it went down.
Having read your excellent piece, I’m stymied as to how they can proceed without a coach in place. Will the new coach want to commit to Bridges, Mitchell, or Hart. Is he an all in offensive guy, or a younger more flexible Thibs. That logically matters as to what we’re looking for in free agency and the trade market. I find DF Smith the most interesting name out there as a basketball fit for us, but he appears out of reach financially. LeBron is that shiny object designed to distract us while the front office gets it together and hires a new. Maybe the distraction is needed because they’re trying to wait out Dallas on the only coach they have their eyes on.
IF the Knicks felt like Towns was never going to work with Brunson, a KAT for LeBron deal would make a lot of sense. One year of LeBron and then tons of salary flexibility.
I don't think there's any other scenario that could work.
Now on a more serious note, we still have 3 contract years of KAT at $53,57 & 61 (Player's option) million. If management decides it wants to open up the salary cap after this season & feels KAT is more of a problem than a solution, trading for LeBron might not be as far fetched as it seems. If I understand the cap (I really don't!),an LBJ/KAT trade would be almost seamless as KAT is making $600,000 more, so the Knicks would have to include another player since they can't trade out more money than they get (Did I get that right?)! Now, a 40 year old LBJ certainly raises numerous questions going forward, but he does seem to be the Dorian Gray of the NBA! The Cavs would have to gut their team to bring him home, so I don't think they're in the mix. There is actually only one team that is-----The Knicks! Now since we've all heard that this coming season is the best chance the Knicks will ever have, it's easy to rationalize why this could be a good move! And I know, there are countless arguments against making an LBJ trade, but it's not as crazy as it might seem at face value! LGK!
because in the absence of real news you are getting bogged down in the media noise. For the past 5 years we've heard how Thibs is a great culture setter and floor raiser but he had his issues. Then the Knicks finally make the move to bring in a new voice and all of a sudden the Knicks are the worst again? It doens't make any sense so just try and tune it out.
The last 6 things Dolan actually did are Fire Phil, Hire Leon, Roommates Pod, give a middle finger to Silver for the local media stuff going on, give a kid a basketball & Fire Thibs. I get the PTSD but Thibs was on the hot seat going into the playoffs & thinking we should've beaten Indy and Thibs was here for 4 seasons that's a long time these days.
Jon, I could only imagine your consternation (*DRINK*) for having to type about LeBron and the Knicks for the umpteenth time.
Jokes aside, I feel like no one has a solid idea of where the Knicks are going with all this. Mike Brown and Taylor Jenkins are in talks to become Coach, but the idea of Jason Kidd won't go away. There's a credible argument that KD makes the Knicks better next season, but the Knicks say no to him anyway with Giannis being a thing and now LeBron (maybe) being a thing.
There's a lot looming in the air. It's kind of intriguing, and kind of terrifying.
Also: I'm bummed the Knicks aren't more seriously linked to Tyus Jones (and that the Magic are going to get him) but hopefully it means they believe in Kolek as the backup PG.
I don't want Ayton, but this FO has been linked to him in the past. I'd like them to go after Ayo for Mitch and the Wizards' protected pick and then sign a backup big.
Based on the reporting, sounds like they'll be bargain bin shopping instead. That said, there are always surprising players available after the first few days of FA. Hopefully we can pounce - and hopefully someone out there remembers, despite the current turmoil, that this team is legitimately good.
The LeBron thing, if there is a thing, would be a decent backup plan if they strikeout on Giannis. You know what other player loves Jason Kidd? Lebron.
I'd do KAT for Lebron and not think about it. Lebron's the better player. I agree with Sean about not wanting to give up OG. Hart/Robinson/Bridges for him interests me, but the bench would obviously be worrying.
I think one thing we forget (or maybe not) but is vital to the Knicks roster building exercise is that Towns is Leon’s guy. I think, by hook or by crook, that all the change or lack there of we are seeing is somewhat connecting to him. Unless you fully believe that Dolan swooped in and fired Thibs himself, that the reason for moving on from the coach was his inability to maximize this Knicks team with Towns on the court. That’s why we didn’t see a move for Durant and I don’t see a move for LeBron. And if your that invested in Towns you also need to be that invested in OG as a top line defensive forward to pair along side him. And with that the only way we see Towns (or OG) traded is if it provides a clear upgrade and there’s only one player that qualifies for that right now and that’s Giannis. I think something similar can be said for Bridges, that they’ll only trade him for a clear upgrade, but obviously there’s a much larger universe of potentially available players that are better then Bridges then there is Towns. Given the lack of draft capital, those moves are extremely limited. Heck, I’d go further - I’d expect no changes to the core 4 until a Giannis trade is completely ruled out.
To all those expecting moves on the margins, you can’t expect them without have tradeable salary. Are we ready to call Mitch and Hart tradeable salary? I think you’re correct in assuming that the new head coach should be influential in the answer to that question. But I do think the front office has a vision for this team. We’ve seen 2 somewhat conflicting thought views - a) they value a rim protector next to Towns and pushed for Robinson to start next to him during the playoffs akin to the Towns/Gobert pairing of yesteryear but b) to achieve their offensive ceiling they need to have the ability to play true 5 out offensively. Thibs inability to lean into atleast one of those options, IMO is why he’s not here today.
So if I’m correct, does that make Hart and Robinson tradeable? Do they need a new coaches opinion before they do that? Or are we about to see a shift where the front office is dictating what the coach should be doing. I don’t know the exact quote from years past, but Rose said he wouldn’t get involved with Thibs use of personnel and he had complete autonomy on lineups and rotations. Obviously during this past season, they changed their tune. Are they going back to that thought or they now calling the plays from upstairs?
My guess is that Robinson would be amendable to signing an extension here, and he provides a skillset next to Towns that the FO values. If there was an option to bring in someone who proves that same skill set at the same level but at a lower cost aka Kessler, but those players are few and far between.
Which leaves Hart. His $20m a year salary, can be cut into 2 pieces that could provide a playmaking guard and a bench wing who could take his role. But can Leon and co afford to trade Brunsons best friend and the heart and sole of this team, in order to hypothetically improve the roster? That’s the big question - and I don’t think that’s dependent on who’s the coach here.
A lot here to digest, but quickly, I 100% agree the org is all in (or as close to all in as you can be for a non-top-10 player) on KAT. As was reported last summer, they sought out KAT for a long time. And as Ian told me on the pod a month or so ago, they aren't going to turn around and flip him just to flip him.
Very thought provoking as usual. I’m wondering what could a package consisting of an extended Bridges and Mitch with Deuce bring back? Are Huk or an another zero year big man, Mohamed Diawara, enticing enough to move Mitch at this point?
I am rather confused about the coaching situation now especially considering that this season might be the best opportunity for the team to win a championship. We really didn’t have a chance of drafting anyone of significant value this year but free agency is a different story. We need a coach in place to help fill out the roster. Thibs was a little rigid, but they knew that when they signed him and ultimately extended him so this screams Jimmy D all over it.
Great newsletter, Jon. These are basically my big questions as well. The LeBron question is basically a stand-in for “should they shake up the core” - we’ve already had the conversation about Giannis, KD, and now LeBron in the past few weeks. LeBron oddly seems the most gettable of the lot. The thing I keep coming back to with this team is they need more ball handling and playmaking. LeBron would be a pretty nifty way to accomplish that. Though what would the cost be? If the Lakers were willing to swap Bron for KAT, I would listen. If it would take OG and Mitch, I think I’m hanging up. Basing a trade around Mikal feels impossible given his low salary number. All this make me feel like Charlie Brown lining up to kick the football Lucy is helpfully holding in place for me though.
Somehow, the Knicks went from a team with an experienced, successful head coach and a roster built to be together for two to three years to a coach-less team (for nearly three-weeks now) and a roster with a number of question marks (leading off with extensions for Bridges and Robinson) and an unknown preferable style (Kat at four, Kat at five, Kat out).
But with rumors circulating that Dolan had his fingerprints all over the firing, it all makes more sense. Dolan’s activity and interference usually brings chaos and poor decisions.
It is all very bizarre that the Knicks still do not have a coach; that there hasn’t been a peep about extension discussions with Robinson and Bridges (remember that Leon & Co generally do not like to go into a season where important players will be UFA in the following season.
I suppose we will have answers to a number of these questions before Summer League, but now that I know Dolan could be more involved, maybe we won’t have answers.
First, I want to say that I love the comments in these threads, they're well-thought out and there tends to be great discussions vs other Knicks' forums where there's a lot of emotion and name calling.
Re: the Dolan news, IDK why, but I don't care. I feel like for a good part of the season, we as fans questioned whether Thibs was the best coach for this team. Him getting fired was a surprise but at the same time, I think it's understandable. I also feel like no one mentions that maybe OG was a player in the exit interviews that wasn't happy with the coaching. I agree with Jon that I don't see KAT being one to complain, especially after being an All-star and All-NBA player this season.
I think things are quiet because the FO is waiting/hoping for some Giannis news, but also because of the salary constraints, they know they'll most likely bring some of the same guys back and make smaller moves. Going back to OG- for as great a piece as he is to any roster, maybe he is not the right culture fit for the team? Going back to Hart's comments early in the year about sacrificing, along with The Athletic article, I wouldn't be surprised if the Villanova crew didn't love the OG vibes. Any maybe, the Bridges' situation is tied to whatever they do with OG. If they decide, he's not the right fit for the team, they'll pay up on Bridges.
I have no idea about any of this but makes it fun to think about.
I would not be surprised in the slightest if OG had an issue with Thibs. I can't say for sure, but I've also never heard that he was a Thibs loyalist, or anything close to that. I worry about the culture fit as well, for the same reasons as you. It's why I haven't been completely dismissing the idea of trade built around OG for LeBron
thank you for summing up my feelings on the coaching search: "Re: the Dolan news, IDK why, but I don't care. I feel like for a good part of the season, we as fans questioned whether Thibs was the best coach for this team. Him getting fired was a surprise but at the same time, I think it's understandable."
At the end of the day I think moving on from Thibs was the right move, regardless of how it went down.
i always knew the Thibs firing was a Dolan hit job. it was so obvious.
Having read your excellent piece, I’m stymied as to how they can proceed without a coach in place. Will the new coach want to commit to Bridges, Mitchell, or Hart. Is he an all in offensive guy, or a younger more flexible Thibs. That logically matters as to what we’re looking for in free agency and the trade market. I find DF Smith the most interesting name out there as a basketball fit for us, but he appears out of reach financially. LeBron is that shiny object designed to distract us while the front office gets it together and hires a new. Maybe the distraction is needed because they’re trying to wait out Dallas on the only coach they have their eyes on.
not a coincidence that dallas hires Vogel on the same day the Knicks hire Brown
IF the Knicks felt like Towns was never going to work with Brunson, a KAT for LeBron deal would make a lot of sense. One year of LeBron and then tons of salary flexibility.
I don't think there's any other scenario that could work.
Now on a more serious note, we still have 3 contract years of KAT at $53,57 & 61 (Player's option) million. If management decides it wants to open up the salary cap after this season & feels KAT is more of a problem than a solution, trading for LeBron might not be as far fetched as it seems. If I understand the cap (I really don't!),an LBJ/KAT trade would be almost seamless as KAT is making $600,000 more, so the Knicks would have to include another player since they can't trade out more money than they get (Did I get that right?)! Now, a 40 year old LBJ certainly raises numerous questions going forward, but he does seem to be the Dorian Gray of the NBA! The Cavs would have to gut their team to bring him home, so I don't think they're in the mix. There is actually only one team that is-----The Knicks! Now since we've all heard that this coming season is the best chance the Knicks will ever have, it's easy to rationalize why this could be a good move! And I know, there are countless arguments against making an LBJ trade, but it's not as crazy as it might seem at face value! LGK!
We are the second seed, just coming off 51 wins and an appearance in the ECF that was beyond our expectations. Why do I feel so glum.
because in the absence of real news you are getting bogged down in the media noise. For the past 5 years we've heard how Thibs is a great culture setter and floor raiser but he had his issues. Then the Knicks finally make the move to bring in a new voice and all of a sudden the Knicks are the worst again? It doens't make any sense so just try and tune it out.
Maybe there's no coach yet, because Player-Coach LeBron is on the way! I kid (not Jason), I kid.......maybe/maybe not! LGK!
The last 6 things Dolan actually did are Fire Phil, Hire Leon, Roommates Pod, give a middle finger to Silver for the local media stuff going on, give a kid a basketball & Fire Thibs. I get the PTSD but Thibs was on the hot seat going into the playoffs & thinking we should've beaten Indy and Thibs was here for 4 seasons that's a long time these days.
I was hoping for a mock LeBron trade that made sense to you! But good in depth writing as always
I have a few in mind lol
Jon, I could only imagine your consternation (*DRINK*) for having to type about LeBron and the Knicks for the umpteenth time.
Jokes aside, I feel like no one has a solid idea of where the Knicks are going with all this. Mike Brown and Taylor Jenkins are in talks to become Coach, but the idea of Jason Kidd won't go away. There's a credible argument that KD makes the Knicks better next season, but the Knicks say no to him anyway with Giannis being a thing and now LeBron (maybe) being a thing.
There's a lot looming in the air. It's kind of intriguing, and kind of terrifying.
"It's kind of intriguing, and kind of terrifying...your 2025-26 New York Knicks!"
Also: I'm bummed the Knicks aren't more seriously linked to Tyus Jones (and that the Magic are going to get him) but hopefully it means they believe in Kolek as the backup PG.
I don't want Ayton, but this FO has been linked to him in the past. I'd like them to go after Ayo for Mitch and the Wizards' protected pick and then sign a backup big.
Based on the reporting, sounds like they'll be bargain bin shopping instead. That said, there are always surprising players available after the first few days of FA. Hopefully we can pounce - and hopefully someone out there remembers, despite the current turmoil, that this team is legitimately good.
The LeBron thing, if there is a thing, would be a decent backup plan if they strikeout on Giannis. You know what other player loves Jason Kidd? Lebron.
I'd do KAT for Lebron and not think about it. Lebron's the better player. I agree with Sean about not wanting to give up OG. Hart/Robinson/Bridges for him interests me, but the bench would obviously be worrying.
Good read.
I think one thing we forget (or maybe not) but is vital to the Knicks roster building exercise is that Towns is Leon’s guy. I think, by hook or by crook, that all the change or lack there of we are seeing is somewhat connecting to him. Unless you fully believe that Dolan swooped in and fired Thibs himself, that the reason for moving on from the coach was his inability to maximize this Knicks team with Towns on the court. That’s why we didn’t see a move for Durant and I don’t see a move for LeBron. And if your that invested in Towns you also need to be that invested in OG as a top line defensive forward to pair along side him. And with that the only way we see Towns (or OG) traded is if it provides a clear upgrade and there’s only one player that qualifies for that right now and that’s Giannis. I think something similar can be said for Bridges, that they’ll only trade him for a clear upgrade, but obviously there’s a much larger universe of potentially available players that are better then Bridges then there is Towns. Given the lack of draft capital, those moves are extremely limited. Heck, I’d go further - I’d expect no changes to the core 4 until a Giannis trade is completely ruled out.
To all those expecting moves on the margins, you can’t expect them without have tradeable salary. Are we ready to call Mitch and Hart tradeable salary? I think you’re correct in assuming that the new head coach should be influential in the answer to that question. But I do think the front office has a vision for this team. We’ve seen 2 somewhat conflicting thought views - a) they value a rim protector next to Towns and pushed for Robinson to start next to him during the playoffs akin to the Towns/Gobert pairing of yesteryear but b) to achieve their offensive ceiling they need to have the ability to play true 5 out offensively. Thibs inability to lean into atleast one of those options, IMO is why he’s not here today.
So if I’m correct, does that make Hart and Robinson tradeable? Do they need a new coaches opinion before they do that? Or are we about to see a shift where the front office is dictating what the coach should be doing. I don’t know the exact quote from years past, but Rose said he wouldn’t get involved with Thibs use of personnel and he had complete autonomy on lineups and rotations. Obviously during this past season, they changed their tune. Are they going back to that thought or they now calling the plays from upstairs?
My guess is that Robinson would be amendable to signing an extension here, and he provides a skillset next to Towns that the FO values. If there was an option to bring in someone who proves that same skill set at the same level but at a lower cost aka Kessler, but those players are few and far between.
Which leaves Hart. His $20m a year salary, can be cut into 2 pieces that could provide a playmaking guard and a bench wing who could take his role. But can Leon and co afford to trade Brunsons best friend and the heart and sole of this team, in order to hypothetically improve the roster? That’s the big question - and I don’t think that’s dependent on who’s the coach here.
Regardless it would be nice to know who that is.
A lot here to digest, but quickly, I 100% agree the org is all in (or as close to all in as you can be for a non-top-10 player) on KAT. As was reported last summer, they sought out KAT for a long time. And as Ian told me on the pod a month or so ago, they aren't going to turn around and flip him just to flip him.
Very thought provoking as usual. I’m wondering what could a package consisting of an extended Bridges and Mitch with Deuce bring back? Are Huk or an another zero year big man, Mohamed Diawara, enticing enough to move Mitch at this point?
I am rather confused about the coaching situation now especially considering that this season might be the best opportunity for the team to win a championship. We really didn’t have a chance of drafting anyone of significant value this year but free agency is a different story. We need a coach in place to help fill out the roster. Thibs was a little rigid, but they knew that when they signed him and ultimately extended him so this screams Jimmy D all over it.
i would be surprised if they moved Mitch, especially with Begley reporting yesterday that the FO envisions a Mitch/KAT starting frontcourt.
I would have to agree.
Great newsletter, Jon. These are basically my big questions as well. The LeBron question is basically a stand-in for “should they shake up the core” - we’ve already had the conversation about Giannis, KD, and now LeBron in the past few weeks. LeBron oddly seems the most gettable of the lot. The thing I keep coming back to with this team is they need more ball handling and playmaking. LeBron would be a pretty nifty way to accomplish that. Though what would the cost be? If the Lakers were willing to swap Bron for KAT, I would listen. If it would take OG and Mitch, I think I’m hanging up. Basing a trade around Mikal feels impossible given his low salary number. All this make me feel like Charlie Brown lining up to kick the football Lucy is helpfully holding in place for me though.
We'll get that football one of these days lol