Knicks forward Kevin Knox will not play for the team in the Las Vegas Summer League, the club announced today (via Twitter). According to the Knicks, Knox has been placed in the NBA’s health and safety protocols.
It’s unclear whether Knox has tested positive for COVID-19. Regardless, he’ll miss out on an important opportunity for offseason development following three underwhelming seasons with the Knicks, creating further uncertainty about his future with the franchise.
Here’s more from around the Atlantic:
- Even though Masai Ujiri has made several savvy roster moves during his tenure as head of basketball operations in Toronto, he has had a hard time luring top free agents to the Raptors and many of his biggest free agent signings have been busts, write Eric Koreen and Blake Murphy of The Athletic. That’s likely a big reason why the Raptors appear to be forgoing cap space and operating over the cap this offseason, per The Athletic’s duo.
- The Sixers have hired Phil Beckner as a coaching consultant, Yaron Weitzman of FOX Sports relays (Twitter links). While it’s probably unwise to read too much into the move, it’s worth noting that Beckner is a former Weber State assistant coach and Damian Lillard‘s trainer.
- Mike Vorkunov, Jay King, and Jared Weiss of The Athletic discuss Kemba Walker‘s injury history and his fit with the Knicks. As Vorkunov points out, even if Walker’s left knee isn’t 100% healthy going forward, the cost of signing him (about $8MM) isn’t prohibitive and he has proven in the last two seasons that he can still be productive while dealing with that knee issue.
Walker $8 million contract a year
It’s easily worth 16m a year
Great deal
If 20% buyout, it’s $14.6 million
Knee injuries don’t get better with time. Walker is best in a reserve role playing 20-25mims a game.
Agreed. I really don’t understand a lot of the moves the Knicks made this offseason.
I mean’ you’re only paying him 8 million so whatever, but to expect to put him into a starting role is a scary thought for me.
They have Rose and IQ coming off the bench. Walker is probably not going to be asked to play more than 25 minutes a game unless he feels great.
No I get that part and it’s the only reason if I was cursed to be a Knicks fan I’d be ok with this. But the other moves they’ve made have really just confused me.
I don’t get the Fournier, or Rose signings. Who were they bidding against? Like I know with Fournier that’s a contract you can include in a trade this year or next or whatever, but who did they need to outbid for Fournier?
The Rose signing was expected and I’d assume they were up against Chicago in his bidding. As for Fournier, absolutely agree. With the Eventual signing of Walker, they have 3 players who can handle the PG position for ~$22-23M. Even if he was in better health, I doubt he’d exceed 30 minutes per with the depth they have (plus Rose, who Thibs loves). Fournier is the love that bugs me, and I’m sure that’s 100% Scott Perry pushing that one.
*one (not love). Damn swipe keyboard.
Fournier shooting opens up our offense. Not only will he get good looks. But he will space floor for RJ and Randle. Something we couldn’t do against Hawks in playoffs. We need shooters.
Burkes, Fournier, Grimes, Quickley.
Fournier gets you a kinda big salary to put into a trade for salary matching purposes if a big name comes up. In the meantime he’s a decent scorer/shooter who can put the ball on the floor and make plays if needed.
Yea I get it with Rose and I could see Chicago but I just wouldn’t want to pay that much money to Rose at this point.
I get it with Fournier and the contract for a trade and did mention that, I just think could have gotten him for less.
Agree w/ you and padam here: the Fournier thing in concert w/ the Noel and Rose deals left a sour taste in my mouth.
Noel and Fournier, to your point, who was paying them 10 and 20m per on 3-4 year deals? Definitely not Boston.
For Rose, I wonder how much they knew about Kemba in advance. Because if you know Kemba is available then I say let Rose walk at that price, especially for those years.
4/43 might be able to get you Schroeder in a week depending how the chips fall. And I think that would be more movable than DR.
I get the vague “these are movable contracts” angle. But they’re not great contracts. None of these guys are young, they’re not going to be improving during these deals.
Finally, I don’t like the idea of giving Thibs a plethora of veterans to bury our youth. I can already see Toppin, IQ, Mitch, and maybe even RJ losing PT in favor of the vets, and I think it’s counterproductive long-term.
Agreed. I’d have preferred two years for Rose’ contract, but I guess they didn’t want to lose him and piss off Thibs. Having Rose and Walker in the backcourt, however isn’t bad for a year, possibly two until they can get one via free agency that is better suited. I’d love to see the Knicks make a move for Murray on the Spurs. He has the talent and checks the boxes for a Thibs type team, and seems to fit the mold of the talent currently on the Knicks. I’d offer IQ, Toppin and a few #1’s to get him in that backcourt. Spurs are rebooting and that haul may be a match for their strategy.
You guys should really get informed before hating on Kemba or any player. Kembas issue is his left knee. He’s had pain and swelling. Since, After surgery for a meniscus tear while with Hornets.
All athletes have joint issues, especially knees. There is swelling and pain cause the cartilage is going. There are procedure to rebuild cartilage. Kemba had stem cell procedure. Curry has had it Kobe has had it. Celtics pushed for Kemba to come back rather than rest and heal. So they are as much a problem here.
This can be managed with therapy and rest. He needs all the time he needs to get right. We don’t need him first half. Even if he comes back to 85% Kemba for rest of career. That’s good enough for us as long as he’s healthy 85% Kemba.
McBride is the future at PG. We can do PG by committee. So it is a chance worth taking. Add in the fact he’ll do it for his hometown . So you know he will be motivated.
Amazing how you can call yourself fans and root for a guy to fail cause of injury. We need him to run team n offense. More than score. So that should take some pressure off him too. But he’ll still put up 18 easy. I’d rather have 16 and 10 in 30 mins. But first we have to make sure he is healthy and ready to Rumble.
I like the moves the Knicks made, but I am curious how Kemba and Fournier impact the Knicks overall…I think they will help solve some of the offensive issues, but don’t add much IMO on the defensive side…to me that’s where the Knicks shined.
Everyone plays D on the Knicks. 50% of defense is just working harder. The Knicks second team is extremely strong. Kemba and Fournier will work harder on defense but play shorter minutes than in the past.
Early on, this page: “Knee injuries don’t get better with time.”
Al, that’s your “Hating on Kemba”? But it’s true, and it’s all, and it’s 6er fans in the first place.
So who hates Kemba. You don’t think he should play first half, you want pressure off him, you think the future is McBride.
Dinwiddie likes to talk. He should say why WAS, why not NOP, DAL, CHI or NYK, possibly with capspace.
Not a Knicks fan, but I think they have done an excellent job this offseason. Fournier was endorsed by his former coach Clifford as the toughest player in Orlando. That’s exactly the kind of player Thibs wants.