Many of the Knicks free agent signees this summer can be dealt after December 15th but those players still believe New York can get into the playoff picture, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes. “You got to look at the circumstances we’re in,’’ said big man Taj Gibson, one of those free agent additions. “We’re in the East. Nobody’s running away. Maybe the top four teams. We’re still optimistic. If we get three wins in a row, you’re right back in the hunt.”
Here are Monday’s assignments and recalls from around the NBA:
- The Wizards assigned forward Admiral Schofield and guard Justin Robinson to the Capital City Go-Go, the team’s PR department tweets. In six games with the Go-Go, Schofield has averaged 18.0 PPG and 6.0 RPG, while Robinson has posted averages of 12.8 PPG, 7.2 APG and 3.2 SPG.
- The Knicks assigned rookie forward Ignas Brazdeikis to the Westchester affiliate, the team’s PR department tweets. The second-round pick is averaging 18 PPG and 7.1 RPG in four games at the G League level.
- Suns rookie guard Ty Jerome was assigned to the Northern Arizona Suns, the team’s PR department tweets. The first-round pick is rehabbing from an ankle injury.
- The Hawks recalled forwards Bruno Fernando and guard Tyrone Wallace from the College Park Skyhawks of the NBA G League, the team tweets. Fernando posted nine points and nine rebounds in a game with College Park while Wallace, another second-round pick, scored 26 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
- The Pacers recalled forward Alize Johnson from the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, according to a team press release. Johnson had 36 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists, and two steals against the Windy City Bulls on Sunday. Johnson has appeared in five games with the Pacers this season, averaging 2.6 PPG and 2.4 RPG.
- The Mavericks assigned rookie forward Isaiah Roby to the Texas Legends, the team’s PR department tweets. Roby has averaged 11.8 PPG and 8.2 RPG in five G League games.
- The Nets recalled forward Rodions Kurucs from their Long Island affiliate, Brian Lewis of the New York Post tweets. Kurucs, a 2018 second rounder, has appeared in nine games with Brooklyn this season.
The Knicks have started talking about player development again, and the organization will face important decisions in that area in about three weeks, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post. Berman noticed a different tone from David Fizdale in his pre-game press conference yesterday as the head coach discussed the difficulties of building a young team and the model set by his cross-town rivals in Brooklyn.
“We have to grow our kids,’’ Fizdale said. “That’s the biggest thing. And be patient in free agency. It wasn’t that fast [for the Nets]. They didn’t go to it until the fourth year into it. It’s hard starting from a bunch of young guys.”
That’s a stark contrast to the Knicks, who were hoping for an instant turnaround this summer by pursuing free agents such as Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker. Once they all signed elsewhere, New York loaded up on veterans with short-term contracts. That group becomes eligible to be traded on December 15, presenting the front office with a choice about how long they want to keep together the core of a team that has stumbled to a 4-13 start.
There’s more from New York:
- The biggest concerns among the young players are Allonzo Trier and Kevin Knox, who have both fallen out of Fizdale’s rotation after promising rookie years, Berman adds in the same story. Trier sat for the sixth straight game yesterday, while Knox got a start because of RJ Barrett‘s illness, but delivered a 1-for-4 performance in 18 minutes and continued to struggle on defense. “I’m going to continue to hold his feet to the fire defensively,’’ Fizdale said of Knox. “We want to get him where he’s desperate to play. His defensive effort, focus, execution has got to be there for us to be a good basketball team.”
- Some Knicks are insisting the current roster needs more time to develop after so many offseason changes, relays Ian Begley of SNY.tv. “We’ve got 10 new guys. How can you build chemistry with 10 new guys that you just met?” Mitchell Robinson said after Sunday’s loss. “… We played a lot of playoff teams (this season) and we’ve stayed in the game. Think about when we do get that connection? We’re going to be all right.”
- The Knicks’ woes of the past six years can be traced back to James Dolan’s decision to bring in the McKinsey & Company consulting firm prior to the 2013/14 season, contends Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic. The team was coming off its best season of the Carmelo Anthony era with 54 wins and a second-round playoff exit, but the new firm proved to be disruptive and led to changes such as replacing general manager Glen Grunwald and coach Mike Woodson and installing Phil Jackson as team president.
After leading the Knicks in minutes as a rookie last season, Kevin Knox is finding playing time harder to earn, writes Steve Popper of Newsday. His starting job has gone to veteran Marcus Morris, who signed a one-year contract this summer and needs plenty of court time to earn his next one. In addition, Knox’s defensive issues have eroded some of coach David Fizdale’s confidence.
“I let him know why,” Fizdale said of the reduced minutes. “We got candid relationships around here. No one’s got thin skin. He and I have been through a lot together already. He knows where I’m coming from. He knows I want the best for him and I’m going to continue to challenge him. He can accept the challenge. … Like I said, his offense has taken that step forward, now I’m pushing his defense to take that step forward.”
Knox was on the court for less than nine minutes last night and about 10 minutes Wednesday. It’s a difficult adjustment for a player who seemed to be part of the foundation for the future after being selected with the ninth pick last year.
“It was tough, but it was something that had to be done,” Knox said at Friday’s practice. “Fiz made the decision so I just made sure I was the best teammate on the bench, made sure I was cheering my guys on, keeping my guys up. I didn’t want to sit at the end of the bench and sulk and cry and just have an attitude because I wasn’t playing. So I had the right mindset going in. Came in the next day, got my work in, watched film on what I need to get better at so when my opportunity comes next time I can be able to produce.”
There’s more this morning from New York:
- Last night’s debacle against the Spurs won’t help Fizdale keep his job, observes Marc Berman of The New York Post. Fans booed loudly as the team left the court with a 25-point halftime deficit in the worst performance since Fizdale was put on an apparent 10-game alert at a post-game press conference by president of basketball operations Steve Mills on Nov. 10.
- Expectations have fallen for Dennis Smith Jr. since he was acquired from the Mavericks in January, but he is still struggling to meet them, Berman adds in a separate story. A preseason back injury and a two-week absence from the team for a funeral have slowed his progress.
- Watching free agent addition Julius Randle wear No. 30 is a reminder that the Knicks should have retired Bernard King‘s number a long time ago, contends Mike Vaccaro of The New York Post.
Big man Taj Gibson signed a two-year, $20MM contract with his hometown Knicks this summer. Though there has been plenty of drama for the Knicks already in the 2019/20 season, the 6’9″, 34 year-old Gibson has been a stabilizing old-school post presence, averaging 6.2 points and 4.4 rebounds in just 15.9 minutes a night.
In a far-reaching conversation with Steve Serby of the New York Post, the Fort Greene, Brooklyn native reflected on his tough childhood, his proudest basketball moment, the upside of his young Knicks teammates, his time at USC, his favorite movie, and much more.
The whole article is well worth a gander, but here are some highlights from Serby’s chat with the 11-year vet.
On his childhood in Brooklyn:
“Fort Greene Ingersoll Houses has always been tough. It was a lot of murders, a lot of killings. To this day, I thank my dad personally for some days making me stay in the house, ’cause there was a lot of stuff going on outside. I lost a lot of friends that were just … young, and never got a chance to grow. I think my parents deserve most of the credit for just knowing when to keep me inside and keep me locked in.”
On his proudest basketball achievement:
“Going to the [2011] Eastern Conference finals [with the Bulls]. Just knowing how hard it is to win basketball games in the NBA, but when you’re locked in with a group [of] guys, to have a bond and you’re in the heat of the battle each and every night, especially going against everybody’s opinion on you, telling you you can’t do something, you can’t do this and you overachieve in it, that’s the best feeling in the world.”
On the Knicks’ young pieces:
“Frank [Ntilikina] is eager to learn, he’s eager to get better. I think he’s taking the next step, which is understanding what he has to do to become a good professional basketball player in this league. He’s only scratched the surface… [Mitchell Robinson] can be All-World if he wants. He works extremely hard every morning with me, and he’s extremely competitive. And he listens. And you can’t teach those things… [RJ Barrett is] super-competitive, eager to learn, always willing to listen. He has a grown man frame already.”
After Al Horford left for bigger free agent riches in Philadelphia this summer, the Celtics signed scoring-oriented Enes Kanter as a cheap replacement, hoping that Daniel Theis, Kanter, Robert Williams and rookie Grant Williams could compensate for Horford’s absence piecemeal.
So far, that has proven to be the case during Boston’s 11-4 start. A. Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston preaches caution against disrupting team chemistry by trying to trade for a major center upgrade like Clint Capela or Karl-Anthony Towns.
Instead, Blakely notes that 7’5” rookie Tacko Fall, on a two-way contract, has impressed in the G League thus far. Blakely suggests that Fall might be an option who could shore up the Celtics’ interior defense in spot minutes. Boston should also monitor the buyout market and top Chinese Basketball Association centers, Blakely opines.
There’s more from around the Atlantic:
- After making his first NBA triple in a 109-104 win over the Knicks, Sixers All-Star point guard Ben Simmons mentioned his desire to play for the Australian national team in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, Tim Bontemps of ESPN reports. Sixers coach Brett Brown was recently announced as the Australian national team’s coach for the event.“We have a great relationship,” Simmons said of Brown in his postgame comments. “I’ve known him my whole life. I’m excited to put together a great team.”
- Prized offseason Nets acquisition Kyrie Irving has missed the past four games with a shoulder impingement. Though coach Kenny Atkinson insists that the ailment will not be a long-term issue, he concedes that Irving is not healthy enough to play, as the New York Post’s Brian Lewis relays. “We have a protocol before a guy comes back to play. Usually we’re not just going to throw you out there without seeing you. We have these kind of set standards in the past,” Atkinson notes. “We’re not at that point yet. Hopefully, he will get there soon.”
- Knicks coach David Fizdale has challenged second-year forward Kevin Knox to improve his defense, according to Zach Braziller of the New York Post. “I am definitely riding Kevin, to challenge him to go to another level, especially defensively,” Fizdale confirmed, before praising his improved offense. “His shooting percentage is up, finishing around the rim is much better, he’s seeing the floor better. But I want him to take a big jump forward defensively… He’s got the physical tools to do it.” Braziller points out that Fizdale has been quicker with the hook for Knox lately. The 6’7″ forward from Kentucky has averaged 14.7 minutes across the team’s last four contests, a far cry from the more generous 23.6 minutes he was allotted over New York’s first 11 games.
The Knicks had grand plans of attracting max free agents and taking the fast path to the top of the Eastern Conference. According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN (h/t Dan Feldman of NBC Sports), the franchise pitched coach David Fizdale on that blueprint when it hired him as its coach last year.
Fizdale had other offers on the table but was sold on New York’s ability to land top-tier talent. That hasn’t happened. Several stars have overlooked the Knicks since the team brought Fizdale on board.
It’s not certain whether Fizdale makes it through the season, as there have been conflicting reports on his job security this year. He’s been an asset in developing the team’s roster, which is the current objective of the franchise, and he said he routinely receives assurances from owner James Dolan. Perhaps Fizdale makes it to the 2020/21 season (his contract is guaranteed through it) and he gets to see the Knicks attempt to lure free agents once again this offseason.
Marcus Morris joined the Knicks this offseason after opting to leave the Spurs at the altar. Morris chose New York despite the fact that the team had signed several forwards during the summer. The roster jam, as well as the young nature of the team, had many questioning the 30-year-old’s fit. It turns out Morris’ fit is as a leader.
“I can’t rave about his leadership enough,” Fizdale said (via Greg Joyce of The New York Post). “I think he’s an excellent leader. I’ve been around some great basketball leaders and he is an excellent leader. One of the best I’ve been around. All these guys respect him. His way of going about it is very selfless. He always owns his own stuff first before he tells someone else what to do.”
Morris signed a one-year, $15MM contract with the Knicks and he’s arguably been the most consistent player on the team so far this season. In 15 games with the club, he’s averaging 18.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals while shooting 46.4% from behind the arc.
The Knicks continue to internally discuss the future of the franchise and whether coach David Fizdale should be a part of it. However, several factors make a mid-season firing seem unlikely.
Aside from Fizdale stating that he receives assurance from owner James Dolan after every game, Marc Berman of the New York Post hears that a lack of faith in the assistant coaches on the team is a major deterrent in letting Fizdale go. Promoting one of the assistants—Jud Buechler, Keith Smart or Kaleb Canales—is considered a “sketchy alternative” by the front office.
Fizdale has another guaranteed year on his contract after this season, so that likely plays a role as well. Unless the Knicks somehow land a superstar this offseason, it may not make sense for the team to pay the full salary of two coaches when the team is not winning games.
Developing young talent is a major goal of the franchise right now and Fizdale has produced some results early this year. He has helped install confidence in Frank Ntilikina and has given RJ Barrett an opportunity to grow. The coach isn’t going to fix everything. Players like Kevin Knox may never come around, as he’s having a second straight dreadful season, but Fizdale is getting consistent effort from his team, which can only help his cause to remain the coach of the Knicks.
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.
Typically, each installment in our Trade Candidate series focuses on a single division and then identifies players from three separate teams as possible trade candidates. However, a number of Atlantic clubs don’t yet have any obvious candidates to be dealt, so today we’re focusing on a single Atlantic roster that does feature plenty of potential trade targets: New York’s.
Here are three Knicks players who could emerge as trade candidates prior to February’s deadline:
Wayne Ellington, SG
New York Knicks
$8MM cap hit; $1MM partial guarantee on $8MM cap hit in 2020/21
A career 37.8% three-point shooter, Ellington was a full-time starter for the Pistons down the stretch last season and averaged 32.8 minutes per game in the playoffs. This season, he’s playing just 13.4 MPG for the lottery-bound Knicks and has received a handful of DNPs.
The Knicks have a crowded rotation, and it’s hard to argue that they shouldn’t be prioritizing young players like RJ Barrett, Damyean Dotson, and Allonzo Trier more than Ellington, especially since the veteran sharpshooter has slumped to start the season. But Ellington, who will turn 32 next Friday, should get hot at some point, and will have more value to a playoff team than he will as a bench player in New York.
Ellington’s contract is team-friendly — a trade partner would only have to send out about $4.52MM in outgoing salary to match his $8MM cap hit, and he could easily be waived in the offseason with a minimal impact on a club’s 2020/21 cap if he doesn’t work out.
Reggie Bullock, SG
New York Knicks
$4MM cap hit; $1MM partial guarantee on $4.2MM cap hit in 2020/21
If the Knicks can’t find regular minutes for Ellington, it seems unlikely that they’ll be there for Bullock once he eventually gets healthy. Bullock provides a similar skill set, including a 39.2% career three-point mark, and has a similar contract structure, at half the price, which should make him an appealing target for a contender in need of shooting.
However, the big question surrounding Bullock is his health. The surgery he underwent in July for a cervical disc herniation is no joke, and it’s unclear when he might be able to get back on the court. Last we heard, he’ll be re-evaluated by the Knicks in early December.
If Bullock can get healthy and gets enough playing time before February 6 to rebuild his value, the Knicks will have to determine whether to shop him or to potentially look toward keeping him for a second year at an affordable price.
Taj Gibson, F/C
New York Knicks
$9MM cap hit; $1MM partial guarantee on $9.45MM cap hit in 2020/21
Outside of Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, and maybe one or two other players, the Knicks will probably be willing to discuss just about anyone as the trade deadline nears.
Still, Gibson is among the club’s most logical trade candidates because he’s the sort of veteran whom a playoff team can slot into its rotation without having to worry about getting him a ton of touches or having him adjust to new a scheme. The 34-year-old is in his 11th NBA season and is playing for his fourth team, so he’ll be a quick learner. And you’d be acquiring him for his defense, rebounding, and toughness — not his offense.
Unfortunately, at $9MM, Gibson isn’t really a bargain, so it may be difficult for the Knicks to extract much of value for him. If they’re willing to take on some guaranteed 2020/21 money, that would open up their options.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.