Knicks president Leon Rose expressed his support for head coach Tom Thibodeau in a recent interview and he backed it up in a letter sent to season-ticket holders this week, writes Steve Popper of Newsday. There was reportedly some desire for a coaching change among the front office during the season, but Rose’s letter leaves no doubt that Thibodeau will return.
“Our coaching staff is at the heart of our young core’s development and confidence to compete at the highest level, as well as our vets’ ability to produce in their roles,” Rose wrote. “We have seen multiple players take leaps over the last two seasons under Coach Thibodeau’s tutelage and commitment to playing the right way.”
Thibodeau was named Coach of the Year in 2021 after leading the Knicks to a fourth-place finish in the Eastern Conference. Although the team fell out of the playoffs this year, it posted a 12-7 record to finish the season with several veteran players unavailable.
There’s more from New York:
- The Knicks had a large contingent at today’s playoff game between the Mavericks and Jazz, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post. Executive vice president William Wesley was there, along with front office members Allan Houston and Makhtar N’diaye and the scouting staff. Julius Randle met the group as well. The Knicks are known to have interest in Dallas guard Jalen Brunson in free agency, and there have been reports that they would make a trade offer for Utah’s Donovan Mitchell if he ever becomes available.
- Rose will likely make at least one significant move this summer to shake up the roster, Ian Begley of SNY.tv. predicts in a column for Yahoo Sports. Begley notes that owner James Dolan has given Rose the financial freedom to make whatever changes he believes are necessary, so it would look bad for Rose if next year’s roster is virtually the same.
- It may be difficult for the Knicks to finalize a rookie-scale extension with RJ Barrett during the offseason, per Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype. Barrett is eligible for a deal that would start around $37MM in the 2023/24 season. Gozlan believes the team will try to get him to take a starting salary in the $25MM range, similar to the extensions for Jaylen Brown and Jaren Jackson Jr. If Barrett doesn’t reach an agreement, he’ll be on track for restricted free agency next summer.
I think its way to early to be giving RJ 25 a year. I think you offer a 4 year 80, maybe even 4 90. If he plays it out and excels like John Collins did then you go with 25 as a RFA. Aint nobody maxing out RJ. He’d have to shoot 40+ from 3 and he’s just as likely to regress to 30% than rise to 40% next year.
If RJ got a real point guard, like Rubio, Conley, Lowry, CP3 real, then he could be his best self.
Jordan Poole is a better player than RJ. Should Knicks take Poole at #3 pick in 2019?
I don’t think even a time machine would save the Knicks.
(I kid. They’ve been better in the drafting department under Rose, although I still don’t get the Obi pick).
So he’s not worth 25M per but 22.5M per is in the range? 2.5M per is that big of a difference?
He’ll get the max
You understand a repeat tax offender in the NBA pays 5x what they go over it by. So that 2.5 mil is actually 15..(2.5+5×2.5) over 4 years a difference of 60 mil to the owner…
They won’t be over the tax threshold.
He not worth 25. He’s nowhere as good as Mikal Bridges (4/90, on early ext) and isn’t as good as Miles Bridges either. 22.5 is the absolute the Knicks should give and is a over pay it self.
I like this rumor.
Knicks would make an offer for Utah’s Donovan Mitchel.
Rockets were planning to acquire a young superstar one year ago.
Both teams are the smartest in the world.
Unhappy macnam
My how far the Knicks have fallen in just one season. Pathetic.
Troll looking for attention. Nobody talking to you?
IMO the loser of Mavs vs Jazz is headed for a shakeup with the one untouchable being Luka. For the Knicks, Randle is the key whether he stays or goes. Thats the reason Knicks brass & Randle were there. Will the Jazz take Randle & several firsts or will the Mavs bring him home to pair with Luka? My guess is Randle stays put…unless Donovan demands a trade or Luka barks. Dolan giving “financial freedom” to Rose means Rose has the green light to flip Randle for something bigger, which is obvious but extremely difficult at best.
If Dallas loses it will probably be because Luka misses at least another game or 2, so I don’t see why that would necessitate a major shakeup – they ended this season as one of the best teams in the league.
If they can retain Brunson they also have Hardaway Jr coming back from injury. Between those two and Dinwiddie, Luka has never had as much help.
There were reports that Luka hasn’t been pleased with these first round exits. Dallas wants to keep Brunson, while Dinwiddie has played well at times. Dallas also desires a defensive big (maybe thru the draft?). They still have Hardaway with his contract. They can’t pay everyone. I can see some sort of roster tinker, albeit not a serious as a Jazz shakeup would be.
RJ mustn’t accept such a lowball, embarrassing & plain demeaning offer like that from NYK!
He has been way better than JJJ in his first 3 seasons, he needs to look for the max or close enough, NYK has the cap space to pay him, just use it that is the point of having it, & RJ is the only young guy worth keeping in the team, so at least reach out to him!
Zero % chance he was better than JJJ this year. Besides JJJ was the biggest reach last year, over paying a guy before he proved it. Why copy last strategy before it’s necessary.
Reporters covering the NYK get nothing from this FO. Popper deserves some credit for admitting it (relying on a letter to season ticket holders as his source).
Every NYK FO since the 1980’s has had complete financial freedom (beyond that, most have been encouraged to spend). Problem is a blank check from ownership doesn’t affect the league imposed salary cap. That’s the only thing that impacts any salary decision. As an rebuilding team, it has to.
The decisions on Randle and Barrett have no monetary component beyond how it might affect future salary caps. Forget window dressing as a FO strategy (Rose’s job is not in jeopardy, and by all accounts he doesn’t care much about fan/media perception). Randle won’t be salary dumped – that I can guarantee.
I don’t think extending Barrett early makes any sense from the team’s or the player’s perspective. He a driven player who wants to be a star, and he knows he’s not there yet. He’ll be a rising RFA, no concern on losing him.
Agreed on RJ – I would hope this FO takes notes from the Randle extension last season (they can also look to MPJ in Denver) … there’s little incentive to extend a player early unless they’re just no brainer superstars like Luka/Trae.
Let’s see what RJ does next season. Personally, I think he has potential to be (a lesser version) of Kawhi – great and versatile defender who can score 25ppg efficiently. If he’s on track for that next season I have no issue doling out the max for him.
Big differences between Randle and RJ. Randle was playing at a max level, eligible for an early extension of only 80% that, and if not extended early, would have been an UFA. RJ isn’t playing (yet) at a max level, eligible an early extension at full max, and, if not extended early, would be a RFA. The Randle decision (however it works out in the end) was the right one at the time. Extending RJ early at max or close (however it works out in the end) will be the wrong one at the time. Rose knows both these.
Totally agree
RJ is not walking. Not even for Mitchell. Who is not coming here. That’s a writers fantasy.
Quickley and McBride both get a chance. We won’t need Brunson. Why pay him. I’d rather they’d be looking at Dinwiddie. Cause a young vet a seasoned pro is really what they need.
Randle is from Dallas. Time for him to go home. Time for Obi1 to get his shot.
RJ is no issue. And money isn’t either. Knicks print money. I don’t see how RJ is worth that in 2023/24. He doesn’t even think that. He’ll do well to get Jalen Brown money. No issue here.
Thibs loyalty to his players. Is going to bring him down here. I understand why he does it. Noel and Rose got more than they deserve as did Burkes. Although Burkes was easier to take. Losing Noel and Rose hurt this season. Randle reverting back to 2020/21 hurt more. Thibs can not stay backing Randle another yr. The Knicks are bigger than both of them.
Randle has to be moved. For Knicks to take another step up. He’s worn out his welcome in NY. With Obi1 here. This shouldn’t be an issue either. Getting value back seems like it could be. So again …….. They should of been at Mavs gm scouting Dinwiddie. Not Brunson.
I’m not sure if Randle, Burks, Noel and or Fornier can get you value back in a trade unless it’s a trade deadline trade for a team with tax, injury and or a playoff push boost needed situation. I can see a team offering something of value for Randle before his extension even kicks in.
While I think their are many serviceable and salvageable parts of his game he is running thebrisk as being seen as a depressed cancer type guy right now.
What Randle and RJ need most is a pure PG that will direct the show and put them in positions of where they should be instead of letting them set the table and be where they want to be in the half court.
Only hope for those guys are CP3, Conley, Lowry, Luka or on the lower end Rubio or a Pat Bev. Pat Bev when playing with Deangelo Russell has shown he could stop Russell from taking those extra 3 bad shots a game and be more efficient. That’s all R & R needs.
I’m a big Brunson fan but I don’t think he has a vocality, presence and control to tighten up Randle amd RJ game. But he’d be the next best think.
Quickley has made huge steps towards playing the point. I truly believe in McBride. Randle being the tenured vet. Stops those guys from playing the point. Fact they are young they give into him. Thibs has waited all yr for Randle to redeem himself. As far as I’m concerned Randle has to go.
Burkes a bench scorer can help any team. Burkes, Noel, Rose, Kemba all have expiring contracts. They can all help a contender. They can be moved for the right trade. Randle we will have to get creative. Even get his value back up and trade him in season.
Brunson is a UFA. Mavs could do a sign-ntrade. But why would you pay him 20 mill or more. When you got McBride (1.5 mill), Quickley (2.3mill). Unless you are trading Randle for him. I much rather have Dinwiddie starting. Quickley and McBride backing him. And moving Rose. For Knicks to get back on right track. Randle has to go. And we do need a starting PG.
Yup Brunson actually probably makes the most sense in Dallas, right next to Luka. Luka has the size to allow Jalen to guard 1s while Luka controls the ball enough for him to play a combo guard type role
I’m not sure Brunson has as much value for a team like NY that be asking him to be a full-time PG
Randle for Heyward would be a good move IMO.
I actually like 5 PG in various degrees in the draft TyTy Chandler Nembhard Pippen Roach. Some may not come out TyTy and Chandler may be the only 2 I’d take in the first though. Roach maybe
Julius Randle is hurting. He can’t handle fact NY hasn’t embraced him as their star. His best yr ever was with NO fans. Then he got handled by Hawks when fans came back. All yr he’s been trying to prove his worth. First he got hurt again. When Kemba got the heroes welcome home. He wouldn’t play with him. And it’s been downhill ever since. His feelings and emotions are more important than this team. We Don’t Want You. Go someplace else and moan. We got a team to build. And if Thibs keeps playing this depressed soul. Then he will be gone too.
The Knicks with the young guys playing were much better this yr. We don’t need Randle on the floor. And if Thibs won’t budge then we don’t need that either. Trade him at draft
“Without Julius Randle on the court this year, the Knicks are outscoring teams by 15.9 points per 100 possessions”: NBA Twitter brings up a stat that shows Knicks MVP holds an all time record for the worst impact on his team“
link to thesportsrush.com
Keeping Thibs and Randle is a terrible idea. Thibs’ style of coaching is enabling Randle to be the worst version of himself; Randle led the *league* in isolations last year. And he was dead last in efficiency on those plays.
Problem for NY is we have no real path to get a lead ball handler that would force Thibs’ hand into actually doing his job—putting Julius in a position to succeed. Running this back will just stunt the development of RJ, IQ, Obi, et al.
One or both need to be elsewhere by opening night, IMO.
I have always supported Thibs. But he has lost people this yr. Cause of backing Randle and not playing the young guys. The season was over with 25 gms to go. He should of been playing the youngsters and position for a better draft pick. But in reality the youngsters won more gms than the regular starters. The GM has said all the right things. About staying the course and rebuilding. Thibs won’t survive another yr like this one. I’m just so focused on draft right now. Can’t miss on this one. If we stay at 12. I’m praying for Agbaji. If not him then Duren.
Agreed
Word. Take Thibs’ favorite toys (Randle & vets) away. Force him to play nothing but the kids. GET TO WORK LEON
And if one or both are not gone by then, it’d also be a very bad look for the front office. No doubt this front office has been better than previous ones, but that’s an incredibly low bar to clear.
Biggest dumpster fire org also has the
Bigger market and
The most beat writers
Epic stuff