They just completely changed their plans...

21 assists, zero turnovers in his first three games of the season. According to Tommy Beer, citing Basketball Reference, Tyler Colek is the only NBA player in the last 40 years to do that. And now, Jose Alvarado is healthy again. The guy who the Knicks just signed to a three-year deal over the summer after being an integral part of them winning their first championship in 53 years. Against Cleveland. Colek was the first point guard off the bench and Alvarado didn't even play. So the Knicks have answered the question and the player paying for it is a veteran with a real contract. And this matters now because the Knicks are not coasting. They just want a title. The bench is a big reason why they stayed so deep. And every minute they give to the wrong guard is the minute they give away, which does cause a lot of stress on the Knicks. And Colek has earned the job. The Knicks are better with him on the floor, but it's coming at the expense of a veteran with a real contract on a team that refuses to go into the second apron. And I want to show you exactly what is going to happen next because of it. Because right now, the Knicks have a 7% chance on Kalshi to win the NBA title for the second straight year. And guys, I do want to thank Kalshi for sponsoring today's video. On Kalshi, you are trading directly against other users, not the house like traditional sportsbooks. You're buying yes or no contracts on the outcomes of events across sports, politics, and even the weather. For example, the Knicks winning that NBA title, which they have a 7% chance at. So right now, if you trade $25 on it, you can get an excellent payout for yourself. And I mentioned $25 because if you do trade your first $25 after signing up for Kalshi, click on the link in our description and signing up. Using code DIGESTNBA, you can make $55 on that first trade for free. You get that money. It's a great deal for you. It helps the channel out as well. Now, let's talk about Tyler Colek. You can see it in the efficiency, too. His true shooting percentage this season is a 37.7, which is not good, and yet the offense runs through him with almost no waste. This tells you where his value sits. It's in the decisions, not the points. And where did this come from? Two years ago, he played 7.2 minutes a game and averaged two points. Last season, he was at 11.9 in consistent minutes. 4.6 points and shot 38.7% from three. He did not change who he is. He just got his minutes. And the passing has always been there. And Tommy Beuer said it simply, truly unique talent. And I think that is the point. That's not a guy filling in. This is a guy who is changing the pace of the basketball game. And a fan on our channel, Dominic Mezapell, 4252, wrote on October 27th, play Kolek to keep the ball moving. Gave nine assists in 15 minutes last game. Dominic, the Knicks certainly listened. Now the part that matters the most. Do the Knicks actually play better with him? Look at the plus minus. In those seven games, the Knicks were plus 26 in his 87 minutes. Tommy Beuer posted that Kolek and Jordan Clarkson changed the game after the start of the fourth quarter against Brooklyn. Clarkson was plus 17 in 11 minutes and Kolek was plus 13 in five minutes. That is what a backup point guard is there for. It's what he's supposed to do. And to be fair, plus minus is noisy over seven games and he has played some of those minutes next to starters and he was minus in Cleveland. But look at the thing that does not lie. The ball does not stick. In 87 minutes, he committed four turnovers. Think about that when the minutes come. The start of the fourth quarter, the stretch when the starters are on the bench, and the lead either grows or disappears. In the Brooklyn game, that stretch belonged to Kolek and Clarkson. And the Knicks have been looking for a backup who keeps the offense moving without giving the ball away. And Brunson sits. The offense tends to fall apart at points. With Kolick so far, it hasn't at all. It's stayed good. And there is a caution, and it's a real one. His scoring's not there. He's putting up 2.1 points per game and 25% for three this season. Zero points in three of his seven games. Teams will dare him to shoot, and if you cannot punish that, his passing does get squeezed. So, we do need to think about that, and J.R. Heisler wrote on our November 3rd video, Wiseman, now Dink Pate, Kolek, the future is bright. The future is bright, J.R., who I'm still convinced may be Jericho Sims. But, I'm not kidding. But, the question is, who is standing in the way? Well, to be fair, no one. Jose Alvarado, who I do want to be fair to, the Knicks got him from the Pelicans. Before the trade deadline last season and this summer he declined a $4.5 million player option to sign a new deal with the Knicks. It's a three year deal worth about $14.4 million on our cap sheet with $12 million guaranteed $4.44 million this year $4.79 million next year and $5.15 million in 2028-29 when only $2.77 million is guaranteed. Now, Production was fine before. In 2024-25, he averaged 10.3 points and 4.6 assists. Last season, 7.4 points and 3.4 assists in nearly 20 minutes a game. He brings pressure on the ball, pace, and toughness, and certainly is someone whose vibe and energy is very much needed on the Knicks while also giving them another ball handler. And he started the season well. On October 20th against Philadelphia, he had 16 minutes, 8 points, 2 threes, 2 steals. And the Knicks were a plus six with him on the floor. That's why they paid for him. But this season, he's only played four games. And he had missed four straight with an ankle sprain. In his 45 minutes, he has 10 points, seven assists, six turnovers. And the Knicks were minus 13. That's a small sample. And he was playing hurt for part of it, which also does matter. Then Ian Begley reported that when Alvarado returned on November 2nd, the expectation was that he would take Kolek. minutes, and Mike Brown said he sat both guards down to talk about playing time, and it did not go that way on the floor. Against Brooklyn, Alvarado got nine minutes, and Kolek got five. Against Chicago, Kolek got 11 minutes, and Alvarado got nine. And in Cleveland, Kolek was the very first point guard off the bench, and one fan wrote, Kolek really may have taken that spot. And here's the part I like. When Tommy Beer pointed out that when Kolek took his first shot against Cleveland, the loudest guy on the Knicks bench was Jose Alvarado, the player that Kolek is taking minutes from. This is how a team stays a team. This is Jose Alvarado being Jose Alvarado in the best way ever. And Overlord777YT had his own plan on our October 29th video saying, Kolek to start alongside Brunson in the backcourt. Bridges and Alvarado first come off the bench. And I would not go that far, but I do get the instinct. And I do like the idea of the Knicks playing Kolek and Brunson together. They've said it worked. And... Also, it just makes sense because Brunson is always better with another ball handler on the floor. It also does get Kolek some open threes, which he'll hit. He shot 37% from three last year. So what exactly do the Knicks do here? And here's where I land. A contract does not sell the minutes. The Knicks owe Alvarado $12 million in guarantees, and the money is spent whether he plays nine minutes or 20. And the cost of playing him is $0 more. The cost of playing the better guard is a game. And Alvarado is only guaranteed $2.77 million in the last year. So the Knicks are not locked into some horrible mistake of a contract. That really is good protection. And if If I were to make the plan, I would have Kolek as the backup point guard. He's already taken it. Alvarado is the change of pace. 10 or 12 minutes against teams that can pressure the ball or when the Knicks need to speed up a game or just need more defense in the backcourt. That's what a $4.4 million guard is for. And look to the money for the other side. Kolek accounts for $2.3 million this year with a team option of $2.49 million the next season. Alvarado accounts for $4.44 million. And the Knicks are paying about $2.1 million more for the guard who is playing less. Also, think about what this does for Alvarado's deal. A guard who played on a title team at $4.4 million is not a negative asset. If Kolek keeps rolling, a team needs a defensive guard could want him. And also, the Knicks still want him. The Knicks love Jose Alvarado and everything he does. And here's what I'm watching for over the next five games. One, Kolek's three-point shooting because he's at 25% and he has to get better. Two, whether Alvarado gets minutes at all now that he's healthy. Three, who Mike Brown trusts in the fourth quarter. The answer to number three really will answer more than anything who the backup point guard is going to be. And one more thing about Kolek's price, his deal runs through this season with the team option for $2.49 million next year. Then he's a restricted free agent in 2028. If he's playing like this, that number goes up. The Knicks should be thinking about it now, trying to lock him up, and I expect they will try to. And it's the same pattern as Deuce McBride and Mohamed Diawara. The Knicks win when a cheap young player outperforms his price. Kolek is next and he's already doing it. The risk is real. If his scoring never shows up, then the Knicks can slide Alvarado right back. That's what a deep bench is for. It's not even close. Now a comment of the day involves two of my favorite young guys involved with the Knicks with Wayne Peterson 4038, who wrote, Dream with me here. Tears on the line. Imagine a backcourt off the bench of Tyler Kolek and Dink Pate. Wayne, I'm dreaming with you, man. So here's your question. Who should the Knicks back at point guard be? Should it be Kolek or should it be Alvarado? Put the name in the comments. I kind of have a feeling who's going to win. I'm also going to put a poll out on the channel as well. And if you want to see the same cheap, long-term thinking about the Knicks, watch this Dalton Connect video next. I'll see you there. Like this video, subscribe, turn on post notifications. Have a great day and go Knicks.