They can only guarantee we get 1 unprotected pick in 2028 or 2029 because of pick protections. So unless we setup a web of swaps and conditions the draft return is bad. If we have the right to swap 23/25 with the Minny picks and swap rights with our own pick in the even years then maybe it looks good. Maybe you could put language that if the pick they owe NY conveys in 2023 then we get 25/27/29?
I love Deni... but wanted him when we had Rudy and Donovan. Kispert is fine but like is he ever better than Joe Harris or Bojan? I'm super low on Davis. Smaller Evan Turner.
The narrative that we want young players on cheap deals is fine but what benefit does it really have when we will have infinity cap space. Why would we want to have guys that hit FA as the cap explodes (remember the Deng/Mozgov/Biyombo deals?) and as we are trying to be good. The big benefit to cheap players on rookie deals is they allow you to pay other stars and have a window where you have productive rookies and stars. These guys will get expensive when our stars are starting to get good. Having some rookies allows you to take on some salary dumps... but there are limits there. OKC sat like 10M below the salary floor last year.
If we did the deal its because of the draft capital (valuing the swaps a lot if the NY pick doesn't convey). Their young players are fine but none have star potential... which is something we need to get out of the draft.
As far as players we have discussed being in the Don deal I'd rank them as follows:
- RJ
- Herro
- Grimes
- Deni
- Toppin
- Quickley
- Kispert
- Davis
We want good players to develop but who arent near their peak yet because we want to lose for a year or two.
The Washington players are perfect for that. You are greatly underrating Kispert and Davis.
Davis would be a perfect player for the Jazz. He's probably going to be bad this year, but he's also the 3rd best primary scoring option of those players (behind RJ and Herro). Get him the reps and lose a bunch of games.
And yeah, eventually everyone who is good is going to get paid. You can't have a forever core unless your owner is Joe Lacob and you are in a market that prints cash.
To me a good young prospect with starting potential is worth 2 picks. Think about it, if you could guarantee your team always drafts a least a good rotation player, you'd rather have a pick every other year than every year (unless you are talking lottery picks).
We are greatly overrating these future picks from the Knicks. They are on an upward trajectory. They have good management in place now. IF they get Mitchell, even if they greatly overpay, I think they are going to be a solid team for years to come. Mitchell will attract a big time co-star in NYK. He's going to get the **** marketed out of him. He's going to put up huge numbers. I think the 2023/2025 Knicks picks will probably be better than the 2027/2029 Knicks picks.
If the Knicks give the godfather, sure. You can flip those picks later. That's great and I dont mind waiting, but the Wizards package (if they are offering all 3 of those players) is good.
