As Knicks players became aware of the team’s trade with Toronto Saturday morning, Evan Fournier grabbed his phone to see if he was involved, writes Steve Popper of Newsday. Fournier has been stuck in limbo for about a year, seeing little playing time as he’s kept outside coach Tom Thibodeau’s rotation, but still valuable because of an $18MM expiring contract that could be useful for salary matching in a major deal.
Fournier explained to Popper that he’s not looking for a way out of New York, but when he heard about the Raptors deal he wanted to know if he was part of it.
“Well, the thing is the way I learned it, I think it said it was a trade package surrounding RJ,” Fournier said. “So of course you see that, you’re like, ‘Oh.’ You check your phone and stuff. I sleep well at night. I don’t check my phone to see if there’s a trade or anything. I just focus in on the moment because that’s the business.”
There’s more from New York:
- The Knicks will host Minnesota Monday afternoon, so some of the players acquired from Toronto might be in the lineup without practicing with their new team, Popper adds. “I don’t know what the logistics of everything are yet,” Thibodeau said. “But whatever it is, we just gotta find a way.” New York is listing Malachi Flynn as out for tomorrow with a right ankle injury, tweets Ian Begley of SNY.tv, but OG Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa aren’t on the injury report.
- The Knicks’ need for a defensive presence like Anunoby was evident in Saturday’s loss at Indiana, observes Peter Botte of The New York Post. New York surrendered 140 points overall and 76 in the second half while dropping its third straight game. “Just as simple as I can: terrible,” Jalen Brunson said. “We can do a lot better defensively. Offensively, it is not a problem right now. I can be better defensively. We can be better defensively. We just need to step it up on that side of the ball.”
- Miles McBride can’t be traded for six months after signing his new extension, Begley points out (Twitter link). Begley’s sources confirm that McBride’s new deal is front-loaded and that his salary will decline each season.
OG is a monster defensively but peaked offensively. He’s a solid 3 and D and can spot up but playmaking is limited by his slightly clunky footwork and hands.
There are plays where you will shake your head and say how did this goofy guy make the NBA. Then there are moments when his size and strength (combined with a great stroke) make you think he is an all-star. It’s been that way for 3 years.
Real players real talent improve all the time. OG hasn’t even peaked yet. The mamba mentality is a real thing. OG has room for improvement on offense. Thibs has always brought out the best. Of players who want it. OG is a guy he can help. It’s that simple. I’m sure that’s why he wanted him. Basketball is all about team fit. You win with talent that creates good team chemistry. This trade is good for both teams. MSG will love OGs game. They will push him to grow as a player. Look what it did for Randle.
OG is what he is at this point. It’s been 7 years. He’s not an ISO, playmaking wing. He’s a very solid 3 and D. He just doesn’t have the smoothness or coordination to be more than what he has shown over 7 years.
I think people forget a few things
It’s been 7 years but he’s in his mid 20s. NBA players are a lot younger than when MLB and NFL players start off.
Trades also have a way of sometimes unlocking someone’s potential in a new offensive scheme and new environment.
Mikal Bridges is exactly how you described OG in Phoenix. Was very inconsistent limited to 3 and D playing along side Paul and Ayton. Gets traded to the Nets and he’s exploded offensively.
We will have to wait to see how OG fits in with NY but I wouldn’t be surprised if NY unlocks his potential same way they did Brunson. I think NY is going to ask him to do more offensively than Toronto did. In Toronto he was asked to shoot the ball anywhere between 11-14 shots a game depending on season. I think in NY that’ll go up to around 16 or 17.
You look at the Raptors this year OG was 4th offensively behind Barnes Siakam and Schoeder.
Before it was Barnes Siakam and Van Vleet.
New York Brunson and Randle are the 1-2. Barrett and Quickley were the 3-4. Both of them gone I think OG steps in and gets more attempts offensively.
We shall see how that plays out.
Bridges has 10/10 coordination compared to OG. OG can look very clunky and awkward with his footwork and that has severely limited his offensive game. You think Nick Nurse wouldn’t have wanted a premium scoring option when we were fighting for playoff lives? I’m sorry but you are going to be disappointed if you expect more from OG.
Knicks and Pacers need to get on the horn to Portland and deal for Matisse Thybulle. He brings the type of defensive effort Thibs loves. He shoots the 3, but by no means in volume. Nice chip to be able to play defensively off the bench.
Knicks don’t need him. They’ve got enough D without killing the O. At this point, Randle and Brunson are the only consistent offensive players on the team.
Knicks would be better off discussing Marcus Smart with the Grizzlies.
When you don’t have that major star or two. Then you have to do it as a team. And the best way to achieve that. Is by having depth. Knicks without Mitch have been exposed. No rim protector. Teams are going to the basket and attacking the offensive glass. Knicks have been giving up too many points. Sims is a player that helps there. We need him back. Also adding Achiuwa should help. Have to get back to playing good team D and rebounding. Especially if Mitch doesn’t come back this yr.
Knicks can’t get into offensive wars. They will lose most to good teams. Their strength is their depth. And without Mitch they have to play smarter. Brunson needs to worry more about his team than his points. You have to make sure you get to last 5 mins. Still in the gm or in the lead. Then close it out as a team. Knicks offense has gotten too selfish. You add bad D to that. And it means loses. 5-6 since Mitch went down. We need Sims to play well.
Going to take time for OG and Achiuwa to fit in. This yr without Mitch will be challenging. So they better man up. Cause if the losing starts to pile up. The fans and media will start to turn on them. Remember Thibs second yr. When they had injuries. And didn’t make the playoffs. They were talking about firing Thibs, trading Randle. Like I’ve said plenty of times. Not easy to rebuild in NY.
Thybulle would be an outstanding wing compliment defensively off the bench. He is a steals and blocks menace.