Knicks center Willy Hernangomez isn’t hiding his anger after playing less than four minutes in the team’s first two games, relays Fred Kerber of The New York Post. Hernangomez looked like part of the team’s future after a promising rookie season, but he has fallen to third on the depth chart, with Enes Kanter, acquired in the Carmelo Anthony trade, as the starter and Kyle O’Quinn as the backup.
Hernangomez played the final 3:46 of Thursday’s blowout loss in Oklahoma City, then never left the bench in Saturday’s home opener. After the game, he let reporters know that he’s not happy with the current situation. “I’m still mad,” Hernangomez said. “I cannot help the team win if I’m sitting on the bench. Two games in a row. It’s tough. I have to wait my moment. I cannot say nothing more.” Coach Jeff Hornacek met with Hernangomez this week and told him he needs to improve on defense.
There’s more news today out of New York:
- Tim Hardaway Jr. hasn’t done much so far to ease the concerns of Knicks fans about his four-year, $71MM contract, writes Howie Kussoy of The New York Post. New York’s prize free agent addition of the summer made just four of 16 shots Saturday, following a 3-of-10 performance in the opener. “I missed a couple easy ones here and there, shots that I would normally make,” Hardaway said. “Just tough to see those not go down. My teammates did a great job of keeping me in it, telling me to keep shooting. … I just didn’t get it done. It’s still a new offense, but at the same time, [I] just got to find ways to get to the line, get to the basket a little more, finish around the basket when I’m there. I missed a lot of bunnies I wish I could take back.”
- Kristaps Porzingis is still getting used to the role of primary scorer in the wake of the Anthony trade, according to Ian Begley of ESPN. Porzingis hit 3-of-7 shots late in Saturday’s game, but passed up a 3-pointer in the final seconds for a layup that was blocked.
- The early part of Frank Ntilikina‘s NBA career has been marked by injuries, but the Knicks remain excited about the French point guard, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post. Ntilikina, who was limited to one preseason game because of a bruised knee, sat out Saturday’s contest after spraining his ankle at Friday’s practice. “I think what everybody first saw is I think he can touch everyone out there in TV land, you know his arms are so long,” Hornacek said. “Even this week in practice, when he guards guys, they don’t think he’s close enough to steal the ball, and then he just reaches out and hits the ball and gets a steal.”
Celtics should trade for Willy
There’s no excuse for Willy to not be playing. Sure, his defensive effort could be better but when Kanter is the starter, you’re being hypocritical by having Willy ride the bench. THJ is a sixth man guy and shouldn’t be starting or earning $17MM a yr. And if Jeff likes Frank, why did Frank play 5 min in his first game?
They’re paying Kanter 40 million these next 2 years, and Hernangomez has a similar skillset to him. They’re both backup 5s.
Porzingis, Lee, and O’Quinn are the only Knicks that are doing great. Kanter is a foul happy, defensive liability. Hernangomez is the better two way player. Hardaway Jr isn’t ready to start offensively and his defense is sub par. Thomas looks just as bad as he did last season. Baker is playing well on defense, but he hesitates while running the point which slows down the offense. Plus he doesn’t look confident when he shoots. Beasley and Kuzminskas need more playing time at the sf position.
Hornaceck needs to stop trying to put a winning product on the floor and develop his young players. Mills needs to be exploring the possibility of trading for Bledsoe. They’ll get a younger veteran pg to help Ntilikina along the way and if they were smart clear their big man log jam.
Ideal package for Bledsoe:
Kanter and Sessions plus a second rounder.
Hardaway Jr, Sessions, and O’Quinn plus a second rounder.
Lol you’re not getting Bledsoe, even for 1 year, for either of those deals