- The Knicks should avoid any temptation to bring in Russell Westbrook and his sizable contract, argues Tommy Beer of Forbes. A report this week stated that New York might have interest if the Rockets look to trade Westbrook, but Beer believes it would be foolish to acquire a 31-year-old who will make $41.4MM, $44.2MM and $47.1MM over the next three years.
The NBA’s new pre-draft rules aren’t popular with several teams, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN, who states that at least half the league is considering not having executives attend workouts and may have just a “minimal presence” at pro days.
Givony says many front offices don’t believe it’s worth making a trip to watch a prospect work out by himself, and some of the teams are located in states that require a mandatory two-week quarantine for travelers. There’s also concern that an executive might contract COVID-19 and not be available on draft night. Also, some teams are reluctant to give away any secrets by providing the league with a list of the 10 players they would most like to scout.
The league office has received requests to alter its new rules, Givony adds, but complications will remain even if that happens. He notes that agents will have difficulty scheduling more than three or four teams each day for a workout, an in-person interview and then a 30-minute medical exam. Teams with high lottery picks are expected to be most active in trying to attend those sessions.
There’s more draft news to pass along:
- Givony talked to several teams that confirm Minnesota has been involved in trade talks regarding the No. 1 pick. Agents who represent players that are expected to be taken early say Timberwolves general manager Gersson Rosas has been “noncommittal” about what he plans to do and seems open to moving down. Givony adds that LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards are still the most likely candidates for the top pick, but the team’s uncertain ownership status may play a role in its draft plans.
- In the same story, ESPN’s Mike Schmitz identifies Patrick Williams of Florida State as the player making the biggest jump on draft boards. The 19-year-old handles the ball well for his 6’8″ size and could wind up being selected in the top 10. Schmitz also sees potential in Washington’s Jaden McDaniels, while Givony names Kansas center Udoka Azubuike as a possible sleeper.
- Kentucky guard Immanuel Quickley has met twice with the Knicks, Pistons and Thunder and has held one meeting with several other teams, including the Nets and Celtics, tweets Adam Zagoria of Forbes.
- Carmelo Anthony is working out in New York City and it’s not far-fetched to think the free agent forward will sign up for a second stint with the Knicks, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post. The possibility of Anthony coming back to New York would increase if it trades for Chris Paul, Berman continues. Knicks president Leon Rose, Anthony’s former rep, is open to an Anthony reunion even without a Paul deal, Berman adds.
Lottery prospect Isaac Okoro has received plenty of attention from the Knicks, Ian Begley of SNY TV reports. Okoro’s college coach, Auburn’s Bruce Pearl, said New York’s front office has conducted a number of interviews regarding the 6’6” Okoro, who is ranked No. 7 overall by ESPN. The Knicks own the No. 8 pick.
“They’ve talked to strength coaches, trainers, assistant coaches – they’ve done their homework. And they’ve liked Isaac from the jump,” Pearl said of the Knicks.
While Chris Paul‘s name has been connected most frequently to the Knicks in recent months, it’s worth keeping an eye on Russell Westbrook as well, according to Ian Begley of SNY.tv. Begley reports that some agents who represent top free agent point guards think the Knicks will “poke around” on a possible Westbrook trade if the Rockets make him available.
It’s certainly not a sure thing that Houston considers moving Westbrook this offseason. And even in that scenario, “poking around” doesn’t mean that the Knicks would make a deal.
Still, the Knicks are well-positioned to take on a big contract like Westbrook’s, which has three years and more than $132MM left on it. Begley also cites sources who say that Westbrook viewed New York as a favorable landing spot when the Thunder were shopping him last July. So if the Rockets do mull a potential trade at some point, it’s a safe bet the Knicks will be linked to the star point guard.
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- Earlier in October, multiple teams told people around top draft prospects that the Knicks were exploring the possibility of trading up for a top pick, according to Begley. A recent report indicated that New York likes LaMelo Ball and James Wiseman, but that report also suggested the club is looking at trading down from No. 8, not up. That leaves Begley to speculate that the Knicks are simply doing their homework on several scenarios and that looking into trading up doesn’t mean the team is committed to doing so.
- With the Nos. 8 and 27 picks currently in hand, the Knicks have expressed “degrees of interest” in the likes of Isaac Okoro, Devin Vassell, Killian Hayes, Kira Lewis Jr., Cole Anthony, Tyrese Haliburton, RJ Hampton, Theo Maledon, Tyrell Terry, Precious Achiuwa, and Isaiah Joe, writes Begley.
- In case you missed it, the Knicks are currently tied with Detroit for the second-worst odds to win the Eastern Conference in 2021.
New Nets coach Steve Nash reached out to former teammate Dirk Nowitzki but the Hall of Fame-bound big man has no desire to be an assistant coach at the moment, Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News reports. Nowitzki is content to spend time with his family in Dallas. “First of all, I don’t know if I could do it (coach) anywhere but here,” he said. “That’s of course first. Second, I just think the timing is not right. I love being with the family. I’m so over basketball at this point that it wasn’t even a thought for me.”
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- It’s generally assumed that Celtics center Enes Kanter, who played sparingly during the postseason, will exercise his $5MM player option for next season. That’s not necessarily the case, according to Jared Weiss of The Athletic. It’s more likely that Kanter will test the market and seek a backup role elsewhere, Weiss says. Even if he opts in, the Celtics may use his salary for a draft-night trade, Weiss adds.
- Former Suns GM Ryan McDonough doesn’t think Nets stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were trying to undermine Nash when they talked about “collaborative coaching” on Durant’s podcast earlier this month, Ian Begley of SNY.tv relays. Speaking on The Putback, McDonough felt the star Nets duo was speaking more of the team’s leadership. “It wasn’t a critical comment toward Steve Nash like, ‘Hey, he’s not ready for this.’ It was more, ‘We have a lot of player leadership on the roster,’” he said.
- The Knicks might shop all their picks on draft night. Get the details here.
The Heat lost just three games during the first three rounds against their playoff opponents in the East en route to an NBA Finals appearance this year, eliminating three of the top four seeds in the conference in the process. However, Miami’s impressive postseason run hasn’t made the team the favorite to come out of the East in 2021, according to oddsmakers.
At BetOnline.ag, the Heat are listed at +450 to win the Eastern Conference in ’21, meaning you’d win $450 on a $100 wager should Miami repeat as conference champs. The Bucks (+375), Celtics (+425), and Nets (+425) are currently considered more likely to represent the East in next year’s NBA Finals.
The rest of the odds to win the East next year are as follows, per BetOnline.ag:
- Raptors: +750
- Sixers: +1200
- Bulls: +3300
- Hawks: +3300
- Pacers: +3300
- Wizards: +3300
- Magic: +10000
- Cavaliers: +12500
- Knicks: +12500
- Pistons: +12500
- Hornets: +17500
It’s obviously way too early to forecast the outcome of the 2020/21 season with any confidence. The draft and free agency are still to come, and we don’t know yet which teams will make major splashes on the trade market. If Victor Oladipo is dealt from Indiana to another Eastern team, for example, it could significantly change the conference’s outlook for next season.
Still, anticipated roster moves are at least somewhat baked into BetOnline’s current odds — if the Pacers had a ton of cap room to use this offseason and Oladipo and Myles Turner weren’t viewed as potential trade candidates, it’s a safe bet that they wouldn’t be listed alongside lottery teams Chicago, Atlanta, and Washington on the list above.
So, with the caveat that plenty could change in the coming months to alter the outlook of the East for the 2020/21 season, we want to get your thoughts on the early projections from oddsmakers.
Should the Bucks be considered the favorites to win the East? Should the Heat be listed higher than fourth among Eastern teams? Are the Nets or other teams being overvalued? Are the Pacers or other teams being undervalued? Which team do you like to come out of the East next season? And which club do you view as the best value pick based on the odds listed above?
Head to the comment section below to weigh in with your early forecast for the Eastern Conference in 2020/21!
The Knicks will try to trade down from their lottery spot unless James Wiseman or LaMelo Ball slide to the eighth spot, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post.
Considering both players are expected to be selected in the top five, the Knicks sound likely to be actively shopping the pick. Wiseman is ranked as the top big man in the draft and No. 3 overall on ESPN’s best available list, while Ball is ranked No. 2 overall behind fellow guard Anthony Edwards.
This doesn’t necessarily mean the Knicks want to move out of the lottery. They’ve discussed the idea of moving into the 12-15 range and acquire a player on a rookie contract as part of the deal, per Berman.
New York could have plenty of company in terms of teams seeking to move down, as the November 18 draft is generally considered weak with no surefire stars.
Berman shares some other insights:
- The Magic, who hold the No. 15 pick, have some interest in Knicks guard Dennis Smith Jr. and that could lead to a broader deal.
- The Knicks could package the No. 27 overall pick, acquired from the Clippers in the Marcus Morris three-team deal, and their second-rounder at No. 38 to move into the middle of the first round.
- Kentucky shooting guard Tyrese Maxey is a player the Knicks are eying, according to Berman, who notes Maxey’s connection to former Kentucky assistant and new Knicks assistant Kenny Payne. Maxey is rated No. 15 on ESPN’s list.
Knicks guard Dennis Smith Jr. will be headed to free agency after next season and he’s trying to make a strong impression on new head coach Tom Thibodeau. He came to New York prior to the team’s mini-camp to work with the coaching staff, Ian Begley of SNY TV reports. Smith will make $5.7MM next season and the team can make him a restricted free agent next offseason if it extends a $7.7MM qualifying offer. Smith has only appeared in 87 games over the last two seasons.
Were the Knicks to move forward Kevin Knox and additional pieces in a win-now move to acquire All-Star point guard Chris Paul from the Thunder, former Knicks All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony could be interested in a return to Madison Square Garden, per Marc Berman of the New York Post. Both are former CAA clients of current Knicks president Leon Rose.
The 36-year-old Anthony, an unrestricted free agent this offseason, most recently served as an important starting forward for the Trail Blazers during an exciting run in the NBA restart this summer. He played with the Knicks for parts of seven seasons. Anthony enjoyed his most success with the club during the 2012/13 season, when he led a veteran-laden Knicks team to a 54-28 record and a conference semifinals appearance.
There’s more out of New York:
- Knicks bench point guard Dennis Smith Jr., the No. 9 pick in 2017, still has ample backing within the front office, according to Ian Begley of SNY. Earlier this month, Smith attended the voluntary mini-camp team practices held by coach Tom Thibodeau and his staff. Smith missed 32 games this season due to various injuries and the death of a family member.
- UNC point guard Cole Anthony, son of former Knick Greg Anthony, is apparently being given minimal consideration by the Knicks’ front office with the eighth pick in the 2020 draft, according to the New York Post’s Marc Berman. The team would be open to taking Anthony, who missed part of his lone college season with a knee surgery, with the No. 27 pick if he falls that far, says Berman, but the guard isn’t expected to be an option for New York in the lottery even if the club trades back a few spots.
- Mike Vorkunov and John Hollinger of The Athletic have written an epic piece unpacking potential Knicks trades the team could engage in during the 2020 offseason. Both agree that New York will actively look to improve its roster heading into the 2020/21 season, and that all Knicks not named RJ Barrett or Mitchell Robinson could be on the trading block.