The Knicks appear to have avoided an injury scare with Jalen Brunson, as the All-Star point guard returned to the lineup on Saturday following a one-game absence due to an ankle sprain. Brunson showed no ill effects from the injury, scoring 39 points on 14-of-25 shooting, per Mark W. Sanchez of The New York Post.
Despite Brunson’s return and the debuts of newly acquired role players Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks, the Knicks remained shorthanded due to injuries and lost on Saturday to Indiana, writes Peter Botte of The New York Post. The team is especially banged up in the frontcourt, where Precious Achiuwa was forced to play 43 minutes vs. the Pacers. With Mitchell Robinson, Julius Randle, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Jericho Sims all inactive, Taj Gibson logged 19 minutes on the first day of his second 10-day contract with New York.
“I thought for the first game (with the new additions), there were some obviously good things and obviously there’s a lot for them to adjust to. As a team, I think we have to do a lot better,” head coach Tom Thibodeau said. “We’re shorthanded. We’re going to have to play a lot harder and a lot tougher.”
While their first game with the Knicks didn’t go as planned, both Bogdanovic and Burks expressed excitement about the opportunity to join a playoff team after spending the first half of the season with the league-worst Pistons. According to Botte, Burks – a former Knick – didn’t want to leave New York in the first place and said repeatedly that he’s “glad to be back.”
Here’s more from around the Atlantic:
- As Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca details, new Raptors Kelly Olynyk and Ochai Agbaji both have connections to the franchise — Olynyk grew up in Toronto rooting for the Raptors, while Agbaji’s father is old friends with team president Masai Ujiri. The two former Jazz players expressed excitement about their new circumstances, with Agbaji suggesting it feels like a “fresh new start” and Olynyk noting that he and the Raptors have had mutual interest in the past. “It’s always been on our radar, both of our radars,” the big man said. “I think maybe it’s been close [before], but it’s hard for me to know [for sure]… But [now that] it did happen, it’s pretty awesome.”
- Raptors wing Bruce Brown was considered one of the top trade candidates on the market leading up to the deadline, but he ended up staying put. He’s happy with that outcome, as Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca tweets. “It feels great, it feels great,” said Brown, whose contract includes a $23MM team option for 2024/25. “Obviously it’s nice to have some stability. … I”m glad to be here for the rest of the season and then try and work things out.”
- Although the Raptors were enthusiastic about the moves they made on the trade market, they’ve completed a full-fledged overhaul of their roster in the past six weeks or so, and their lack of continuity showed in Saturday’s blowout loss to Cleveland, Grange writes at Sportsnet.ca. “Obviously, it’s really tough,” Olynyk said. “You don’t know really what’s going on on both ends of the floor. I think that was probably pretty evident in the first half.”
- Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer takes a look at a “whirlwind” couple days for Sixers trade deadline additions Buddy Hield and Cameron Payne, who played significant minutes as starters for an injury-depleted Philadelphia team on Friday, then helped lead their new club to a victory in Washington on Saturday.
Sixers are going to pay Hield after the season. With a healthy Embiid, he will thrive in Philly
Going to be a terrible deal if its anything more than 2/36 range.
The Raptors just never looked like they were in control of their play at any point yesterday. Not just the defensive miscues and poor rotations but also the constant hesitation or impatient shots. Their timing was never on-point outside of Barnes, and even he really struggled at points. Got bailed out a few times from looking even worse by the refs.
This team has potential, but they are done this season. Next year, they might already be on the rebound. The young talent on the roster is worth keeping an eye on. The league is more fun when the Raptors are good.
Gueye is a decent signing, he has played good. They need a young PF, PG and C. They don’t need Winslow when they have a much better version in Barnes. They need more young talent
Some choices
Kai Jones, John Butler, Darius Bazley, Jazian Gortmen, Chandler Kennedy, Killian Hayes and Isaiah Todd. They will need to develop.
Trade Jacob P next off season
I don’t blame Morey for not trading 1st round picks b4 the trade deadline. There were no star players to get. There are good buyout players available, who can round out the bench and improve 3 pt shooting.
All his eggs are in the PG-13 and LeBron basket. If Bronny declares, Sixer’s best chance at a title is to take him and hope LeBron follows.
Siakam, OG, Quickley, and Jrue are all likely to re-up. Harden hates Morey. DeRozan’s game is too limited for what he’s asking at his age. If he could hit 3s too… different story.
They have to renounce everyone except Maxey. Paul Reed’s contract will become non-guaranteed so he’s probably gone – and maybe they guarantee it and trade him to the Jazz for an exception and a SRP.
So if they Max out PG13 at 49M… leaves them only 27M in remaining cap space. It’ll essentially be Embiid, PG-13, Maxey 1 of Tobias or Buddy and a bunch of min guys and someone at the MLE.
Not super excited about the offseason.
DeM is not asking for much. In fact hasn’t asked for anything. Considering he’s under a very reasonable contract.
He’s shooting 34% on threes. And is third in the NBA with most FT attempts in 4Q. That’s a 86% FT shooter. DeM is a closer. Every team can use that. Plus of course the 24 a gm.
What was the point of this trade from Toronto’s perspective?
“While their first game with the Knicks didn’t go as planned, both Bogdanovic and Burks expressed excitement about the opportunity to join a playoff team after spending the first half of the season with the league-worst Pistons. According to Botte,”
Burkes 22 mins, 22 pts
Bogdanovic 33 mins, 11 pts
Knicks need bodies. So this was an excellent move. Knicks need to stay over .500 while they heal. Probably going to be 4-6 wks before full strength. Working into shape and without Mitch. Considering it was their first gm. I’m happy with it. Need some wins now.
Don’t want to see Brunson over used.
Our depth has to pay off now.
I still wouldn’t want to face the Knicks in the first round. Just too many good, versatile players in that rotation.
Center is still a point of concern right now. Yeah, once Hartenstein and Robinson are back, they’ll look much better, but they have to survive that and re-integrate the pair of them.
With how little Mo Bamba has contributed, why don’t the Sixers take a flyer on Boogie. 10 Day contract. He has to be better than Mo Bamba. Heck Mo Buckets Speights would be better. Amir Johnson might have more in the tank. Jahlil freaking Okafor. Nerlens 80M Squandered Noel.