Have a question for CP The Fanchise? Submit your question here, and we’ll get to it during the next newsletter subscriber mailbag. View previous answers below:
MARCH 15, 2026:
Fabian Aramaris: Given the Knicks’ roster ceiling, reliance on defensive overextension, limited half‑court creation, and dependence on health and shooting variance, is there any analytically credible path to contention without outsized luck — or do recent developmental gains and roster continuity suggest the upside is higher than their recent history indicates?
CP The Fanchise: Well, we've seen some very positive things from them defensively. They've been able to crack the top ten in defensive rating. So if we're gonna lean on the simplification from Mike Brown with the defense and the players going out there and executing when they're playing to the best of their ability, I think that really puts them in true contender status as long as the offense follows along.
And we've seen that this Knicks offense, when it's at its peak, is as good as anybody in this league. But defensively, they really have to lock in here. And I think they can do that. And in terms of developmental gains and roster continuity, you have a lot of promise in Mo Diawara. We'll see what Tyler Kolek’s role will be going forward.
You have a first-round pick this year, which many consider to be a talent-loaded draft. You will have the Wizards pick, which will be an early second-round pick as well. Based on where they are with the second apron, how many of those guys do they keep? We shall see. But you do have an opportunity to get more rotation players, whether it's a playmaking guard, another big man, or another wing, depending on who's out there.
So I still think there's room to elevate their ceiling.
Aprillennybrown: Loved your interview with Deuce McBride. Can we expect more interviews with other current Knicks?
CP The Fanchise: We always leave the light on for that possibility, but I kind of prefer the older guard. This week, we had two great ones in Rod Strickland and Chris Childs. They have more stories to tell because they have finished their career. They're a bit more open.
Outside of Hart, these guys don't really say much. I'm a fan of his, but I don't think OG would be a good interview, like Mikal. They don't really have much to say. They're not really open. They open up to each other. My guy, Big Country, comes on the show in an orthodox way. He just comments on our Instagram posts and our live streams. So that's how we communicate. I'd love to do a profile on Big Country and his trucks, pull up at his crib, maybe go down to Nashville, where he is in the offseason.
But yeah, the Deuce interview was great. We'll try to do more. But by and large, a lot of these guys don't really have much interesting things to say. But hey, we'll leave the light on.I like to bring in the legends for the Once a Knick, Always a Knick series. You can catch our series from the KFTV archives right now, available on all podcast platforms. We’re the only Knicks platform that has this gold mine of content and stories from Knicks players of the past. We have the most by far from anybody, even MSG, and we've chopped up the key stories, the fun stories, the emotional stories, into two-to-three minute sound bites. We started with John Starks, then we moved on to the X-Man, and now we're on Derek Harper.
Oliver: If the Knicks are an early exit in the playoffs, what would be your “I told you so” reason?
CP The Fanchise: To be honest, if they see teams like Orlando, Toronto, Miami, or even Philly, I don't think they're an early exit. Now, in the second round, if they lose to Detroit, the “I told you so” would be the lack of ball handling, because that's what really dooms this team. When they see pressure defenses, that's when they cough the ball up a lot more. It's when you get them stuck in the half-court, and they can't play make for each other.
And also their lack of getting rim pressure, which would ultimately help them get to the free-throw line and get easier points when their shots aren't falling. Because they are a feast or famine shot-making team.
So those would be the two reasons: their lack of playmaking, ball-handling, and their inability to put pressure on the rim. Stop the clock, get guys a breather, and get easy points because the transition game kind of slows down in the playoffs. It gets very slow, and it becomes a grind. So you're gonna have to execute in the half-court.
Joseph A. Kallan (KFTV Joseph): What do you think the Knicks' future plans are with Tyler Kolek? I've loved him since college and knew he was going to be an elite point guard if given the opportunity. As it stands, Deuce and Brunson are still the No.1 & 2 guards in terms of ball-handlers, and given the acquisition of Alvarado (under the assumption we pick up his option/re-sign him), it feels as if the room for Kolek is limited.
CP The Fanchise: I think Tyler was always gonna be that second or third-string option at the point. I think he's come a long way this year. He's developed, he's improved. To me, he's the best playmaker on the team. He still has some work to do in terms of his shot selection, shot aggressiveness, and physicality, which will come. He's only in year two, so he will continue to get bigger and stronger.
It took TJ McConnell a little while to really settle into that role. And is it a lock that they bring back Alvarado or even Deuce? There is a little bit more time to make a decision on Deuce. I'm not sure it's a lock for either one.
But to me, until he continues to improve defensively and the shot creation for himself and gets bigger, then I don't think they will have that trust in Tyler. That's why they brought in Alvarado for this stretch running into the playoffs. If they trusted Kolek, he would be getting the burn.
So I wouldn't count him out. You have him under a rookie deal. There's no reason to rush him, but he just has to keep working.
MARCH 3, 2026:
Danny D (@hugodaniel701) on YouTube: Sup CP, do you think Sochan will be used to bolster the defense on our 2nd unit playing him alongside Mo Diawara instead of having them fight each other for mins? I think those 2 wings, BIG Mitch, Alvarado & Shamet would be a tough & rugged squad for maybe 10-12 mins per game. Your thoughts? Thx
CP The Fanchise: No, I've always thought it's going to be an either-or thing right now. Neither one of those guys is experienced or skilled enough to be out there together unless they are with either Brunson or Towns. I don't think in that five-man unit there's enough shot creation, and what you're gonna find is more helter-skelter ball where guys are passing the ball around the perimeter with no real intentions and no real goals. You need someone out there you can trust to get you a bucket or take a good quality shot.
Overall, I think the Sochan experiment was always going to be tricky to implement. I look at both of these guys when it comes to the playoffs as situational. If you don't have Deuce McBride back or Deuce is not up to his regular form, then I think Diawara would certainly get the edge because you need more trustworthy offense and three-point shooting.
Erik C.: What can the Knicks do to get KAT more involved in the offense? I feel like he is constantly just iced out of the game.
CP The Fanchise: Well, for one, the guys out there, including Jalen Brunson, can get him the ball. And from Mike Brown’s perspective, just based on the system that he wants to run, he wants KAT to be more aggressive, so it doesn't seem like they're gonna call his number to get him shots. He's got to figure out his way within this offense, and he's gonna have to be more aggressive.
It just doesn't seem like KAT is the type of guy. He's not an Ant-Man, right? We just saw Anthony Edwards’ closing moments in that Timberwolves win over the Clippers, where he takes the last shot and Chris Finch is screaming at him to pass the ball. KAT’s got to get back to that: “This is what I do. No, I'm not passing it to you, Mikal. I'm not passing it to you, Landry. I'm taking the three. I'm the best three-point shooter on the team.”
And it's complicated because he is having an All-Star year, putting up numbers. But it's frustrating seeing only five shot attempts in a game against the Cavs. If it is indeed true that he has lost a step a little bit, that's natural. He's 10 years into the league as a big man. You should expect that.
But if that's the case, then the coach needs to see that and dial up plays, or the point guard needs to set him up. That's why you see when Tyler comes in the game, they immediately go to the pick-and-roll. Everybody should be seeing that him taking the ball from the top of the key and driving is going to end nine times out of ten in a disaster. Find him good shots in rhythm.
Danny D (@hugodaniel701) on YouTube: Do you think the Knicks coaching staff will move Towns this summer, considering they don’t seem to value his offensive prowess enough to make him a more integral part of the Knicks’ offensive strategy?
CP The Fanchise: Well, it wouldn't be the coaches that move off from him, it would be Leon Rose, and I think the only way they do that is if you're making a Hail Mary for Giannis. I think that's it. Anybody looking to say “trade him for role players, more defense, Jrue Holiday and Jerami Grant,” that's not getting you anywhere closer to a championship. All-Star for an All-Star: it's the same position we were in two years ago when y'all were talking about trading Julius.
If it does blow up on them, then yeah, they're always going to consider the Giannis play. They'll be closer to having a shot at him when the draft comes. Will it be a smart move? Depends on what they have to give up. He still has to put the gun to Milwaukee's head, saying it's New York or nowhere. And then maybe they can get him on a little bit of a cheaper deal, but I'll let the offseason take care of itself. There's so much basketball left to be played. I'm buckling up and enjoying the ride.