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Scotto: One factor I assumed was fascinating is the date that the Knicks acquired OG Anunoby offers them the chance to nonetheless supply an extension by the tip of the season. I by no means anticipated OG to take that with Toronto. I believe if he did, it will be somewhat bit beneath market worth. However do you see a world the place he possibly appears at that extension chance in a different way now with the Knicks? It’s roughly 4 years, $117 million.
Marks: Yeah, it’s nearly a median of $30 million. When OG received traded on December thirtieth, which was the deadline since there’s a six-month restriction for gamers who get traded for once they can prolong. I believe it’s definitely value speaking about right here. I believe quite a lot of it needed to do with getting him within the constructing for six months or getting him located as an alternative of doing a commerce deadline deal. Everybody thinks the commerce deadline is the midway level of the season. It’s not. Groups have already performed 50-55 video games. New York may supply him 4 years, $117 million on June thirtieth, or he can decline that choice after which turn into a free agent, they usually can doubtlessly signal him for as much as 5 years.
Scotto: What’s fascinating, I believe with the OG talks, was that wasn’t essentially the bundle the Knicks thought would get it executed. They’d completely different conversations from what I used to be informed, definitely with RJ Barrett being the point of interest as a Canadian man going to Toronto. The thought initially was it was going to be a number of draft picks (with Barrett). As a substitute, Toronto valued (Immanuel) Quickley greater than these picks. That’s how Quickley primarily ended up being in it, and I’d say the equal of two first-round picks within the eyes of Toronto. You get him below restricted free company management. They assume he’s a starting-caliber guard for that staff, and he’s thrived since.
The shift in pondering, as an alternative of a rebuild with picks, it’s extra of a retool, I’d say, with these guys. For the Knicks, it made issues fascinating as a result of they thought on the time they had been going to attempt to get each Anunoby and Dejounte Murray. My sense was there was a thought that Quickley can be doubtlessly going to Atlanta as an alternative, however Toronto received him first, and the Knicks prioritized Anunoby first. Now, the Knicks have Evan Fournier’s contract they’ll dangle, they usually’ve received a boatload of first-round picks.
Do you see them buying and selling extra for a man like Murray or a man that occurred to be within the constructing lately at MSG, Malcolm Brogdon, who would definitely be cheaper and a possible guard off the bench for them that would fill the scoring void of Quickley.
Marks: That’s a extremely good level. I believe the gamers which are incomes in that $20 million vary have extra worth than Zach LaVine and presumably Pascal Siakam, simply based mostly on how this collective bargaining settlement is about up right here. When you take a look at how the Knicks have structured their books, there’s no man on the roster making greater than $30 million. Ultimately, when Jalen (Brunson) is extension-eligible this offseason, he’ll in all probability get to make a extremely good quantity right here. When you’re New York, you’ve received the Fournier contract. He’s received a staff choice for subsequent 12 months, round $19 million. You’ve got as much as eight first-round picks you possibly can commerce. You’ve received your individual 4, and then you definitely’ve received Dallas, Milwaukee in 2025, after which the opposite two, I name them the 50 cents on the greenback picks, Detroit and the Wizards. The Washington choose possibly (involves fruition) down the highway. I don’t assume Detroit will ever come to fruition.
For Fournier, I believe there’s a timeline right here as a result of in case you let the deadline go, are you going to train his choice and produce him again on a $19 million wage and principally use it as a commerce chip? When you do, nice, however then you definitely’re going to need to pay OG. You’re going to need to in all probability pay Isaiah Hartenstein. Who is aware of what is going to occur with Treasured Achiuwa, who may very well be a restricted free agent? Then it begins including up. When you decline Fournier’s choice and there’s no commerce, then who’re your tradable contracts? Then you have got your worth guys Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, OG, Josh Hart, Donte DiVincenzo, and Mitchell Robinson, guys like that who’re a part of your core guys right here.
There’s that enterprise part of flipping that Fournier contract for a $20-22 million participant. And also you hit it proper on the top, Mike, whether or not or not it’s Dejounte Murray or Malcolm Brogdon. Murray simply signed that extension, and he’s received 4 years left after this 12 months. Brogdon’s received one other 12 months left and would slot in nice in New York. Are you able to do it (purchase Brogdon) for Fournier, and it will in all probability value you a one (first-round choose), and New York has 9 second-rounders accessible?
I do know all of us get caught up on these big-name guys, however these $20 million gamers, Bojan Bogdanovic, possibly even Bogdan Bogdanovic. Who is aware of what’s going to occur in Atlanta right here? I imply, principally it may very well be a hearth sale down there. When you’re New York, you’re that. I additionally learn what folks say that Murray is a Klutch man and that the Knicks and Klutch aren’t going to do enterprise. I perceive that world, however pay attention, in case you can exit and get a participant that may assist you to and he’s below contract, you don’t need to promote him on free company. You possibly can exit and do it if it is sensible.
If Fournier’s not dealt by the commerce deadline, I believe there’s an excellent probability that choice will get exercised, after which New York figures it out as a result of there’s going to be any individual accessible who’s disgruntled. Somebody goes to lose within the playoffs, and somebody goes to wish to break up their group. Who is aware of who it’s going to be. Is it going to be Donovan Mitchell? I don’t know.
