Michael Beasley got a chance to show he can still contribute Friday night as he produced 10 points and six rebounds in the fourth quarter, but performances like that have been rare since he joined the Knicks, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post. Beasley has appeared in 11 of the team’s 15 games and is seeing just 13 minutes per night. His averages of 5.4 points and 2.7 rebounds are the lowest of his career.
“I think everybody wishes they played more — except the guys playing 45 minutes a night,’’ Beasley said. “But I’m not here to say what I need or want personally. Whatever the team needs. If they need me to play 40 minutes, I’ll play it. If they want me to clap on the bench, I’ll do it.”
Beasley, who signed for the veterans’ minimum in August, had his name floated as a waiver possibility when Joakim Noah returned from his suspension this week. The Knicks decided to part with Mindaugas Kuzminskas instead. Playing time may be an issue for Beasley all season, as New York is emphasizing defense and Lance Thomas is excelling on that end of the court.
There’s more tonight out of New York:
- Tim Hardaway Jr. has been dealing with pain in his left foot since Wednesday, Berman relays in a separate story. The Knicks’ top free agent addition of the summer played through the problem Friday before being forced to leave with three minutes left. He isn’t sure if he’ll be ready for the team’s next game Monday. “It’s been lingering the last 36 hours,’’ Hardaway said. “When I woke up Thursday, it’s just nagging pain. Normally I like to play through it [with] no excuses. I try to grind it out. I wasn’t feeling good so I came out and make sure it’s OK. It’s all good.’’
- The Knicks early-season success stems from the freedom coach Jeff Hornacek has with Phil Jackson no longer around, notes Al Iannazzone of Newsday. After the former team president was fired over the summer, there was no longer an emphasis on the triangle, allowing Hornacek to implement a faster, more free-wheeling offense. Iannazzone adds that Hornacek was allowed to mix his offense with the triangle at the start of last season, but around the All-Star break he was ordered to use the triangle exclusively. “He’s running his own stuff without anybody coming in and telling him what to do or how to do it,” Kristaps Porzingis said. “I think from the top down you can feel that there’s more confidence in what we’re doing.”
- Hornacek is getting credit throughout the league for the Knicks’ improvement, relays Ian Begley of ESPN. Despite an 8-7 start, New York remains a long shot to end its playoff drought. ESPN’s Basketball Power Index gives the Knicks just a 12.7% chance of making the postseason.
What’s the possibly of Knicks trading Porzingis for a bunch of picks and projects to aim so they can drop to the cellar for a top pick?
If their was a number lower then 0 it would be that. No chance they trade Porzingis. I’m a Timberwolves fan and I think Porzingis would almost be a better fit for our team and I feel like that’s saying something.
If Minnesota still had Dunn, Lavine, and Markannen/7th pick, kick in a little more and that might’ve been something both teams would’ve been interested in. It would’ve allowed NY to go for the upside pick in Dennis Smith Jr, knowing they had other high potential guys coming in. Porzingis will be in line for a max salary once they are ready to compete, and it’s harder to add talent without a couple key guys on rookie contracts.
If they got Dunn in a deal like that, chances are they wouldn’t need to go after a pick like Smith Jr.
Timberwolves would have had interest. Knicks most likely would have laughed and demanded Wiggins be included too at least. Not a lot of realistic trade scenarios for Porzingis right now.
The chances of the Knicks trading JP are none and none are you crazy ?
No chance on the Knicks trading Zinger now. Either Jax was going to deal him and then be shot before he left town, or the Knicks season has to mirror the shambles it was last year to push KP to ask for a deal out of town.
KP will probably retire a Knick. There would be a fan revolt if they moved him.
KP is 22. You build around him, not trade him for parts and remote picks. You don’t trade quality for quantity in the NBA unless its an older player or a contract situation. Jackson was never serious about trading KP – just the NY media stirring things up at Jackson’s behest. His “asking price” was much higher than anyone would pay for any one player.