Aaron Nesmith‘s rookie season saw him go from the end of the Celtics‘ bench to a spot in their playoff rotation and he’s hoping to make a greater impact in his second year, writes Brian Robb of MassLive. The 14th pick in the 2020 draft was dealing with a foot injury when last season started, and he had to adjust to the NBA during a short offseason with no Summer League. The swingman eventually settled into a consistent role and shot 50% from the field and 42% from three-point range over the final two months of the season.
“It was definitely a quick turnaround from the moment I got drafted,” Nesmith said. “The season started and I didn’t get a lot of preparation or many chances to get my feet wet. Coming off the injury and not being able to play 5-on-5 for almost a year, that definitely was a whirlwind. It also taught me a lot of good lessons as well. It taught me how to adjust faster and adapt to a new system, a new level of play very quickly so if there was ever a point in time where I have to adapt very quickly again, I already know how to do it and I have a layout to do it as well.”
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- Rookie forward Scottie Barnes introduced himself to Raptors fans with a first-hand piece on The Players Tribune. The No. 4 overall pick out of Florida State states that he was quickly embraced by the Toronto fanbase and gained about 80-100K new followers on social media within 24 hours of being drafted. He shares experiences from Summer League and draft night and says there was one message he wanted to deliver in his first post-draft meeting with the Raptors’ front office. “I’m ready to work,” he wrote. “Not ease into it, not half-do things or make excuses because I’m one of the new guys. I’m ready to work. I’m ready to grind. I’m ready to WIN. And I could tell that the feeling was definitely mutual.”
- Knicks forward Kevin Knox is about to enter the most important season of his NBA career, observes David Vertsberger of Yahoo Sports. Knox is now the longest-tenured player on New York’s roster, but unless he finds a way to become a contributor, this could be his last season with the team.
- Luca Vildoza returned to the Knicks this week to let team doctors examine his injured right foot before the start of training camp, per Alder Almo of Empire Sports Media. The injury limited Vildoza to two games during Summer League, and he was prescribed rest and treatment rather than surgery. He also played for Argentina during the Summer Olympics.
Kevin Knox is a scrub. Zero doubt this is his last season with the Knicks.
No.
Last season in NBA. On a guaranteed deal anyway
Knox is only 22, Obbi Toppin was drafted in the top 10 last year and is 23.
Knox will get more contracts and opportunities, he entered the league way to early
Knox has not done what it takes to be in the NBA. If he came in early, he should have played in the GL, but he did not. You don’t have to be 23 to figure things out. It is all HS hype. He was already “slumping” in college.
I am sure he will get more opportunities to tease the easily teased, like any other highly-drafted scrub.
You’re forgetting that Knox has proven that he is terrible and undeserving of an NBA roster spot while the jury is out on Obi. Age doesn’t mean a thing here.
The way McBride and Quickley have looked. I don’t see Luca on this team. Unless they move Quickley. Knox is on his last legs. He just seems like he’s happy he was a #1 pick. Got his money. So now whatever……
Barnes was a surprise pick but he’s a winner for the Raps. And Suggs can go to h*ll for intentionally tanking his workout.
I thought the Luca signing was great at the time now Im not so sure. McBride definitely has shown flashes. Getting Walker has hurt Luca chances to make the team.
Imo they signed Luca with intentions of moving Quickley. I think Knicks were preparing to make a major move at draft. Even moving Toppin and Quickley. But now they are where they are. And our best weapon is our depth. I’ve read that Randle may play the 3 more with Toppin at the 4. Toppin and Quickley looked great in SL. Toppin looked slim and strong. Gotta find mins for him. Best thing about us this year. Will be our depth. Our second team is better than most.
It is pretty rumour-y to say Suggs tanked his Raptor work-out but it did make for an entertaining google search. But there is no tape of it, just a FO reaction to media doubts on them surprising many people by taking Barnes instead. Suggs did slip in rankings overall, so maybe he just did not work-out well for anyone.
Barnes probably is more like moldable clay than Suggs is. Suggs is like CP3 and might be hard to direct, whereas Barnes with no game offensively will be open to suggestion. However… he has no shot, and that does make him a Draymond, a very smart player who can anticipate what a whole team will be doing. Nor does being 6-8 make him an Unseld, These guys have mental skills too… or in Unseld’s case, he looks the part in pictures! Simmons is not popular now, but being a “baby Ben” is possible.
Barnes is just active and long, and says the right things, as in above^. He is likely to be a role player, not a good return on #4 in a strong draft.
Sorry missed a “not”… not having a shot does NOT make Barnes a Dray Green
First off none of you talking has thought about before Thibs came in the Knicks had no real coaching of any kind.The head coaches were scrubs and did nothing to help the new players coming in. Nitlikina, Knox both were not coached. Same for Smith. Smith at least showed promise before he came then got nothing once with the Knicks. Nitlikina & Knox after Thibs came did not get much either but for a different reason as Thibs was all in for winning and had no time for Subs. Players can not advance just playing one or two minutes every 7 or 8 games. Nitlikina got to play when team was short on PGs and he came up big hitting on over 46% on 3pt shots. Did not get any other chances and now will be playing on Dallas and get his chance then. 3 players were not given the opportunity to play real minutes. Then the fans get down on them and not the teams management of them.