thelesterlee
With the 34th pick of the 2024 NBA Draft, the Portland Trailblazers drafted point guard, Tyler Kolek, out of Marquette. They traded him to the New York Knicks for a ton of future second-round picks. Felt like a nothing deal when it happened but Summer League has birthed a star in the making.
Tyler Kolek against the Pistons :
8 points
7 assists
3 rebounds
1 stealKolek is not a system player, he is the system. 🧠pic.twitter.com/V2erLKCEb0
— Kolek Muse (@TylerKolekMuse) July 20, 2024
Tyler Kolek may be the greatest passer I’ve ever seen and that probably has a lot to do with him wearing a Knicks jersey but New York has never had a facilitator of this caliber in my lifetime.
Guys like Kolek can transform an entire team. Passing the ball is contagious. Nikola Jokic became a full-time starter in 2016. Denver has finished in the Top 5 of assists every single season since.
Tyler Kolek hitting a no-look behind the back pass to Julius Randle running the lane in transition will star an avalanche of highlight passes from everyone. Madison Square Garden is about to break the sound barrier when Kolek starts his dime collection this year.
But a problem emerges.
The Knicks, ya know, already have a starting point guard.
Jalen Brunson finished 5th in MVP voting and was the second player in NBA history since Michael Jordan to score 40 points in 4 consecutive playoff games.
His backcourt partner will be the newly acquired Mikal Bridges, moving Donte DiVincenzo to the bench along with last season’s backup point guard, Miles McBride.
Then you have the recent signing of Cam Payne, another point guard.
The Knicks have two big men and a shit ton of guards—none of which have the dynamic playmaking of Tyler Kolek.
So how do we get Tyler Kolek on the court?
Here are 3 quick ways off the top of the dome to get my man some minutes this season:
1. Be patient. This one is boring and lame but like, Kolek is just a 23-year-old rookie with a bright future ahead of him. Minutes will become available as time passes but 2nd round rookies shouldn’t be in the rotation for any true championship contender.
2. Trade Julius Randle and play small. OG Anunoby and Josh Hart can play power forward. This isn’t 2003. Neither man will be asked to stop Kenyon Martin in the paint. 2005 Amar’e Stoudamire isn’t respawning. If Randle is gone, OG and Bridges become the starting forwards and Donte DiVincenzo can start at guard and maybe Tyler Kolek and Miles McBridge come off the bench together. McBridge’s perimeter defense and 3-point shooting makes him the perfect guy to play next to Kolek.
3. Trade Jalen Brunson. Look man, when you get a point guard this good, why even waste years ‘developing’ them? Just turn the Knicks into a point guard factory, dumping out MVP-caliber PG’s every couple seasons and replacing them with fresh new marble to chisel into greatness.
Brunson can take a couple Villanova boys with him in the trade if he wants. Kolek is balling with summer leaguers right now, he’ll be fine playing with whoever’s left on the roster.
We had a good run, Jalen but it’s Kolek time.
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Do you also believe Tyler Kolek is the prince who was promised? Leave a comment below. Respond on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Or shoot me an email at Deadseriousmailbag@gmail.com. Let’s chat, bay-beeeee.Â
