The Knicks have granted Dennis Smith Jr.‘s request to be sent to the G League bubble, announcing today (via Twitter) that the former lottery pick is among the players being assigned to the Westchester Knicks. Smith reportedly asked to be sent to Westchester in order to get some regular minutes, since he hasn’t been part of the rotation in New York this season.
In addition to Smith, the Knicks have assigned second-year forward Ignas Brazdeikis to the G League and transferred two-way player Jared Harper there as well. Those three members of New York’s 17-man NBA roster will join a Westchester squad that also features former NBA first-round picks like Skal Labissiere and James Young.
Here’s more on the NBA’s two New York-based teams:
- Unlike Harper, Theo Pinson – the Knicks‘ other two-way player – will remain with the NBA team rather than heading to the G League. As Marc Berman of The New York Post explains (via Twitter), Knicks president of basketball operations Leon Rose, who formerly represented Pinson at CAA, loves the 25-year-old as a locker-room presence.
- James Harden missed Sunday’s game vs. Washington due to a left thigh contusion, but it’s not expected to be an injury that lingers or keeps the Nets star sidelined for much longer, according to head coach Steve Nash. “I think it’s pretty manageable, but just a precautionary measure not to get it banged again and make it severe,” Nash said on Sunday, per Brian Lewis of The New York Post. “… Hopefully, it’s just this game.”
- In a separate story for The New York Post, Lewis examines how offseason acquisition Bruce Brown has established himself as a regular part of the Nets‘ rotation.
- Barring a setback in the health and safety protocols, Iman Shumpert – who signed with the Nets over the weekend – should be available by Saturday’s game vs. Philadelphia, says Alex Schiffer of The Athletic. As Schiffer notes, besides playing for the Nets last season, Shumpert has also played alongside Harden and for Mike D’Antoni in the past, giving him a level of comfort in Brooklyn.
Did Harden have a boo boo? Probably thought he could take a rest day since it was just the Wizards. They all count the same when it’s a loss. Get used to it Nets. He’s yours.
Maybe he did take a rest day, what’s the big deal? Coaches massage the message all the time. It’s one game. Nets are doing just fine…
That was a pretty sweet way to lose a game to the Wizards, though. Tremendous failure by the Nets at the end…with both the turnover and the missed easy layup.
Giving up 149 points in regulation to a last place team no big deal….
yeah I’m sure Harden’s defense would have been the difference maker lol
lmao, touché.
Two of the Wizards three wins are against the Nets, who are giving up the 4th most PPG this season. Of course they also lead the NBA in scoring, but Brooklyn’s defense could be a huge problem for them in the playoffs.
Harden’s defense is awesome! When he wants it to be. Which isn’t very often.
They are doing just fine? They haven’t played anyone other than bucks and depleted heat team but they’ve lost to Cavs and wizards.. that defense isn’t fine..
Tbh this is the one year I would’ve actually went to a G League game cuz of the names there.
Theo Pinson gets to stay? Guess he doesn’t care about getting game reps as much as DSJ.
Doubt Pinson was flattered by this piece. The Knicks bench cheerleader? Poor guy…
Pinson does have great attitude. It’s not common for such a thing to be so apparent on the floor… which he doesn’t see much of! I think he was on a Nets summer league team but Bas.Ref. doesn’t list it.
Shumpert adds competitive attitude too, though past experience says he can give a coach a hard time as part of his effort.
I obviously don’t know the particulars, but Pinson went undrafted but has managed to work his way onto an NBA roster. He may value being on an NBA team, being around the players and culture and coaching more than going to Westchester to polish his game.
I don’t think anyone’s ever viewed him as a high ceiling guy, and who knows? Maybe he wants to get into coaching down the line.
link to basketball-reference.com
His G-league stats are solid. He has good size for a SG. At 25 he wants to play. Just has not been given a chance. NY is not really a place where you get a chance unless you pull a Quickly. He’s good enough to play in NBA.
Shumpert is a good signing. Although the Nets need big men, Shumpert is a great energy guy and person to have in your locker room
link to nypost.com
Berman the Knick hater is at it again. This is why NYC is a tough place to play. Especially for young guys who have issues. Even though it may not be all their doing (4 coaches in 4 yrs). After 20 gms he’s already killing a players value (Knox). You wonder why Smith is “lost in the city”. Braz hasn’t gotten any playing time either. To me he’s got a chance to be a solid rotation guy. But Knicks are so focused on building a core. That they have put his development on the back burner, an afterthought. This is life in NYK. I hope Smith takes advantage and a team sees him. Nttilikina and Knox are also part of the three who Thibs came here to help. We need to build up their value so we can play them or trade them. Frankly if you are not going to play Knox. You should have sent him there also for a few wks. Nttilikina is not 100% yet. So I guess that’s why he’s not playing. He’s still wearing a brace in practice. Coming into this yr. Nttilikina was the one player I thought Thibs would embrace. He’s a better defender than Payton. His issue is he’s only shown he’s more a combo guard. Who does not shoot or try to score. It’s like deer with lights with him. NYC imo affects his gm. Cause fans have turned on him. He’s fixed Randle and Payton somewhat. Trades are coming and Toppin needs to play. Even if you keep Randle till end of yr. Toppin is the future here. And he needs to be playing 26-30 mins a gm.
Imo Braz is a very versatile player and would be good in our rotation. Knox on a real team with a good system to spoon feed him would be a very good player.
Obi-If our coach lets him play maybe in a year or two he will be where Knox is now. Imo. Signed life long knick fan.