In an unsurprising development, the Knicks have made Tim Hardaway Jr. and Courtney Lee available via trade in advance of the February 7 deadline, three sources tell Marc Stein of The New York Times. The decision is largely financially motivated, Stein adds.
We’ve assumed for months that Hardaway and Lee would be on the trade block this season, since the’re both owed pricey salaries for 2019/20 and the Knicks would like to be players this summer for a group of free agents that includes Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Kemba Walker. A report earlier this week from Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic indicated that rival teams have inquired on Hardaway and Lee.
From the Knicks’ perspective, an ideal trade involving Hardaway or Lee would see New York acquire an expiring contract without having to attach an asset to either veteran to sweeten the deal. Stein suggests it’s unclear whether the Knicks will be able to find a suitable trade without attaching an additional asset — Vokunov said in his report that the front office has been averse to adding a sweetener.
Here are a few more Knicks-related notes and rumors:
- Howard Beck of Bleacher Report says he gets the impression the Knicks would be willing to trade “just about everyone not named Kristaps (Porzingis) or Kevin (Knox)” if it helps clear the team’s books for this summer (Twitter link).
- After Enes Kanter told the Knicks to play him or “get me out of here,” head coach David Fizdale responded to his veteran center and downplayed the idea that the situation will cause any distractions for the team. Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic has the full quotes from Fizdale.
- Vorkunov also relays the latest comments from Kanter, who took exception with being grouped in with veterans like Courtney Lee and Lance Thomas when Fizdale informed those players – and Trey Burke – that their minutes would be cut. “I mean, Courtney and Lance, they’re 33, 34, whatever years old. I’m 26 years old. It’s not like I am old. You know what I mean?” Kanter said. “They treat me like I’m old. I’m not old. I’m 26 years old.” In Marc Stein’s report (linked above), he wrote that Kanter is expected to seek a buyout if he’s not moved by the trade deadline.
- Tim Hardaway didn’t seem to love being thrown under the bus by Allonzo Trier in a Twitter direct message Trier sent to a fan. Responding to criticism from the fan for a defensive miscue vs. Houston, Trier retorted that Hardaway was supposed to have switched onto his man. “Oh, so he blaming other people, basically?” Hardaway said, per Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News. “At the end of the day I think it all falls down on the team. Team defense, you learn from it.” Trier apologized for the message today after it leaked.
Unsurprising to the outside world, but, on THJ, this is news. For this to happen, Mills, the mastermind behind the FA coup that secured for the Knicks the THJ and Baker contracts, had to agree to it, which means doing something of a mea culpa less than 2 years into it. Kudos to him. We all make mistakes. Few do on this level, but so be it. No need to double down.
I doubt there’s any takers for THJ without attaching an asset. He’s one of the most inefficient scorers in the league and is pretty average to below average in other parts of his game for a pretty high salary.
in the pantheon of tire fire contracts this ones not top ten for Knicks – he can actually score, wants to play, and is playing.
Can see Pheonix having a crack
I disagree. It wasent long ago, Timmy was in the top 10 scoring, but now KNICKS are going complete development with the young kids, who are learning on the fly, which means a lot of mistakes. Timmy would have a more developed team in Indiana, and just a better supporting cast, which I think will help his overall game. Not to mention they simply need a scorer rite now. Put Timmy in a playoff race with quality team around him, and you’ll be surprised. Honestly I’ll be fine if he stays with my KNICKS. Next yr he will have Porzingis back, a yr of development for Knox, Robinson, and Trier , plus a top 5 lotto pick and cap space. Give me timmys 20ppg 35pct 3pt and lights out FT shooting , thank u very much.
If Melo hasn’t been waived, I can see a Bulls/Knicks trade happening…
#Reunion
Honestly Timmy gets a bad wrap. Pacers should jump on trade for Timmy with Oladipo now out for yr. Also Sacramento, and Brooklyn would be good fits. KNICKS could take Randolphs expiring contract back from the kings, and now u have 2 shooters Fox can pass out to when he uses his electric speed to go to the hoop. The kings could def use one more scorer
The Nets also could use Timmy. He instantly would become there 2nd best scorer and give the next a real boost going forward.
Honestly wouldn’t mind KNICKS holding onto Timmy either . Next yr we get Porzingis back and a top 5 lotto pick. Having a 27yr old who can score nearly 2ppg a night and has takeover ability and is a heck of a FT shooter isn’t a bad thing in my book.
There is no way that there will be a Melo/Knicks reunion. I actually it might be more likely for Dolan and Oak to work it out before number 7 returns to the Garden floor in blue and orange.
I kind of had Kanter’s back this morning regarding the starting promise to benching thing, but now he’s indirectly taking shots at Lee and Thomas, so I guess he’s back to being an A-Hole.
Trier trashing Hardaway on good old social media too! 2-20 in their last 22.
It’s getting out of control. While at 8-17 and playing hard, plucky basketball the Knicks at least looked like a possible FA destination. Now, I wouldn’t touch them with a 10 foot pole if I’m Durant, Irving, etc. Fiz has got to go. I wasn’t sure whether his war with Marc Gasol was Marc or his fault, now I have a good feeling as to where to put the blame.
Why? All the FAs out there knew KNICKS were gonna be terrible this yr,with a new coach, youngest roster in the game , with a ton of those young kids getting developmental minutes…etc
I would hope a FA entertaining NYC, would be smart enough to realize there getting a super star back in Porzingis and a top 5 lottery pick, plus have a awesome young core that have gotten invaluable playing time this season, in Knox, Robinson, Trier, Dot, Frank…etc
Any FA that is wantimg to come here isn’t stupid and realizes this lost yr served a purpose for the knicks and most everyone in the world knew it was coming .
Even if KNICKS don’t get a top tier FA, there gonna be solid team next yr , just adding Porzingis and a top 5 pick to the nucleus we have playing now, and maybe a mid tier FA like Rubio or Terry Rozier(examples).
Come on man, you’d have to be blind and dumb to not see the knicks futures bright with or without a top tier FA signing
Still think a Conley trade would make sense for both clubs.
However, Cleveland is looking to take contracts. JR for THJ.
Well, they aren’t just looking to take on contracts. They are looking to take on contracts AND pick up draft picks. They aren’t just going to be a dumping ground without getting some type of value in return. The Knicks would have to add at least a protected first rounder for that deal.
THJ isnt a trash player hes Avg to Above Avg. And better than anyone currently on their squad outside of Love. Reducing their payroll figure next year is the goal, so even doing a THJ for Clarkson deal would be something that could work. Need to add a small contract for the $ to work tho.
It’s true that he isn’t a trash player, but he might not be what the Cavs are looking for. They aren’t looking for guys with contracts that can take them from 15 to 20 wins. They are looking for guys with contracts that take them from 15 to 16 wins AND stock up their future draft picks.
I don’t personally agree with the strategy as I believe that tanking is against the legitimacy of the league and you should ALWAYS try to win. But until they change the rules, it is what it is.
They could let him ball out and still lose. Knicks doing that right now. The Cavs dont look like they even have a plan.
A Cavs plan?– something about giving free rein to a rookie PG with a singular style, and everyone adjust to that.
Also, the long-type players GM Altman seems to be going for don’t lend themselves to looking very organized on court.
None of them, except maybe TT or Burks, can really grasp a 10-man contest.
It resembles what Thad Matta built at Ohio St.
Anyway Clarkson can be dangerous in some situations, preferably not a starting one. He’s like a one-man plan B.
I doubt Hardaway would be considered. CLE is going to want someone fresher.
Who would you rather land as a PG for the Knicks:
Kyrie 4/140
Kemba 4/140
Conley Jr 2/66
Russell 4/45-117?
Rozier 4/45-117?
Brogdon 4/45-117?
Bledsoe 4/60?
Rubio 4/60?
Collison 1/12?
D Rose 1/12?
It’s cute that you included Derrick Rose on that list.
Lol I was tempted not to. I think he gets at least a 1 yr deal somewhere in the 8-12 range. Could have been a nice player for the Knicks for the last 2 years. Marbury-esque Knick years.
In order for DRose to have his renaissance, I think he would have had to go through what he went through in CLE & MIN, to be willing to adopt 2G-type off-ball skills.
I haven’t heard the traditional criticisms of him from T-Wolves-watchers this year.
Kyrie is the only one I would really want on those terms. Conley would be my second best choice, though really too old to be a part of the core of this team. I’d consider a trade for him in the summer if he’s still available, but only after the FA season (assuming it didn’t net them a PG), even if they get a young PG in the draft.
But no trade for him (now) can affect a path to max cap space this summer. They’re pregnant on that. They have to at least try for an elite FA (PG or other spot), before foreclosing the possibility for at least another 2 years.
My math puts them at 33.8 cap space of THJ were involved in a Conley trade this year or in the summer.
They need 32.7 to sign a FA to a max deal 7-9 yrs. However… a PG is the most likely candidate they could land on a max deal. So maybe it’s a moot point to trade for Conley.
My back of the napkin (rounded):
6.5 – noah
17 – kp
13 – lee
11 – knox/frank/robinson
32.5 – conley
5.0 – 1st round pick (est)
4.5 – five roster holds (est)
———
88.5 mm – declining Trier and Dotson options
92 mm – exercising options (add 3.5 mm)
Space @ 110 cap is about 18-21 mm. 14 mm more if THJ is there, and not Conley (32-35 mm). Even THJ and Lee both in the deal, it’s 30-33 mm. THJ and Lee for C.Parsons (w/expiring k), it’s 37.5-40.5 mm.
Ah I forgot about the Cap Hold on KP so its 17.1? less space if they did the trade. They have to renounce a few players and stretch Lee and Thomas to get near the RFA max.
At what point was it decided that an entire team should be around the same age in order to be good? I am thinking of the Lakers of the 80s that had Kareem and Magic that were at least 10 years apart. Even the Shaq/Kobe Lakers had a decent age gap.
Plus if it was me, I would want an experienced veteran PG to lead a young team.
Cost less if you go younger. KP will be 1 max player <7 yrs. Shedding THJ, Lee, and Thomas would allow them to land 2 max players <10 yrs.