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Knicks, Allonzo Trier Discussing New Contract

November 30th, 2018 at 1:02pm CST by Luke Adams

The Knicks and two-way player Allonzo Trier have had ongoing discussions about a new contract that would promote Trier to the team’s 15-man roster, league sources tell Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic. Trier figures to hit his 45-day NBA limit at some point in mid-December, at which point he’d have to spend the rest of the season in the G League if he remains on his two-way deal.

While the Knicks want to give Trier a roster spot, it could be a little tricky, as Vorkunov explains. New York has the ability to unilaterally convert Trier’s two-way contract into a standard one-year deal, but the team may want to lock up the undrafted rookie for more than just the 2018/19 season, which would require negotiations.

The Knicks’ potential options would include:

Signing Trier to a two-year, minimum salary contract.
Signing Trier to a two-year contract using part or all of the bi-annual exception ($3.382MM).
Signing Trier to a multiyear contract (up to four years) using the mid-level exception.
- Note: The Knicks only have about $656K left on their mid-level exception, which is below Trier’s full-season minimum salary. However, because we’re about a quarter of the way through the season, that mid-level figure actually exceeds Trier’s prorated minimum salary, making it usable.

The two sides could go back and forth on the terms of a possible deal, with the Knicks pushing for more years of control and less guaranteed money, while Trier and his camp perhaps pursue a shorter-term deal, higher salaries, or more guarantees.

The Knicks will be cautious when it comes to adding guaranteed money to their cap for 2019/20, since it could impact their quest for a maximum salary free agent, but as Vorkunov notes, they’ll want to be careful not to overplay their hand — if the two sides can’t come to terms, Trier could be content to play out his rookie season in the G League and seek an offer sheet in restricted free agency next summer. Tyrone Wallace took this approach with the Clippers last season.

Assuming the Knicks do strike a deal with Trier, they’d have to make a corresponding roster move to create an opening on their 15-man roster. As we relayed on Thursday, Ron Baker and Luke Kornet appear to be the players whose roster spots would be most at risk.

Suns, Grizzlies Among Teams To Inquire On Ntilikina

November 30th, 2018 at 10:30am CST by Luke Adams

10:30am: The Grizzlies have also inquired on Ntilikina, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News (Twitter link).

The Grizzlies, of course, have Mike Conley at the point, so they’d likely envision Ntilikina in a different role than a team like the Suns or Magic would.

9:40am: The Suns are among the teams to have reached out to the Knicks to express interest in second-year guard Frank Ntilikina, reports Ian Begley of ESPN.com (via Twitter). We heard earlier this week that the Magic have also shown some interest in Ntilikina.

According to Begley, when the Suns inquired on Ntilikina earlier in the year, the Knicks said they weren’t open to moving the 20-year-old. It’s not clear if the club has wavered on that stance at all a month and a half into the regular season, with Ntilikina playing a somewhat reduced role as of late — he has averaged just 14.1 minutes per game in New York’s last four contests, compared to 25.0 MPG in the club’s first 19 games.

Like Orlando, Phoenix has a handful promising core building blocks on its roster, but hasn’t settled on a long-term answer at point guard. It’s not clear if Ntilikina, who has struggled as an offensive player since being drafted eighth overall in 2017, could be that answer.

However, according to Begley, some members of the Suns’ organization are intrigued by the idea of pairing Ntilikina and Devin Booker in their backcourt. It would be an interesting combination, given Booker’s elite scoring ability and Ntilikina’s defensive prowess.

Still, as I noted when we discussed the Magic’s interest on Thursday, there are no indications at this point that Ntilikina is on the trade block in New York, though it’s possible that will change by February’s deadline. Fellow point guards Trey Burke and Emmanuel Mudiay will be free agents in 2019, so the Knicks will have to make some decisions this season on which of those three players – if any – they intend to prioritize over the long term.

Knicks Must Make Roster Cut In Coming Weeks

November 29th, 2018 at 10:38pm CST by JD Shaw

The Knicks have to make a roster cut in the next couple of weeks, with Allonzo Trier‘s 45-day limit on a two-way deal set to end around December 15, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post. Ron Baker and Luke Kornet are two possible candidates to be waived. Trier has averaged 11.8 points per contest in 23 games this season, shooting 49% from the field.

NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 11/29/18

November 29th, 2018 at 9:25pm CST by JD Shaw

Here are Thursday’s G League assignments and recalls from across the NBA:

The Pistons assigned guard Luke Kennard to the Grand Rapids Drive as he continues his rehab from a shoulder injury, announcing the news in an email. Kennard will play with the Drive in the team’s game on Friday.
The Grizzlies recalled then later assigned Jevon Carter to the Memphis Hustle, according to a tweet from the team. The move was made so Carter could practice with the Grizzlies Thursday morning.
The Suns have recalled guard De’Anthony Melton from Northern Arizona, the team announced. Melton is averaging 17 points, 6.6 assists and seven rebounds in five G League games this season.
The Timberwolves have assigned Keita Bates-Diop to the Iowa Wolves, the team’s G League affiliate, announcing the news on Twitter. Bates-Diop has seen action in two games with the Timberwolves this season.
The Celtics assigned guard Brad Wanamaker to their G League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws, according to a tweet from the team. Wanamaker has scored 16 points in five games with Boston on the season.
The Knicks recalled Luke Kornet from the Westchester Knicks, the team announced. Kornet has played in four games with the Knicks.

Magic Have Shown Interest In Frank Ntilikina

November 29th, 2018 at 3:04pm CST by Luke Adams

The Magic have shown some interest in Knicks point guard Frank Ntilikina, a league source tells Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic. According to Vorkunov, Orlando had a scout in Philadelphia on Wednesday night watching Ntilikina.

There’s no indication that the Knicks are looking to move their second-year guard, who is less than 18 months removed from being selected eighth overall in the 2017 draft. In fact, a week before the 2018/19 season began, Ian Begley of ESPN.com tweeted that that several teams had inquired on Ntilikina over the last year and New York hadn’t shown any interest in trading him.

Still, teams’ valuations of players can change fairly quickly, and Ntilikina hasn’t taken a major step forward in his second season — most of his numbers so far are the same as last year’s, or worse, and he has seen his role cut back lately, having not played more than 15 minutes in a game since last Wednesday.

With Emmanuel Mudiay and Trey Burke eligible for free agency at season’s end, the Knicks are using this season to determine how those players and others might fit into their long-term future. With those evaluations ongoing, I wouldn’t expect the team to consider dealing Ntilikina anytime soon, but it’s a situation worth monitoring in case anything changes.

As for the Magic, they’ve exceeded expectations in the early part of this season and currently hold a top-eight spot in the East, despite a modest 10-12 record. Point guard is a glaring hole for the club, so Ntilikina is the sort of player who could help in the short term with his defense and who could also be a potential building block for the future.

Knicks Notes: Lee, Dotson, Playoffs, Trier

November 28th, 2018 at 10:00am CST by Arthur Hill

Courtney Lee is almost ready for his season debut after overcoming a neck problem, but the Knicks may not have a regular role for him, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post.

Lee said he needs two more practices before playing again, which puts his first game on Saturday at the earliest. The injury occurred when he was hit while driving to the basket during training camp, leaving him with pain in his chest and back. He still gets occasional spasms, but said the pain is mostly under control.

“Definitely gotta get in practice to get my timing down, learn all the plays,” Lee said. “I pretty much know all of them. But [new coach David Fizdale] changed a couple wrinkles in some. Gotta get in there and feel comfortable with the guys, grow some chemistry. Once I get that rhythm, I should be fine from there. Definitely need multiple practices.”

The Knicks have plenty of depth at shooting guard and small forward, so it’s not clear how much playing time Lee will receive once he’s available. The team would like to find a taker for his contract, which pays him $12.25MM this season and $12.76MM in 2019/20.

There’s more this morning from New York:

Damyean Dotson, who has been the subject of trade inquiries as his playing time has dropped, put on an impressive performance in last night’s loss to the Pistons, Berman notes in a separate story. With Mario Hezonja in foul trouble, Fizdale called on Dotson, who responded by making six of eight shots and scoring 17 points. “You’re always right there even if you haven’t played a game or two,’’ Fizdale said. “He stepped up big time. That’s what you call a pro.” If the Knicks don’t trade Dotson, they’ll face a decision this summer as his $1.6MM salary for next season won’t become guaranteed until July 15.
At 7-15, the Knicks are on the verge of playoff contention, but Fizdale doesn’t want that to become a distraction, Berman adds in another piece. Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Enes Kanter all recently said the postseason is their goal, but Fizdale wants to emphasize development. “I’m keeping them focused on the work,’’ he said. “We’re going to keep working at what we do. Trying to stay in the details of our development and our growth and our competition.”
Allonzo Trier is on our list of the two-way players most likely to have their deals converted to standard contracts as soon as next month.

Jimmy Butler “Loving” His Time With The Sixers

November 27th, 2018 at 10:05pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Jimmy Butler will be a free agent after the season and while Butler warned that it’s too early to talk about his future, he recently told the media that he can picture himself staying in Philadelphia long-term.

“I could see this being home,” Butler recently said (video link via Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer).

Prior to the deal that sent Butler to the Sixers, it was rumored that the Knicks were one of his preferred destinations. New York will have the cap space to sign the four-time All-Star outright this summer, though it sounds like any interest in the Big Apple has curtailed.

“To tell you the truth, I don’t even talk about the trade no more, because I’m here, and I’m loving it here. All of that is in the past. So I leave it just there,” he said (via Pompey in a full-length piece).

Butler did add that New York is a “good, young team” that plays hard. “They got some guys that can put the ball in the basket,” he continued. The Sixers will play the Knicks four times this season with the first coming on Wednesday night.

Teams Have Inquired On Knicks’ Damyean Dotson

November 27th, 2018 at 8:53am CST by Luke Adams

At least a couple NBA teams have approached the Knicks to inquire on Damyean Dotson‘s potential availability, a source tells Marc Berman of The New York Post.

Berman’s report gives no indication that the Knicks are looking to trade Dotson, but he suggests the team may have to consider a move by February’s trade deadline, given the 24-year-old’s role and contract situation.

A starter for nine Knicks games this season, Dotson has recently fallen out of the rotation, having not seen any action since November 18. As Berman observes, minutes may be even harder to come by for Dotson when Courtney Lee returns from his neck injury, which is expected to happen in the near future.

Berman also points out that the drafting of Dotson was spearheaded by former team president Phil Jackson and his top adviser, Clarence Gaines, meaning the current management group may not be as invested in seeing the 6’6″ guard succeed in New York.

After earning a $1.38MM salary this season, Dotson will remain under contract for one more season, with a non-guaranteed $1.62MM salary for 2019/20. The Knicks figure to go star-shopping this summer, and if they want to maximize their potential cap room, Dotson would likely become expendable. As such, trading him this season to a club that would want to lock in that modest ’19/20 salary could be a win-win for the player and the team.

In 15 games (26.9 MPG) for the Knicks so far this season, Dotson has posted 10.1 PPG and 4.5 RPG with a .431/.323/.636 shooting line.

Two-Way Players Making Bids For Promotions

November 26th, 2018 at 9:54am CST by Luke Adams

Players on two-way contracts are free to appear in NBA games, but there are limitations on the amount of time they can spend with their respective NBA teams. Each two-way player can spend up to 45 days with his NBA club, assuming he signed his two-way deal before the season began.

With some creative transferring back and forth between an NBA team and its G League affiliate, a franchise can make the most of those 45 days. Still, with the clock having started on October 22, the first day of G League training camp, we could see some two-way players reach that 45-day mark as early as December.

Teams can sign players to two-way contracts through mid-January, so during the 2017/18 season, some clubs simply moved onto a new player once their original two-way players neared that 45-day limit. However, many players who used up their 45 days subsequently received a promotion – signing a standard NBA contract and taking a spot on the 15-man roster – to ensure that their NBA teams didn’t lose them.

It’s a little early in the 2018/19 season to determine which two-way players will ultimately end up being promoted to 15-man rosters, but a handful of players on two-way deals have made strong cases for standard contracts in the early going.

Here are the top candidates to receive promotions among this year’s two-way players:

Gary Clark (Rockets): Clark went undrafted in June, but has shown so far this season why he was one of the first rookie free agents to reach a deal with an NBA team once the draft ended. While his offensive numbers (3.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG, .333/.293/1.000 shooting) aren’t great, Clark has been very good defensively, and the Rockets have been a better team when he plays — their net rating is +2.9 when he’s on the court and -2.2 when he isn’t. Clark’s early-season play has helped make Carmelo Anthony expendable, and once Houston officially parts ways with Anthony, the rookie forward looks like the odds-on favorite to take his roster spot.
Allonzo Trier (Knicks): Another undrafted free agent, Trier has been one of the early brights spots for the lottery-bound Knicks. Appearing in all 21 of the team’s games, the former Arizona shooting guard has scored 11.4 PPG in just 23.7 minutes per contest, posting an ultra-efficient shooting line of .491/.459/.826. It seems like a given that he’ll sign a standard contract with New York at some point — it’s just a matter of how the club will create room for him. If they haven’t been able to trade veterans like Enes Kanter or Courtney Lee to open up a roster spot, the Knicks could consider cutting Ron Baker or Luke Kornet, neither of whom has any guaranteed money due beyond this season.
Troy Williams (Kings): Williams’ playing time in 10 games for the Kings has been somewhat sporadic, but he’s made the most of his limited minutes, shooting 50.0% from the field and 40.0% from beyond the arc while using his athleticism to make a handful of highlight-reel plays. Williams may not be as strong a bet for a 15-man roster spot as Clark or Trier, but Sacramento has a number of veterans – Zach Randolph, Kosta Koufos, and Ben McLemore – who seem likely to be traded or bought out by the end of the season. Williams would be one of the candidates to replace them on the roster.

Here are a few more two-way players to keep an eye on:

Alex Poythress (Hawks): Poythress gave the Hawks some solid minutes earlier in the season. With John Collins healthy again, Poythress’ minutes figure to be limited going forward.
Andrew Harrison (Cavaliers): Harrison is getting regular minutes for the rebuilding Cavaliers, but hasn’t made the most of them so far, shooting 33.3% from the floor and 25.0% on threes.
Damion Lee (Warriors): Lee has played at least 16 minutes in each of the Warriors‘ last five games. That streak figures to come to an abrupt end when the team gets healthier and Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Alfonzo McKinnie are back. Lee’s making a case for a longer look though, knocking down 47.6% of his three-pointers.
Johnathan Williams (Lakers): Williams briefly looked like a revelation for the Lakers earlier in the season, but hasn’t played since the team signed Tyson Chandler.

The full list of players on two-way contracts can be found right here.

Allonzo Trier Has Impressed With His Scoring

November 25th, 2018 at 6:57pm CST by Eric Spyropoulos

With the Knicks focused on player development and youth in this rebuilding season without Kristaps Porzingis, one bright spot in the first quarter of the team’s season has been the play of Allonzo Trier. As Tommy Beer writes for Forbes, Trier has showcased his elite scoring abilities and has proven that he belongs in the league, despite going undrafted last summer.

As Porzingis works on recovering from his torn ACL and the Knicks have plans to spend in free agency, it will be interesting to see what the team’s young core looks like moving froward.

At his introduction press conference in May, Knicks head coach David Fizdale told Emmanuel Mudiay that “we’ll get you right.” As Marc Berman points out for The New York Post, Fizdale has kept that promise with an increased role for Mudiay, who has rewarded his coach with the best play of his career.