Teams are getting closer to training camp, which means lingering questions facing NBA clubs will be answered sooner than later. The Knicks, like every team, have several issues to sort out either before training camp or shortly before the season begins writes Zach Braziller of the New York Post in a mailbag.
The biggest question the Knicks must answer is whether or not Immanuel Quickley will get a rookie scale extension before the regular season tips off. In his own mailbag, SNY’s Ian Begley writes that New York and Quickley are expected to negotiate a contract sometime this month. However, if the Knicks decide to make him available via trade, they’ll have plenty of suitors, per Begley.
Begley hears that the Knicks had several trade talks with teams surrounding Quickley at the beginning of the 2022/23 season, prior to his breakout that saw him finish as the Sixth Man of the Year runner-up. However, Begley ultimately expects Quickley to extend with New York, and believes the team will begin extending other core players – Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle and Quentin Grimes – down the road.
Braziller concurs with Begley, and sees the two sides agreeing to a deal that winds up in the four-year, $90-95MM range. Other topics included in Braziller’s mailbag include the future of Evan Fournier and what a matchup between Team USA and Canada in the 2023 FIBA World Cup would look like, with Brunson and Josh Hart potentially squaring off against RJ Barrett.
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- Celtics guard Payton Pritchard has never averaged more than 19.2 minutes per game in his first three seasons in the league, with his playing time declining in each subsequent season. Jared Weiss of The Athletic explores what Pritchard’s role may look like in 2023/24, which will be instrumental in determining his future with the organization. Pritchard, who wished to be moved at last year’s deadline, could be in line for more minutes with Marcus Smart‘s departure, but will need to improve. Weiss does a full video breakdown of the guard’s game to determine how he can take the next jump.
- Battling plantar fasciitis, Kristaps Porzingis was forced to be a spectator as Latvia made the final eight of the World Cup and fell to Germany in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston writes that Porzingis choosing to preserve his body in such a crucial moment for his national team is a key indicator that he’s all in on the Celtics this year. Porzingis, whom Boston traded Smart for, is expected to be ready to go by the time the NBA’s training camps begin.
- While Harry Giles has an uphill climb to make Brooklyn’s roster out of training camp, the Nets have one of the more interesting roster battles on deck, Lucas Kaplan of NetsDaily writes. Giles, Trendon Watford and Darius Bazley appear to be in direct competition for two roster spots on the Nets. Giles, who hasn’t appeared in a game since 2020/21, only has 142 games of NBA experience and is just 25 years old, indicating he may have plenty left in the tank.
That seems a little low for Quickley. As long as he keeps up the shooting from last season (aka, not going back to ~40% from the floor), I think he’ll get to $100MM. Looks at the Brooks deal, and he’s clearly better than Brooks. His reps would be fools not to point to that in their negotiations, even if it was an overpay.
Yea but Brooks was an overpay
Exactly. Stupid contracts are hardly comparables.
The Vanvleet and Brooks contracts were from a desperate team that stupidly didn’t have any vets to show their young guys the ropes the last few years turning them into a complete dumpster fire. I’m very amused at their choice on vets mind you. I don’t think Houston choose well at all. Unless you give them points for being smart enough to stay from Harden. Which hardly seems like a noteworthy accomplishment.
Houston had to spend the cash, so I don’t really hate on them for those contracts. FVV can take some heat off the young guys and allow them to develop, and I think Brooks was brought in purely to make practises ultra-competitive.
Pritchard will take Porzingus minutes while Porzingus sits on the bench with injury after injury. But hey at least they added height, even if it’s just on paper
Yet another bad take my Mr. Blow.
IQ is a keeper in NY. However, he may want to be a starting player somewhere else
IQ is in his RSC trade year (as well his extension year). But there doesn’t appear to be anything on the horizon; something would have come out.
Of course there are a lot of suitors. But a deal requires a suitor that values IQ more than the NYK do, that almost has to mean as a starter. He can’t do more as a 6M for another team than he does here.
“…the team will begin extending other core players – Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle and Quentin Grimes – down the road.”
They just signed Brunson and I sincerely doubt they’ll extend Randle. As for IQ, I like the kid but think they should capitalize on his value and covert it into something else. Perhaps a package with another player on the team for a star/impact player. Bridges on the Nets for example – IQ and RJ. Randle and 5 #1’s for J Jackson (examples, not suggesting these are the actual offers they should make). Crazy defensive team with distributed offense that makes it tough for others to defend.
I wouldn’t resign to play for Thibs if I was Quick and the Knicks need to pick a direction and go all in. If its thibs, get rid of Quickley. If its not, get rid of Thibs. Either way stop mixing a rigid coach with players he doesn’t want to use.
The thing about NY is they always seem to be doing well then do something erratic and stupid.
Right now they have a decent little team and all of a sudden a star will become available and a they give away all these assets and ultimately get worse. But, if they don’t make a trade for a big star I don’t think what they have enough now to get into the NBA finals let alone win it.
So how do they get better?
For me it’s RJ Barrett, he’s not good enough.
Like he plays both ends, he’s he gives you about 20 a night but he’s not good enough as one of your three best players to make a final or win a title. Suns have KD Book and Beal, Bucks have Giannas Middleton Jrue, Celtics have Tatum Brown KP and so on and so on. The Knicks big 3 is closer to the bulls big 3 of DeRozan LaVine and Vuce than it is to say the Suns or Celtics.
Whoever they go after as that third star has to be a great fit with what they built with Brunson and Randle. So, the shortlist of names I’d be keeping tabs on are Joel Embiid, Karl Anthony-Towns, Miles Bridges, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard and Brandon Ingram.
Embiid is very unlikely, KAT somewhat likely he’s made available but they wouldn’t have interest in Robinson and not much in RJ either…. Bridges is a sleeper think he could be a great fit but hard to determine the cost and value. PG unlikely this year, Kawhi even more unlikely this year but would be a great fit and Clippers could have interest in IQ, RJ and Robinson who should all be available. Then lastly Ingram, again unlikely but you never know.
Nothing will happen between now and the start of the season or even the first couple months but at some stage I’d make a move for one of these guys. I’d try for Kawhi but likely get told no. Then trying to be cost effective I’d probably go to the hornets.
NY: Gordan Hayward and Miles Bridges
Hornets: RJ Barrett and Doug McDermott
San Antonio: Evan Fouriner, a protected first from NY and a protected first from Charlotte.
NY line up
Brunson Grimes Hayward Randle Robinson
IQ DiVancenzo Hart Bridges Hartenstein
Think Hayward would likely start due to his experience and 3 point shooting.
Bridges long term could earn the starting spot but I think for now he’d probably best suit the second unit running because of the uptempo style and his versatility.
NY I think could then be a shot of possibly playing in the final.
Charlotte would be better with RJ starting at SG with Ball Miller and Washington. That would be a cool side and Rozier would also suit that sixth man role for them.
Spurs would benefit also, getting Evan Fouriner to help Victor his French teammate and link up with Tony Parker in the coaching staff. But they mainly do it for the 2 first round picks