The Knicks were without Jalen Brunson on Tuesday in Dallas and lost RJ Barrett early in the first quarter due to a finger injury, but Evan Fournier and Cam Reddish still didn’t see any action, nor did they expect to, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News.
“We already knew,” Fournier said. “So I’m not surprised.”
Fournier and Reddish were regulars for the Knicks earlier in the season, with Fournier starting seven games and Reddish starting eight. However, they’ve fallen out of the rotation completely in recent weeks, and they’re not sure what it’ll take to get another look, according to Bondy.
“I’m going to be 1000% honest with you — you probably know more about that than me,” Reddish said. “I have no idea. None.”
“It’s been six weeks that I’m not playing. I’ve been pretty patient,” Fournier said. “It’s starting to be a little long. Maybe there’s going to be an opportunity, I don’t know.”
Both Fournier and Reddish are candidates to be on the move prior to February’s trade deadline.
Here’s more on the NBA’s two New York teams:
- Both Kemba Walker and Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau stressed that there are no hard feelings about how last season played out, writes Peter Botte of The New York Post. Walker referred to his decision to shut himself down in February as “selfish,” but pointed out that he wasn’t playing much and needed to get his body right. “The only issue we had with Kemba was health,” Thibodeau said. “If Kemba’s healthy, he’s a great guy and he’s a great player.”
- Veteran forward T.J. Warren, who signed a minimum-salary contract with the Nets during the summer, is making a case to be the offseason’s best bargain, says Brian Lewis of The New York Post. After returning from a long injury absence, Warren is starting to hit his stride, setting new season highs with 23 points and eight rebounds in 27 minutes in Monday’s win over Cleveland. He’s also making an impact on the defensive end of the court. “What’s surprising was how good he is deflecting the basketball on defense,” teammate Kevin Durant said. “Scorers like him get a rap on defense, but he’s made an impact on that end. He’s a natural.”
- The Nets‘ recent hot streak is proving that the front office’s decision not to trade Durant when he asked to be moved over the summer was the right one and showing why you hang onto a player of his caliber, according to Jonathan Lehman of The New York Post (subscription required).
Just rip the band-aid off already and fire Thibs. He’s TERRIBLE and can’t adjust to the new NBA. I would like to see Phil Handy get a coaching job anyway.
Couldn’t agree more. I said it in the other thread, but Thibs had IQ (6’2″), McBride (6’2″), and Grimes (6’5″) play 46+ minutes each. Luka was scoring left and right and grabbing every rebound because 3/5 of the Knicks lineup was undersized and Thibs made zero adjustments. IQ and McBride shot a combined 2-19 from 3PT and were totally gassed at the end.
You’re down two forwards (RJ and Obi) and a guard (Brunson) yet Reddish and Fournier never see the floor. Rose with 12 minutes, Hartenstein with like 13 even though Luka was crashing the boards. Please fire Thibs ASAP.
The Eastern Conference is tough, going to be tough to finish top ten, you could say Detroit and Charlotte are the only two teams that are likely locks for the lottery, and both teams can win a game on any given night.
There is a lot of parity in the league this season, and to be above .500 is pretty good considering.
You could say that Thibs made some difficult calls after going 10-13 to start the season, benching what in many ways were three players who expected to be big part of the Knicks rotation in favor of the younger crop of players, and in doing so the team run off 8 straight wins, that was pretty nice.
Sure they lost four in a row, the Bulls loss was bad and they blew the game against Dallas but Toronto and Philly are both playoff teams in the heart of the Eastern Conference.
Thibs doing a fine job in my opinion, making some tough decisions, and it’s worked out, Quickley and Grimes playing great, Barrett playing great before the injury, Randle, as much as Knicks fans love to dog him, has been an all-star all season and his entire career, he’s a great player. Knicks are on the brink of getting into the top six in the Eastern Conference, very tough to do.
I see what you’re saying, and on some level I agree, but some of his personnel decisions are baffling. I don’t agree that IQ is playing great. He would be fine for 12-15-ish minutes a night off the bench. He’s got energy and can hit a few shots. But 25+ minutes, imo, shows his weaknesses and his inefficiency (.402/.327) comes through.
He misuses Hartenstein, who is a passing big. He doesn’t play Fournier at all, who can come off the bench for 6-10 minutes a game and hit a few shots. He doesn’t play Reddish at all, who could spell RJ and use his athleticism in small spurts. He doesn’t play Toppin enough, who could give Randle a rest. He’s destroyed Toppin’s confidence and development. He’s stopped playing Rose, which has thrown off his rhythm and led to his worst season as a pro so far. I’d like to see Sims get more minutes as well. He’s got a lot of athleticism and needs to develop some of his raw skills.
Ignoring the blowout win over the Warriors, Randle is averaging 40 minutes a game in the last 7 games. Aside from the Warriors game and last night, RJ’s averaging 40 minutes in his last 9 games. Brunson’s averaging 36 in his last 6. It’s unsustainable and even if the Knicks squeak into the playoffs, they’ll be too tired to go past the play-in.
With too many players in the rotation, you have a the entire bench unhappy with their dip in the pool, shortening the bench allows those players who are left in the pool to get in a good swim, they work harder to maintain their pecking order, and the team develops more cohesive units, so I think Thibs made the right call. It just so happens he chose Quickley, McBride, and Grimes. Develop the young players, develop some trade value in addition to the trade value that Rose and Fournier have as veterans, and that Reddish should still have as a lottery pick, and see what’s available at the trade deadline.
I personally thought this would be a big year for Derrick Rose, maybe the Knicks can deal Quickley and/or Grimes now in a package with Reddish and/or Fournier at the deadline and get Rose some good minutes down the stretch.
Fournier and Reddish are on the clock and are ready to move on like many others. Crowder is the third player and continues to be used as a reason not to do a deal.
All whom are moving are packed and ready to go. Fournier to the Warriors and Reddish to the Lakers gets the party started.
GSW has no dead salary to take Fournier. It looks like Lakers are holding on to their picks and (IMO) will trade AD and Lebron this summer and start over. Bulls for AD. Miami for Lebron.
NY has turned into the proving ground for last-chance players. Walker, Fournier, and Reddish were all hoped to be more in NY than they were at their previous stop. Dangerous game to hinge franchise success on vets in troubled waters. Sometimes it pays off, and sometimes its disastrous. Walker & Fournier were/are asset, or cap space albatross’s to unload. Atleast Dallas has Walker on a minimum.
Starting to agree with the Fire Thibs agenda.
Lost to the Mavs and played IQ McBride and Grimes all 46+ minutes and IQ and McBride combined for 2/19 on 3’s. These guys are young players that just cracked the rotation playing against Luka Doncic. You have to coach better. They were undersized, they didn’t hit shots, they lack experience. No one would’ve been mad you lost and given Reddish or Fouriner a run.
It’s sad to see Fouriner saying afterwards that he already knew he wouldn’t get on the floor and Cam Reddish saying he has no idea what he needs to do to crack the rotation.
That’s just not how you coach.
I like the knicks team on paper. Brunson returning and his dad on the staff that’s cool. RJ Barrett Randle, Robinson these guys are cool. Fouriner and Reddish have just been tossed. Thibs is running the young blood into the ground and the results continue to be up and down.
I think if they want to make the playoffs and actually have a chance they need to make a trade but I think long term if they want to have a chance of being successful then they need a new coach
Warren is playing well. Good for him.
They say RJ could be out 3-4 gms. Getting stitches. One of them will get PT (Fournier, Cam). So make the most if it. Teams will be watching too.
Me ……. I would love to move ——-
Randle, Quickley, Rose, Cam, Mitch, plus our picks. We have to find an all star who wants out.
Call Bradley Beal…
My alternative grading:
Thibs’ Coaching Grade: A- (for the season), but A+ for the DAL game in particular.
2k’ers’ Commenting Grade: D (really an F, in substance, but they provide humor and that’s a good thing, plus they make a truly GREAT case for a Thibs’ extension while trying to make one for his firing – that’s hard to do on a consistent basis, and their ability to do it should be recognized).
Why didn’t Lakers sign Warren?
Lakers are on win-now mode because they have traded away Wemby to Pelicans
In Thibs we Trust …….
Cam and Fournier are gone. He’s playing them more mins. Cause he will need them later. Especially if the trade goes thru. Grimes and McBride need to step up now. Both these players have a future here. So enjoy it.
First he doesn’t play young players. Now it’s he plays them too much. Get it together please.
It was an OT gm won on a clutch shot. If Knicks win. No one is talking. No Brunson no RJ in the game. We’ll be all right. Playing .500 with this team. Is a big success. We need a big trade.
Fire Thibs. Move Fournier, Rose and Reddish for Westbrook (can be done). Buy him out and let him go.
Proceed forward.
There are only two FA who are worth looking at next yr. Jerami Grant, Kyle Kuzma. Do t want Kyrie. And others with PO, are not leaving. Knicks have plenty of picks. To be able to make a significant trade or two. It’s coming.