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Knicks, Nets Among Teams Keeping Eye On Zach LaVine

July 24th, 2020 at 11:01am CST by Luke Adams

The Knicks and Nets are among the teams who have been monitoring Zach LaVine‘s situation in Chicago, according to Ian Begley of SNY.tv, who reports that both New York and Brooklyn have done “background work” on the Bulls guard.

LaVine remains under contract for an additional two years beyond this season, so he won’t be reaching free agency anytime soon. However, with no star players known to be available on the trade market for the time being, teams like the Knicks and Nets are keeping an eye on players who could conceivably become available in trade talks within the next year or two.

LaVine, a six-year veteran, has never made the playoffs with the Timberwolves or the Bulls, and suggested in March that he was “upset” with Chicago’s performance in 2019/20.

Disgruntled stars on lottery teams often make the best trade candidates, though in LaVine’s case, it seems likely that he’ll want to give the new Bulls regime a chance to improve the roster before making any decisions about his future. The team hired Arturas Karnisovas as president of basketball operations and Marc Eversley as general manager in the spring.

According to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago (Twitter link), LaVine was in Chicago two weeks ago and had a “positive” visit with the Bulls’ new decision-makers. Johnson adds that while they’ll likely be willing to listen to any ideas, Karnisovas and Eversley appear focused on maximizing the roster’s potential for next season — not on trading the club’s leading scorer.

The front office’s decision on head coach Jim Boylen is also worth keeping an eye on in relation to LaVine’s situation, since he and Boylen haven’t always seen eye-to-eye. Sources have told Marc Berman of The New York Post that the Bulls appear likely to stand pat with Boylen for now.

LaVine had a career year in ’19/20 before the coronavirus pandemic prematurely ended Chicago’s season. He averaged 25.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and 4.2 APG on .450/.380/.802 shooting in 60 games (34.8 MPG).

Frank Ntilikina Participating In Tournament In France

July 23rd, 2020 at 12:33pm CST by Luke Adams

A handful of NBA players are taking part in a basketball tournament in Paris this week, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post, who reports that Knicks guard Frank Ntilikina, Pistons forward Sekou Doumbouya, and Bulls two-way player Adam Mokoka are participating in the event.

Latest On Knicks’ Head Coaching Search

July 23rd, 2020 at 11:34am CST by Luke Adams

The Knicks aren’t currently engaged in contract negotiations with any of their 11 reported head coaching candidates and haven’t made a contract offer to any of those candidates either, sources tell Ian Begley of SNY.tv.

However, New York’s goal is still to hire a permanent head coach by the end of the month, likely prior to the NBA season resuming in Florida next Thursday, Begley says. Sources tell SNY that there’s a “strong likelihood” the Knicks will have discussions with multiple candidates next week.

Although Tom Thibodeau has been cited as the frontrunner throughout the process, Begley observes that the latest updates on the search suggest the team hasn’t necessarily zeroed in on any one candidate.

Still, Marc Berman of The New York Post calls attention to one factor working in Thibodeau’s favor. New Knicks president of basketball operations Leon Rose has hinted that the front office may have a hand in filling out the new coach’s staff — Thibodeau has been averse to that idea in the past, preferring to hand-pick his own assistants, but trusts Rose and is open to front office input in this case, sources tell Berman.

Kenny Atkinson and Jason Kidd are among the candidates that the Knicks have not “crossed off the list” as of yet, Berman adds. Atkinson met with the team on Monday in what was believed to be his second interview, Begley notes. As our tracker shows, New York has also interviewed interim coach Mike Miller, former NBA coaches Mike Brown and Mike Woodson, and a handful of current assistants from around the NBA.

Despite the lengthy process, some people believe the Knicks have a top choice in mind and are simply doing their due diligence on every candidate before finalizing their decision, Berman writes.

“In trying to be thorough and doing everything perfectly, the Knicks are dragging it out to a new level,” an NBA source tells The Post. “I believe they know who they’re going to hire, always have. They just need to make sure.”

Knicks Expected To Hire Assistant Coach From Head Coach Interviews

July 22nd, 2020 at 10:16pm CST by Jovan Alford

According to Ian Begley of SNY.tv, the Knicks are expected to hire one of their several head-coaching candidates to be an assistant coach under the team’s new head coach. Begley adds that there is internal support for either Mike Miller, who was New York’s interim head coach, or Mike Woodson to join the staff as an assistant. Both Miller and Woodson interviewed for the head coaching vacancy.

NBA Moves 2020 Draft Lottery To August 20

July 21st, 2020 at 1:47pm CST by Luke Adams

The NBA has moved up its 2020 draft lottery by five days, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, who reports (via Twitter) that the event, previously tentatively scheduled for August 25, will now take place on Thursday, August 20.

The eight teams with the best odds in this year’s lottery are the same eight teams that weren’t invited to participate in the resumption of the 2019/20 season in Orlando. The Warriors, Cavaliers, and Timberwolves each have a 14.0% chance of landing the No. 1 overall pick, followed by the Hawks (12.5%), Pistons (10.5%), Knicks (9.0%), Bulls (7.5%), and Hornets (6.0%).

The other six teams that will be part of the 2020 lottery will be determined once this season’s 16 playoff teams have been set, which will happen a few days before August 20. The six clubs in Orlando that don’t make the postseason will occupy the bottom six spots in the lottery standings — their order will be determined by their records as of March 11.

The tentative 2020 NBA draft lottery odds, assuming the Grizzlies, Magic, and Nets all hang onto their playoff spots, can be found right here. This year’s draft will take place on October 16.

Knicks Notes: Atkinson, Harper, Robinson

July 21st, 2020 at 11:32am CST by Luke Adams

The Knicks interviewed head coaching candidate Kenny Atkinson again on Monday, according to Jonathan Macri of Knicks Film School (Twitter link). Confirming that report, Marc Berman of The New York Post tweets that it’s unclear whether it was Atkinson’s second interview or third.

A report a week ago indicated that the Knicks had completed their second round of interviews with coaching candidates, but perhaps Atkinson’s second interview was delayed. It’s also possible that the club is conducting a third round of meetings with potential finalists.

While the Knicks are playing things fairly close to the vest as they seek a permanent head coach, Berman hears from multiple sources that the organization is doing a “very thorough” job. President of basketball operations Leon Rose indicated last month that a decision is expected before the end of July.

Here’s more on the Knicks:

The Knicks were the only one of the NBA’s 30 teams not to issue a public statement in support of the social justice movement following the death of George Floyd this spring, a decision that didn’t sit well with everyone in the organization. Howard Beck of Bleacher Report takes a deep dive into the situation, reporting that one “key rotation player” told team officials that he “definitely wasn’t happy with the Knicks” following their silence. “I know there are others upset about it,” a source that does business with the team told Beck.
Having been claimed off waivers by the Knicks last month, two-way player Jared Harper is excited about the opportunity to show his new team what he can do, as he tells Marc Berman of The New York Post. “It’s definitely a great spot for me,” Harper said. “I’ll be able to grow as a basketball player. That it happened so quick (after being waived by the Suns) was just assurance to me I belong at this level.”
Knicks center Mitchell Robinson, who made 74.2% of his field goal attempts this season, is in position to set a new NBA single-season record in that category, as Ian Begley of SNY.tv details.

Kadeem Allen Signs With French Team

July 20th, 2020 at 10:52am CST by Luke Adams

Former Knicks guard Kadeem Allen has signed with French team JL Bourg Basket for the 2020/21 season, according to a press release from the club (hat tip to Sportando).

Allen, 27, was a member of the Knicks up until approximately four weeks ago, when the team released him in order to claim Jared Harper off waivers. The 53rd overall pick in the 2017 draft, Allen had been on a two-way contract with New York before being cut.

In two seasons with the Knicks, Allen saw limited action at the NBA level, averaging 8.2 PPG and 3.3 APG in 29 total games (18.4 MPG).

He played more extensively for the Westchester Knicks in the NBA G League, recording 14.7 PPG, 5.9 APG, and 5.2 RPG with a .429/.343/.783 shooting line in 63 total games (30.6 MPG) across two seasons. Allen also earned a spot on the G League’s All-Defensive Team in 2018/19.

Allen’s two-way deal with New York would have expired in October if he hadn’t been waived in June, so that move gave him a head start on free agency, allowing him to secure a deal with JL Bourg well before the NBA’s free agent period opens in the fall.

Knicks Notes: Thibodeau, Woodson, Gibson, Hayes

July 19th, 2020 at 10:01am CST by Arthur Hill

Tom Thibodeau has been doing extensive film study on the Knicks in case he gets hired as the team’s next head coach, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post. Thibodeau, who is among 11 candidates to receive an interview, is considered to be the favorite for the job.

Thibodeau recently had a second interview that lasted three hours, Berman adds. He is reportedly very interested in helping to develop second-year center Mitchell Robinson, who has already emerged as one of the league’s most dangerous shot blockers.

Former Knicks coach Rick Pitino, who has a long history with Thibodeau, talks with Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News about the coach’s reputation for being prepared. “He was meticulously organized, almost scary organized, and he reminded me of (New England Patriots coach) Bill Belichick,” Pitino said. “I’ve spent a lot of time with Belichick and Thibodeau’s got a lot of the same mannerisms, the same attention to detail that Belichick has. And that’s about the highest compliment I could give someone.”

There’s more on the Knicks this morning:

Mike Woodson will be a candidate to join the staff in New York even if he doesn’t get hired as the head coach, Berman adds in a separate story. David Fizdale reportedly wanted to bring on Woodson as an assistant when he was hired, but the front office turned him down.
Taj Gibson, who played for Thibodeau in Chicago and Minnesota, didn’t say much about the coaching search during a rally Saturday in New York, but he expressed confidence that the organization will make “the right decision,” Berman writes in another piece. Gibson, who is waiting for the Knicks to decide on his $9.5MM player option for next season, was disappointed that the team wasn’t invited to be part of the NBA’s restart in Orlando. “Any competitor type would want to be out there and competing,” he said, “but we’re not and I’m just working hard in the gym getting ready for next season.’’
The agent for French point guard Killian Hayes confirmed that the Knicks are among several teams that conducted video interviews with the projected lottery pick, according to Ian Begley of SNY.tv.

New York Notes: T. Johnson, M. Jackson, Thibodeau, Randle

July 17th, 2020 at 11:15am CST by Arthur Hill

It took four years, but Tyler Johnson is finally a member of the Nets and he’s thrilled about the opportunity, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks presented Johnson with a four-year, $50MM offer sheet in 2016, hoping to snare the young guard as part of a rebuilding project.

Johnson’s stock has fallen considerably since Miami chose to match that offer. He has been out of the league since the Suns waived him in February after a disappointing season following knee surgery. The Nets signed him last month to fill one of their many roster openings.

“Maybe I wasn’t at 100 percent. I was working through it, trying to get right,” Johnson said, adding that his knee is now fully healed. “But I didn’t have that pop, that bounce I used to have where I’d try to go up over the top of people. Who knows if that played a role in anything. I don’t put any blame anywhere but myself. At the end of the day I can only control myself. … Unfortunately it didn’t work out. But fortunately, I’m here. I find myself in a position where I can have a little bit of redemption.”

There’s more on the New York teams:

There may be hints that Kevin Durant is throwing his support behind Mark Jackson to be the Nets‘ next head coach, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on his latest podcast. Windhorst notes that Rich Kleiman, Durant’s friend and business partner, has started tweeting frequently about Jackson, the former Warriors coach and current ABC/ESPN broadcaster.
Former player and current agent B.J. Armstrong believes Tom Thibodeau would be an excellent choice as the Knicks‘ head coach, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post. Armstrong represents Derrick Rose, who played for Thibodeau in Chicago in Minnesota and maintains a tight relationship with the coach. “I always admired how (Thibodeau) coached,’’ Armstrong said. “He brings the fire and the heat. And most importantly, he’s always prepared for the game. He loves the game. He had an excellent career in this league. He made a life commitment to the game. I’ll be really happy for him (if he gets the job).’’
Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic looks at how the Knicks might be able to find a better role for Julius Randle if he remains with the team next season. New York is reportedly willing to trade Randle, but his salary may make that difficult in the current financial climate.

Thibodeau, Kidd Shine In Second Round Of Knicks Coaching Interviews

July 14th, 2020 at 7:41pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Head coach interviews for the Knicks are heating up, according to The New York Post’s Marc Berman. Tom Thibodeau remains the leader in the clubhouse for the gig, though Jason Kidd is nipping at his heels following a strong second interview. Kenny Atkinson also remains in the running for the position. The team conducted at least 11 three-hour second interviews that wrapped up yesterday.