Trolls

All is well in Warrior Land.&nbsp;
Klay Thompson&rsquo;s back from his 941-day hiatus, and he&rsquo;s rekindled his usual splashiness with an added wrinkle of <a href="https://twitter.com/matissa15/status/1496510661760802825?s=20&amp;t=Qta8WZ8OI-9IaVhpLWaXgg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dribble creation</a>. Draymond Green has resurrected his podcast career and should be back on the floor shortly. Andrew Wiggins may not be an All-Star starter in impact, but he's still playing like a <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/99-2022-sub-all-stars/id1428290303?i=1000550498698" target="_blank" rel="noopener">top-50 player</a>. Youngsters Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/longawaited-return-of-james-wiseman-will-fill-warriors-only-void" target="_blank" rel="noopener">James Wiseman</a> (via Twitter workout videos) show just enough flashes to keep Warriors to Twitter at Bay (ha, get it).
I repeat: All is well in Warrior Land, set up to compete now and well into the future.
So what then, is this all about?
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
The Warriors will reportedly look to lock up one of their young stars this offseason <a href="https://t.co/zOW0f8yfkX">https://t.co/zOW0f8yfkX</a>
&mdash; Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSWarriors/status/1496309488965632006?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2022</a></blockquote>

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To figure it out, I caught up with Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle &mdash; the man credited with <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/warriors/article/Andrew-Wiggins-is-an-All-Star-but-how-much-16936511.php#photo-22091414" target="_blank" rel="noopener">breaking this story</a>:
&ldquo;My understanding is that the Warriors will try to sign Poole to a contract extension this summer, which would keep him from hitting restricted free agency in summer 2023," Letourneau told BasketballNews.com. "To get a deal done, Golden State will probably have to ink him to a contract in the four-year, $80 million range."
On the surface, that seems like a gross overpay, particularly when you factor in Golden State's current salary-cap situation. Letourneau followed up on that.
&ldquo;The Warriors think he's worth it. And I don't blame them," Letourneau said. "Poole has improved more in the past two years than perhaps anyone else in the NBA, and he's only 22. I could see him becoming a CJ McCollum type. But then again, I should know better than to put a ceiling on him. He has far exceeded every projection I've had for him to this point.&rdquo;
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Great point. And I like the McCollum comparison, but I&rsquo;d take it a step further. When I see the wirey, chaotic guard blazing across the court and soaring into the air, I get flashes of Zach Lavine &mdash; a player who cashed in a similar deal not too long ago.
In the summer of 2018, Lavine inked a four-year, $76 million dollar deal with Chicago (as a restricted free agent). Here is how he compared to Poole at the time:
Lavine 2017-18 v. Poole 2021-22 (mobile users scroll right for full table)
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 11.9184%;">
Player
</td>
<td style="width: 9.07877%;">
Age
</td>
<td style="width: 11.8825%;">
% of Cap*
</td>
<td style="width: 16.8224%;">
PTS per 75**
</td>
<td style="width: 20.6943%;">
Relative TS%**
</td>
<td style="width: 17.6235%;">
FTA per 75**
</td>
<td style="width: 11.8799%;">
AST%**
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 11.9184%;">
Lavine
</td>
<td style="width: 9.07877%;">
22
</td>
<td style="width: 11.8825%;">
&asymp; 19.1%
</td>
<td style="width: 16.8224%;">
22.4
</td>
<td style="width: 20.6943%;">
-5.7
</td>
<td style="width: 17.6235%;">
6.0
</td>
<td style="width: 11.8799%;">
18.6%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 11.9184%;">
Poole
</td>
<td style="width: 9.07877%;">
22
</td>
<td style="width: 11.8825%;">
&asymp; 16.5%
</td>
<td style="width: 16.8224%;">
20.7
</td>
<td style="width: 20.6943%;">
+2.1
</td>
<td style="width: 17.6235%;">
4.0
</td>
<td style="width: 11.8799%;">
18.7%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
* Data provided by Spotrac
** Data provided by Basketball-Reference
Of course, Lavine has since progressed to All-Star status and earned himself a reputation as one of the <a href="https://megaphone.link/BNI9684843880" target="_blank" rel="noopener">20 best offensive players</a> in basketball. He&rsquo;s worth every penny the Bulls paid him way back when.&nbsp;
If I was a betting man, I&rsquo;d put a reasonable amount of Prize Picks money on Poole doing the same.
Now, this is the part where someone pulls this up:
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Not every young player that shows promise ends up being a future All-Star.
&mdash; Mat Issa (@matissa15) <a href="https://twitter.com/matissa15/status/1492202101803470855?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2022</a></blockquote>

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True, but Poole isn&rsquo;t like other young players.
For starters, at age-22, he&rsquo;s already adept at scoring at all three levels of the basketball court. Stepback three-pointers, balletic mid-range floaters, herky-jerky dribble moves into gallant attacks at the rim. All those things are firmly in his wheelhouse. How do I know that? He literally flashed it all in less than *checks clock* five minutes of game time.&nbsp;
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" src="https://streamable.com/e/wcbjkc" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
Outside of the All-Star trio (Ja Morant, Zion Williamson and Darius Garland), the player who gets the most air time from the 2019 NBA Draft class is Tyler Herro, which is fair. He&rsquo;s made some <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/miami-heat-tyler-herro-is-pulling-up-to-the-party" target="_blank" rel="noopener">massive strides</a> this year. But why aren&rsquo;t people making outlandish claims about Poole like this?
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Anonymous NBA scout on Tyler Herro &ldquo;He got screwed out of the All-Star Game. He should have been there. ... I would not give up Herro [in a package] for [Bradley] Beal this summer.&ldquo;<a href="https://t.co/bREQEd7jsC">https://t.co/bREQEd7jsC</a>
&mdash; NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheNBACentral/status/1496255919851769856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Poole's shooting splits are just as promising:
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 172px;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 16.8407%;">
Player
</td>
<td style="width: 25.5007%;">
Rim %*
</td>
<td style="width: 30.3071%;">
Midrange %*
</td>
<td style="width: 27.3195%;">
Three Point %*
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 16.8407%;">
Herro
</td>
<td style="width: 25.5007%;">
59%
</td>
<td style="width: 30.3071%;">
41%
</td>
<td style="width: 27.3195%;">
38%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 16.8407%;">
Poole
</td>
<td style="width: 25.5007%;">
66%
</td>
<td style="width: 30.3071%;">
46%
</td>
<td style="width: 27.3195%;">
34%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
 * Data provided by Cleaning the Glass
Poole is converting shots at the rim and from the mid-range at a significantly higher rate than Herro. And while his three-pointer may be lagging behind, his league-leading free throw percentage (92.2%) is a strong indicator that he&rsquo;ll figure it out from beyond the arc.
Also, for my volume stans out there, Poole has maintained his True Shooting percentage from last year (58.1%), despite taking nearly four more shots per game.&nbsp;
As it stands, his passing is how you say ~ <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/the-most-volatile-scorers-in-basketball-right-now" target="_blank" rel="noopener">volatile</a> ~ seesawing between sublime and errant depending on the possession (hence his career-highs in assist and turnover rate). When it&rsquo;s working, though, things get freaky:
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I loved Poole coming out of Michigan because of his flexibility on his dribbles, taking some crazy angles with his body before hitting Kevon with the bounce pass out of the empty side pick and roll for an open dunk <a href="https://t.co/jXRSvj7UvY">pic.twitter.com/jXRSvj7UvY</a>
&mdash; Charlie Cummings (@klaytheist11) <a href="https://twitter.com/klaytheist11/status/1478477992108204038?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2022</a></blockquote>

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One thing that should stand out to you about that clip (gifted to us by the venerable Charlie Cummings) is Poole&rsquo;s ability to draw two to the ball. That occurrence should trigger memories of this:
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Just for you <a href="https://twitter.com/matissa15?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@matissa15</a> <a href="https://t.co/ADyfyywN9C">pic.twitter.com/ADyfyywN9C</a>
&mdash; Charlie Cummings (@klaytheist11) <a href="https://twitter.com/klaytheist11/status/1496897560748826673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2022</a></blockquote>

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I&rsquo;m not the first person to make that connection &mdash; <a href="https://uproxx.com/dimemag/jordan-pool-golden-state-warriors-analysis-videos/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jackson Frank</a> and <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2022/1/4/22866338/warriors-heat-jordan-poole-film-breakdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joe Viray</a> have written about this &mdash; but Poole&rsquo;s gravity (second-best on the team) enables him to temporarily masquerade as the resident, baby-faced assassin within the Warriors' offensive system. This ability to temporarily operate as the team&rsquo;s lead guard and short-roll ignitor takes a massive burden off the chiseled shoulders of Curry, who has had a history of gradually breaking down during the second half of the season (see the 2016 playoffs).
Also, it&rsquo;s worth noting that very few players can be the understudy of one of 10 best offensive players ever.
One last note I want to make about Poole is regarding his character, which is normally something I try to avoid (it&rsquo;s mainly speculation unless you know the person). But when so many people sing your praises, that has to mean something. Listen to this great clip of two of the best basketball minds ever talking about his maturation as a decision-maker:
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Both Steve Kerr and Steph Curry mentioned this specific Jordan Poole transition pass last night as a sign of growth. The play and the soundbites <a href="https://t.co/Gt2eFlqOJt">pic.twitter.com/Gt2eFlqOJt</a>
&mdash; Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) <a href="https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater/status/1463937921489129484?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2021</a></blockquote>

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That&rsquo;s how everyone from the championship crew talks about him. Curry, Green, Thompson, Andre Iguodala &mdash; they all love Poole's guts. Game recognizes game. They see the fierceness, the swagger, the hunger and the relentless quest for knowledge and skill.
When you combine that package of intangibles with the product you see on the court, $20 million dollars annually looks like a bargain.
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Mat Issa dives into Jordan Poole's value to the Warriors and why extending him should be a no-brainer.

Why the Warriors don't need to worry about paying Jordan Poole

The New York Knicks enter the 2021 NBA offseason with more potential cap space than any other team in the league, as New York can clear out up to $50 million in space if they choose to renounce all of their own free agents. Their primary objective is using that cap space to acquire a superstar. However, the only true max-level player in this year's <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/2021-nba-free-agency-ranking-kawhi-leonard-chris-paul-and-the-top-10-offseason-players-on-market" target="_blank" rel="noopener">free-agent class</a> is Kawhi Leonard, who is dealing with a partially torn ACL that may sideline him for the entirety of the 2021-22 season. The potential second-best player in the class is a 36-year-old point guard with a $44 million player option, so there&rsquo;s no guarantee he&rsquo;ll ever hit the open market.
Another avenue to acquiring a superstar is utilizing your available cap space to trade for a disgruntled stud. I have explained, in detail, why I think the Knicks should <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/the-knicks-should-prepare-to-go-allin-for-damian-lillard-new-york-trade-rumors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pursue Damian Lillard</a> if he wants out of Portland. There are also rumblings that Wizards All-Star Bradley Beal may demand a trade.
Yet, despite all the juicy gossip, the most likely scenario in each case is Kawhi re-signing with the Clippers, CP3 staying in Phoenix and Lillard and Beal starting next season in Portland and Washington, respectively.
So, where would that leave New York? How would team president Leon Rose choose to utilize his cap space?
First and foremost, it's important to note that the Knicks can choose to keep most of their powder dry. New York is considered a team on the rise not just because they exceeded expectations last season, but also because they have shrewdly managed their cap, avoiding the temptation to overpay big-name veterans on the downslope of their career.
Nonetheless, if the Knicks begin the free agency frenzy with $50 million, they'll need to spend a healthy chunk of that just to reach the league's minimum salary floor (per the collective bargaining agreement, every NBA team has to spend at least 90% of the salary cap on player salaries.)
Here are some players the Knicks may target when teams can start negotiating with free agents on August 2 at 6:00 p.m. ET.
Devonte' Graham - Restricted Graham enjoyed a true breakout season in 2019-20, averaging a whopping 18.2 points, 7.5 assists and 3.5 made three-pointers per game. He took a bit of a step back this past season, but still poured in 14.8 points and dished out 5.4 assists (vs. 1.5 turnovers) in 30 minutes a night. It's also worth noting that he posted the best net rating on the team in 2020-21. The Hornets outscored their opponents by 98 points with Graham on the floor last season and were outscored by 237 points with Graham on the bench. He also became one of just four players in league history to average at least nine three-point attempts per game while shooting above 37% from downtown. The other three are Steph Curry, Dame Lillard and Buddy Hield. Many pundits assume the Hornets will match any reasonable offer Graham receives this summer, but ESPN's <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/31891612/nba-free-agency-2021-shaped-point-guard-movement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brian Windhorst reported</a> Tuesday that the Hornets "are believed to be interested in extending Terry&nbsp;Rozier and Miles Bridges, plus need to sign a starting center, all of which could squeeze their finances." At 26, Graham is entering the heart of his prime. It would be fascinating to see what kind of offer would scare off the Hornets, who obviously view LaMelo Ball as a cornerstone of the franchise.
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_16106044_lg.jpg" alt="" width="727" height="485" />
Victor Oladipo - Unrestricted Here's a startling reminder of just how dramatically an NBA player's value can fluctuate over a single season. Less than 10 months ago, in October 2020, Mark Berman of the New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2020/10/05/knicks-eyeing-victor-oladipo-amid-offseason-possibilities/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported that</a>, with respect to an Oladipo trade, "One NBA personnel man said Dallas' two first-round picks (2021, 2023), Julius Randle and Dennis Smith Jr. or Frank Ntilikina could whet the Pacers' appetite." It&rsquo;s remarkable to think how much Randle's stock has improved since then. On the other hand, the career of Oladipo &mdash; who was named an All-Star in both 2018 and 2019 &mdash; has been derailed by injuries. Oladipo will not be ready for the start of the 2021-22 season as he recovers from surgery to repair a partially torn tendon in his right quad and could <a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article252111543.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> be sidelined until "mid-December at the earliest." Does Dipo prefer to sign a one-year "make good" contract to rebuild his value? Or will he look to ink a multi-year deal in order to rehab correctly, rather than potentially being pressured to rush back to the court? Either way, New York should have some interest.
Duncan Robinson - Restricted The Knicks' remarkable improvement from downtown was a crucial factor in their surprising success this past season. After finishing dead last in three-point makes in 2019-20 (New York was the only team in the league to average fewer than 10 made treys per game), the Knicks converted 39.2% of their long-distance attempts in 2020-21, which tied for the second-best mark in the NBA. However, two of the team's best shooters (Alec Burks and Reggie Bullock) are free agents. And is it safe to assume that Julius Randle, who shot 27.7% from deep in 2019-20, will again shoot above 41% from behind the arc as he did last season? Should the Knicks decide not to bring Burks and/or Bullock back, they will desperately need to add some marksmen. Robinson is one of only three players in NBA history to average more than eight three-point attempts per game while shooting above 40% in multiple seasons. The other two players in this elite club are Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. He's also durable, having appeared in 147 consecutive games dating back to 2019. Since he is restricted, the Heat will have the opportunity to match any offer he receives.
Serge Ibaka - Player Option Ibaka struggled through an injury-plagued 2020-21 season with the Clippers, but last year at this time, he was a highly-valued big man. In 2019-20 &mdash; his 11th season in the league &mdash; Ibaka averaged a career-high 15.4 points to go along with 8.2 rebounds and 1.3 made three-pointers. In the 27 games he started for the Toronto Raptors, he averaged 18.3 points and 9.2 rebounds while shooting over 55% from the floor and 43.7% from downtown. A consistent two-way performer his entire career, Ibaka is the only player in NBA history to make more than 500 three-pointers and block more than 1,500 shots. Someone is going to get a great value contract if Ibaka can stay healthy. That, of course, assumes that he opts out, which seems likely considering the potential payday that could await this offseason.
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Lauri Markkanen - Restricted Markkanen is a very difficult player to gauge. On the negative side of the ledger, his production has dipped dramatically in each of the past two years, and he's been unable to avoid assorted injuries, having played fewer than 55 games in three consecutive seasons. Nonetheless, this is a talented seven-footer who can stretch the floor, is still just 24 years of age, and averaged 18.7 points and nine rebounds during his age-21 season. It will be interesting to see what kind of offers he receives, and what the Bulls will be willing to match.
T.J. McConnell - Unrestricted Make no mistake, point guard is, by far, the Knicks' most glaring need. Elfrid Payton, last year's starter, won't be back, Derrick Rose is a free agent, and Immanuel Quickley frequently played off the ball as a rookie. If New York is unable (or unwilling) to pony for a big-name point guard, might they go in a different direction? In many respects, McConnell brings many of the attributes to the table coach Tom Thibodeau desires, namely defensive intensity. A gritty, pesky defender, McConnell led the entire league in steal percentage last season at <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2021_advanced.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3.4%</a> (Jimmy Butler was the only other player in the NBA to post a steal rate north of 3%). Although he's limited offensively, McConnell was efficient last season, shooting 55.9% from the floor. He's also an unselfish facilitator who takes care of the ball and is content to set up his teammates. In 2020-21, McConnell was one of just eight players to record an assist rate above 34% and a true shooting percentage above 58%. The other seven members of this elite club were Dame Lillard, Chris Paul, Jimmy Butler, LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Trae Young and Nikola Jokic.
Kyle Lowry - Unrestricted Lowry is a proven winner, a terrific defender, and a reliable, efficient scorer; essentially, he&rsquo;s everything the Knicks have been missing at the point guard position for the better part of two decades. However, according to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Lowry's free-agency <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/sixers/sixers-among-teams-interested-kyle-lowry-nba-free-agency-20210727.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;asking price&rdquo;</a> is $90 million over three seasons. That's a hefty price to pay for a player already on the wrong side of 35, especially for a Knicks team that is not simply one piece away from title contention.
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Spencer Dinwiddie - Player Option Dinwiddie has bantered back-and-forth with Knicks fans on social media the last few years, but there is no denying his impact on the court. In 2019-20, he averaged 20.6 points, 6.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds. It's been more than 40 years since a Knicks point guard averaged more than 20/6/3 over an entire season. Yet, like Lowry, Dinwiddie may price himself out of the Knicks&rsquo; target range. Dinwiddie, who played only three games last season due to a partially torn ACL, is reportedly seeking $25 million per year.
Goran Dragic - Team Option Miami holds a team option on Dragic for next season worth $19.4 million. If the Heat decide to go in another direction, Dragic would be an enticing option for New York, assuming he&rsquo;d be willing to sign a short-term deal. Although he would provide the club with an immediate upgrade at a position of need, it is important to note that he is 35 years old and has been primarily coming off the bench over his last two seasons. Entering the 2021-22 campaign with Dragic and Derrick Rose as your two point guards could be courting trouble.
Lonzo Ball - Restricted Reading the tea leaves, it seems less and less likely the Pelicans are willing to make a lucrative long-term commitment to Ball. Brian Windhorst of <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/31891612/nba-free-agency-2021-shaped-point-guard-movement">ESPN wrote</a> this week that New Orleans is targeting Lowry and has an interest in Dinwiddie, adding that "league executives believe the Pelicans are willing to let Ball go if he gets an aggressive offer sheet or they find a different option." Shams Charania of The Athletic <a href="https://theathletic.com/2703448/2021/07/13/sixers-opening-up-ben-simmons-trade-talks-knicks-interested-in-collin-sexton-plus-more-nba-news/?source=twitterhq" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> earlier this month the Pels are unlikely to match a significant offer. Ian Begley of SNY has <a href="https://www.sny.tv/articles/spencer-dinwiddie-demar-derozan-knicks-free-agency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the same. Many Knicks fans seem to be enamored with Ball, but it should be considered a major red flag that the Pels seems unwilling to bring him back. Ball, who is just 23, received the endorsement of the face of the franchise, Zion Williamson. That there still seems to be some trepidation on New Orleans&rsquo; part is interesting, to say the least. Ball's upside is tantalizing, but I'd pass if his price tag approaches the $100 million mark.
Cameron Payne - Unrestricted Payne earned himself a massive pay raise over the past couple of months by establishing himself as a legit NBA rotation player in the crucible of the playoffs. However, before arriving in Phoenix, Payne shot below 40% from the floor and 33% from behind the arc over his first three years in the league. He turns 27 next month. Is it possible he plays significantly better than he did this past season? Some team will offer Payne a lucrative long-term deal, but I let another team roll the dice if I'm Leon Rose.
Malik Monk - Restricted Monk (who was drafted with the 11th overall pick in the 2017 draft &mdash; ahead of Donovan Mitchell and Bam Adebayo) has failed to live up to expectations. Monk has made just one career start and has averaged 9.1 points, two rebounds and 1.8 assists in 233 appearances while shooting 40.3% and 33.9% from downtown. No, thanks.
DeMar DeRozan - Unrestricted While maybe not as appealing as several other younger players on the open market, DeRozan remains criminally underrated by #BasketballTwitter, in my opinion. Yeah, I know he's 32, is not a great defender, doesn't shoot threes, etc. We know what he doesn't do well, but consider this: Over the past two seasons, only four players have averaged at least 20 points and five assists per game while shooting over 50% from the floor: LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and DeRozan. While not a perfect fit on the Knicks roster, New York had trouble finding offense late in games last season. DeRozan immediately addresses that need. If he's willing to sign at a discount, some team will get a significant value contract.
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_16111936_lg.jpg" alt="" width="729" height="486" />
---
While some of the names appearing on this list might not be the most glamorous, there is definitely value to be found here if you're the New York Knicks. That's especially true if the team clears out the as much salary cap space as it possibly can this offseason.

Poised to be the league-leader in cap space this offseason, here are some players who could make sense for the New York Knicks.

Knicks free-agent targets: 12 names that could fit in New York

The NBA's 2021 free-agency period begins in less than a month, as teams will be able to start negotiating with free agents on August 2 at 6 p.m. EST. (There will be a moratorium period until August 6, at which point teams can officially sign free agents.)
Here are the 10 players expected to top most team's wishlists:
1. Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers -- Player Option
STATS: 24.8 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 5.2 APG, 1.6 SPG, 51.2% FG
Leonard can exercise his $36 million player option for the 2021-22 season or become an unrestricted free agent this summer. If his preference is remaining in Los Angeles, Kawhi could opt-in and immediately sign a four-year extension worth approximately $181.5 million. Leonard might also consider inking a two-year, $80.6 million contract with a player option for the second year. This would allow Kawhi to decline the option next summer and, <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/31566044/offseason-moves-la-clippers-kawhi-leonard-big-decision" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to ESPN's Bobby Marks</a>, sign the largest contract in NBA history: $235 million over five years.
Leonard's future is clouded a bit by the torn ACL he suffered in the playoffs; however, Kawhi is one of the very few players in the league who could demand (and receive) max money even as he is recovering from a serious knee issue. As a reminder, Leonard is one of only three players in NBA history with a Defensive Player of the Year award, Finals MVP award and All-Star Game MVP award on his resume. The others are Michael Jordan and Giannis Antetokounmpo (who just joined the exclusive club this month).
2. Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns -- Player Option
STATS: 16.4 PPG, 8.9 APG, 4.5 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 39.5% 3P 
Six months ago, it was considered a foregone conclusion that CP3, at age 36, would opt-in to the final year of his contract, which is worth a whopping $44.4 million. Last year, Houson Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/regardless-of-2021-nba-finals-outcome-chris-paul-already-a-winner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly characterized</a> Paul's contract as "the worst that he'd ever seen in business or sports."
Fast-forward to today, and Paul &mdash; <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/regardless-of-2021-nba-finals-outcome-chris-paul-already-a-winner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">after a phenomenal regular season and an even more impressive playoff run</a> &mdash; had the Phoenix Suns within two wins of a championship. As a result, it has been rumored that CP3 intends to sign a new multi-year deal worth north of $100 million.
3. Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors -- Unrestricted
STATS: 17.2 PPG, 7.3 APG, 5.4 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 39.6% 3P
Despite having celebrated his 35th birthday in March, Lowry is still playing at a very high level, having averaged 17.2 points, 7.3 assists and 5.4 rebounds on 43.6/39.6/85.7 shooting splits in 2020-21. When asked about his future plans after the season ended, Lowry <a href="https://t.co/e2XQYuDzpu?amp=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">seemed to hint</a> his days in Toronto may have come to an end.
"Money talks, and years talk, and all that stuff," <a href="https://theathletic.com/2597373/2021/05/18/koreen-is-kyle-lowry-more-likely-to-leave-the-raptors-than-stay/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lowry said</a>. "Let's be real. I play this game for the love of the game, but at the end of the day, I want to make sure my family is still taken care of for generations and the time to come. Even though they are now, I wanna continue to be able to do that for my family, and when I pass away, [their families]."
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4. John Collins, Atlanta Hawks -- Restricted
STATS: 17.6 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.0 BPG, 55.6% FG, 39.9% 3P 
After averaging over 21 points and 10 rebounds in 2019-20, Collins' numbers dipped a bit this past season, as he averaged 17.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.3 made threes in 29.3 minutes per contest during the regular season. In the playoffs, Collins averaged 13.9 points and 8.7 boards in 32.0 minutes a night.
He'll have plenty of suitors in free agency, but the Hawks can match any offer he receives. Expect them to do just that, as Collins (at just 23 years of age) was a vital part of a team that advanced all the way to Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Collins has said he hopes to re-sign with Atlanta this summer.
5. Mike Conley Jr., Utah Jazz -- Unrestricted
STATS: 16.2 PPG, 6.0 APG, 1.4 SPG, 44.4% FG, 41.2% 3P 
Conley is coming off a fantastic season in Utah in which he earned his first All-Star berth while averaging 16.2 points, 6.0 assists (versus just 1.9 turnovers), 3.5 rebounds and career-high 2.7 three-pointers, while shooting over 44% from the floor, 41% from downtown and 85% from the free-throw stripe. On the flip side of the coin, Conley will turn 34 before the start of next season and has a problematic injury history. Conley missed 25 games due to injury this past season, and hasn't played in more than 70 games in a single season since 2013-14. Nonetheless, <a href="https://theathletic.com/2689414/2021/07/05/utah-jazz-want-mike-conley-to-return-finding-more-guard-and-wing-depth-on-a-budget-offseason-questions/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to Tony Jones of The Athletic</a>, the Jazz "will make every attempt" to bring Conley back to Utah.
6. DeMar DeRozan, San Antonio Spurs -- Unrestricted
STATS: 21.6 PPG, 6.9 APG, 4.2 RPG, 49.5% FG, 88.0% FT 
DeRozan, a mid-range assassin who will turn 32 next month, continues to get buckets efficiently. Over the last two seasons, he's averaged 21.9 points per game while converting 51.4% of his field goal attempts and 86.2% of his free throws. In addition, DeRozan has been durable throughout his career and has increased his worth by improving as a passer. In 2020-21, DeRozan averaged a career-high 6.9 assists per game.
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7. Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers -- Restricted
STATS: 12.0 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 3.1 OREB, 1.4 BPG, 61.8% FG 
After landing in Cleveland as part of the Brooklyn Nets' trade for James Harden, Allen was a force inside for the Cavs. He averaged 13.2 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 51 games (40 starts) for Cleveland. Having just turned 23 years old in April, there will be widespread interest in Allen's services. <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/cavs/2021/03/will-cleveland-cavaliers-be-able-to-trade-andre-drummond-or-have-to-settle-for-a-buyout-hey-chris.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com</a> predicted that Allen might receive offers north of $100 million. The Cavs traded a 2022 first-round pick to the Rockets to acquire Allen, and he <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-cleveland-cavaliers-banking-on-organic-growth-supplementing-talent-to-take-next-step" target="_blank" rel="noopener">played very well alongside the team's young core</a>, so it's safe to assume they'll match any reasonable offer he receives.
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8. Lonzo Ball, New Orleans Pelicans -- Restricted
STATS: 14.6 PPG, 5.7 APG, 4.8 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 37.8% 3P 
Ball is one of the more polarizing free agents on the open market. After shooting just 45% from the free-throw line and 30.5% from downtown as a rookie, Lonzo re-worked the form on his jumper and has made impressive improvements as a shooter. In 2020-21, he posted career-highs in field-goal percentage (41.4%), three-point percentage (37.8%) and free-throw percentage (78.1%), to go along with 14.6 points, 5.7 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game. Ball, who averaged 1.5 steals and 2.5 deflections in under 32 minutes per contest, is also a solid defender. Will he continue to improve?
It's also worth noting that Lonzo has a close relationship with the face of the franchise in New Orleans. "I really would want Zo to come back. He knows that," <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/lonzo-ball-would-love-to-return-to-pelicans-in-free-agency-and-zion-williamson-agrees-i-hope-he-stays/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Zion Williamson said in May</a>. "Zo is a grown man, so he'll make the decision that's best for him. The only thing I can say is, I hope he stays." It will be very interesting to see if another team is willing to approach $100 million, and if such a lucrative contract would scare off the Pels.
9. Dennis Schroder, Los Angeles Lakers -- Unrestricted
STATS: 15.4 PPG, 5.8 APG, 1.1 SPG, 43.7% FG, 83.8% FT 
After turning down a contract extension during the 2020-21 season worth $84 million over four years from the Lakers, Schroder is <a href="https://www.talkbasket.net/129988-dennis-schroder-expects-to-get-100-120m-contract-per-german-basketball-official" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly "expecting" to sign a deal in the range of $100-$120 million</a> this summer. The Lakers are in a tight spot considering they are a win-now team with limited options in free agency. They will likely be willing to overpay to keep Schroder on the squad; however, Los Angeles will be hard-pressed to ink Schroder to that massive number following his relatively disappointing and inconsistent play during the regular season and playoffs.
10. Duncan Robinson - Miami Heat - Restricted
STATS: 13.1 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.8 APG, 43.9% FG, 40.8% 3P
As we know, capable long-range shooters are highly valued in today's NBA &mdash; and Robinson has established himself as a lethal long-distance gunner. This past season, Robinson knocked down his 500th career three-pointer in just his 152nd career game, becoming <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-news-duncan-robinson-becomes-fastest-player-in-nba-history-to-make-500-threes-miami-heat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the fastest player in NBA history to connect on his 500th triple</a> (ahead of Luka Doncic and Damian Lillard, who rank second and third, respectively). Robinson, who has played in 147-straight games dating back to 2019, is also one of only three players in NBA history to average more than eight treys per game and shoot above 40% from downtown in multiple seasons. The other two players in this elite club are the Splash Brothers, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. Granted, Robinson doesn't bring much to the table besides three-point marksmanship, but remember that the Wizards agreed to sign Davis Bertans to a 5-year, $80 million deal last summer.&nbsp;
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Best of the Rest:&nbsp; Norman Powell, Portland Trail Blazers -- Player Option&nbsp; Lauri Markkanen, Chicago Bulls -- Restricted&nbsp; Richaun Holmes, Sacramento Kings -- Unrestricted&nbsp; Andre Drummond, Los Angeles Lakers -- Unrestricted&nbsp; Tim Hardaway Jr., Dallas Mavericks -- Unrestricted&nbsp; Spencer Dinwiddie, Brooklyn Nets -- Player Option&nbsp; Kelly Oubre, Golden State Warriors -- Unrestricted&nbsp; Gary Trent Jr., Toronto Raptors -- Restricted&nbsp; Devonte' Graham, Charlotte Hornets -- Restricted&nbsp; Evan Fournier, Boston Celtics -- Unrestricted&nbsp; Goran Dragic, Miami Heat -- Team Option&nbsp; Montrezl Harrell, Los Angeles Lakers -- Player Option&nbsp; Josh Richardson, Dallas Mavericks -- Player Option&nbsp; Talen Horton-Tucker, Los Angeles Lakers -- Restricted&nbsp; Serge Ibaka, Los Angeles Clippers -- Player Option&nbsp; Will Barton, Denver Nuggets -- Player Option Kendrick Nunn, Miami Heat -- Restricted

Tommy Beer previews the upcoming NBA free-agent class and ranks the 10-best players who will be available this summer.

2021 NBA free-agent rankings: The top-10 players on the market

We&rsquo;re midway through the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs and we&rsquo;ve seen some great performances. Both from a team standpoint and on an individual level.
I love playoff time because it&rsquo;s a proving ground. Young players with promise get to show that they&rsquo;re the real deal, while the contenders get separated from the pretenders.
When it comes to the playoffs, there are always some interesting storylines and matchups to follow, but the one I&rsquo;m most interested in is the 3-6 series out West: the Denver Nuggets vs. the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Nuggets took Game 3 and regained homecourt advantage, but I picked Portland to win the series. Obviously, after the loss, Game 4 is a must-win if I&rsquo;m going to be right, so Damian Lillard and his guys definitely have their backs up against wall.
Personally, I&rsquo;m hoping Portland finds a way to win and that we get an extended series, because I love everything about watching these teams match up &mdash; Lillard, Nikola Jokic, Michael Porter Jr. and Carmelo Anthony are all reasons why.
There are a lot of interesting things to watch for, with Lillard being top of mind for me.
We&rsquo;re living in this era of &ldquo;super-teams&rdquo; and guys joining forces to win, but it&rsquo;s admirable the way that Dame has remained loyal to Portland, both as an organization and a city.
In some ways, you could compare Dame to Paul Pierce. In those lean years, Pierce remained loyal to Boston and eventually got a title and a Finals MVP out of it. But he had a legendary franchise and a great city to help recruit talent. Dame doesn&rsquo;t really have that.
All due respect to Portland, but among NBA players, it&rsquo;s not one of those places you look forward to playing a road game.
Los Angeles? For sure. Miami? Hell yeah. New York and Boston. Definitely.
Portland? Not so much.
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There&rsquo;s a reason why the team has had to build through the draft and trades; unless they grossly overpay for a talented free agent, guys aren&rsquo;t typically excited about moving out to the Pacific Northwest. &lsquo;Melo himself is an example of that.
Dame doesn&rsquo;t care about any of that, though.
Every year, he goes out and gets better and better. He has that old-school mindset of committing to an organization and doing all he can to bring it a championship, and I think he deserves a lot of respect for that. He doesn&rsquo;t cry about anything, doesn&rsquo;t make any excuses and just goes out there and lights up the competition to the best of his ability. He&rsquo;s confident, yet humble. All things considered, it&rsquo;s easy to root for him in his situation, and whether he&rsquo;s able to actually carry that team and that roster to the next level is something that purists should have a vested interest in.
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That&rsquo;s why I&rsquo;ll be watching, just like I&rsquo;ll be watching the Joker.
If I had an MVP vote, I would have voted for Chris Paul (<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/heres-why-chris-paul-is-my-mvp-for-the-202021-nba-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as I explained here</a>). I stand by that. It&rsquo;s unfortunate that he got hurt against the Los Angeles Lakers because he probably could&rsquo;ve made more of a difference for Phoenix in Game 2 and Game 3. But it is what it is. Injuries are a part of the game.
Whether you&rsquo;re like me and believe CP deserved more credit for what he did for Phoenix, you really can&rsquo;t deny what Joker has become. He has become one of the top players in the league and has only gotten better since Jamal Murray went down. I think most of us predicted that Denver would be an early-out in the playoffs, but Joker&rsquo;s regular-season play has carried over into the postseason, at least so far. He has hit big shots, is closing games effectively and appears to be in better shape than he was in years past.
He&rsquo;s been able to put the Nuggets on his back and carry them, and so far, Portland hasn&rsquo;t had an answer. Whether he&rsquo;s hitting shots from the outside or posting inside, he&rsquo;s a super versatile big who is proving that he not only deserves consideration for the regular-season MVP award, but that he&rsquo;s one of the true superstars in the NBA. He&rsquo;s made me a believer. Now, let&rsquo;s see if he can finish the job.
&lsquo;Melo is gonna try to help the Blazers make sure he doesn&rsquo;t.
As far as &lsquo;Melo is concerned, I think a lot of us appreciate what he&rsquo;s been able to do with his second chance. He was a guy who was basically discarded by Houston and a lot of people thought he was done and could no longer play the game. He got an opportunity with Portland and proved everybody wrong. Now, the team is somewhat relying on him to play a major role and be that third player who can make a big shot or two down the stretch of a tight game. They need that from him.
The fact that he&rsquo;s playing against the team that drafted him &mdash; and the fact that the fans booed him there in Game 1 and Game 2 &mdash; just adds a little bit of juice to what was already a very competitive series. Through three games, he&rsquo;s played about 22 minutes and scored 13 points per game. Those are respectable numbers, but if Portland wants to win this thing, they&rsquo;ll probably need more from him.
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&lsquo;Melo became a top-10 scorer in NBA history earlier this season and he can still get buckets. But he&rsquo;s going to turn 37 years old on May 29, the day the teams will play Game 4.
Can he dig deeper, find the fountain of youth on his birthday and elevate his game? He&rsquo;ll have to for Portland to have a shot, because Porter Jr. has proven that he is no slouch.
And that brings me to the youngin&rsquo;.
Last year in the bubble, remember when Porter Jr. became the talk of the town because he publicly voiced his grievance about not getting enough touches and that the team was too predictable and too reliant on Jokic and Murray?
When a player makes comments like that, especially a young player, it basically paints a big target on their back. Not only does it make you a topic of discussion among fans and media, it puts pressure on you to perform well when your number gets called.
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With Murray out, Denver came into the series knowing that they needed Porter Jr. to step his game up and be a difference-maker. Through the first three games of the series, he&rsquo;s done that. He&rsquo;s scored 19.3 points on 49% shooting from the field, and for a second-year player, that&rsquo;s impressive. But for Porter, it&rsquo;s even more impressive considering the pressure he was facing after his public complaint last season.
All around, respect is due.
By the time the playoffs roll around, every team has had issues: injuries, losing streaks, tough losses, whatever.
Most of the time, it&rsquo;s the mentally tough teams and those who have had better fortune who prevail in a playoff series.
It&rsquo;s still a bit too early to call Denver vs. Portland, but by the time it all ends, I&rsquo;m pretty sure we will have heard from Joker, Lillard, &lsquo;Melo, Porter Jr. and scores of others.
I love the playoffs. And to imagine, we&rsquo;re just getting started.

Of all the first-round series, James Posey's favorite has been Denver vs. Portland. He explains why this matchup is 'must-see' TV.

Nuggets vs. Trail Blazers is my ‘must-watch’ first-round series

It's been a long, long time since the New York Knicks played games in May that impacted anything other than ping-pong balls.
Yet, Monday's victory over the Memphis Grizzlies was the Knicks&rsquo; 37th win this season, which means New York will finish the regular season with a winning record for the first time since the 2012-13 campaign.
Remarkably, with less than two weeks remaining in the 2020-21 season, New York has an outside chance to finish Top-3 in the Eastern Conference standings (and no chance of finishing Top-3 in the draft lottery). Needless to say, Knicks fans are <a href="https://twitter.com/TommyBeer/status/1388472589035708417?s=20">excited</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/TommyBeer/status/1389623942160265223?s=20">enthusiastic</a> about the team's immediate future.&nbsp;
However, it's not just the rest of May that New Yorkers can look forward to. Considering the tantalizing young talent already on the roster, the organization's abundance of cap space, the coaching staff and front office captaining the ship, and the treasure trove of draft picks the Knicks possess, the future of the franchise is quite bright.&nbsp;
When discussing the pieces already in place, it makes sense to start with Julius Randle. As was noted <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/basketball-news-king-of-new-york-why-julius-randle-belongs-in-nba-mvp-conversation-ny-knicks">in this space</a> last month, Randle, shockingly, has played at an <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/basketball-news-king-of-new-york-why-julius-randle-belongs-in-nba-mvp-conversation-ny-knicks">MVP-level</a> for much of this season. When he got off to an incredible start, pundits predicted he'd slow down considerably as the season wore on. Instead, Randle has somehow become more effective and efficient. During the Knicks&rsquo; current scorching stretch, in which they've won 12 in their past 13 games, Randle is averaging 29.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 3.5 made three-pointers, while posting a True Shooting percentage north of 60%.
Randle, who was named the East&rsquo;s Player of the Month for April (joining Carmelo Anthony and Patrick Ewing as just the third Knick to win this award over the past 35 years), is just 26 years old.
Randle isn't the only player who has taken significant steps forward in 2020-21. R.J. Barrett's improved jumper has been arguably the most pleasant revelation in a season full of unexpected surprises.
Over the first 50 games of his NBA career, Barrett shot 39% from the floor, below 32% from behind the arc and 59% from the free-throw line.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Over his past 50 NBA games, Barrett is shooting 47% from the floor, above 45% from downtown and 74% from the charity stripe.&nbsp;
Dating back to late February, Barrett is one of only six players to average at least 18 points, five rebounds and three dimes while shooting above 45% on field goals and 42% on three-pointers. The other five? Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Nikola Vucevic, LeBron James and Julius Randle.
And Barrett still can't legally buy a beer, as the kid won't celebrate his 21st birthday until June. He'll be younger than many of the players selected in the first round of the 2021 draft.&nbsp;
Three days after Barrett's birthday, Immanuel Quickley will turn 22. The Knicks <a href="https://t.co/A1Mt9xY2Gn?amp=1">were knocked</a> for drafting IQ with the 25th overall selection last summer (CBS Sports infamously slapped the Knicks with a <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2020-nba-draft-grades-pick-by-pick-results-tracker-and-analysis-for-completed-rounds-1-and-2/">"D+" grade</a>), but the youngster has exceeded expectations since setting foot on an NBA court. Because he's spent the season coming off the bench, 13 rookies have logged more minutes than Quickley so far, but he still ranks inside the top-five among all first-year players in points, made free throws and made three-pointers, and inside the top-10 in dimes. (Despite having played fewer minutes than LaMelo Ball, Quickley has tallied more points, threes and free throws.) And the advanced analytics are even more impressive: according to <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/traditional/?sort=PLUS_MINUS&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2020-21&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;PlayerExperience=Rookie">NBA.com</a>, Quickley <a href="https://twitter.com/TommyBeer/status/1389313567388733448?s=20">leads all rookies</a> in Offensive Rating, Defensive Rating, and Net Rating.
The Knicks have outscored their opponents by <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/traditional/?sort=PLUS_MINUS&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2020-21&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;PlayerExperience=Rookie">171 points</a> with Quickley on the court this season. Only eight qualified rookies have posted a positive plus/minus this season. And, other than IQ, none have a plus/minus higher than +62. Quickley is on pace to become just the fifth rookie over the past decade to post a season-long plus/minus north of +200. The other four are Ben Simmons, Donovan Mitchell, OG Anunoby and Jayson Tatum.
Randle and Barrett are the franchise's foundational building blocks, and Quickley is already a solid NBA rotation player, which is quite rare for a rookie.
Coming into this season, Mitchell Robinson was also viewed as a critically important piece. However, limited to just 31 games due to a pair of serious injuries, Robinson's future is a bit murky. Yet, he's only 23, and the Knicks can exercise a team option for only $1.8 million to keep him in New York for at least one more year before making a long-term decision. (New York could also explore inking him to an extension this summer, possibly at a discount, if they feel he's their center of the future.)
Obi Toppin, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft, has been relatively disappointing this season, considering he was 22 years old on draft day and advertised as "NBA-ready." However, it's important to note that despite his relatively advanced age, Toppin is a late-bloomer. He wasn't recruited out of high school and was a full-time starter for just one season at Dayton. In addition, Toppin has had some encouraging flashes over the past few weeks, as the Knicks coaching staff attempts to make better use of his rare combination of size and athleticism.&nbsp;
As far as what the rest of the roster may look like moving forward, there are more questions than answers.
Yet, that's partly due to the fact that the Knicks have a very clean cap sheet. New York will have the opportunity to enter the upcoming offseason with more than $60 million in cap space, the most of any team in the league.&nbsp;
Often the toughest jump to make for an NBA franchise is the quantum leap from a mid-tier team to a legitimate championship contender. Based on their success this season, the Knicks have the pieces in place to remain respectable in 2022 and beyond. But will they be able to enter the league's upper-echelon? To do so, they'll need to import a superstar.&nbsp;
Like Charlie Brown winding up to kick Lucy's football, Knicks fans have grown accustomed to their team clearing out massive amounts of cap space only to strike out in free agency, getting rejected by their top targets and overpaying for over-the-hill veterans. So, why would this summer be any different?&nbsp;
Well, in years past, the Knicks have entered free agency reeking of desperation. Free agents couldn't help but smell the stench. Coming off losing season after losing season, the Knicks could offer max money and a chance to play in New York City, but very little in terms of supporting talent already on the roster. This summer, the Knicks (especially if they can stay in that fourth or fifth seed and make some noise in the playoffs) will be viewed as a team on the rise, having continuously built positive momentum for the past four months. Their recruiting pitch will feature the opportunity to play alongside an All-NBA forward in his prime, as well as promising youngsters still locked into rookie contracts.&nbsp;
And the person now making that pitch is Leon Rose, a former agent who has represented and cultivated strong relationships with some of the biggest names in the sport. Rose has surrounded himself with a stellar staff, and the early returns on their first flurry of moves (signing Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel, trading for Derrick Rose, etc.) have returned impressively solid dividends.&nbsp;
The other factor in the equation is the head coach whom Rose hired. Tom Thibodeau is widely considered one of the favorites to take home the Coach of the Year award, and for good reason. The Knicks&rsquo; turnaround this season is even more remarkable when you recognize New York went 21-45 in 2019-20 and brought back much of the same roster. (Four starters in Monday's win in Memphis &mdash; Randle, Barrett, Elfrid Payton and Taj Gibson &mdash; also started the Knicks&rsquo; final game last season).
Consider this: New York's combined record over their previous two seasons was 38-110 (72 games under .500). New York's record this season is 37-28 (nine games over .500).&nbsp;
Thibs also has his team playing its best basketball at the right time. The Knicks have posted the league's best record (13-3) over the past month. Over this same stretch, they rank third overall in Defensive Efficiency (107.5) and lead the entire league in both Offensive Efficiency (119.0) and Net Rating, having outscored their opponents by 182 points over their past 16 games.&nbsp;
Circling back to the free-agency discussion, having a respected leader in control is typically appealing to players who want to win. Prospective free agents often search for situations where a principled culture has been established. Just across the river, the Brooklyn Nets proved they were a team headed in the right direction before they convinced Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to take them to that next level.
Under Thibodeau, and his highly respected assistant coaches, the Knicks are building a well-earned reputation as a collection of gritty, defensive-minded, team-first talent.
Additionally, New York isn't solely dependent on free-agent signings to infuse the roster with newfound talent.&nbsp;
The Knicks have maintained the rights to all of their future first-round picks and own the Dallas Mavericks&rsquo; first-rounder this summer (unprotected) and Dallas' selection in 2023 (top-10 protected) as a result of the Kristaps Porzingis trade.&nbsp;
Since we mentioned his name, it's important to note that the Knicks&rsquo; turnaround is tied, at least tangentially, to the Porzingis trade. New York trading away KP instead of inking him to a $158.2 million extension, and including Tim Hardaway Jr.'s massive contract in the deal, enabled New York to enter the summer of 2019 with money to burn. The Knicks obviously failed to lure in the free agents they most desired (Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving), but the front office pivoted by inking Randle to a three-year, $62 million contract which, in hindsight, looks like a stroke of genius. In addition, the Knicks used $15 million of that cap space to sign Marcus Morris, who was dealt to the Clippers at the deadline for a 2020 first-round pick, which turned into Immanuel Quickley. And this season, New York used Dennis Smith Jr. as a trade chip to acquire Derrick Rose, whose contributions have been critical to the Knicks&rsquo; recent run.&nbsp;
All told, the Knicks own the rights to seven first-round draft picks over the next five years. Only two teams in the league (the OKC Thunder and Houston Rockets) have more future first-rounders. New York also owns 11 second-round selections over the next six years.&nbsp;
Knicks fans are focused on the remainder of the 2020-21 campaign, as they should be. For this eternally tortured fanbase, no playoff game could possibly be taken for granted. Yet, whenever this unexpectedly entertaining season finally reaches its conclusion, fans can take solace, having faith they likely won't have to deal with another arduous, prolonged stretch of playoff-less springs. In fact, the franchise is properly positioned to continue its impressive push toward consistent contention.

The Knicks are winning for the first time in a long time, and their future is promising due to their young core, cap room and draft picks.

The Knicks are (finally) winning: Is this only the beginning of their run?

The first thing about LaMelo Ball that caught Mitch Kupchak&rsquo;s eye was his size: 6-foot-7 with mad ball-handling skills. The thing that caught his ear was hearing that Ball was a gym rat, a player who stayed late after practice to get extra shots up, whether in Ohio, Lithuania or Australia.
Kupchak now has the Rookie-of-the-Year favorite running the show for a Charlotte Hornets team that will likely be in the NBA's play-in tournament later this month. He also has an owner, Michael Jordan, who has an itch to win that needs to be scratched.
Will that happen this season? Kupchak, the organization's 66-year-old president of basketball operations, believes that remains to be seen.
&ldquo;We did transition from a veteran team with large contracts to a team that was building through the draft, and we finally had some cap room," Kupchak told BasketballNews.com in an exclusive phone interview. "So we were in a good position [last offseason]."
The Hornets lost for the third time in four games on Sunday night, falling to the Miami Heat 121-111 to remain in eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Charlotte is now two games below .500, and the team still does not know when Hayward will return from a foot injury (he recently shed a walking boot for the first time in nearly a month). Oddsmakers have the Hornets listed at 250-1 to win the Eastern Conference.
Few teams are spotlighted less than the Hornets despite their iconic owner and their special rookie, and the season's strict conditions are not allowing Jordan to be close to the team and his prized youngster.
&ldquo;He was at our game [Saturday] night, but because of the testing requirements, he couldn't even get down to the locker room and say hello to anybody. But they did talk, and I know Michael gives him tips, and I would guess that when we emerge from this COVID world, Michael will spend time with him on the court, but I don't know that [for sure],&rdquo; Kupchak said. &ldquo;Michael lives in Florida; he&rsquo;s up here quite a bit. He loves to come to practice and watch. He doesn't interfere with the coaches. He doesn't know what the coaches are teaching, so he doesn't want to get on the court and teach something different. But I know he and LaMelo talk and text all the time.&rdquo;
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Jordan has owned the Hornets since 2010 and has a mere three playoff victories (vs. Miami in 2015-16) to show for it. Charlotte has not been to the second round of the playoffs since 2001-02, and Kupchak was tasked with ending that drought when he was hired 37 months ago. In back-to-back years, he added Terry Rozier and Hayward in offseason sign-and-trades with the Celtics, and he selected Ball with the third overall pick in last year's NBA Draft.&nbsp;
The team has spent the season hovering around the .500 mark, never going more than three games over the break-even mark or four games under. They defeated Boston, Milwaukee and Portland in April, but went 6-10 for the month, and there is a discernable lack of buzz surrounding a franchise that used to have people referring to their home court as &ldquo;The Hive.&rdquo;
Still, the Hayward signing was one of the best offseason moves made by any team in the NBA, and Rozier is shooting 45.6% &ndash; a career-high &ndash; and averaging more than 20 points for the first time in his six-year career. P.J. Washington is having a solid second season, Miles Bridges is shooting much better in his third season and seven players are averaging double-figure scoring. This season, 12 of the 17 players on the roster (including two-way players) are 25 years old or younger. There's still room to grow and the center position could use an upgrade, but it seems the foundation is in place.
Jordan and Kupchak spent several hours speaking Saturday at Hornets headquarters, talking basketball when they were not pausing to watch the Kentucky Derby and the PGA Valspar Championship. Both Jordan and Kupchak went to school at North Carolina, played for Team USA and have had enormous success with other franchises &ndash; Jordan with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s, Kupchak while playing for and while running the Los Angeles Lakers.
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But their championship pedigrees came in eras much different than what exists in today&rsquo;s NBA. The Hornets do not have a single superstar (although Ball has the potential to be one) and have gone 0-3 against Philadelphia and 1-2 against Brooklyn, their two most likely first-round playoff opponents.&nbsp;&nbsp;
"I mean, I want to please him. I want to get him something he desperately craves," Kupchak said of Jordan, who declined to be interviewed for this article. "He wants to win and he tried to be patient, but I think he's a little bit impatient, right? Which is natural.
"I've known him since he was a freshman, but yeah, it was a professional relationship. We said hello and talked or played golf once or twice. But I never really got to know him that well. It&rsquo;s been great getting to know him on a personal basis. Like I said, I never really knew him like that, but he&rsquo;s from my years so to speak, so we kind of speak the same language when it comes to basketball. So there's a good feel between us and with Buzz [Peterson] as well; the three of us have a great feel when we talk to each other. We both kind of get it. And it's fun because I'm getting to know him. But at the end of the day, he wants to win. I can feel it. He wants to get this thing going in the right direction."
The signings of Rozier and Hayward were criticized as overspends in some NBA circles (and by the media), but Kupchak couldn't care less. He has been working in the NBA for too long, in some of the largest markets and smallest markets, to give a hoot whether somebody is second-guessing him.&nbsp;
"It&rsquo;s kind of hard to shake me up, you know? There might have been some criticism; I didn't follow it that closely at the time," Kupchak said. "But you&rsquo;ve got to weigh everything: the draft, free-agent signings, trades. You really have to wait four or five years to look back on it and that's when you know really whether you made a mistake or you didn't make a mistake. So at the time, I didn't get the feeling that there was this uproar about overpaying somebody. Maybe there was, but it didn't really bother me."
When asked about the Rozier signing, he explained his thought process.
"We believed in a kid. We saw a great opportunity when we were losing Kemba [Walker], who we wanted to keep. And then, for some reason, that made Terry available to do a double sign-and-trade; I think it was the first one that was ever done. It was just a unique opportunity for us to get a young talent. Now, he does continue to get better, and he is a much harder worker than I thought on both sides of the ball. But I'm not surprised that he's productive. But let&rsquo;s wait a couple more years and we'll look back on it, but we're happy with the signing and it worked out. That's all."
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With Hayward, Kupchak was surprised that the Hornets were able to land him.
"That was unique," he said. "We never thought, going into free agency, that Gordon Hayward would opt out of his $34.2 million [deal]. I didn&rsquo;t think he would opt out of that and want to leave Boston. That doesn't happen very often so when that was happening, even at the very end, even though we tried and we did everything we could do -- and it was a good feeling that he was going to come to Charlotte -- there was a big part of me that said, 'This just doesn't happen very often, that a player of this caliber will go to a small market.' So I wasn't really sure until we got his signature that he was going to come... That just kind of happened. We did have a way to create room, so we were ready, but I didn't think that he would opt out and all of a sudden become available and not only that, but want to come to Charlotte.
"Now, when players are here, they stay in this town. They love it here. Okay, but we&rsquo;ve got to get them here for them to realize that. And now that Gordon&rsquo;s here, I wouldn&rsquo;t be surprised if he lived here for the rest of his life. Players like it here. This is a great city."
Having won three titles as a player (with the Bullets and Lakers) and seven as an executive (all with the Lakers), Kupchak is not the type to obsess over whether someone is trolling him on Twitter or Instagram. His focus is on the long-term, and when it comes to Ball, what he wants to see this offseason is a commitment to lifting weights and getting stronger, and a focus on becoming a better defender.
&ldquo;He has bounced around quite a bit... He&rsquo;s never had a great run with a coach that could, over the course of two or three years, spend a lot of time on the defensive side of the ball. I&rsquo;m sure in Lithuania there was a language barrier, then he went to high school in Ohio, then he went to Australia for three months, and then he didn&rsquo;t play," said Kupchak, who traveled to Australia in November of 2019 to watch Ball play in person and also attended one of Ball's pre-draft workouts last summer in California. He also listened to what he was hearing from his son, Maxx, who plays for UC Santa Barbara and played AAU with LaMelo in Southern California.
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"So that would probably be an area that he needs to improve in, but there's no reason why he can&rsquo;t be a great defender."
Ball, 19, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/lamelo-ball-back-return-charlotte-hornets-impact-film-study-breakdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">returned on Saturday after a six-week absence</a> following surgery for a fractured left wrist. He committed five turnovers on Saturday against Detroit and five more on Sunday against Miami, missing 6-7 three-point attempts. Still, he leads all rookies in assists (6.1) and steals (1.63), is second in scoring (15.7) and rebounding (5.9) and is fifth in minutes played (28.7).
Kupchak discussed the rookie's long-term prospects and what stood out about Ball while scouting him.
&ldquo;You never really know. They&rsquo;re young, they're 19. Usually when you're drafting top-three or four, you're looking at a kid who is 19, and you're trying to project out like three or four years. To say this was a no-brainer kind of encounter, I'm not sure anybody can say that. I think the last guy that was kind of like that was maybe LeBron," Kupchak said. "But I guess there are a couple of things [that stood out]. In practice, it looked like he had a joy of playing, like he was having fun. He stayed late after practice; the people we spoke to over there said he loved the game, he loved to work. So those are the good things you like to hear when you&rsquo;re trying to look out three or four years. He had great size for a ball-handling guard. That jumps out at you, right? Somebody who&rsquo;s 6-foot-7 and a ball-handling guard, that&rsquo;s very unique.
"And he definitely had a flair, he&rsquo;s fun to watch -- which sometimes doesn&rsquo;t mean much to a general manager; you&rsquo;d rather have the great player than somebody who&rsquo;s fun to watch, but he was fun to watch. He had a flair about him. His size, his vision. It&rsquo;s tough. When you&rsquo;re 19, it&rsquo;s tough, but it doesn&rsquo;t really hurt that he&rsquo;s a gym rat... This kid loves to play. He&rsquo;s most comfortable in a gym, which is kind of unique. Sometimes you grow up and you&rsquo;re forced to play and you don&rsquo;t want to play, but everybody else in your family wants you to so you feel like you have to. But not with this kid. He&rsquo;s a gym rat, I'm hoping it stays that way."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
That boy LaMelo back &amp; he&rsquo;s a PROBLEM. (via <a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBATV</a>) <a href="https://t.co/VtzqfdJIk7">pic.twitter.com/VtzqfdJIk7</a>
&mdash; SLAM (@SLAMonline) <a href="https://twitter.com/SLAMonline/status/1389020446851362816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2021</a></blockquote>

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The biggest judgment on the Hornets will come early in the postseason. If they play in the No. 7 vs. No. 8 game and win, they get the 7-seed. If they lose the 7-8 game, they will play the winner of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 game. Lose both, and it is another lost season in Charlotte.
But if they get in, anything can happen. We all learned that with the Miami Heat last season, and the one constant from year to year in the NBA is that whoever enters the playoffs healthy, happy and with chemistry can survive and advance.&nbsp;

Chris Sheridan spoke to Mitch Kupchak about LaMelo Ball's upside, assembling this Hornets team, working for Michael Jordan and more.

Vince