The Knicks passed on a chance to give Chris Duarte a guarantee in this year’s draft, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post. A source tells Berman that Duarte’s representatives were seeking a promise from New York before Duarte conducted any personal workouts that he would be selected with the 19th pick. The Knicks declined, so Duarte proceeded with his workout schedule and was eventually taken at No. 13 by the Pacers.
Duarte has been one of this season’s top rookies, becoming a starter in Indiana and averaging 13.3 points per game. At 24, he was the oldest prospect in the draft and may have fallen a few more spots without the workouts. Duarte was born in the Dominican Republic, and people close to him say he was interested in playing in New York because of the city’s significant Dominican population, Berman writes.
Duarte was held 0ut of the draft combine and didn’t begin his workouts until late in the process. A source tells Berman that the Pacers were sold on Duarte after watching him work out alongside Corey Kispert, Cameron Thomas and Ziaire Williams.
There’s more from New York:
- Obi Toppin has been much better in his second season, including a 19-point, 10-rebound performance Friday, but coach Tom Thibodeau isn’t thinking about putting him in the starting lineup, Berman states in a separate story. Any move with Toppin would be on hold now that he’s in the league’s health and safety protocols, and Thibodeau wants to keep the starting unit stable for a while after recently inserting Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel. Asked about a potential pairing of Toppin and Julius Randle, Thibodeau responded, “(It’s) very good offensively. Defensively, we lose the rim protection and rebounding. You’re sacrificing that part of the game which is critical. But I like the speed and the way they are playing.’’
- A rookie-scale extension for RJ Barrett next summer has gotten less likely since the season began, says Fred Katz of The Athletic. Barrett’s inconsistent play might make the front office think it’s safer to negotiate with him as a restricted free agent in 2023 than to give him a big-money deal after this season.
- Kemba Walker‘s benching could lead to his second buyout in less than a year, Katz adds. He doesn’t believe the Knicks would attach an asset to Walker to get another team to take him and it’s hard to envision Walker, who is under contract through next season, accepting a permanent role on the bench if that’s what it becomes.
Knicks failed Kemba, it’s that simple. To me Randle is involved in this. Just like Rose resurrected his career as a backup. Kemba is in position to do the same. But he will have to do it on another team.
Berman again with the made up stories about the draft. He pushed the Mitchell theory on Phil. When Phil actually talked about trading down for Mitchell. When 12 teams passed on him. And really only Tatum turned out to be better. Takes knowledge to look back on who you should of drafted. This is a true GENIUS.
Duarte went 13th. You know what the difference in money is. With a 19th pick. No rookie is giving that up. So you do all you can to go as high as you can. Passing on Kai Jones is a REAL story. Berman just lives in the negative. Unfortunately it sells better.
Players take guarantees all the time in exchange for canceling workouts.
Having a guarantee to play where you want to play is worth risking that you fall even further or even up in a bad situation.
That doesn’t mean you don’t work out for 13th pick. Cause then you should get money guarantees. Try reading the whole post. No rookie is turning down millions to play at home. Cause they can always come back. Plus NY has a state tax and a city tax. That is pretty high. Plus in life there are no guarantees.
Al, this board is STILL waiting for you to tell us which middle school boys’ team you perform assistant coach duties to get this real ball “wisdom”.
Fact: Knicks didn’t fail anyone in this case. They gave Kemba a shot at a reasonable price and he didn’t perform well. He very well may resurrect his career as a 6th man a la Derrick Rose . . . just not on the team that Derrick Rose currently plays on.
An equally likely scenario, however, is that Kemba’s defense, which was always poor, has sunk to Isaiah Thomas level lows due to his knee injuries, making him essentially unplayable in a league that increasingly tosses poor defenders ruthlessly in pick and rolls.
Thanks,
buttholesurfer69
Knicks overachieved last year, so expectations are too high this season. Everything is on track, they will benefit from Thibs and from decent drafting. NY is a media town so every little set back is magnified.
The Kemba thing ultimately was a low-stakes gambles, so I agree there. The Fournier performance to date is not promising.
The Toppin improvement is nice, but the lack of improvement shown from IQ and Barrett isn’t ideal.
Randle’s 3P% coming back to earth isn’t surprising, but, factoring in the above, not ideal.
The Knicks are playing the long game fairly well though, and it’s early enough in the season that Thibs can still find the combo of the new personnel that works.
You never go wrong with a Dominicano… NYK messed up big time with not picking him up in the draft… imagine he could be starting now instead of the highly paid inefficient Fournier… at least I know I would take Duarte!
How did they mess up when he was never an option for them to draft at no 19?
He doesn’t care about actual facts. He just wants express his hate. ElDon is not interested in the truth.
chris wouldn’t have worked out for any teams, so no one would of had more info of him if the knicks only just guaranteed their pick to him. still a chance some one else drafts him, but no one else would see him before the draft.
Why would he turn down a chance to go 13 instead of 19. You are assuming a lot. That’s millions right there. And for as bad as Fournier is playing. They are avg same points. And Duarte is playing more mins.
he wanted to go to new york.
What part of shutting down workouts is confusing to you guys?
No one said he was guaranteed to fall but pretending it’s impossible is simply playing the fool.
Berman is an idiot, but even he doesn’t believe what he’s implying, just hoping there are enough other idiots out there who might. In today’s environment, even if Duarte shut down workouts (and Berman doesn’t actually say he would have), it wouldn’t have affected his draft status. Teams really don’t care, particularly with a guy 23 years old who’s largely a finished product.
Toppin’s future with the NYK (as more than a one position backup) depends on his ability to become a reliable 3 point shooter. The risk-reward tradeoff of using Randle and Toppin together will never consistently be a good one without that. He had some uneven success with the college 3, so its not out of reach.
Obi is a decent FT shooter 78%. So you think he can become a decent shooter. Not big on everyone having to shoot threes. DeRozan not a big three point shooter. Yet he is deadly in side 3PT. And will kill you at FT. Amare was not 3PT shooter. This Knicks team is too three happy. They pass up good shots to take threes. But Obi has picked up his gm. So his shooting should come along. He seems committed to me.
Teams don’t really care especially with a 23 year old?
Are you really insulting someone from the position of saying an interview doesn’t impact anything at all?
Have you ever been to one?
The feeble minded emac22 returns! Dude, you need to find someone with the patience to explain the concept of a sports league entry level draft to an arrogant simpleton like yourself. It ain’t me.
He’s actually telling us teams don’t care. Pretty much says it all.
Yes, it does. At least Berman found one reader clueless enough to believe what he shovels (I didn’t think it possible).
I’ll go one further: Obi’s future as a starter or better in the league probably hinges on his ability to hit more than 18% of his 3s. Unless he can really become an elite scorer to the point it doesn’t matter (or become a rim protector, which I don’t think is totally unfeasible).
The potential of the pairing isn’t helped by Randle’s (somewhat predictable) regression to the mean from long-range this season.
Ultimately, I think Rose, et al might be best served to sell-high on potential with Obi if the right trade partner comes along.
Again our D doesn’t show up for Bucks today. Randle with another bad gm. 36 mins
8 pts, 2-9 FG, 7 Tov. And bad D. Fans want to blame Kemba for Knicks woes. It’s obviously deeper than that. Grimes with a solid gm. Only one who played well. When this kid gets a handle. Think Jamal Murray. Wish he would of played McBride.
This team is three happy. There is no offensive flow. None none at all. Fournier has become a three shooter. Or ge doesn’t shoot at all. He turns down good look twos. That’s what this offense has created. Was never like that in Orlando. He took 8 shots. 7 of them threes (2-8) in 27 mins. No Team Offense.
Again what was the point of going after a starting PG. So we could throw up threes. Knicks threw up 82 shots 49 were threes. How long have I been preaching this. Thibs better wake up.
The only truth in Bermans statement. Is there a huge Dominican population in NY. And they would have supported him big time.
Not good!
Especially when you then turn around and lock the pick up for years with no hope of it ever being a better pick than the one you traded.
I wish kemba hometown return could have been better,laterally Kemba cannot stay in front of his man unfortunately his knees are shot,I think quickley should be starting right now quickley can pickup 80 feet and put pressure on the guards. Use burk as 6th man,keep rose as a backup and play Grimes more and give Mcbride some minutes those rookies are ready to contribute immediately as Grimes led us in scoring yesterday.