It could also be Lebron affect as well. I mean when he played at Cavs, that team looked like it was a championship run team, and they went to finals how many years in a row, we have watched like 100 cavs vs warriors finals all because Lebron, and he didn't make it look like he carried the team himself, he is the ultimate guy that makes everyone around him play better, all those players that were at the finals when Lebron was there, became a tanking team that was at the bottom of the league the moment he left.

This is why it's obvious that we are seeing Austin do well now, but the important thing is that he should have a career after Lebron leaves and we are going to end up seeing if he is still that good without him.

It has always been the core roster management for any team that Lebron has played so far give or take. You get one guy who would be great at rebounding, you get one guy who would be great at defending, and bunch of shooters all around, including bench. That way Lebron can drive inside and either dunk or layup or just pass outside to an open shooter, or Lebron could just straight up shoot when the defense goes deep to defend the drive, he shoots very well at three point line on his later years, and the rebounder will get the rebounds whenever someone misses. The system is always built like this and they have what they need right now. I think they won't be the best team, but if they play right and do not get injured like they always do, they will be fine.

Josh Hart scoring himself an $81,000,000 contract extension is pretty impressive considering I don’t even think of him as a starter. I guess he must have been playing well without me noticing last season for the Knicks to lock him up for so long. All of these contracts this offseason have me wondering when the next collective bargaining agreement will be.

As a player who isn't a starter, that averages is quite good already if you will ask me.

IMO, Hart is an underrated player, and his impact when he got traded to the Knicks is huge. He's a good defender, and a good role player as well. I guess the normal salary for a role player that is playing really well is around that price. I remember again how Schroeder rejected that offer from the Lakers again a few years ago. Anyways, he is also playing with his friend Brunson, and that boosts his morale in playing.

This might be off-topic with this one, but if there is somebody that the Knicks must be trading, it must be Randle. I'm not a hater of him, but I just don't like how he plays. Use him, and get some good players out there. Focus on building a team around Brunson instead of him now that they got a 2nd all-star caliber player already. They also have lots of talent around Barrett, Quickley, and Hart. They don't need a Power Forward that shoots more than 15 shots per game with an awful defense as well. That's my opinion though.

I agree, it's different now, if star players are getting a minimum of $100M in 4 years, then definitely a good role players could be ok at $50M or less just like what the contract of Josh Hart in New York right now.

He has a good to decent numbers as non starter, and sometimes there are games like he is a spark plug for the Knicks. He is a good defender as well and has a good 2/3 point shot percentage.

I think when he was with the Lakers, Lebron has a bunch of good 3 point shooters. And even after they have traded most of the championship rosters they have in 2019, they still keep that blue print. However, those outside shooters and defenders didn't click with them and so they have to rebuild everything starting last year with their new coach. And now it seems their focus is trying to get help on AD, that's why they got Hayes or even trying to give Christian Wood a try, if I read it correctly.

Lakers don't want that to happen but their players ask to much and there are others need to let go just to get more better roster. But everything goes down with them and they fell in bad position.

But still they are doing great when they accumulate some good players last season and now they can maximize their rosters with their newly great additions. Lakers this season is really great and they have big chance to win a championship.

As I see it, there is only one reason why a player might leave the NBA to play in other leagues is the lack of demand for such a player by NBA teams. In Howard's case, he had multiple tryouts with different teams last off-season, and it looks like no one wanted him, even for the minimum salary. Personally, I think otherwise, and it seems to me that Howard can still play a couple more seasons in the NBA for the veteran minimum.

Ohh lala. Jalen Brunson may have something to do about this deal. 20 million per year, I don't think it's that high considering what he showcased after being traded to the New York Knicks.
10/7/3 and he makes the team look good with his capability for offensive rebounds to give way for a second chance to score. I am guessing he just needs to find his home and this could be it with his best buddy Jalen. We all saw how happy Jalen Brunson was after he saw his Villanova teammate being traded to the team. It's the face of knowing he will not have any problem with chemistry with their newly recruited player Josh Hart.
We will see though if it will be worth the price, with so much happening in the Knicks team, they may be the keys to getting near the championship.

Exactly, it's not like he turned down $2mil in the NBA to play for a mil overseas.  Dude wants to keep playing professional ball and sometimes that means you have to bite the bullet and leave the league.  No doubt he would have taken a spot in the NBA if a team guaranteed him playing time.