Before Steve Mills was removed from his position as the Knicks‘ president of basketball operations, there was some internal support for a potential trade with the Hornets that would have sent Malik Monk to New York, according to Ian Begley of SNY.tv.
Begley notes that Dennis Smith Jr. would’ve gone to Charlotte in the deal, though it’s not clear what other pieces would have been involved on either side. Both Smith and Monk were prospects the Knicks passed over in the 2017 draft for Frank Ntilikina.
Within his roundup of the Knicks’ deadline discussions, Begley also says that before Mills’ departure, there were members of the organization that felt as if they’d made “significant progress” toward a D’Angelo Russell trade with the Warriors.
We don’t know exactly how those talks played out, so it’s hard to say whether that confidence was warranted. But for what it’s worth, Sam Amick of The Athletic reported on Wednesday that none of New York’s offers had been “even remotely appealing” to Golden State. One of the Knicks’ proposals included Bobby Portis, Allonzo Trier, Ntilikina, and presumably some form of draft compensation, sources tell Begley.
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- Marc Berman of The New York Post takes a look at the Knicks’ impending hire of agent Leon Rose as their new head of basketball operations, citing one NBA executive who said, “MSG and CAA have been in bed for years. This shouldn’t be surprising.”
- Berman notes in his article on Rose that the veteran agent is tight with Kentucky head coach John Calipari. However, Calipari said today that he has no plans to become the Knicks’ next coach, according to Kyle Tucker of The Athletic (Twitter link). Calipari said he’d help Rose in any way he can — “It just wouldn’t be to coach.”
- One decision Rose will face this summer will be on Elfrid Payton‘s $8MM non-guaranteed salary for 2020/21. Berman examines the factors that will go into that decision, pointing out that Payton is a CAA client.
- In an interview on Showtime’s “All the Smoke,” Kevin Durant was once again asked about his free agency decision last summer. As Brian Lewis of The New York Post details, Durant replied that he didn’t seriously consider any teams beside the Nets. “I looked at other places — the Clippers, I took a peek at the Knicks just to do my due diligence — but I really wanted to play for the black and white,” Durant said.
What do you expect John Calipari to say
Something that isn’t true.
Tough to take anything Durant says at face value at this point
What else is he going to say? All of the hype from last July proclaiming the Nets as the big free agency winners has faded once all of the fans there realized how overrated Kyrie is without the luxury of playing with LeBron. Getting back KD next season won’t make Brooklyn contenders in a weak eastern conference because he’s coming off the same injury that has pretty much destroyed Boogie’s once-promising career.
I get your point but mine was I think your always hoping with Kevin that he doesnt open his mouth at all
Grace on the court but car wreck near a microphone
Parrot, why would hope have faded if Durant was not expected back yet.
Useless to ask an animal questions.
Who the heck wants Calipari?
Monk for Portis, Trier, Frank, DSJ and Draft compensation is crazy. I would do that for Beal or Lillard but no way for Monk
What? Trash, Trash, Trash, Trash and Picks for Beal or Lillard? That proposal was for DLo btw, not Monk. It was DSJ probably straight up or with a 2nd for Monk.
Pretty sure that part is in reference to trying to get D’lo Russell from GSW.
Who wants Calipari anyway.
David Falk on WFAN said he would put money on John Calipari coaching the Knicks.its the perfect John Calipari front office and the young kids would love him .KAT would jump to join Cal
Hard to call the NY offer a legit offer.
Monk-? It’s amazing that Mills didn’t do even more damage to this franchise than he did.
Well Monk for an exchange with Dennis Smith from the same boat. Hardaway, another Mills guy, was likely in there too.
Mills could see they were talented, but missed the fuller evaluation. People get excited about themselves when they detect talent and transfer that to the subject, thus overrating it.
Of course I would never do that lol.