New Pacers forward Torrey Craig is aiming to bring defensive intensity to the team this season, David Woods of The Indianapolis Star writes.
Craig, who signed with the Pacers in free agency, spent the 2020/21 season with the Bucks and Suns. He averaged 5.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 16.1 minutes in 50 total games, shooting 48% from the floor and 37% from three-point range while playing strong perimeter defense.
“I don’t even like guys to score one basket. It doesn’t matter,” Craig said. “It’s just a pride thing. I think the more guys that have that mentality and catch on, that’s what makes you a hard team to beat.
“Offense, it’s the NBA. Guys are talented. Definitely some talented scorers on this roster. Offense is going to come. When you get teams that lock in offensively, and defensively, that’s when you become a championship team.”
Here are some other notes from the Eastern Conference today:
- The Bulls, who agreed to acquire Derrick Jones Jr. in a three-team deal with the Blazers and Cavaliers on Friday, were was also considering acquiring Jones last April, Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times tweets. Chicago added Jones to help address the team’s lack of wing depth. The 24-year-old averaged 6.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 22.7 minutes per game with Portland last season.
- Nerlens Noel‘s lawsuit against Klutch Sports agent Rich Paul may have stemmed from a grievance filed by Paul, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes. Paul claimed that Noel still owes him $200K as commission from the one-year, $5MM contract he signed with the Knicks last year. As we previously relayed, Noel is suing Paul for the loss of approximately $58MM regarding a past extension offer from the Mavericks.
- Knicks All-Star Julius Randle preferred stability over more money, he said in explaining why he signed a four-year, $117MM extension with the team, Andrew Lopez of ESPN.com examines. Randle would’ve been eligible for a new contract worth up to roughly $200MM if he waited until next summer. “The money was one thing, but for me, it was more about the situation as far as my happiness, the basketball situation, my family, just being stable and being in New York and really just continuing to build this thing up,” Randle said. “When I signed here two years ago, this was my vision, to be able to lock in something long term and build something from the ground up. That’s what we’re doing. All hands on deck.”
Randle’s a hooper good to see that a star wants to stay in NY
He’s a regular season star. He’s a six seven and a half power forward. He’s done a great job maximizing his skill and potential and coaching staff has done a great job also. To call Julius Randle a star I think is misdirected. What you see is what you get right now, an under sized less than all-star-caliber guy who tries real hard, has a decent shot and is pretty good.
Come playoff time teams start clamping down about serious defense and Julius Randle is just a guy out there at that point. Don’t get me wrong I love average guys doing well and maximizing they’re floor time. But star is going a little bit too far with this guy.
I guess you could say star because he’s the best on the Knicks right now but the playoffs is when you really see what a guy’s all about. Can he take it to another level? I’ll give Randle the benefit of the doubt and hope this year he makes it happen. Fingers crossed.
He was all that for the Bulls , maybe worth a bag of chips
Who are you talking about? My comment was on Randle and so the guy above also…
Will be interesting to see if Randle has another good season…then starts whining about “out-performing” his contract. Or is that more of a NFL thing?
He’s good, but Randle will never be more than a $30M/year level player.
I don’t even know why you follow basketball. 60% of your posts have nothing to do with Ball. Just negative reaction to facts. Why are you even here lol.
That’s a big wrinkle in the Paul case that I learned about a few days ago. Despite his alleged unhappiness with Paul after passing on three Mav’s offer, Paul remained Noel’s agent for several years and he negotiated a couple of contracts including the one with the Knicks. Wasn’t until Paul demanded his commission due to him that Noel brought his lawsuit about
Randle has shown loyalty and grit. He understands the loyalty of Knick fans. He wants to be here. So I got plenty of respect for that. He was an all star last yr. He’s not a a great player. He’s a a good solid player. More important he made himself into that. When most thought he couldn’t. He’s what NY is all about. We love a worker who works for his. He’s won us over. So we will always have his back now. That’s what real fans do. We got you Julius …..
Good post I would agree with this Al.
Randle is underpaid to me.knick made a great resigning.respect to randle.i hate knick but i really love thib and rose.i hope they will be playoff team.
Just because Randle could’ve been eligible for 200 million doesn’t mean anyone was gonna give it to him. He’s an All Star level player but he’s not in the league of guys like Giannis, LeBron or Curry. He got about what he should. Maybe a little less
Well if he played out this yr. And had another great yr. He definitely would of got more. Even from Knicks imo. Cause the market value would be higher for him. He did do us a solid.
Perhaps I’m overthinking this but I wonder how much Phoenix will miss Torrey Craig? Did they replace him with a similar guy? Will Phoenix be able to run it back to the finals again or close to it?
Julius Randle’s strong response to Knicks fluke talk: ‘Don’t know s–t’
Kills me in this article. Berman who’s been around a long time. Actually says
“Before Rose arrived, former Knicks president Steve Mills and Perry had the wherewithal and belief to pivot and ink Randle to a three-year deal after losing out on Kevin Durant. He’ll make $20 million in 2021-22 before his new deal kicks in.
He still uses KD like it’s facts. KD was never coming to NYK. So how can you lose out. Perfect example of why you can’t believe all that is written. He should focus on what Knicks got. For trade of KP and Hardaway now cause it’s looking great. Instead of always injecting negativity. Berman has been killing Randle since he got here. Now after last yr he’s got a little respect. Most local writers try to be positive about their teams.
link to nypost.com