The Knicks aren’t expected to take MarJon Beauchamp with the 11th pick in Thursday’s draft, but they like the G League forward enough to bring him in for an individual workout, writes Zach Braziller of The New York Post. Beauchamp also had dinner with coach Tom Thibodeau and team president Leon Rose, and he believes he could be an immediate asset if he winds up in New York.
“I feel like I’m in consideration with them,” Beauchamp said. “I think I can come in right away and play good minutes and learn from the vets that they have. I really, really feel I can grow with that team, especially on the defensive side. You know, with coach Thibs, he’s about defense, and I feel like that’s going to be my role in the NBA.”
Beauchamp is projected as a mid to late first-round pick, so it would likely take a trade for the Knicks to have a selection in his range. After the No. 11 choice, they won’t pick again until No. 42.
There’s more from New York:
- The Knicks are considering trades involving center Nerlens Noel, Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report said on his latest podcast (hat tip to HoopsHype). Noel, who played just 25 games this season, has a $9.24MM contract for 2022/23, along with a $9.68MM team option for the following year.
- The Nets are continuing with draft preparations even though they currently don’t have any picks, per Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Brooklyn decided to defer the selection owed by the Sixers until next year, but the scouting process hasn’t stopped. “We’re not going to spend a ton of time on the top of the draft right now because we don’t have a way to get there,” assistant general manager Jeff Peterson said. “[But] you’ve got to be prepared. … On draft night we could get a call from a team that wants to trade us the 15th pick. … Just because we don’t have a pick right now, that doesn’t mean we can stop continuing with our video studies and our draft calls and draft workouts and just overall background information.”
- Nets assistant coach Jordan Ott is being considered for Darvin Ham‘s staff with the Lakers, tweets Brad Turner of The Los Angeles Times. They previously worked together under Mike Budenholzer in Atlanta.
I wouldn’t mind bringing Noel back to Philly to be the back up C to Embiid. Korkmaz +
UPDATE: Knicks are considering trades involving each of their terrible signings from last year….
ADDENDUM: Knicks are listening to any offers if teams have the RJ “I’m going left tho” Barrett fever; sources in the building are calling Leon Rose “very bigly in on trying to get really really good player in the draft”
Stay tuned –
Noel, Burks, Rose, and Walker are all expiring deals, which is roughly $40-45 million coming off the books after next year (some have team options for 2023-24, but let’s be real here). So they all have some value, though it’s not related to their basketball skills.
That said, I don’t see any of them going anywhere, nor do I see Randle or Fournier getting traded unless another team does something stupid. Another year of treading water coming up.
Bingo.
Some people will champion this as a measured approach, building from the ground up in a similar fashion to the Warriors (not completely bottoming out to build a winner), etc.
But I just see a FO that’s timid in its moves, then panic buys.
– not trading up in the ’20 draft to move off of Mitch while he had intrinsic value (were the Dubs sold on Wiseman? could we have leapfrogged up to #2 for Lamelo?)
– drafting a PF in the ’20 draft while even the remotest possibility of re-signing Randle existed (why not take a PG here?)
– extending a PF 14 months after drafting one (why so much attention on a non-premium position in 202x)?
– the deals mentioned in the previous post.
Maybe I’m not seeing the strategy, but this has to be one hell of a campaign if it starts with focusing on non-premium positions; then giving out questionable contracts – no matter how “manageable”
Noel and Rose were only bad signings because they got hurt. But they did overpay for Fournier
I think Knicks know. They can’t roll with Randle. I believe he will be traded. Before TD.
Beauchamp would be a nice second pick. He’ll be there top 20. I believe rumors Knicks trying to trade up. Top 7 would be excellent.