Knicks select Rokas Jokubaitis (34th overall)

[cgmw]

I wouldn’t mind stashing him another year for development until the Knicks figure out how to clear out some of the clutter on the roster

When have the Knicks not had clutter on the roster? Every off-season we load up with new clutter, so we can sell shiney new objects to the fans.

In recent memory, the summer where they missed out on KD and the summer after that when most the 1 year deals expired

WTF? Seriously?

You mean the summer when they missed out on KD and signed Julius Randle? And the summer where the 1-year vets expired and then they re-signed half of them to extensions while also adding Fournier/Kemba?

Those summers?

[The Lamma]

Thibodeau does not like playing young players because he demands perfection - specifically on defense. Young guys aren't perfect and, thus, do not get developed by Thibodeau properly. It is well known that Thibodeau prefers veterans, otherwise we wouldn't have seen Fournier, Burks, Taj, etc. get playing time the way they did. Or bringing back Noel, Rose and the rest on long term deals on a team that was mediocre at best.

Unless your name is Julius Randle. Then you can drag a$$ getting back on D, just take a nice leisurely jog to get back, and also sulk and mope your way to 40 minutes of PT. This more than anything made Thibs look like a fraud last year. He's supposed to be this defense first, hold people accountable kind of guy.

[robillionaire]

When have the Knicks not had clutter on the roster? Every off-season we load up with new clutter, so we can sell shiney new objects to the fans.

In recent memory, the summer where they missed out on KD and the summer after that when most the 1 year deals expired

WTF? Seriously?

You mean the summer when they missed out on KD and signed Julius Randle? And the summer where the 1-year vets expired and then they re-signed half of them to extensions while also adding Fournier/Kemba?

Those summers?

Yes, we had the most cap space in the nba going into those summers with very few if any long term commitments

I’m not talking about what they ultimately chose to do, I’m talking about their situation heading into those offseasons with plenty of open roster spots. Those would have been more ideal conditions to bring in someone like Jokubaitis who wants minutes.

Now we have a logjam of vets and beyond that also many rookies that we drafted over the past 2 years including the ones we are about to select next month. So it would be nearly impossible to find minutes for him unless they consolidate the roster. Even in 2023 when Kemba Rose and Burks are gone it might be tough unless they cut bait on some of the younger rookie contract players too

[Polk377]

When have the Knicks not had clutter on the roster? Every off-season we load up with new clutter, so we can sell shiney new objects to the fans.

In recent memory, the summer where they missed out on KD and the summer after that when most the 1 year deals expired

WTF? Seriously?

You mean the summer when they missed out on KD and signed Julius Randle? And the summer where the 1-year vets expired and then they re-signed half of them to extensions while also adding Fournier/Kemba?

Those summers?

One guys "missing out" is another guys dodging a damn bullet.

[Jstock12]

Watch on YouTube

[robillionaire]

Pretty cool that Jokibaitis won the rising stars award. If you look at this history of the award a lot of the past winners turned out to be pretty good. A lot of them were first round picks or even lottery picks. You have to think this guy would be a lottery pick at this point right? Maybe the Knicks actually didn’t do something stupid for once

[Zenzibar]

Watch on YouTube

This kid is 6'4", great size for a point and terrific long range shooter. With Thibs developing his defense and the winner of the European rising star, he may surprise alot of folks.

[Zenzibar]

Pretty cool that Jokibaitis won the rising stars award. If you look at this history of the award a lot of the past winners turned out to be pretty good. A lot of them were first round picks or even lottery picks. You have to think this guy would be a lottery pick at this point right? Maybe the Knicks actually didn’t do something stupid for once

I would'n't say for once. This new management team has been quite astute at drafting in the 2nd round.

[robillionaire]

Pretty cool that Jokibaitis won the rising stars award. If you look at this history of the award a lot of the past winners turned out to be pretty good. A lot of them were first round picks or even lottery picks. You have to think this guy would be a lottery pick at this point right? Maybe the Knicks actually didn’t do something stupid for once

I would'n't say for once. This new management team has been quite astute at drafting in the 2nd round.

Verdict is still out on that, I can’t say for sure McBride or Sims will make it in the NBA. Or Rokas. But there is room for optimism with them. I think those are their only second round picks, they had the 33rd pick in 2020 and traded it for a future 2nd.

[B8RcDeMktfxC]

Watch on YouTube

This kid is 6'4", great size for a point and terrific long range shooter. With Thibs developing his defense and the winner of the European rising star, he may surprise alot of folks.

Beautiful troll game recognized.

[Juggynaut]

He's definitely a lotto pick in this draft. Which speaks to how **** this draft is.

[robillionaire]

He's definitely a lotto pick in this draft. Which speaks to how **** this draft is.

That’s kinda what I’m wondering. I was thinking at least a mid to late first. But prior winners of the award have lottery picks such as Luka, Bargnani, Rubio, Gallinari. I don’t know if I would put him on that level but other guys like Bogdanovic, Rudy Fernandez, Goga Bitazde, Garuba, Nikola Mirotic, were mid/late first rounders. And then Kostas Papanikolaou selected 48. I guess I’m just trying to find out exactly how much hype this dude would actually have if he was entering the draft

[The Lamma]

I can't shake the feeling he'll never play for us. We'll find some way to screw this up. He'll be what looks like a throw-in in some deal then turn out to be a good player somewhere else for some West Conference team. Plus the Knicks aren't legally allowed to have a real point guard who can actually distribute the fcking basketball properly.

Spoiler:

I'd love to be wrong about this. Please let me be wrong

[Zenzibar]

Pretty cool that Jokibaitis won the rising stars award. If you look at this history of the award a lot of the past winners turned out to be pretty good. A lot of them were first round picks or even lottery picks. You have to think this guy would be a lottery pick at this point right? Maybe the Knicks actually didn’t do something stupid for once

I would'n't say for once. This new management team has been quite astute at drafting in the 2nd round.

Verdict is still out on that, I can’t say for sure McBride or Sims will make it in the NBA. Or Rokas. But there is room for optimism with them. I think those are their only second round picks, they had the 33rd pick in 2020 and traded it for a future 2nd.

I think we can say that both McBride and Simms have careers in the NBA. Whether that's on the Knicks is a different story.

Both young men posses skills that on one hand is possibly elite defense and the other is elite athleticism. But like you said let the verdict be decided on the floor this coming year.

[Zenzibar]

He's definitely a lotto pick in this draft. Which speaks to how **** this draft is.

Even if he is a mid-1st, we got HUGE value out of our 2nd round pick.

[bleedblue3303]

We continually frustrate me Next years starting lineup should be nothing short of IQ starting and Rokas as the backup. Instead we are chasing Brunson for 20 million a year. We never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.

[thebuzzardman]

Watch on YouTube

This kid is 6'4", great size for a point and terrific long range shooter. With Thibs developing his defense and the winner of the European rising star, he may surprise alot of folks.

He also looks kind of slow. Then again, so does Kyle Anderson and Josh Giddy, and yet they succeed.

[thebuzzardman]

We continually frustrate me Next years starting lineup should be nothing short of IQ starting and Rokas as the backup. Instead we are chasing Brunson for 20 million a year. We never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.

Don't worry. Knicks won't get Brunson or Mitchell or any other chance to make the team actually better, though Mitchell would probably have been a net negative considering the Knicks would have to gut their team and future drafts to have a remote chance of landing him.

Instead, Knicks will drop 10 million x 4 years on Ty Jones so he can block IQ and Rokas BOTH.

Because the Knicks are forever reaching for the mediocre vet who will "help the team now"

[j4remi]

If it's any consolation for those who feel (justifiably) that murphy's law will apply to Rokas ever playing in a Knicks jersey...He had an interview not too long ago where he mentioned that the Knicks have had a bunch of communication with his agent and were present for the Copa Del Ray where he played really well. So the Knicks have been present and shown signs of belief in the kid.

[DOT]

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This kid is 6'4", great size for a point and terrific long range shooter. With Thibs developing his defense and the winner of the European rising star, he may surprise alot of folks.

He also looks kind of slow. Then again, so does Kyle Anderson and Josh Giddy, and yet they succeed.

Yeah, I think he lacks the burst and handle to really be a primary ball handler

He's shown potential as a shooter, so he can play off ball, but I think he's gonna be more of a combo guard type in the NBA

His best case scenario imo is someone who can come in off the bench, do a little bit of everything, and hold down the fort for the starters to get some rest. Like a 7th or 8th man, which would be pretty good from a 2nd round pick.