I think there is a current trend where players are who score regularly and efficiently within the context of an offense are undersold. I think Keegan Murry will be an example and I think Obi Toppin is one. I also think "superpowers" is another valuable way to access young players. What is there super power and can they build around it. Obi dunked the ball 5 times a game in college. Getting to the rim and finishing is his super power. Grimes super power is the beautiful stroke. Q's is is his bag. All of these kids have some auxiliary skill that they use in addition to there super power. Personally, I like the Toppin base. Its going to get him a lot shots that he is going to make at very high % and this means if the auxiliary skills are decent (35% from 3 maybe a little post turnaround an offensive rebound etc) you will always have very good production. Grimes super power makes driving much easier but I can't see him being as consistent with his super power as Obi (3s comes and go a little more). Q's super power is the most erratic and probably has the greatest highs. he has to hit hard shots but when he does he can totally dominate a game. Anyway felt like sharing. Thanks for the content as always
I kept hearing that about Durant a few years ago too . . . .it is also possible that the Knicks will consider the chase ended. As much as I love Mitchell's game and his persona, I don't believe he is worth "a package of historic proportions."
I’m thinking the story today with all of the new interested teams in Spida is a load of BS put out there by Ainge to try and get the Knicks to bite on his BS proposal.
Shams reporting the Knicks are no closer to a deal with Utah for Mitchell, than they had been last week. Or the week before. Or the week before that one. Maybe it is time for the Knicks to look around the league for other ways to use their draft stockpile?
Hey, Macri! Ya know, NYFS is the first thing I read every morning. Just absolutely love your content, every. Single. Day. Thanks so much for doing this!
TW, the biggest miss was not Kevin over Miles, I think, but Kevin over SGA, followed by Kevin over Bridges #1, etc. The biggest misses of Leon’s tenure have been Obi over TyHal, when we desperately needed a PG and he was extremely highly rated; and IQ over Desmond Bane, whom most draftniks, especially the analytics inclined, had rated higher than IQ - deservedly so, as it turns out.
I think that logically you’re right about whom to keep; but I also think the team is ready to move in from Randle, and so wants to hang onto Obi. Also I think keeping a 6-3 SG who is a poor shooter over a 6-5 SG who is a better shooter and defender is bad business. If it were me, I’d hang into Obi and Q at all costs. Q more for his D, actually, and Obi because, as you pointed out (I’m paraphrasing) if D’Antoni were the coach, Obi would have been in the conversation for ROY. He’s Amare with a better 3 pt shot. I still think there’s a ton of untapped potential there that’s gone unseen because of how he’s used, kinda like every guard who’s ever played for John Calipari.
I think Ainge wants either Q or Obi (or both), or else more picks, has dug in his heels, and Leon don’t budge. And maybe we have to prepare ourselves for the possibility that this deal doesn’t happen and Leon targets his 8 tradeable picks into a new direction. For example, although I’d never do it and I suspect (hope?) neither would Leon, but would 8 picks / pick swaps plus players get the knicks into a KD conversation? Probably yes on the picks and no on the players. But 6-8 picks is KD / AD territory, not DM territory, I think.
Man, your writeup tackled exactly what I've been pondering nonstop for the last week. Assuming they all have equal chance of reaching their ceiling I think Obi is the most indispensable of the 3 because he's the most unique, simply not as many super athletic 6'9" 7'2" wingspan guys even in NBA. And Grimes might have the highest pedigree from HS days but Obi is highest from college based on draft. Bottom line, does GM Macri walk away from deal that includes all the picks and one of Q/IQ + Obi? I would and be excited about Brunson and growth of our young guys
I actually feel like your chart provides more of a case that a guy like Grimes is the most expendable and easiest to replace. Within the last few drafts guys like Trey Murphy, Desmond Bane, Saddiq Bey, etc. have been available in the mid-late first round. There are also guys just in the last few years like Grant Williams, Keldon Johnson, and Grayson Allen that fit a similar profile. Point being, there are a couple of guys like Grimes available after the lottery every year.
On the other side of it, you don’t really find many guys with the offensive potential of Obi and Quickley outside of the lottery each year. Occasionally a team will hit on a Jordan Poole or Anfernee Simons, but there aren’t multiple available every year.
I think there is a current trend where players are who score regularly and efficiently within the context of an offense are undersold. I think Keegan Murry will be an example and I think Obi Toppin is one. I also think "superpowers" is another valuable way to access young players. What is there super power and can they build around it. Obi dunked the ball 5 times a game in college. Getting to the rim and finishing is his super power. Grimes super power is the beautiful stroke. Q's is is his bag. All of these kids have some auxiliary skill that they use in addition to there super power. Personally, I like the Toppin base. Its going to get him a lot shots that he is going to make at very high % and this means if the auxiliary skills are decent (35% from 3 maybe a little post turnaround an offensive rebound etc) you will always have very good production. Grimes super power makes driving much easier but I can't see him being as consistent with his super power as Obi (3s comes and go a little more). Q's super power is the most erratic and probably has the greatest highs. he has to hit hard shots but when he does he can totally dominate a game. Anyway felt like sharing. Thanks for the content as always
I kept hearing that about Durant a few years ago too . . . .it is also possible that the Knicks will consider the chase ended. As much as I love Mitchell's game and his persona, I don't believe he is worth "a package of historic proportions."
I’m thinking the story today with all of the new interested teams in Spida is a load of BS put out there by Ainge to try and get the Knicks to bite on his BS proposal.
I assume with Obi being a toss up means - I’d he goes they give up a little less draft compensation vs if he stays they give up more ?
Shams reporting the Knicks are no closer to a deal with Utah for Mitchell, than they had been last week. Or the week before. Or the week before that one. Maybe it is time for the Knicks to look around the league for other ways to use their draft stockpile?
Hey, Macri! Ya know, NYFS is the first thing I read every morning. Just absolutely love your content, every. Single. Day. Thanks so much for doing this!
TW, the biggest miss was not Kevin over Miles, I think, but Kevin over SGA, followed by Kevin over Bridges #1, etc. The biggest misses of Leon’s tenure have been Obi over TyHal, when we desperately needed a PG and he was extremely highly rated; and IQ over Desmond Bane, whom most draftniks, especially the analytics inclined, had rated higher than IQ - deservedly so, as it turns out.
I think that logically you’re right about whom to keep; but I also think the team is ready to move in from Randle, and so wants to hang onto Obi. Also I think keeping a 6-3 SG who is a poor shooter over a 6-5 SG who is a better shooter and defender is bad business. If it were me, I’d hang into Obi and Q at all costs. Q more for his D, actually, and Obi because, as you pointed out (I’m paraphrasing) if D’Antoni were the coach, Obi would have been in the conversation for ROY. He’s Amare with a better 3 pt shot. I still think there’s a ton of untapped potential there that’s gone unseen because of how he’s used, kinda like every guard who’s ever played for John Calipari.
I think Ainge wants either Q or Obi (or both), or else more picks, has dug in his heels, and Leon don’t budge. And maybe we have to prepare ourselves for the possibility that this deal doesn’t happen and Leon targets his 8 tradeable picks into a new direction. For example, although I’d never do it and I suspect (hope?) neither would Leon, but would 8 picks / pick swaps plus players get the knicks into a KD conversation? Probably yes on the picks and no on the players. But 6-8 picks is KD / AD territory, not DM territory, I think.
Man, your writeup tackled exactly what I've been pondering nonstop for the last week. Assuming they all have equal chance of reaching their ceiling I think Obi is the most indispensable of the 3 because he's the most unique, simply not as many super athletic 6'9" 7'2" wingspan guys even in NBA. And Grimes might have the highest pedigree from HS days but Obi is highest from college based on draft. Bottom line, does GM Macri walk away from deal that includes all the picks and one of Q/IQ + Obi? I would and be excited about Brunson and growth of our young guys
I actually feel like your chart provides more of a case that a guy like Grimes is the most expendable and easiest to replace. Within the last few drafts guys like Trey Murphy, Desmond Bane, Saddiq Bey, etc. have been available in the mid-late first round. There are also guys just in the last few years like Grant Williams, Keldon Johnson, and Grayson Allen that fit a similar profile. Point being, there are a couple of guys like Grimes available after the lottery every year.
On the other side of it, you don’t really find many guys with the offensive potential of Obi and Quickley outside of the lottery each year. Occasionally a team will hit on a Jordan Poole or Anfernee Simons, but there aren’t multiple available every year.