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Draft Notes: Ponds, Heron, Spellman, Melton

May 12th, 2018 at 10:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

After being passed over for the NBA Draft Combine, Shamorie Ponds of St. John’s is concentrating on team workouts to prove himself, writes Adam Zagoria of ZagsBlog. The sophomore guard put up a 21.6/5.0/4.7 line for the Red Storm this season, but wasn’t among the 69 players who received combine invitations.

“For sure, I was most definitely upset,” he said. “I feel I deserved it.”

Ponds worked out today for the Cavaliers and has held a session with the Nets. Cleveland GM Koby Altman spoke with all the participants after the workout, and Ponds said he received positive feedback. “[Altman] said he really likes my game a lot, he really enjoyed watching it,” Ponds added. “There was great energy after the workout.”

Ponds still has workouts remaining with the Jazz, Pistons and Lakers and wants to reschedule sessions with the Knicks and Hawks that he had to cancel because of final exams. He will use the results of those workouts to determine whether to remain in the draft, a decision that has to be made by May 30.

There are more draft-related notes to pass on:

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Eisley Likely To Be Retained As Assistant Coach

May 12th, 2018 at 9:21am CST by marksuleymanov
  • Among current Knicks assistant coaches, Howard Eisley is being “strongly considered” for David Fizdale‘s coaching staff, according to ESPN’s Ian Begley. One source tells Begley it’s even “highly likely” that Eisley is retained. However, no final decision has been made as Grizzlies assistant Keith Smart — who the Knicks recently got permission to interview — and Nick Van Exel remain strong possibilities to join Fizdale.
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Knicks Expected To Hire Nick Van Exel As Assistant

May 11th, 2018 at 12:25pm CST by Luke Adams
  • New Knicks head coach David Fizdale is expected to hire Nick Van Exel to join his staff in New York, sources tell Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News. Like Keith Smart, who is also reportedly set to join the Knicks, Van Exel was on Fizdale’s staff in Memphis.
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Knicks Notes: Kanter, O’Quinn, Defense, Noah

May 10th, 2018 at 10:11pm CST by marksuleymanov

Enes Kanter‘s future with the Knicks is up in the air as the center wields an $18.6MM player option for the 2018/19 season. Kanter has said throughout the year that he loves playing in the Big Apple and hopes to remain with the Knicks beyond the current season. Knicks general manager Steve Mills shares the same sentiment, as he said to MSG Network (via ESPN’s Ian Begley).

“Enes wants to be here in New York,” Mills said.

Kanter enjoyed a productive first season in New York, averaging a double-double of 14.1 PPG and 11.0 RPG in 71 games. New York acquired Kanter in the trade that sent Carmelo Anthony to the Thunder. In an otherwise forgettable season, Kanter’s performance was a bright spot and Mills indicates that it’s ultimately his option on whether or not he will call New York home in 2018/19.

“Really, it’s his [decision],” Mills said. “He has to choose to opt in.”

Check out more Knicks news and notes below:

  • Kyle O’Quinn may have played his last game with the Knicks, as he has his own player option decision to make. As Marc Berman of the New York Post reports, O’Quinn recently switched agents, going from ASM Sports to Mark Bartelstein — who also represents Kanter. O’Quinn praised the hiring of David Fizdale, stating he’s made a solid impression as a coach around the league.
  • The Knicks have been a poor defensive team in recent years, which was on full display this season. Fizdale said in his introductory press conference that defense will be emphasized under his leadership. That mindset will be necessary if the Knicks wants to compete again, Fred Kerber of the New York Post writes.
  • As we relayed earlier, despite his congratulatory remarks to Fizdale, embattled Knicks center Joakim Noah remains unlikely to regain a role with the club.
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Stretch Provision Remains Most Likely Option For Noah

May 10th, 2018 at 10:10am CST by Arthur Hill

Joakim Noah sent a congratulatory message to David Fizdale this week, but it’s doubtful he will ever play for the new Knicks coach, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post.

The most likely resolution to Noah’s time in New York is a stretch-provision waiver after September 1, Berman adds. Waiting until then would lock in his $18.53MM salary for next season and would allow the team to stretch the $19.295MM he is owed in 2019/20 over three years. That would open up about $12MM in cap room for next summer when the Knicks hope to be aggressive on the free agent market.

Before that happens, the organization will spend the offseason trying to find a team willing to trade for Noah, who played just seven games this season and ended the year on an extended leave of absence after clashing in practice with former coach Jeff Hornacek.

It’s possible that the team brings Noah into training camp before making a final determination, Berman states. Enes Kanter [$18.6MM] and Kyle O’Quinn [$4.3MM] both have opt-out clauses and could be lost in free agency, leaving Noah and rookie Luke Kornet as the only centers on the roster. The Knicks can wait until the cut-down date in mid-October without losing any of the benefits of stretching Noah’s contract.

“I’m not putting a ceiling on anybody,” Fizdale said during his press conference on Tuesday. “Whoever is on our team in front of me is going to get my full attention to investment. He’s obviously given me fits from back in the days. I’ve got some Noah nightmares from when he was in Chicago, some of those wars.”

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Knicks Notes: Fizdale, Woodson, Ntilikina, M. Bridges

May 9th, 2018 at 9:57pm CST by Arthur Hill

Knicks coach David Fizdale is confident he can make New York a popular free agent destination again, but he knows it will take time and success, relays Marc Berman of The New York Post. Fizdale isn’t addressing questions about the top free agent on the market, LeBron James, whom he worked with for four years as an assistant coach in Miami, but he knows the city can be a strong selling point if the Knicks get competitive again.

“[Free agents] are not just going to go there to live in New York City,’’ Fizdale said. “You’re going there to be in a culture. When you start showing that through action, players are going to come. New York is a special place.”

During a series of media appearances, Fizdale promised that once that culture is instilled, the team will be able to attract “the right players here to take us to another level.’’

There’s more tonight out of New York:

  • During an appearance on MSG Network, Fizdale singled out Clippers assistant Mike Woodson as one of his most important influences, tweets Ian Begley of ESPN. Woodson, who hired Fizdale as an assistant in Atlanta, has expressed interest in joining Fizdale’s staff if Doc Rivers isn’t retained in L.A. “Mike Woodson was really the person who instilled a work ethic,” Fizdale said. “Understanding that no matter what’s going on around you, you have to bring a certain work ethic and really check your ego at the door because when you’re going through 13-win seasons, 26-win seasons [in Atlanta] and getting to places like that, there’s no room for ego.”
  • Fizdale is excited to begin working with last year’s first-rounder, Frank Ntilikina, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News. Ntilikina saw time at both backcourt positions last season, which isn’t an issue for Fizdale, who envisions “positionless basketball” with Ntilikina possibly sharing the court with fellow point guards Emmanuel Mudiay and Trey Burke.
  • Fizdale made a couple of eye-opening comparisons during an appearance today on WFAN, Bondy tweets. He said he coached players like Mudiay before, citing Dwyane Wade and Tyreke Evans as examples, then compared Lance Thomas with Draymond Green.
  • Villanova’s Mikal Bridges would enjoy having Madison Square Garden as his home court if he gets drafted by the Knicks. In an interview tweeted by DraftExpressContent, Bridges says he enjoyed the surroundings during the Wildcats’ frequent trips to the Garden. “Great atmosphere, great venue, lot of great things happening here,” he said.
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David Fizdale Admits Mistakes In Memphis

May 9th, 2018 at 7:46pm CST by Arthur Hill

Former Grizzlies coach David Fizdale believes Marc Gasol is getting too much blame for his dismissal in Memphis, relays Marc Berman of The New York Post. Fizdale, who was introduced Tuesday as the new coach of the Knicks, had a rocky relationship with Gasol during his brief stay with the Grizzlies, but says there were other issues involved.

Memphis had six straight playoff appearances before Fizdale arrived last season. He took the team to the postseason again, losing in the first round, but was let go in November after a 7-12 start. Berman notes that Knicks president Steve Mills and GM Scott Perry did extensive interviews with many of Fizdale’s former players and employers before deciding to hire him.

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Draft Workouts: Raptors, Lakers, Knicks, Wolves

May 9th, 2018 at 1:07pm CST by Luke Adams

The Raptors won’t have any picks in the 2018 NBA draft unless they trade back in, having sent their first-rounder to the Nets in last summer’s DeMarre Carroll trade and their second-rounder to the Suns as part of their deal for P.J. Tucker. Still, Toronto should be able to bring in several prospects for workouts in the coming weeks. Given the success they had with an undrafted rookie like Fred VanVleet, the Raptors will be keeping an eye out for draft-eligible players who might not be selected with one of this year’s 60 picks.

According to an announcement from the team (Twitter link), the Raptors are holding a pre-draft workout on Wednesday with Giddy Potts (Middle Tennessee State), Joe Chealey (Charleston), Alan Herndon (Wyoming), and – most notably – Kostas Antetokounmpo (Dayton). Antetokounmpo is, of course, the younger brother of Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Here are a few more draft-related notes:

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Draft Notes: Washington, Ward, Brown, Hudson

May 8th, 2018 at 10:51pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Kentucky freshman forward PJ Washington is working out for the Clippers this week and will meet with the Timberwolves and Bucks before next week’s draft combine, Fletcher Page of the Louisville Journal Courier reports. Washington, who has already visited the Celtics and Nets, has a pinky finger injury that will require surgery, Page continues. Father Paul Washington told Page that his son isn’t assured of staying in the draft.

“It’s real simple — if he’s guaranteed a first round pick, then he’ll stay in the draft,” Paul Washington said. “If he doesn’t get that, we’ll have to make a decision. It’s PJ’s decision.”

The 6’8” Washington is listed at No. 51 among Jonathan Givony’s top 100 prospects at ESPN.com. He averaged 10.8 PPG and 5.7 RPG for the Wildcats.

In other draft developments:

  • Michigan State sophomore center Nick Ward will work out for the Pistons this weekend, Brendan Quinn of The Athletic tweets. Ward has already worked out for the Knicks and Thunder and at least eight other teams are interested in bringing him in, Quinn adds. He averaged 12.4 PPG and 7.1 RPG for the Spartans. He is not listed among Givony’s top 100 prospects.
  • The Hawks are bringing in six prospects on Wednesday, according to a team press release. South Carolina forward Brian Bowen, Auburn guard Bryce Brown, Purdue guard Nojel Eastern, Maryland forward Bruno Fernando, Florida shooting guard Jalen Hudson and Utah Valley center Akolda Manyang are the players visiting Atlanta. Hudson, ranked No. 45 by Givony, is the most prominent member of the group.
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Knicks Notes: Roster Composition, Porzingis, Riley

May 8th, 2018 at 6:44pm CST by Austin Kent

Recently appointed head coach David Fizdale plans to make the most of what could otherwise be considered a logjam of guards on the Knicks’ roster, Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News writes.

“Roll them out there. Put them out there together,” Fizdale said. “It’s about speed, skill, aggressiveness, attack, playmaking. All of these guards have that ability. So I see a lot of versatility in there. I see a lot of combinations with them on the floor [for the Knicks] together.”

Given that there’s no shortage of ball carriers on the roster, Knicks president Steve Mills says that the club will ideally target a wing player in the upcoming June draft.

There’s more out of New York this evening:

  • The Knicks reached out to Heat president Pat Riley prior to hiring David Fizdale, Marc Berman of The New York Post. Riley, a former Knicks coach himself, has a polarizing history with the franchise, but was a strong reference for Fizdale, a former Heat assistant.
  • Prior to hiring Fizdale, the Knicks also reached out to Villanova head coach Jay Wright regarding the vacancy. Zach Braziller of The New York Post has the details on why the reigning national champion had no desire to leave his current situation.
  • Analyst Walt Frazier doesn’t foresee Kristaps Porzingis returning to the lineup for the Knicks this year, Zach Braziller of The New York Post writes. The former franchise great, who currently works for MSG Network, explains that Porzingis’ recovery time has him set to return in January or February, at which point the team will likely be out of the playoff picture.
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