New York Knicks Rumors | Hoops Rumors

NBA Trade Candidate Watch: Atlantic Division

December 24th, 2019 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Over the course of the 2019/20 NBA season, up until February’s trade deadline, we’re keeping an eye on potential trade candidates from around the NBA, monitoring their value and exploring the likelihood that they’ll be moved. Each of these looks at possible trade candidates focuses on a specific division, as we zero in on three players from that division.

The Cavaliers and Jazz broke the NBA’s trade drought today, completing the league’s first trade since July 16. While I wouldn’t necessarily expect the floodgates to open on the trade market as a result of that deal, it certainly won’t be the last one completed this winter.

As we wait for an Atlantic team to make its first in-season trade of the 2019/20 season, let’s identify three more trade candidates from around the division…

Marcus Morris, F
New York Knicks
$15MM cap hit; UFA in 2020

Virtually every veteran on the Knicks’ roster is a trade candidate this season, as we noted in our last look at the Atlantic. However, Morris projects to be the most valuable of a group that also features Julius Randle, Bobby Portis, Wayne Ellington, and others.

Morris is the only player of that bunch who has no guaranteed money on his contract beyond this season, and he’s also been the most productive one so far, with a team-best 18.4 PPG to go along with an impressive .466 3PT%. Multiple reports have suggested that the Knicks could realistically expect to land a first-round pick in return for Morris.

The veteran forward has said he doesn’t want to be traded, since he likes playing in New York and would prefer to try to help the Knicks reverse their first-half skid. But he has no ability to veto a trade or steer himself to a specific destination, so it will likely come down to whether the Knicks get an offer they like.

Zhaire Smith, SG
Philadelphia 76ers
$3.1MM cap hit; $3.2MM guaranteed salary in 2020/21; $4.9MM team option for 2021/22

John Hollinger of The Athletic identified Smith this week as a recent first-round pick he’s worried about, since the 20-year-old “has struggled to make an impact even in G League games due to his limited skill level.” That’s not good news for a Sixers team that could badly use a wing like Smith off the bench.

Given how young he is, Smith could appeal to a rebuilding club that likes his athleticism and thinks it could get more out of him. Of course, the 76ers would be selling low, which the front office may be reluctant to do again after seeing Markelle Fultz contribute in Orlando this season.

Still, the Sixers don’t have a ton of expendable pieces earning more than the minimum, so even if they’re not ready to give up on Smith, he might make sense as a salary-matching piece in a trade package to acquire a more reliable contributor. Attaching Smith to Jonah Bolden, for instance, would allow Philadelphia to bring back a player earning up to about $8.4MM.

Stanley Johnson, F
Toronto Raptors
$3.6MM cap hit; $3.8MM player option for 2020/21

Like Smith, Johnson looks like he could serve a potential trade chip for a contending team that lacks expendable mid-level players. Of the four outside free agents the Raptors brought in this past summer, Johnson is being paid the most and has played the least, due to both injuries and ineffectiveness.

There’s still time for the former lottery pick to emerge as a regular contributor in Nick Nurse‘s rotation — Rondae Hollis-Jefferson worked his way out of the doghouse earlier in the season and is now seeing big minutes off the bench for the club. It’s possible Johnson will follow suit.

Even if Johnson remains glued to the bench, it remains unclear what sort of approach the Raptors will take at the trade deadline But if the club is looking for a modestly-priced bench upgrade, Johnson would be the most logical outgoing piece and could be the on the move.

Revisit the rest of our 2019/20 Trade Candidate series right here.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

David Fizdale Returns To ESPN As Analyst

December 23rd, 2019 at 9:25pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Former Knicks coach David Fizdale will return to ESPN as a studio analyst, Ian Begley of SNY.tv reports.

Fizdale was fired by the Knicks after the team got off to a 4-18 start. He also appeared on the network two seasons ago in a similar role. ESPN has often been a haven for coaches in between jobs. Stan Van Gundy and Byron Scott are among the ex-coaches currently employed by the network.

Fizdale had a 21-83 record in New York. Fizdale chose the Knicks over other offers, such as positions in Charlotte, Phoenix, and Atlanta. He was also the head coach in Memphis, where he went 43-39 in 2016/17 before getting fired early the next season after a 7-12 beginning.

The Knicks are 3-5 under interim head coach Mike Miller.

NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 12/22/19

December 22nd, 2019 at 8:10pm CST by JD Shaw

Here are Sunday’s assignments and recalls from around the NBA G League:

The Kings have recalled Wenyen Gabriel and Caleb Swanigan from the Stockton Kings, G League affiliate of the team, according to James Ham of NBC Sports California (Twitter link). Sacramento will host Houston, winners of three straight, on Monday night.
The Celtics have recalled Carsen Edwards from the Maine Red Claws, the team announced on social media. Edwards was drafted by the team at No. 33 overall in June’s NBA Draft, with the rookie guard appearing in 21 games so far this season.
The Sixers recalled Shake Milton from the Delaware Blue Coats, according to Serena Winters of NBC Sports Philadelphia (Twitter link). Milton will join the team in Detroit for their game on Monday, Winters adds.
The Knicks have recalled Ignas Brazdeikis from Westchester, according to the team’s public relations department. New York is set to host Washington on Monday night.

Mike Miller Markedly Different From David Fizdale

December 22nd, 2019 at 4:22pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News takes a look at the differences between ex-Knicks head coach David Fizdale and his interim replacement, Mike Miller. The Knicks are 3-4 since Miller slid over on the bench to take charge. They were 4-18 under Fizdale to start the season.

Clippers Notes: George, Leonard, Harrell, Morris

December 22nd, 2019 at 11:42am CST by Arthur Hill

Tonight marks Paul George‘s first game in Oklahoma City since requesting a trade, and the All-Star swingman isn’t sure what kind of reception to expect, writes Mark Medina of USA Today. George had two strong years with the Thunder before asking to be dealt to his hometown so he could team up with Kawhi Leonard. The move represented a turning point for OKC, which traded franchise cornerstone Russell Westbrook a few days later.

George had a similar experience two years ago when he informed the Pacers that he wouldn’t re-sign with the organization once he had a chance to opt out of his contract. He wanted to go home to L.A. then, hoping to join the Lakers, but wound up getting sent to the Thunder.

“I don’t know how it’s going to go (in OKC). I don’t think it’s going to be worse than Indiana,” George said. “But whatever it is, I still have the same message and people that I still love and people that I’m close to and people that are close to me in Oklahoma.”

There’s more Clippers news to pass along:

Leonard continues to hear boos from Spurs fans even though last night marked his third trip to San Antonio since he was traded last year, Medina adds in a separate story. Leonard didn’t acknowledge the reception, but torched the home team with 26 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. “The boos is just love,” he said afterward. “Just taking it as that, I’m here for a reason, to win a ball game. It only can make me better and make our team better with the crowd not being on our side.”
A league survey by Jovan Buha of The Athletic indicates Montrezl Harrell could command an annual salary of $20MM or more in free agency next summer, which might make him too expensive for the Clippers to keep. With George and Leonard combining for nearly $70MM next season, that would be a huge investment in three players, especially if the organization doesn’t think Harrell can ever develop into more than a productive bench player. Buha points out that the L.A. also has Maurice Harkless and probably JaMychal Green as 2020 free agents, with Lou Williams and Rodney McGruder hitting the market the following summer, along with Landry Shamet as a potential restricted free agent.
In the same piece, Buha examines a trade proposed by ESPN’s Zach Lowe, who suggests sending Harkless, Patrick Patterson and a 2020 first-rounder to the Knicks for Marcus Morris, whom the Clippers targeted in free agency this summer. Buha notes that Morris would provide valuable shooting help, but isn’t convinced that the upgrade would be worth surrendering a first-rounder.

Knicks Notes: Payton, Ntilikina, Barrett, Fizdale

December 22nd, 2019 at 10:22am CST by Arthur Hill

Interim coach Mike Miller made his first change to the Knicks‘ starting lineup last night, inserting Elfrid Payton at point guard in place of Frank Ntilikina, writes Steve Popper of Newsday. It’s a move that seemed inevitable, as Payton’s role has increased since Miller took over for David Fizdale seven games ago. Ntilikina provides better defense, but Payton speeds up the offense and gets everyone involved.

“Elfrid had 10 assists and two turnovers,” Miller said after the game. “The one thing we’ve seen him do consistently here as he’s come back from his injury is he’s helping other people and you have that facilitator and that guy that does it and he’s taken that role and he’s done a very good job with it. I’ll be repetitive, but we’ve continued, when we’ve needed it and when the game calls for it, we’ve used all the guards.”

Popper adds that giving Payton more minutes might be a strategy to drive up his trade value. He’s about to turn 26 and has no guaranteed money beyond this season. The Knicks’ future at point guard may still revolve around the 21-year-old Ntilikina and 22-year-old Dennis Smith Jr., who both need playing time to develop.

There’s more this morning from New York City:

Executives around the league tell Ian Begley of SNY.tv that Ntilikina still has trade value and could bring back a late first-round pick if the Knicks decide to deal him. The organization appeared determined to move on from Ntilikina before the draft, but Begley believes that’s less certain now.
RJ Barrett may be the last chance for the current Knicks management team to have a success story, Popper adds in a separate piece. The third player selected in this year’s draft, Barrett has been through an up-and-down start to his rookie season, as this week demonstrated. His 27-point outburst Tuesday against the Hawks was sandwiched between a 3-for-12 shooting night in Denver and a 1-for-10 performance in Miami. “We’re looking at a rookie coming in,” Miller said. “He is really mature. Mentally, he is very mature. He’s prepared for this, handles these things. Physically, he puts the work in, handles himself. From teammates to staff, everyone knows what he can do. It’s part of the learning.”
The Knicks’ treatment of Fizdale will make it more difficult for the team to attract a big-name coach in the future, contends George Willis of The New York Post. Numerous coaches around the league have spoken up in defense of Fizdale, who was fired after less than a season and a half.

Knicks Notes: Payton, Miller, Bullock

December 19th, 2019 at 11:00pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Elfrid Payton is finally healthy again after battling hamstring woes and the point guard is impressing during his first season with the Knicks.

“He’s played so well. He’s had such a good command,” coach Mike Miller said (via Peter Botte of the New York Post. “I think I might have said this [Wednesday] and the day before, but he’s helping his teammates a lot.”

Here’s more from New York:

Payton started in three of the Knicks’ first four games before going down with his injury. Former coach David Fizdale believed Payton could be a difference-maker for the club, as Taj Gibson explains. “Fiz always said [Payton is] the type of guy who thinks when he plays the game and he can be a coach one day,” Gibson said (via Botte in the same piece). “It’s good to have him out there. He’s still getting a little bit of rust off him, but he’s one of those guards that you want to have on your side.”
The Knicks interviewed four of their assistants after firing Fizdale, Marc Berman of the New York Post relays. The team ended up selecting Miller because of his stoic personality and previous coaching experience, Berman adds.
Reggie Bullock, who signed with the Knicks this offseason, is nearing a return, as Botte passes along in a separate article. “To see that I’ve made up so much time over the time and worked hard to be able to get back out here, to be able to play with my guys playing with the Knicks. It was a long journey but I’m right here almost at the finish line so just continue to keep pushing,” Bullock said.

Knicks Hire David Blatt As Basketball Operations Consultant

December 18th, 2019 at 11:57am CST by Luke Adams

The Knicks have hired former Cavaliers head coach David Blatt as a basketball operations consultant, the team announced today in a press release. According to a statement from president Steve Mills and GM Scott Perry, Blatt will be involved with the Knicks’ G League team and the organization’s international scouting.

Blatt, who coached the Cavaliers to an 83-40 record (.675) from 2014-16, most recently served as the head coach of Greek team Olympiacos. However, he parted ways with the franchise in October after having been diagnosed earlier this year with multiple sclerosis.

In his own statement relayed by the Knicks, Blatt indicated that Olympiacos job will end up being his last as a head coach.

“I look forward to the next step in my career as I officially retire from coaching and pursue other opportunities in basketball,” Blatt said. “I’ve long been intrigued by working in a front office and thank Steve and Scott for the opportunity to be a resource to the basketball operations staff.”

Blatt, 60, also served as the head coach of Turkey’s Darussafaka, Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv, and several other clubs over the course of his lengthy career. He has a close relationship with Mills, as the two men were teammates at Princeton from 1978-81. Mills is believed to be on the hot seat in New York, so it’s worth noting that he’s still being permitted to make front office hires.

Wolves Among Teams With Interest In Dennis Smith Jr.

December 18th, 2019 at 9:52am CST by Luke Adams

While many Knicks trade rumors this season have focused on frontcourt players like Marcus Morris, Bobby Portis, and Taj Gibson, several teams that have been in touch with the Knicks recently believe they’re open to moving a point guard, writes Ian Begley of SNY.tv.

Frank Ntilikina and Elfrid Payton certainly won’t be untouchable, but Begley singles out Dennis Smith Jr. as one player who has drawn interest from multiple teams. Sources tell Begley that the Timberwolves are among the clubs with interest in Smith.

Minnesota has been seeking a long-term answer at point guard, and while Smith may not be that answer, he could represent a low-cost flier for the Wolves. DSJ’s stock has slipped since he was selected with the ninth overall pick in the 2017 draft by the Mavericks. He’s averaging just 17.0 minutes per game in New York this season, and has received multiple DNP-CDs since Mike Miller took over for David Fizdale.

Still, Smith is only 22 years old and showed on Tuesday vs. Atlanta that he’s still capable of filling up a box score. In just 13 minutes, he recorded eight points, five rebounds, and five assists.

It’s unclear what sort of return the Knicks would want back in a trade involving Smith. Begley hears from one executive that the club probably can’t realistically demand a first-round pick in exchange for the third-year guard, which doesn’t come as a surprise.

NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 12/17/19

December 17th, 2019 at 8:26pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Here are Tuesday’s G League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:

The Pacers have assigned Victor Oladipo to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants as the former All-Star continues his rehabs, the team announced on Twitter. Indiana also recalled Edmond Sumner, Alize Johnson, and JaKarr Sampson.
The Knicks have assigned Ignas Brazdeikis to the Westchester Knicks, according to the team’s Twitter feed. Brazdeikis was available for the G League contest tonight.
The Wizards assigned Justin Robinson to the Capital City Go-Go, per the team’s Twitter feed. The guard has appeared in six games for Washington this season.
The Rockets have assigned Isaiah Hartenstein to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston tweets. The center has appeared in nine games for Houston this year.
The Clippers have assigned Mfiondu Kabengele and guard Terance Mann to the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario, per the team.
Jalen McDaniels is making another trip to the Greensboro Swarm, the Hornets announced on their website. The second-round pick has appeared in 13 games in the G League this season.