The Knicks made a sizable commitment to Tim Hardaway Jr. this offseason, bringing the former Knick back home after inking him to a four-year, $71MM deal. While there’s a lot of apprehensions about Hardaway’s deal, Knicks’ assistant general manager and former guard Allan Houston cannot wait to see how the team’s draft pick from 2013 establishes himself, Thomas Lipe of the New York Post writes.
Speaking at Hofstra University with his youth program, Houston said the current version of Hardaway is more seasoned and talented than several years ago.
“I’m excited for [Hardaway],” Houston said. “When you’re 20 years old and you’re coming into this environment, everybody has to grow and everybody has to mature. He’s developed all the way around and he’s prepared himself for this. So he’s prepared for it.”
Houston himself is no stranger to large contracts with the Knicks as he signed a six-year, $100MM pact with the team in 2001. While Houston was more established at the time of his deal, he was also older and injuries prevented him from playing out the entirety of the contract. Hardaway, still just 25 years old, brings youth and upside to a rebuilding Knicks team. Houston feels that Hardaway can live up to expectations by not just strong on-court performance but strong off court work as well.
“The mindset I took is: you come in, you put your work in, you treat your whole being, your whole life, like you want to make the most out of it,” Houston said. “You want to be valuable, not in terms of money, but you want to be valuable to your family, your community, to the franchise. That’s where [Hardaway’s] mindset is.”
Read additional notes surrounding the Knicks below:
- In a resounding interview with Marc Berman of the New York Post, free agent signing Michael Beasley referred to himself as a “walking bucket” who has not received the respect he deserves. The former second overall pick says he’s long past his prior marijuana suspension and said that people still dwelling on his past issues need to emulate him by growing up. For his career. Beasley has averaged 12.8 PPG and 4.7 RPG across nine NBA seasons with five different teams.
- Just prior to signing with the Knicks, Jamel Artis spoke to Adam Zagoria of FanRag Sports. The former Pittsburgh forward expressed his excitement to join the New York squad and said his offensive skill set would mesh well with the current core.
- A recent report indicated the Cavaliers‘ interest to acquire a budding young star in a trade for Kyrie Irving with Kristaps Porzingis topping the list. Fred Kerber of the New York Post cites league source who claim “no proposal exists” in which the Knicks part with Porzingis for Irving. Kerber adds that while the New Jersey native Irving would like a homecoming to New York, it will not come at the expense of the team’s Latvian standout.
Considering how often he gets called for traveling, I think “walking bucket” is a very appropriate nickname for Beasley.
Ha ha. I still think he’s an alright player.
Ha! I love the god complex all these mid-Tier players have of themselves.
I like the makeup of the Knicks team, this starting lineup would be quite interesting
Ntilikina-Hardaway Jr-Beasley-Porzingis-Willy
Beasley? Really?
If Melo is traded before the start of the season,Thomas would undoubtedly get the start over Beasley. And short of multiple young assets and or first round picks, Melo will be in NY for the start of the season. Trading Melo just to trade Melo makes no sense and it seems like the the Knicks front office knows it.
On a side note ANY trade for Irving that includes Porzingis needs to be simply vetoed by hanging up the phone.
The Tim Hardaway Jr link went to retired Tim Hardaway.
With that contract he can. :)
“No proposal exists” [for a Porzingis trade] assuming Cleveland assets. But there would likely be a third team involved. For instance Phoenix will probably have a high pick and Zinger would be playing in the West in
a Cle/Phx/NY trade:
Out: Irving/BledsoeJacksonMia#1Phx#1/ZingerLeeOqinn
In: BledsoeJacksonPhx#1/ZingerLeeOquinn/IrvingPhx#1
Phx gets an ideal compliment for Booker, smart defensive and accurate, and addresses Chandler being 34. Plus Zinger! NY gets a draw and a story, something to get the blood flowing and Spikes jumping at MSG, and Irving should be easy to re-sign there. Cle gets what they apparently want.
The Phoenix #1 should still be a lottery pick, since Zinger probably can’t change that yet and Booker will make mistakes at PG. Make it unprotected. NY should not turn that down.
Remember, when Irving was losing in Cleveland before James, the Cavs were tanking and coddling every Irving hurt. Winning was not a franchise objective. People forget that when blaming Irving.
First let me start off by saying that I’m not trying to be rude.
What you are implying is that the Knicks blow up their team so that the Cavs can get Jackson, by trading Porzingis to the Suns. And the Knicks get what a first rounder and Irving? And does Melo stay in NY after all those moves? Idk and simply can’t tell if you’re a Suns fan trolling to get Porzingis or a Cavs fan trolling to get Jackson. Either way your trade proposal is that of a pipe dream.
Oquinn is not close to starting; Lee is an extra who does not excite anyone and at $37MM owed, would not normally have much trade value. “Blow up the team”, really?
As for Zinger, if everything works out, he will be as gpod as Irving is now, and a high draft pick is what everyone wants. That’s hpw you get a Zinger.
Melo is not budging; it’s weird that is a bad thing. He will be a lot happier with Irving than Porzingis if that is even a good thing. It’s hard to tell with fans nowadays. How about winning, and using someone else’s pick for the next bright shining object?
The Cavs are testing the Knicks stupidity LOL! KP6 with LBJ & KLOVE upfront they win the next 4 NBA titles! Top 5 rim protector with Cavs perimeter Defense wow! Thank God the Knicks finally have a sane Front Office LOL! KP6 has played 138 of a possible 164 games made 193 3pt shots & blocked 263 no other player in NBA history has done it! He wins the Skills contest at the All Star game beating guards and wings shows the dedication to honing his talent too maximize his potential. At 20yrs 14ppg 7rbs 2blk at 21yrs 18ppg 7rbs 2blk will be elite 23ppg 10rpg 3apg 3bpg top 15 all NBA performer at 22yrs old! You don’t trade KP6 7-3 with a 9-6 standing reach 40 inch vertical 4 a one dimensional PG whose Defense ranks him 379th in the entire NBA LOL! Sign Kyrie as FA!