- Damyean Dotson has been assigned to the Knicks’ G League affiliate, the Westchester Knicks, according to an official tweet from the team. Dotson has averaged 17.9 points per game in 11 games with Westchester this season.
After his recent G League call-up, Trey Burke has provided a spark for the Knicks which is raising questions of whether he should play more often. Marc Berman of the New York Post writes that Burke, who scored 18 points for a second straight game in Friday’s win over the Suns, has impressed thus far.
In six games, Burke has averaged 9.3 PPG and 3.8 APG. With rookie Frank Ntilikina struggling and veteran Jarrett Jack also on the roster, it’s to question whether or not the former lottery pick Burke, 25, should see more playing time.
“I’m satisfied we won, but I got to be ready to play,” Burke said. “Guys are required to produce when their number is called. If you’re not locked in as you need to be, you saw some of my possession that I had. My teammates stuck with me. My coaches stuck with me, and I played through it, and we rolled with what was working.’’
Head coach Jeff Hornacek added that when Burke plays this well, “we got to find time for him.”
Check out other Knicks news below:
- Frank Isola of the New York Daily News argues that while Burke is worth a long look, his opportunity should not come at the expense of the rookie Ntilikina. Isola writes that while Burke and Jack are solid players who fill a role, Ntilikina should be given the keys to the kingdom and take over as the starting point guard after the All-Star break.
- Things got heated in the Knicks’ win on Friday between Enes Kanter and Suns guard Devin Booker, per ESPN. Booker was ejected after he shoved Kanter, earning his second technical foul. After the game, the issue went to Twitter with Kanter calling out Booker; teammate Jared Dudley fired back at Kanter in a series of tweets.
Here are Thursday’s G League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:
- The Hawks have assigned Tyler Cavanaugh and Isaiah Taylor to their G League affiliate in Erie, the team announced in a press release. Taylor and Cavanaugh have both appeared in 30+ games for the Hawks.
- The Bucks have recalled forward D.J. Wilson from their G League affiliate in Wisconsin to join the NBA squad, the team announced on Twitter.
- The Knicks recalled guard Damyean Dotson from their Westchester affiliate, the team tweeted. Dotson has appeared in 20 NBA games during his rookie season.
- The Lakers have recalled rookie big man Thomas Bryant and Croatian center Ivica Zubac from the G League, the club announced today. Bryant (20 games) and Zubac (eight games) have seen a bulk of their action in the G League this season.
Michael Beasley has enjoyed a renaissance season of sorts for the Knicks this year. The soon-to-be 30-year-old is on a one-year minimum deal and has already begun to think of his future beyond the 2017/18 season, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes.
Beasley has bounced around to six different teams in his career. Prior to the Knicks’ loss to the Warriors earlier this week, Kevin Durant — Beasley’s former high school teammate — raved about Beasley’s skill set and said he would like to team with him in Golden State. Instead, Beasley said that he is focused on the Knicks and settling down in one place for the rest of his career.
“One thing I do think about it is me being tired of moving — having a long-time home,’’ Beasley added. “I don’t want to move anymore.’’
In 41 games (seven starts), Beasley has averaged 12.8 PPG and 5.0 RPG for New York. As the Knicks prepare for the February 8 trade deadline, the team’s moves, or lack thereof, could be an indicator of where Beasley fits into future plans.
Check out other Knicks news and notes below:
- Joakim Noah has taken a leave from the team, citing personal reasons, and is expected to miss the Knicks’ next two games, Berman relays in a separate story. With Kristaps Porzingis and Kyle O’Quinn missing the Knicks’ contest against the Warriors on Tuesday, Noah only played briefly in the fourth quarter. Noah has appeared in just seven games this season as the Knicks have managed a surplus of players at the center position.
- While acquiring Kemba Walker would be an instant upgrade, the Knicks should not swing a trade if it means giving up young talent or draft picks, Tommy Beer of Basketball Insiders writes. Walker, a New York native, has enjoyed some historical performances at Madison Square Garden; he was also one of just four players in 2016/17 to average at least 23 points, five assists, and three treys made per game. But Walker alone does not solve New York’s issues and is therefore not worth a significant package of picks and talent, Beer opines.
Nuggets veterans Kenneth Faried and Emmanuel Mudiay could be had in trades at this year’s deadline, league sources tell Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, who suggests that the asking prices for those players likely wouldn’t be too high. I identified both Faried and Mudiay as potential trade candidates in my look at the Northwest on Wednesday.
If the Nuggets become a seller, Will Barton would also be a very intriguing trade chip, Kyler writes. However, that may be wishful thinking on the part of rival teams. Denver currently holds a playoff spot in the West and Barton has played the second-most minutes on the club, so it seems unlikely that the Nuggets would move him. Ultimately, the team may not end up trading anyone — Kyler suggests there’s a sense around the NBA that Denver isn’t looking to make a deal as aggressively as several other teams.
Here’s more from Kyler:
- Sources close to the Heat acknowledge that teams have called about Hassan Whiteside, but say he probably won’t be made available at the deadline, writes Kyler.
- The Mavericks “have had eyes” for Julius Randle, and would be a potential trade partner for L.A. if the Lakers move the big man. Kyler refers to Dallas a “open for business” in terms of trades.
- According to Kyler, the prevailing thought around the NBA is that Willy Hernangomez is the player most likely to be moved by the Knicks, though he’s unlikely to net a significant return.
- While many league insiders think Nikola Mirotic will end up in Utah, the Jazz don’t currently seem to be on board with sending a first-round pick to the Bulls, says Kyler.
- Team sources tell Kyler that Garrett Temple and Zach Randolph are more likely than not to finish the season in Sacramento, but the Kings have been “very open and receptive” to trying to find their veterans new homes.
- Although the Magic are viewed as a team that could be active at the deadline, the team is reluctant to take back long-term salary and would be happy to ride out the season and make changes in the summer if necessary, per Kyler.
- After a decade in the league, Knicks guard Courtney Lee isn’t easily affected by trade rumors, relays Anthony Rieber of Newsday. Lee is scoring a career-best 13.7 points per game, but there have been whispers that New York may send him to a contender before next month’s trade deadline. “I’ve been in this league 10 years, been traded a couple times,” Lee said. “It’s nothing new. Only thing you can do is control what you can control, show up, be professional, do your work, go hard and leave it all out on the floor and whatever happens happens. I understand a lot about this NBA. It’s a business first and foremost. It comes with the territory, so I definitely understand.”
The Jazz are among the teams that have shown interest in Knicks big man Willy Hernangomez, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News. Bondy had reported earlier this week that Hernangomez is the Knick receiving the most trade interest from rival clubs.
With four centers on their roster, the Knicks will likely try to move one of Hernangomez, Enes Kanter, and Kyle O’Quinn before the February 8 trade deadline (Joakim Noah is considered virtually untradable). While there’s certainly no guarantee that Hernangomez will be the player dealt, Bondy observes that head coach Jeff Hornacek doesn’t appear to be the “biggest fan” of the young center.
Hernangomez, who had a solid rookie campaign a year ago, has fallen out of New York’s rotation this season and has repeatedly expressed a desire to play more, whether that happens with the Knicks or another team. As Bondy details, the 23-year-old sounds encouraged to hear that other clubs are looking into trading for him.
“I feel good to know that I’m not even playing and a lot of teams are interested in me. That makes you happy, you can see that you did something good and somebody thinks you can be good in this league,” Hernangomez said. “Like I said, I’m not worried about what’s going to happen in the next couple of weeks. I’m working to be ready for my minutes to come. I’ll be ready. I got a chance to play here, whatever it is.”
As we detailed this morning, the Jazz have no shortage of trade candidates on their roster, so they’re a candidate to make a move or two at the deadline. One of the players on the trade block in Utah is Derrick Favors, who has played the fourth-most minutes on the team. If Favors is dealt, it would make sense to target a younger, cheaper frontcourt player like Hernangomez to assume some of those minutes and to provide insurance behind Rudy Gobert, who has battled injuries this season.
The latest article from Ian Begley of ESPN.com ostensibly focuses on the Knicks as they consider their approach to the trade deadline. However, in the process of exploring potential trade partners for New York, Begley also slips in a couple tidbits of interest related to other teams around the NBA. Let’s dive in and round up a few highlights from the piece…
- If the Hornets move Kemba Walker at the deadline, there’s an expectation that they’ll also look to move other players on long-term contracts, according to Begley, who identifies Jeremy Lamb as one such trade candidate.
- Speaking of Walker, while the Knicks are viewed as a possible trade partner for the Hornets, Begley says opposing executives have gotten the impression that New York doesn’t want to trade draft picks or take on long-term salary unless it means acquiring a “transformative” player. It’s not clear if Walker qualifies.
- Opposing execs think the Knicks will deal at least one of their four centers at the deadline. Enes Kanter, Willy Hernangomez, and Kyle O’Quinn have all received interest, with the Warriors among the teams inquiring on O’Quinn, sources tell Begley. League execs believe O’Quinn will turn down his player option for 2018/19 this summer, which may impact his trade value.
- Members of the Clippers and Rockets discussed the possibility of a DeAndre Jordan deal. However, those talks went nowhere after Clint Capela‘s name came up, since Houston doesn’t want to move Capela, writes Begley.
- Knicks forwards Courtney Lee and Lance Thomas continue to draw trade interest , but opposing execs have come away with the impression that New York would only move Lee if it results in a “significant” return. According to Begley, Lee has been a strong presence in the Knicks’ locker room, and the club views that sort of veteran as important for building a winning culture.
A report earlier in January suggested that several teams had contacted the Knicks about Willy Hernangomez, and it appears the trade interest in the second-year center hasn’t waned. According to Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News, Hernangomez is the Knick who has received the most trade interest from rival teams.
[RELATED: Seven Atlantic Trade Candidates To Watch]
While clubs are interested in Hernangomez, Bondy notes that any discussions centered on the young big man often involve a follow-up question: Why isn’t he playing? After averaging 8.2 PPG and 7.0 RPG in 72 contests (18.4 MPG) in a promising rookie season a year ago, Hernangomez has posted just 4.4 PPG and 2.9 RPG in 20 games (9.3 MPG) in 2017/18.
The arrival of Enes Kanter in New York has played a big part in the reduction of Hernangomez’s role, though he’s not the only veteran center vying for minutes — Kyle O’Quinn and Joakim Noah are also in the mix. Speaking to a Spanish outlet (translation via Sportando), Hernangomez admitted that he’s hoping – and expecting – things will change in the near future.
“I think there is going to be a change,” Hernangomez said. “I hope for [the] better. I would like to continue here, but I don’t close to the doors to anything. I just want to play. There are still [two and a half] weeks left before the market closes and I want to play. I love New York, the fans, the teammates, but I am 23. I am very ambitious, I’m hungry and I want to play. I don’t care where. I am ready for everything and I am working to change the situation and play now.”
While it sounds as if Hernangomez would welcome the opportunity to simply play more minutes in New York, he also doesn’t sound opposed to the idea of being traded, if that’s what it takes for him to see more action. The Knicks will have until February 8 to see if they can move Hernangomez or another center in order to clear their logjam up front.
As the Knicks consider their options at the trade deadline and look ahead to the summer, the front office is prioritizing the addition of an athletic wing, sources tell Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News. According to Bondy, one player on the team’s radar is Lakers swingman Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
The idea of trading for Caldwell-Pope and his $17.75MM cap hit probably isn’t practical for the Knicks, since KCP will be an unrestricted free agent in a few months. The club is more likely to target the fifth-year wing in free agency this offseason, Bondy writes.
As Bondy points out, the recent jail sentence Caldwell-Pope served for violating probation will be a red flag for the Knicks and other potential suitors. However, if New York’s front office does its homework on KCP and is confident that off-court issues won’t be an ongoing problem, the club could have the opportunity to land the UFA-to-be at a discounted rate, given that legal history.
Caldwell-Pope, who will turn 25 next month, failed to land a lucrative long-term deal during the 2017 offseason and settled for a one-year contract with the Lakers. He has played fairly well in L.A., posting career-best rates in a few categories, including 3PT% (.357). However, given the lack of teams projected to have real cap room in 2018, it remains to be seen whether KCP will have better luck securing a big payday this time around.
While the Knicks could create a chunk of cap space this summer, player options for Enes Kanter, Ron Baker, and Kyle O’Quinn complicate that equation — if all three players pick up their options, New York’s cap room would all but disappear, leaving the club with the mid-level exception. As for the Lakers, they’ll have plenty of flexibility to re-sign Caldwell-Pope if they so choose, but they figure to focus on higher-profile targets when free agency opens in July.