2025-26 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

if we could get Jarrett Allen in a S&T for Lebron, I think we have to do it. That would solve the starting center issue.

Then we replace Lebron with a defense-first guy. Lebron still a great player, but with Luka/Reaves on the team I think that's probably enough scorers/playmakers.

 

Luka and Porzingis didn't work the first time - no need to rehash it again.

Porzingis, Thybulle and Smart are all excellent defenders?

Adou also projects to be very good.

 

We aren't going to have a Wemby defence with Castle, Harper and Vassell on the perimeter, and we won't have a OKC perimeter defence either. We just don't have the horses - OKC has Wallace, Jalen Williams, Dort, Hartenstein, Chet and Caruso. Heck those two teams could make up the all defence teams.

All we need is a top 10 defence, we can make that happen. Luka is a smart defender (and I believe good), Lebron is definitely a good defender, Smart is still elite on that end. If you pair those guys with a very good defensive wing and big - we're good enough. Adou and Bronny might also surprise with their development on that end over the next 2-3 seasons.

Luka (Good) / Kennard (Bad) / Bronny (Good)
Reaves (Bad) / Smart (Good)
SF (Good) / Adou (Good) / Jake (Good)
Lebron (Good) / Rui (Bad)
Center (Good) / Hayes (Average)

In my opinion, Reaves and Rui have been average on that end and not flat out bad. Kennard at least rotates and is smart even if he can be abused. We can make that into a top 10 defense with the right application. Thybulle and Ware would transform us into a great defensive team.

Wish we could add Hart too in a trade...

 

Forgot to add Ellis

actually

Luka
Smart
Thybulle
Lebron
Porzingis

Reaves
James
Ellis
Hachimura
Hayes
Kennard

 

And Thiero.

 

the knicks are what i mean when i use the phrase "puncher's chance" every year. to me, that's the best we can hope for having to rebuild on the fly after the luka trade and during lebron's pre-retirement phase. we're not going to be able to build a team that would be favored to start the season. but we can be in that top 6 or so teams that if things break right, you can get a ring. the knicks got fully healthy at the right time, and everyone got hot from the perimeter at the right time. they do this a few more games, and they can beat either SA or okc. if they turn back into the same team they were most of the year, they lose.

anyway, that level of team is within our grasp. the knicks are only really 6-deep, imo. brunson, towns, bridges, anunoby, hart, robinson. shamet/mcbride/alvarado etc. are akin to kennard/hayes/ayton/etc.

our problem is that we have luka/lebron/reaves/?/?/? ahead of our equivalent role players. can rui and smart qualify as part of a top 6 like ny's? not quite, imo. or if they do, then that sixth player needs to be basically almost as good as reaves. so if you're keeping the band together, you need a trade for a serious impact player to add to that group without losing rui or smart. alternatively, if rui or smart leaves you need to add at least two players, each better than the player that left.

 

Remember Porzingis on Boston. How many championships Boston won since Porzingis left??

because his ability to space as a Center makes everybody a great shooter. We have the personel.

And he protects the rim. We’ve got Hayes who can take those other minutes. You have to have balance.

you’ve got three great ball handlers dynamic scorers Luka Reaves LeBron


Great athletes on the wing Thiero Thybulle Hachimura Smart


P.O.A. Defenders guards athletes Ellis James Smart

scorers shooters stretch power forwards small forwards Hachimura LeBron

stretch spacing center Porzingis

Jumping Jack center active center Hayes/Robert Williams.

 

New York is wayyyyyyy better than that Indiana team that took OKC to 7 games last season and that was Indiana almost winning if Haliburton doesn’t blow out his Achilles and tear his Achilles.

I see this Indiana team having wayyyy more balance they can really push OKC. And San Antonio they just aren’t there yet.

the bet in me says Knicks in 7. Unfortunately this sounds like Lakers pistons 2004.

 

What the Lakers need is Thiero to take an Andrew Bynum leap year 2 like he did with the Lakers. Where he looks like a completely different player.

 

I lie it . Except the Health concerns would be real.

I like this idea. I think its time to move on from Lebron. Its been 2020 since the Last time Lakers were a legit contender. It was not his fault just like this season again. However turning 42 and playing with Luka Austin not a great fit. Austin and Luka needs the same things Lebron at his age needs. Hustle energy grit. So its more logical to remove the oldest player in the league to address those needs. Lebron gets to go where it all started and get a proper sound off aand try to win once again.

 

I like it but the health concerns of this team would be real. Not just Porzingis. Boston overall was a good defensive team. Like clock work Porzingis got injured and Al stepped up. getting Austin in a bench role is good but dont see that happening.

 

please check the stats Porzingis got injured in the first round, and only came back in the middle of the finals during Boston's last championship run, so he almost didn't feature in that playoff run

 

We could probably build a Knicks light team if we wanted too.

Luka (49.5) / Smart (9.1) / Bronny (2.3)
Reaves (37) / Thybulle (6.5) / NSJ (2.5)
Watson (28) / Adou (2.1)
Lebron (20) / Rui (14) / Vet Min (2.5)
Turner (26.5) / Williams (6.5) / Hayes (2.5)

Sign Lebron to 20 and Rui to 14.

Offer Watson 28m.

With 1 incomplete roster charge you have 165m.

Offer Hayes and NSJ a minimum

Trade Vando and Ayton (20.5) and a first for Turner (26.5).

Trade Knecht and a pick (4.2) for S&T Robert Williams (6.5)

Trade Jake and a pick for S&T Thybulle/Ellis (6.5)

Offer Smart the room (9.1)

 

Technically

Luka > Brunson
Lebron = OG
Reaves > McBride
Watson =< Bridges
Turner < KAT
Smart =< Hart
Rui > Shamet
Williams =< Robinson
Thybulle = Clarkson

Do we have enough to beat OKC and Thunder? We’ll see how the final goes.

 

There is about a 2% chance Lebron ever agrees to a S&T

 

if he doesn't want to stay and wants to go to Cleveland (or another contender), and make more than the MLE, it's his only path.

 

This guy would know and he's on our staff now

 

The problem with that is, the only player on the team better than James, is Luka. We are going to have replace Lebron with a player that can deliver his production consistently, regular season and the playoffs. I honestly haven't seen a proposed roster presented yet, that doesn't involve LeBron, which I think is better without him.

Otherwise we're taking a step back IMO. Might take two guys temporarily. Nah..a Luka/Austin roster filled with role players that " fit better "? Yeah..the roster might "fit better", around those two, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's a better squad.

 

They should be able to sign or absorb a player with half their cap space and offer LeBron the other half.Then trade for another piece using their picks.