Conflicting interest can be dangerous. I don't think Mills can really do his job with his performance dependent on wins and losses at this point. Mills is ultimately is being asked to win more with a team that is probably better served losing more in the short term. He will be more inclined to push Perry to get bigger acquisitions sooner rather than later for self preservation. That isn't serving the team. At this point we can assume hes hatching trade scenarios for December 15th. What can you see him doing? Heres what I can see him doing... 1) Ending the PG debate, Ending SG glut, defining the future, 2020 summer of the CP student: Julius Randle + Elfrid Payton + Wayne Ellington for Chris Paul + 2024 1st Round Pick then Kevin Knox + Dennis Smith Jr. + 2020 2nd round pick for Jaren Jackson Jr. Marcus Morris + Allonzo Trier for Evan Fournier

I don't think it changes our pursuit of him. I think it changes who we can get to sign with him. My offseason plan would mean Knicks would break their promise of only top tier free agents Here is my Knicks Offseason: DRAFT DAY RJ. Barrett becomes Knicks pick at #3 Jalen Lecque becomes a Knicks at #56 signed to 2-way contract Knicks trade Ntilikina for the contract of Tony Parker (retiring so his contract will disappear off books). Charlotte has long coveted Ntilikina. They basically get him for free. Knicks shave 5.6 mil off their cap. However Knicks will not sign 2 max free agents. Knicks opt in Allonzo Trier FREE AGENCY STARTS Knicks sign Kevin Durant to a max contract knowing most of next year will be missed. Knicks trade Lance Thomas + Dennis Smith Jr. to Orlando for Aaron Gordon. Knicks get their PF who can spread the floor and Orlando gets under the cap. Aaron may be enough with upcoming changes to keep the team in the playoff picture until KD returns. Orlando cuts Lance Thomas non-guaranteed contract and save big money and will dip slightly under the cap. Knicks sign D'Angelo Russell to a 3 year $52 mil contract. Knicks resign Lance Thomas Knicks mid level exception to D'Andre Jordan POTENTIAL 2019 STARTING LINEUP: D'Angelo Russell RJ Barrett Allonzo Trier (until KD returns) Aaron Gordon Mitchell Robinson KEY BENCH D'Andre Jordan Kevin Knox Damyean Dotson Lance Thomas Kadeem Allen Henry Ellenson John Jenkins

New Orleans won the lottery and the right to Zion. This should relieve the pressure their New GM against trading Anthony Davis. Instead of worrying about having a bare cupboard they now have something to sell this year for marketing. At this point it is about getting the best deal for Davis. Knicks can reunite the Zion with his teammate RJ Barrett or put him with Ja Morant. Zion. didn't look so happy that New Orleans got #1. This #3 pick is perfect for New Orleans. Knicks however will not empty totally the youth for a potential 1 year rental (this is why New Orlean will not get the haul they asked for last deadline). I think the Knicks will offer whomever they pick at #3 (preserving trade potential for next years pick) + 2020 1st round pick + Kevin Knox + Frank Ntilikina + Lance Thomas. I think the Knicks give New Orleans the choice of Knox or Trier. I think New Orleans picks Knox because of his size. New Orleans can cut Thomas after and save an additional $5mil off their cap. To make this plan happen the Knicks do this trade 30 days after the draft. Knicks decline Emmanuel Mudiay's option. Knicks also forgo getting 2 max contracts in free agency. They instead only get Kevin Durant at max salary. They instead use up some that remaining cap space in trade to eat most of Bradley Beals contract (makes $27mil next season) in a trade for Damyean Dotson ($1.6mil). The skills are not equal but Knicks save Washington $25 and get them under the cap while still having a premium shooter. Knicks probably will try to trade Dennis Smith but probably cant land their PG targets. Potential Starting Lineup Dennis Smith Jr. Bradley Beal Kevin Durant Anthony Davis Mitchell Robinson

Some people have the idea that free agency is the only way the Knicks can succeed this summer. Cap space is cap space. That doesn't mean just the 3 top players are the only worthy targets. 75 million dollars burning a hole in the Knicks pocket can be used in other ways.. Cap space is valuable not only to us to others. Knicks have the opportunity to bail other teams out of tough situations using their cap space. Knicks can target teams in awkward situations and trade youth and cap relief for better players. I wrote out a scenario where the Knicks strike out in draft position and top free agents still come out with elite players. Knicks trade Frank Ntilikina + Lance Thomas + 2021 Mavericks 1st Round Pick for Russell Westbrook reasoning: OKC rids of Westbrooks contract befores it becomes too heavy for cap flexibility. OKC wouldn't be under the cap post trade, but it puts it within reach. Lance contract isn't fully guaranteed so they could possibly shave $30 million off their cap easily. With cap tax implications that even more for a small market team. Knicks gain a 1st team all NBA talent in the east where it is wide open. It would be a big salary dump move for OKC and gives the keys to Paul George. Knicks trade Damien Dotson + 2021 2nd round Hornets Pick for Bradley Beal reasoning: Washington is in the worst cap situation in the league. Knicks get Washington close to under the cap. If Washington does this while Walls injury time is covered by insurance it could be a great situation for Washington to resetting their cap and financially great for the office. Essentially Washington can tank the year and be players in free agency next summer when Wall would come back. Beal could get them a couple decent players, but ultimately they need to work on that cap number. Working on their cap could be more valuable than a couple young players. Washington gains a young shooter on a rookie contract while they micro rebuild. Washington gets a 2nd round pick in the first draft that will allow HS players to make the jump. Knicks trade #5 (Knicks picked player) + Dennis Smith Jr. + 2021 1st round pick + 2020 Charlotte 2nd round pick for Anthony Davis reasoning: If LA is truly out of the equation AD price will be more reasonable. AD has been firm in that he won't be signing an extension this summer. They cannot have the same asking price as the deadline. Only Boston would pay more and AD has put doubt that he would resign with them. It comes down how silly will Danny Ainge go. Projected roster: Mitchell Robinson Anthony Davis Kevin Knox Bradley Beal Russell Westbrook

Smart teams are stockpiling future picks at this moment for the 2021+ high school classes. The college one and done era will soon be over in 2021. The NBA feels confident they won't have so many failed picks with the current G League truely becoming a development league. It has moved beyond being just a non drafted player showcase. The 2021 Draft is the first draft this rule change most likely happens. We may see a lot of high schoolers trying to make the jump especially that year. There will be exceptional few who may be NBA ready and signed to NBA contracts, but many will be sent to the G League. The more picks you have the better in 2021 and going forward. The days of the G League being a poor financial decision has changed. Before players were earning $19-$25k for 5 months work. The NBA has increased that to $35k for all G League players if they play 5 months. However, if you sign a 2 way contract you will earn $77k and get NBA team exposure up to 45 days. This may be more valuable to a kid over financially struggling and worrying about college grades and eligibility. NBA Rosters can have up to (2) 2-way contracts on them. We saw the situation with Allonzo Trier this year using the 2-way contract. He had 45 days exposure and the the club decided to sign him to a full NBA contract. The 2 way contract really opens up kids to have an option besides giving their talents for free in college even if they aren't a top 5 player in the country. Come summer 2021 picks will be very valuable. So if a lot of teams are going to be focused on this new crop of players in the 2nd round. The top high schoolers will go in the 1st round. We may see a 2nd rounder with plenty of high schoolers with the new rules. Why focus so hard on 1st rounders? With the focus on high school you will see higher quality college players begin slipping later in the 1st round. So even a low 1st round pick possibly is a higher quality player than previous drafts.

Basketball is a business! In 2019 it is impossible to miss that. My recollection of the league only goes back to the mid 80's. People call it glory days of basketball, but there definitely were problems. But there were moments that simply can't be recreated in the modern league. The NBA is very risk averse in 2019. No longer will we see the joy and uniqueness of watching a double header. No longer will we see unique arenas with unfair advantages like Seattle. However in 2019 I can say the NBA product has never been better. NBA talent is way better and the parody in the league is real. For most players the NBA was there golden ticket out of places that were less than ideal. They played as if their playing window was their lifetime earning window. Players now know the power they hold over this entertainment space. They recognize it early as teens and are groomed to be a business themselves. So are we missing something in 2019...probably but this game is much better for it.