Derrick Rose‘s agent, B.J. Armstrong, would like to meet with the Knicks before free agency begins Saturday, relays Marc Berman of The New York Post. New York could head off Rose’s free agency by working out an extension this week, and team president Phil Jackson said, “We’re listening,” when asked about that possibility. Rose has been cleared for running and contact after surgery in April to fix a torn meniscus. “It’s a matter of wanting to hear from them and their vision of what the team is trying to do,” Armstrong said. “We stated our intention … once we got traded there, we want to be in New York. At the same time, we have to see what it is and go from there. Let’s listen and gather information.’’
The Timberwolves are expected to be a contender for Rose, with one GM telling Berman that Minnesota coach/executive Tom Thibodeau would bring in all his former Bulls players if he had the opportunity. The Wolves, who traded for Jimmy Butler on Thursday, talked to the Knicks about a swap of Rose and Ricky Rubio in February, but pulled out before the deal could be completed. Sources told Berman that others in the Minnesota organization convinced Thibodeau not to make the trade because Rose wouldn’t be guaranteed to stay.
There’s more news out of New York:
- Knicks fans chanted “Fire Phil” at the draft and booed owner James Dolan as his band played across town, but there was no negative reception for first-rounder Frank Ntilikina, writes Steve Popper of USA Today. The French point guard provides optimism and enthusiasm for an organization that can’t seem to escape chaos. “What I will bring to the Knicks, actually a lot of hope,” Ntilikina said. “I think I’m a player who will trust the process, work hard, and definitely try to be the best player I can be, who will give energy. I think I’m a team point guard and shooting guard actually. I’ll just try to make my teammates be better every day, and I think I can play defense, too.”
- ESPN’s Frank Fraschilla, an expert on international prospects, thinks Ntilikina has a bright future in the NBA, but not the Knicks’ No. 58 pick, Berman notes in a separate story. Serbian Ognjen Jaramaz is a draft-and-stash player who might never make it onto the Knicks’ roster. “Chances are he’ll never play in the NBA and Knicks fans will never see him other than summer league,’’ Fraschilla said. “He’s an older international kid, very limited upside. He’s a hard-nosed competitor but not really a great athlete or shooter.”
- Drafting an 18-year-old and seemingly launching a youth movement are signs that Jackson is planning to stay in New York for a long time, writes Mike Lupica of The New York Daily News. Lupica notes that with a $12MM-a-year-salary and no chance to return to the Lakers now that a new management team is in place, Jackson has nothing but time.
The trade talk of Porzingis was due diligence. Jackson is building a team to his liking. His message to Porzingis was “don’t get too NBAd up.” Now with Ntlilkina he has the point guard to develop and play with Porzingis and Hernangomez. That’s why he doesn’t want Carmelo. He doesn’t fit the scheme. As a Knick fan I want Carmelo to go to a team that can win it all. It’s not the Knicks in the next few years. it’s going to be a pass first defense oriented team with solid three point shooters. As far as the second round picks who knows but they’re the type of players to fit Phil’s system. Knick fans are impatient but what do you want? A team that makes the playoffs a couple of years or
a team that that is built to win long-term. Quit listening to writers and radio guys that don’t get it.
I wouldn’t want Melo gone.
This isn’t 1990, though. And that’s the problem. That message worked at a time when teams held more power over the players. That’s just not true in 2017. Phil trying to exert control over KP will only lead to him wanting out when his contract is up.
People can say whatever they want about Phil but he has drafted well. Porzingis and Ntilikina are a nice combo going forward, I would not re-sign Rose though.
Agree. The Noah contract was a horrible move, but other than that, he inherited a mess, and that’s takes a lot of time to fix. I’m a Bulls fan, but I don’t get all the hate for Phil. Just an outsider’s perspective, Melo is a clubhouse poison, and he needs to go. There’s a nice core to work with there, now. Messes time time to fix, folks. Just looks at the Cubs, when Theo took over. It took about 4-5 years to straighten that out.
Yea I do not mind keeping Melo since KP likes him but what could we possibly get and get better?
Time will tell on the rookie. He could be a bust…
Really, other than KP, Phil has done nothing but make mistakes. He whiffed on Kerr and settled for Fisher who was a disaster. He whiffed on Walton and settled on Hornacek (jury is still out(. He demands his team run an antiquated offense that can’t win in the modern league, thus forcing his will on a coaching staff that isn’t equipped to run that system… additionally, he re-signed Melo amidst a rebuild when conventional wisdom said to let him walk. He traded for Rose even though he was broken down and didn’t fit the offense he was forcing on the team. He signed a broken down Noah to a long term deal when he had a better version of Noah (Lopez) in house at less money and fewer years.
Seriously – what am I missing here? Jackson has been a complete disaster.
I also agree. KP and Frank will grow up together and wreak havoc. Although Phil definitely screwed up the Melo situation, he gets way to much hate (Noah aside), considering the Knicks weren’t going to be contenders regardless of what he did. Just trust Clarence Gaines, and things will be fine.
Also I wouldn’t re-sign Rose unless it was a sign and trade with Minny straight up for Rubio.
He also signed Noah and Melo though and he’s acted like a d-bag the entire time.
How has he acted like a dirt bag, I have seen Melo his whole career and he does not elevate the play of his teammates like Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant did. Phil actually trusted he was capable of that but he isn’t. If he is comfortable being that second option after Porzingis I have no problem with the man staying but if thats not the case the Knicks should move him or even buy out his contract.
Don’t forget. He signed Noah because he gave away Lopez – a cheaper and better version of Noah – in a deal for a broken down point guard.
Any knucklehead could have drafted those two guys though…it’s not some genius move to do the obvious
KP wasn’t obvious at the time. Every 7-foot shooter from Europe is the next Dirk. Most wind up being the next Bargnani.
**** Messes take time to fix****
The ZENMASTER should be the adult in this so-called controversy with the ZINGMASTER & put this behind the team for good just like when DROSE went missing for a day and was simply fined drafting Frank Knicky to team with Porzingis and Hernangomez is the best thing to triangulate a Knicks core for the future!
Rose blew it.
For a day.
Porzingis still isn’t even returning phone calls.
One made a mistake and came back to pay the price.
The other is pouting & making it personal while taking things to an unnecessary level all by himself. Why would anyone want to see him win if that is the type of leadership he would bring.
How about a Paxon for Jackson trade?
I’ll give Pax some credit. He built a potential powerhouse in 2011-12. If not for the Rose injury, who knows where that team would’ve gone – especially since they had Butler in house when Rose went down. A backcourt of a pre-injured Rose and Butler would’ve carried a team to the top of the EC. It was bad luck that it didn’t happen that way. But it’s tough to blame Pax when 1- stars aren’t interested in Chicago winters and 2- butler by himself got the Bulls into the playoffs thus ensuring the Bulls never picked in a spot to draft another star.
Knicks need an intervention from Adam Silver….He should force Dolan to fire the idiot Phil Jackson regime and hire Sam Hinkie….Hinkie made the 76ers relevant again. Hes a Popovich disciple and free agents would see a stable figure running the Garden for the 1st time in a long time..
Dolan is too busy playing with his band, he handed the Knicks to Phil to operate. We just have to pray Phil does not move Porzingis.