Some rumors that the Knicks are trading for KAT. Giving up Randle and DD for him. Just rumors right now.
KAT to Knicks for Randle, DiVincenzo, 1st
- Thread starter Murderer's Crow
- Start date
View: https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1839851169968984211
My first instinct was.... why are the Wolves doing this after their first really good year in forever.... then I realized... oh right, cutting future payroll.
Edit- Begley says it is done but no details other than Randle and KAT
View: https://twitter.com/IanBegley/status/1839851802210017506
My first instinct was.... why are the Wolves doing this after their first really good year in forever.... then I realized... oh right, cutting future payroll.
Edit- Begley says it is done but no details other than Randle and KAT
View: https://twitter.com/IanBegley/status/1839851802210017506
Got a 1st too, but yeah this reads as a salary cutting move:
View: https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1839854538288750975
View: https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1839854538288750975
I can’t be the only one thinking that Towns and Thibodeau together are a really awkward fit. This feels like the Knicks panicked a bit after Robinson was out for longer than hoped, after they had assembled what looked like it could be a really cohesive unit. Certainly a talent upgrade at a position of need… but we’ll see.
KAT has his faults but he is better than Julius Randle. And unless there’s more to be reported they didn’t include much else.
Feels more like we're trading KAT for DDV since Randle is always hurt or weak in the playoffs. I'm happy but really am going to miss DDV and thankful for Randle's contributions to making this a respectable team again.
The breakup of the Nova Knicks kinda sucks to see as an outside observer. I was excited to see how that went.
The East just got harder, but I'm not worried... yet.
The East just got harder, but I'm not worried... yet.
I get it from Minny's side. They restock a pick, which helps to upgrade at the margins later, they fix their awful wing depth, and they already have Naz as a good C on a way better contract.
For the Knicks....they're real now on offense. Very real. This is like Boston getting KP, but more so.
The big question is whether their elite defensive wings can cover for Brunson and KAT being on the floor together. It's tough to have two meh defenders who have to play in your crunchtime lineups.
For the Knicks....they're real now on offense. Very real. This is like Boston getting KP, but more so.
The big question is whether their elite defensive wings can cover for Brunson and KAT being on the floor together. It's tough to have two meh defenders who have to play in your crunchtime lineups.
I actually think this is a good trade for both teams? I think KAT is an awkward fit for the Knicks and Thibs but they had to take the swing.
I think Randle works better with Gobert than KAT did and Donte is another good rotation player that can help on the wing
I think Randle works better with Gobert than KAT did and Donte is another good rotation player that can help on the wing
Agreed with everything but the final sentence…are KAT and Brunson even meh? I think they’re both just straight up bad defenders.
Same, I think it makes sense for both teams. DD is really good, he'll be an excellent fit in Minnesota.
Ok given what NYK owe to BRK.... that pick is almost certainly the protected DET pick, so probably won't convey as a 1st (top 13 protected, then top 11, then top 9, becomes a single 2nd)
I’m surprised so many Knicks fans like this. KAT is one of my least favorite players, and he’d drive me completely nuts as a fan. He and Thibs seems like a disaster, as KAT seems like the antithesis of this current Knicks ethos.
The Shams tweet says the 1st is “via Detroit.” Obviously curious what that means — a future Pistons pick is worth a helluva lot more than a future Knicks pick. (Edit: @Cellar-Door is on it; sounds like the pick has minimal value.)
If the pick isn’t significant, this feels like two dimes for a quarter. Knicks sold high on DiVincenzo and get a big upgrade from Randle to KAT; it’s a good deal for them. I’m having trouble seeing this as great for the Wolves; KAT wasn’t a great fit, but I would’ve stuck with him for now if this is the best return I could get.
If the pick isn’t significant, this feels like two dimes for a quarter. Knicks sold high on DiVincenzo and get a big upgrade from Randle to KAT; it’s a good deal for them. I’m having trouble seeing this as great for the Wolves; KAT wasn’t a great fit, but I would’ve stuck with him for now if this is the best return I could get.
Keith Smart saying Knicks still need to get rid of 8.8 million. Says they think it means Robinson is probably going somewhere as well.
Ha just mentioned the Wolves unloading one of KAT or Rudy today to play Naz more.
Nice trade for both teams. Randle needed to be moved.
Donte is a solid player. Weirdly, this is his 5th team in 4 seasons
Nice trade for both teams. Randle needed to be moved.
Donte is a solid player. Weirdly, this is his 5th team in 4 seasons
I was being nice to avoid nitpicking, but yeah, I was probably understating things.
If you're the Wolves and think KAT a) had to be extended b) isn't obviously good value on that contract, this is coming out pretty well.
You wish you hadn't had to give up sooo much for Gobert, but you've retooled the team well around him and Ant now.
You wish you hadn't had to give up sooo much for Gobert, but you've retooled the team well around him and Ant now.
I'm trying to imagine KAT playing on those meat grinder series this past summer where everyone was playing 40+ minutes and I just can't see it.
he's just good enough to be attractive to teams in a deal, but not enough that the team that has him makes him a dealbreaker
This doesn’t move the needle for me in terms of the Knicks challenging the Celtics. KAT is a terrible defender and actually I think makes the Knicks easier to guard. Randle seemed to give the Celtics fits underneath. I guess the Knicks chasing another star makes sense for them, but what made them good was their depth. That takes a hit here with the trade.
I'm not sure KAT > Randle in a vacuum is a given. They've both made all-nba twice (3rd team twice for Kat, 2nd and 3rd once each for Randle), but Randle more recently. Both guys have plenty of questions defensively, but Randle feels a bit more solid. There was definitely a point where KAT had the higher ceiling (6-8 years ago I remember when KAT won the GM survey for the player GMs would most like to start a team with), but he'll be 29 in November, that ship has sailed. By Darko KAT has been solidly better throughout his career, but are at just about the exact same point right now:
That said, KAT is potentially a much better fit with the Knicks than Randle. Positionally he's exactly what they need - a big PF who is very comfortable playing center when Robinson is injured or on the bench (he's 4 inches taller than Randle and was a full-time center before Gobert). There were whispers that Randle didn't fit in with the Nova crew, and that's not a thing anymore. Randle is a free agent at the end of the year, KAT is guaranteed for the next 3 years. Both guys have had serious issues in the playoffs, I'll say that a change of scenery is good for both in that regard. I really do like this for the Knicks (though I'm sorry they were so quick to break up the Nova group), this is a risk well worth taking for them. I like it less for Minnesota, but the salary relief and simply a reset on their 2nd star makes it worth a shot.
Twitter is a fucking cesspool right now, but can still come up with gems like this.
This is my take. Surprised at the others before it (understand some others agree after).
This seems like a regular season move, not a way to improve your odds of getting or the finals or better.
KAT is a very skilled player, and certainly more valuable to a team like the Knicks than what they gave up. This will undoubtedly improve their regular season record.
That being said: KAT is, and always has been, softer than baby shit. He makes mind bogglingly bad decisions on defense, even when insulated with Gobert taking the other teams center. This move does not really move the needle of the Knicks threat to the Celtics in my mind.
That being said: KAT is, and always has been, softer than baby shit. He makes mind bogglingly bad decisions on defense, even when insulated with Gobert taking the other teams center. This move does not really move the needle of the Knicks threat to the Celtics in my mind.
Honestly, I just feel bad for Timbersolves fans right now. They finally have a decent teams for the first time in a couple of decades and they pull this? I went to their Reddit and had to leave after a couple of minutes. Genuine human suffering over there.
Agreed. The Knicks Mgmt has been doing good trades/draft work for a few years now.
This isn't your Isiah Thomas Knicks
The good (???) news is he can’t play that many minutes due to his fouling. Thibs will need to work around it.
Surprised everyone hates his defense so much. Advanced stats seem to like it. DARKO has him as a nearly +2!
Anecdotal, but if I had to posit a guess it would be that he's 7' tall and is generally guarding 4s. If opposing teams are going to stretch the Wolves out it's going to be at Rudy's expense - as we saw the Mavs do.
My immediate reaction was relief that DDV’s 3 pt shooting is out of the Eastern Conference now.
That starting 5 is tough, but as always, will they hold up with Thibs Dusty Baker-ing them come playoff time? Either way, MSG is going to be electric this year and that is good for the game.
That starting 5 is tough, but as always, will they hold up with Thibs Dusty Baker-ing them come playoff time? Either way, MSG is going to be electric this year and that is good for the game.