Former lottery pick Brandon Knight is trying to work his way back into the NBA with the Nets‘ Summer League team, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Knight’s career was derailed by knee injuries, and he hasn’t played in the NBA since splitting 25 games with the Cavaliers and Pistons in 2019/20.
Knight worked out for the Bucks in March, but Milwaukee decided against signing him. The 29-year-old says his knees are no longer an issue and he’s eager to show that he still has an NBA future.
“The narrative of my knees, that I’m not healthy, that’s not right,” Knight said. “So for me, the narrative is just to show that I’m healthy. I’m ready to play. And I’m here. Most importantly, I’m here to serve these young guys. Summer league is not about me. … My goal is to serve to serve these young guys, give them wisdom, and try to help them and be a servant in any place that I can be.”
There’s more from New York:
- Nets star Kevin Durant was named MVP of the Men’s Olympic Basketball Tournament, FIBA announced in a press release. He capped off a brilliant performance with 29 points in the gold medal game against France. Australia’s Patty Mills, who agreed to a two-year deal with Brooklyn in free agency, was named to the all-tournament team.
- The Knicks will get their first look at Luca Vildoza when Summer League play starts today, notes Marc Berman of The New York Post. The Argentinian point guard signed a four-year, non-guaranteed contract in May, but he wasn’t used in any games. Vildoza’s future with New York seems less certain after the team drafted point guards Miles McBride and Rokas Jokubaitis, Berman adds. “I’m trying to work hard. I’m trying to show myself,” said Vildoza, who just returned from the Olympics. “I just want to show who I am. If after that, I can’t get onto the team, that’s OK. At least I gave everything.’’
- The Knicks‘ offseason appears successful, but there are some risks involved, states Steve Popper of Newsday. The most significant one involves whether Kemba Walker‘s knee can hold up for an entire season.
I hated the signings we made day 1 but the Kemba and Randle signings are at least making the offseason somewhat of a success. Numbers for both are beyond reasonable.
Zooming out this is clearly about acquiring a star who wants in on NYC, probably Dame? And I’m not sure we have the assets as is to trade for one and retain a team that can still contend.
As is we’re a gritty Thibs team that probably tops out at winning a round or two tops. An improvement over the last … 20 years for sure. But still a lot of work to do.
I think the Knicks off season is HIGHLY OVERRATED.
Is anyone rating it particularly high? They’re nice moves for a team that has been bad for the last decade, and as a fan, I’m encouraged, but I think the general consensus is that that they’ve just solidified themselves as a playoff team, not that they’re suddenly championship contenders.
Don’t get why Knicks must live up to fan’s expectations. Since most of them don’t really care. Or listen to what they are told by media. Knicks are coming off Year ONE. Of this coach and FO. Knicks have not rebuilt thru draft since drafting Patrick. So why would anyone have big expectations. All you need to know is. Thibs changed the culture here. It got us a 4th seed. We drafted two young guns. And signed two 20 pt scorers. At the two positions we needed most help. So on paper you can’t ask for more. But in reality. It’s true a lot depends on how Kemba holds up. Fact is we can wait on him and let him get strong. We also can do PG by committee. This team is better than last yrs 4th seed. But East is also better. The fun is in watching a team grow. Knicks still have a lot off growing to do. Second yr coming up. Enjoy it Knicks fans. Don’t believe the Hype.
You always get extremely defensive then proceed to call everyone an idiot while you are the all knowing bringer of facts. It’s actually hilarious lmao.
Sounds like Brandon Knight wants that NBA money. Only 29, thought he was older. If you can still play. I’m sure someone will give him a shot. If not overseas pays well too. If you can still play.
I know he could sign a G-League deal, but I don’t know if they relaxed the rules to two-way contracts so that veterans could sign them.
NYK off season has checked all of my boxes to date, in a very tough market for a rebuilding team who’s best asset is cap space. So I’m relatively pleased. Randle (very good); draft (very good); FA grades wrt flexibility (good), continuity (good), and upgrades (average, but somewhat TBD due to Walker).
Worst decision was using the majority of their upgrade capital on the wing vs PG, swapping out Bullock for Fournier (3 years at nearly double the cost). We were never signing two 3+ year deals, so it meant PG capital was limited. Maybe Walker, at the “bargain” price we paid erases the latter problem (but we’ll have to get more than we paid for that to be the case, and that rarely happens when you count on it). Either way we paid $$ to downgrade our perimeter defense; in a year when we were also (thankfully) losing Payton (still, our second best perimeter defender). No system can gloss over that. On the positive side, Fournier is a good fit, in skill set and makeup. Not a horrible defender by any means, but he won’t cover the other team’s best, he’ll cover the slower wing (he’s not a good athlete by NBA standards). For Fournier to be a good signing, he’ll have to establish himself as a second option that scores in multiple ways, including creating his own shot, and the PG position can’t fall apart. I’m skeptical (but hopeful) on both fronts.
Best move (bang for the buck): McBride. He’s already our best defensive PG (and that factors in that rookies generally don’t defend, even those who eventually become very good defenders).
NYK second scorer on the team will be deferent every night which is a good thing. Hopefully RJ Will continue to improve some night it will be RJ or Fournier or Walker if healthy or Rose . If they all click I can see the knicks being a dangerous team
To play in the playoffs.
Kevin Durant won MVP of the Men’s Olympic Basketball Tournament. I hope he considers chasing NBA MVP
He already won the MVP when he was in OKC and a couple of Finals MVP’s with the Warriors. He doesn’t need to add another MVP to his collection.
Most fans living in New York disagree with you. We can live without a regular season MVP. We’ll be DAMNED if we don’t get a Finals’ MVP
Others on the “all-star five” besides Durant and Mills (BRK) are Doncic, Gobert and Rubio (CLE).
“[38] marks the most points scored by a player versus the United States since they started playing with professional athletes in 1992. Rubio’s [stats 25.5ppg & 6apg].”
So no, I doubt Rubio’s finnished— or Mills.