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Knicks Notes: Hart, Anunoby, Robinson, Dadiet, Thibodeau

February 23rd, 2025 at 11:59am CST by Arthur Hill

Josh Hart and OG Anunoby will be available as the Knicks face Boston this afternoon, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (Twitter link). Both players went through pregame warmups before a final decision was made on their status.

Hart had been upgraded to questionable after sitting out the previous two games due to a bout with “runner’s knee.” Bondy notes that it’s the first time he has missed consecutive games since joining the Knicks. Anunoby played Friday at Cleveland after missing six games with a foot injury, but he was limited to five points and no rebounds and was a minus-23 in 27 minutes.

Mitchell Robinson will miss another game as he works his way back from offseason ankle surgery. He resumed practicing last week, but said earlier this month that he wants to make sure he’s fully ready before trying to play.

“I’ve just been taking my time. I want to make sure it’s 100 percent, I ain’t trying to keep having these sit-outs and setbacks and stuff like that,” Robinson said at the time. “This time, I’m just going to play it smart. Usually, I’d be young and dumb to go out there and try to get back as fast as I can. I can’t do that no more.”

Robinson’s goal is to return to action at some point within the next week, Shams Charania reported today on ESPN’s NBA Countdown (Twitter video link), adding that the big man has participated in multiple 5-on-5 scrimmages in recent days.

There’s more on the Knicks:

  • This season has been a learning process for first-round pick Pacome Dadiet, who is adjusting to the NBA after playing in Europe, Bondy writes for The New York Post. Even though he has spent much of the season in the G League, Dadiet doesn’t have any doubt that he can succeed at the NBA level. “I try to be focused and watch what others are doing, guys that have been in the league for like 10 years,” he said. “Having a routine is very important. Watching (Karl-Anthony Towns) and (Cameron Payne) doing the same thing every day. And it’s working for them.”
  • Tom Thibodeau has been criticized for relying too heavily on his starters ever since he became a head coach, but he doesn’t see any reason to change, Bondy adds in a separate story. The issue came up regarding Friday’s matchup with the Cavaliers, who use a deep rotation and only have two players averaging more than 30 minutes per night. “We’ve got to (have lineups that are) strong on both sides of the ball, and then, ‘Can your guys handle minutes?’” Thibodeau said. “There’s different minutes in the course of the game. If you look at Jalen (Brunson) and (Towns), their minutes are what other the main players are. The wings are different. OG is at 36 (minutes). Mikal (Bridges) is the highest, and Josh’s are high as well. Both of those guys can handle minutes, and they want the minutes. If they can handle the minutes, give it to them. If they can’t, cut it back.” 
  • The way the Knicks are constructed, they’ll need all five starters to be healthy to have any chance of making a long playoff run, opines Steve Popper of Newsday.
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Atlantic Notes: Celtics All-Star Bid, Claxton, Russell, Watford, Dadiet

February 17th, 2025 at 5:43pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Celtics’ bid for an All-Star Game remains under consideration even though the team is up for sale, Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe reports.

The All-Star Game hasn’t been held in Boston since 1964. The Celtics’ bid had been put on hold as the league determines other scheduling commitments, Washburn adds.

With the refurbishing of Boston’s TD Garden and the construction of additional hotels over the past several years, commissioner Adam Silver has previously stated that the city would be an ideal candidate for a future All-Star weekend.

We have more from the Atlantic Division:

  • Nic Claxton has reestablished himself as the Nets’ defensive anchor in recent weeks, Andrew Crane of the New York Post writes. After averaging 1.1 blocks per game in his first 40 games this season, Claxton has swatted an average of 3.1 attempts in the last seven contests, including a five-block night against Philadelphia. Claxton is in the first year of a four-year, $97MM contract.
  • Following the departure of Ben Simmons via a buyout, Brian Lewis of the New York Post anticipates that D’Angelo Russell and Trendon Watford will soak up more minutes. After missing six weeks due to hamstring injury, Watford returned on January 29. He has averaged in 10.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.2 steals in 20.2 minutes per game this month for the Nets.
  • Knicks rookie Pacome Dadiet has renewed his Ivorian citizenship, according to Basketnews.com. That could pave the way for Dadiet to play for Ivory Coast in international competitions. Dadiet has represented France at various youth international levels. Dadiet, a late first-round selection, has appeared in 13 games this season.
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Knicks Notes: Bridges, Towns, Dadiet, Robinson

December 2nd, 2024 at 8:58am CST by Arthur Hill

For at least one night, Knicks forward Mikal Bridges eased concerns about his shooting, writes Barbara Barker of Newsday. After being benched in the fourth quarter of Friday’s game due to his poor performance, Bridges responded with 31 points Sunday against New Orleans while connecting at 12-of-19 from the field and 7-of-12 from three-point range. It was a welcome sign from Bridges, who has been mostly disappointing since being acquired from Brooklyn in an offseason trade.

“The way he was playing, he was confident and it was flowing. I love to see it,” Jalen Brunson said. “I was just reading the defense. When you leave someone open, the ball is bound to go in at some point. And once one goes in for him, the floodgates open. I’ve seen it before and I’m not too worried about him.”

The Knicks have won seven of their last nine games despite Bridges’ struggles, but they’ll eventually need consistent production from him to be legitimate contenders in the Eastern Conference. Several teammates expressed support for Bridges following Friday’s game, saying he’s still in an adjustment phase after joining a new team where he’s no longer the primary scorer.

“We knew he had the confidence and our job was to continue to find him when he was open, and today he was great for us on both ends of the ball,’’ Josh Hart said. “He had great energy at the point of attack and as a defender. And made his shots. That’s our guy. We trust him. We trust him to shoot the shots. Mid-ranges, turnarounds. We want him to be aggressive. That’s the Mikal we know.”

There’s more from New York:

  • Karl-Anthony Towns saw a decline in his rebounding numbers while playing alongside Rudy Gobert in Minnesota, but he’s back to normal since being traded to New York and becoming a center again, notes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. Towns had 19 boards on Sunday and is averaging a career-high 13.0 per game so far this season. “With Rudy, he played away from the basket a lot more,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “He’s a terrific rebounder. Always been a terrific rebounder. He’s longer than you think, long arms, strong, really strong. Great anticipation. His experiences have helped him a lot, too.”
  • Pacome Dadiet was assigned to the G League over the weekend, and Thibodeau indicated that it might be a regular occurrence for the first-round pick, Bondy adds. Dadiet saw some rotation minutes earlier in the season, but there’s probably not a regular role for him with a healthy roster. “[It’s] situational,” Thibodeau said. “So there was an opportunity to get some playing time, take advantage of it that way. And he’ll be back with us for practice. The beauty of it is the setup, where we’re both practicing in the same building. So take advantage of it.”
  • James L. Edwards III and Fred Katz of The Athletic discuss several Knicks topics, including whether Bridges’ defense is a reason for concern, how Towns’ role will change when Mitchell Robinson returns from injury, Hart’s efficient shooting and why the team is having trouble against defenses that switch a lot.
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Knicks Notes: Hukporti, Towns, Dadiet, Bridges

November 17th, 2024 at 8:56am CST by Arthur Hill

For at least one night, rookie big man Ariel Hukporti looked like he could be part of the Knicks‘ rotation, writes Dan Martin of The New York Post. With Karl-Anthony Towns unavailable for Friday’s game against Brooklyn, Jericho Sims started at center but Hukporti had a bigger role, playing more than 30 minutes and scoring his first seven points to go with four rebounds and four blocks.

“His energy was amazing,’’ Josh Hart said. “He was a presence on screens, protecting the rim, rebounding the ball, deflections [and] running the court.”

There were few indications that Hukporti was ready for a breakout night. He had sat out three straight games and had only played eight total minutes in the past eight contests. He could become the rim-protecting center that the Knicks have lacked since Mitchell Robinson‘s injury, and his playing time will be worth monitoring once Towns returns.

“Now, the thing about a rookie is — for him — the hard thing is gonna be continuing to have the energy,’’ Hart added. “And not being complacent, which I don’t think he will. And we’re gonna hold him accountable. You guys saw just a glimpse of what he can do and he’s gonna have to build on that, but we’re excited with what he is. He’s gonna be big for us.”

There’s more from New York:

  • The Knicks are hoping Towns will be available for today’s rematch with the Nets, Martin adds in a separate story. He went through shootout and warm-ups before Friday’s game, but the medical staff decided to hold him out due to the effects of a knee contusion he suffered on Wednesday. Miles McBride could also return after missing Friday’s contest with a left knee injury.
  • First-round pick Pacome Dadiet scored five points in 12 minutes on Friday as injuries put him back in the rotation, per Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. Appearing on the “Roommates” podcast hosted by his son, Jalen Brunson, assistant coach Rick Brunson said the team is willing to be patient with the rookie shooting guard. “If you take a young kid like [Dadiet], the guy we just drafted,” he said. “You take him. To me, you got to give him a window. A college window. Four to five years. You can’t give up on a kid who is going through his college years in the NBA.”
  • Mikal Bridges has gotten off to a rough start with the Knicks after being acquired in an offseason trade that sent five first-round picks to Brooklyn, but it’s still too early to make a judgment on the deal, Bondy contends in another piece.
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Knicks Notes: Towns Trade, Dadiet, Washington, Shamet, Bridges, Hart, DiVincenzo

October 11th, 2024 at 1:30pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Knicks‘ path toward acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns from Minnesota began on draft night, Fred Katz of The Athletic explains in an outline of all the particulars involved in the deal. New York needed to prioritize every dollar because it had just completed a trade with Brooklyn for Mikal Bridges, leaving the team hard-capped at the second apron of $188.9MM.

The Knicks reached out to the agent of French prospect Pacome Dadiet, offering to select him with the 25th pick, but only if he would agree to accept $1.8MM in his first season instead of the usual 120% of the rookie scale, which would have been about $2.7MM. Dadiet jumped at the chance to get the job security that comes with being a first-round pick, and the team was able to save just enough money to make the Towns trade possible. Katz notes that Dadiet became the first player drafted in the first round since 2019 to accept 80% of the rookie scale.

The trade also involved some unusual negotiations with free agent Duane Washington, whose NBA rights still belonged to New York after he signed with Partizan in Belgrade during the summer. The Knicks had to sign-and-trade three players to Charlotte to open enough cap room to complete the Towns deal, but Partizan was insisting that Washington pay $600K in a buyout, plus another $1.6MM if the Hornets didn’t release him in time to return to Serbia within 48 hours.

Washington was hoping for a long-shot chance to make the Hornets’ roster, but he only had a $2.2MM contract, so he would have been under water with the terms from Partizan. Eventually the Belgrade team relented, asking for the original buyout plus undisclosed fees for each day he was away. Washington was waived by Charlotte on Wednesday, and sources tell Katz that he intends to return to Partizan.

There’s more on the Knicks:

  • Landry Shamet appears likely to earn one of the remaining roster spots after signing a non-guaranteed contract last month, league sources tell Katz. Katz also hears that the Knicks are so concerned about preserving the roughly $335K they have left under the second apron that they aren’t allowing camp invitees on Exhibit 10 deals to practice for fear that they might get injured and have their contracts become guaranteed.
  • Brian Windhorst of ESPN recaps all the moves that enabled New York to have the financial flexibility to add Towns to its roster.
  • Bridges has the NBA’s longest active consecutive games streak at 474, but he doesn’t believe he’ll be able to reach A.C. Green’s all-time mark of 1,192, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. Bridges admits there’s some luck involved in not missing a game so far in his NBA career. “People have asked me what’s the secret, and I’m just, like, ‘I’m blessed.’ I’ve got skinny bones that could hold up really well,” he said. “Just doing a lot of recovery and lifting. Just doing things to help prevent [injuries]. That’s pretty much it.”
  • Speaking to reporters Friday afternoon, Josh Hart said it was difficult to lose Donte DiVincenzo, who was sent to Minnesota in the Towns trade (Twitter link from James L. Edwards of The Athletic). “It’s a tough one. It’s part of the business. I get it,” Hart said. “But I miss my dog. I think he should be received with cheers and ovation for everything he did last year.”
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Knicks Notes: Brunson, Achiuwa, Kolek, Dadiet

July 14th, 2024 at 10:01am CST by Arthur Hill

Jalen Brunson‘s four-year, $156.5MM extension should be viewed as the largest financial favor in NBA history, writes Fred Katz of The Athletic. Brunson opted for the security of having a long-term deal in place now, but he bypassed an extra $113MM that he would have been eligible to receive if he had waited another year.

Brunson didn’t mind taking less because he’s so happy playing in New York, Katz adds. He likes being with his Villanova friends on a team that can compete for a title, and he enjoys playing for coach Tom Thibodeau, who helped mold him into a star.

Katz notes that the financial impact of Brunson’s decision should be significant. In a league where nearly every contender operates under concerns about the first and second aprons, the Knicks now have their best player signed to a relative bargain of a contract through at least 2028, when he’ll have a player option for the final season. A league source tells Katz that Brunson was given a 15% trade kicker in the deal.

With newly acquired Mikal Bridges also on a team-friendly contract — making $23.3MM and $24.9MM the next two seasons — New York is in position to fortify its roster without worrying about the second apron. Katz points out that Brunson, Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson, Donte DiVincenzo, Miles McBride, Pacome Dadiet and Tyler Kolek will make a combined $153.2MM when Brunson’s new contract takes effect with the 2025/26 season, leaving the Knicks well short of the projected $207.8MM second apron.

There’s more from New York:

  • The Knicks remain in touch with Precious Achiuwa in hopes of re-signing him as the primary backup to Mitchell Robinson, according to Ian Begley of SNY (video link). The free agent big man appeared in 49 games after being acquired from Toronto in December and had a significant role in the playoffs. New York is also exploring trades for “high-salaried veterans,” Begley adds.
  • Kolek impressed the Knicks on Saturday in his Summer League debut with seven points, seven rebounds and seven assists, per Steve Popper of Newsday. The second-round pick could be in contention for rotation minutes this season as a backup to Brunson. “I’m just trying to come in and do whatever (Thibodeau) asks me to do,” Kolek said. “Just keep my head down, do what he asks me to do. I’m a worker . . . That’s my calling card. I’m going to be in the gym, I’m going to get better. Really whatever the team needs, what the coach needs, that’s what I’m going to do.”
  • Dadiet said the speed of the game and the longer three-point line are the biggest adjustments in coming from France to the NBA, Popper adds. The first-round pick shot 2-for-8 Saturday, including air balls on two long distance shots. “I’m not sure of the difference,” he said. “In Europe it’s in meters.”
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Knicks Sign First-Rounder Dadiet For Less Than Standard Rookie Scale Amount

July 4th, 2024 at 1:42pm CST by Luke Adams

1:42pm: Katz provides some additional details on Dadiet’s contract, tweeting that only the first year will be at 80% of the rookie scale amount, with years two through four jumping to 120%.

All told then, Dadiet’s deal will be worth $13,012,968 (instead of $13,917,008) over four years.

12:33pm: The Knicks have finalized a buyout with Ratiopharm Ulm, Pacome Dadiet‘s team in Germany, clearing the way for them to sign their first-round pick to his rookie scale contract, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).

Interestingly, according to Fred Katz of The Athletic (Twitter link), the Knicks have signed Dadiet to a contract that will be worth 80% of the standard rookie scale amount for the No. 25 pick, instead of the usual 120%. That’s the minimum allowed for a first-round pick.

As our breakdown of rookie scale salaries shows, a “maximum” rookie scale contract for Dadiet would’ve started at $2,712,120. However, 80% of his rookie scale amount will work out to a first-year salary of $1,808,080. As Katz notes, that’ll give the team about $904K in extra spending flexibility below its second-apron hard cap for 2024/25.

An NBA team is permitted to pay up to $850K to a player’s international team as part of a buyout agreement in 2024/25 without that amount counting against its cap. The NBA club would be permitted to pay more than that, but any amount above $850K would count against the player’s cap hit. For instance, a $1MM buyout for a player who will earn a $2MM salary would result in a $2,150,000 cap hit.

League sources tell Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter link) that the Knicks, not coincidentally, paid exactly $850K to Ratiopharm Ulm, meaning Dadiet’s cap hit will be equivalent to his salary and won’t include any portion of his buyout.

This is likely an arrangement the Knicks discussed with Dadiet and his representatives before selecting him rather than springing a lower offer on him after drafting him.

The 18-year-old French wing averaged 6.4 points and 1.6 rebounds in 14.9 minutes per game across 18 EuroCup appearances for Ulm last season.

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Knicks Notes: Dadiet, Hartenstein, McBride, Brunson

June 27th, 2024 at 2:11pm CST by Rory Maher

The Knicks selected French wing Pacome Dadiet with the No. 25 pick in the 2024 draft. Still just 18 years old, Dadiet spent last season playing for Ratiopharm Ulm in Germany.

Given his age and New York’s financial situation — the team will be hard-capped at the $178.7MM first tax apron if the Mikal Bridges trade is finalized as currently constructed — it would make sense for the Knicks to try and stash Dadiet overseas for at least one season, delaying when he signs his rookie scale contract. However, Dadiet said he plans to play in the NBA next season, which may complicate matters (Twitter link via Fred Katz of The Athletic).

Assuming he signs for 120% of the rookie scale, which virtually every first-round draft pick does, Dadiet would project to earn $2,720,040 in 2024/25. That figure might sound relatively modest by NBA standards, but the Knicks are nearly at the first apron already with just eight players under contract.

Here’s more on the Knicks:

  • As Ian Begley of SNY.tv writes, the Knicks gained a little financial wiggle room by trading the No. 26 pick (Dillon Jones) to Oklahoma City for five future second-rounders. However, they’ll still need to add about $4.4MM in salary to the Bridges deal to avoid being hard-capped at the first apron — doing so would instead hard cap the Knicks at the second apron ($189.5MM). That would give New York the ability to offer Isaiah Hartenstein his Early Bird max of $72.5MM over four years. Still, Begley says Hartenstein is “unlikely” to return unless he’s willing to take a discount, since he has become the top free agent center available after Nic Claxton agreed to a four-year, $100MM deal with Brooklyn.
  • Sources tell Fred Katz of The Athletic that the Knicks have indeed been exploring ways to add salary to the Bridges deal to avoid the first apron hard cap. New York contemplated including Miles McBride, but the team has since “shied away” from that idea, according to Katz, who also hears the Knicks have become “pessimistic” about their chances of re-signing Hartenstein.
  • Speaking of McBride, the 23-year-old guard underwent surgery on his right pinky toe this week, the Knicks announced (via Twitter). McBride is expected to resume basketball activities later this offseason.
  • It would be far less lucrative than if he were to wait a year, but a league source tells Katz that Jalen Brunson is still considering signing an extension this offseason. Brunson will be eligible to sign a four-year extension worth approximately $157MM this summer. Waiting until 2025 would make him eligible for a deal worth up to a projected $270MM over five years.
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Draft Notes: Rockets, Wizards, Suns, France, Big Boards

June 22nd, 2024 at 8:15am CST by Tristan Tucker

The Rockets may be more interested in moving their pick than keeping it, Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer reports. Offers for the selection are expected to be entertained until Houston is on the clock at No. 3 in Wednesday’s draft. If Houston does stand pat at No. 3, Reed Sheppard appears to be the heavy favorite for that spot. The Trail Blazers are among the teams that have called the Rockets about moving up to No. 3 in the draft.

According to Fischer, the Wizards have the league convinced they’re honing in on Perth’s Alexandre Sarr. As reported, Sarr hasn’t conducted a private workout for the Hawks, holders of the No. 1 selection, and Fischer reports Sarr’s preferred destination is, in fact, Washington. Beyond their plans at No. 2, the Wizards are a “prime candidate” to move up from No. 26 and have also been seeking a third first-round pick, Says Fischer.

Further down the draft, the Suns are a strong candidate to trade down from No. 22. The goal for the Suns, Fischer writes, would be to accumulate future second-round picks to restock their draft capital for trade flexibility. Additionally, the idea of adding inexpensive rookie contracts onto an expensive roster appeals to Phoenix.

We have more from around the draft:

  • A flood of talent is following 2023 No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama from France, Yahoo Sports’ Krysten Peek writes. His former teammate Bilal Coulibaly was selected No. 7 overall in last year’s draft and another ex-teammate, Armel Traore, could be in play in the second round of this year’s draft. Additionally, Zaccharie Risacher and Sarr are seen as the favorites for the top two draft selections in this class, while Tidjane Salaun, Melvin Ajinca and Pacome Dadiet are all likely to be selected this year too. Down the line, Nolan Traore and Nathan Soliman are picking up steam in future draft classes.
  • Risacher, Sarr and UConn’s Donovan Clingan, in that order, round out ESPN’s top three players on Jonathan Givony’s final big board update before the draft. Givony and Jeremy Woo provide their picks for the top 100 players in the class, with Sheppard, G League Ignite’s Matas Buzelis, UConn’s Stephon Castle, Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht, Kentucky’s Rob Dillingham, Salaun, and Serbia’s Nikola Topic filling in the rest of their top 10 (in that order).
  • Risacher is lower on Sam Vecenie’s draft board at The Athletic, with the French wing coming in at No. 5. Salaun, Buzelis, Dillingham and Topic all sit outside the top 10 of Vecenie’s annual draft guide, while he ranks Colorado’s Cody Williams (No. 6), Providence’s Devin Carter (No. 7), Pitt’s Carlton Carrington (No. 8) and Ron Holland of the G League Ignite (No. 10) among the top 10. I highly recommend both Givony’s and Vecenie’s draft guides if you have a subscription to either platform, as this is some of the top draft content to come out annually.
  • Clingan is the name most linked to the Hawks over the past week, Vecenie writes in a recent mock draft. While Atlanta has openly stated it is content with standing pat at No. 1, Vecenie hears there’s an impression the club is open to making a move if the right deal presents itself. However, Atlanta hasn’t finalized its decision yet and even if it wanted to trade down to select him later, Chicago and Memphis have expressed interest in taking Clingan themselves if they can trade up. Vecenie indeed has Washington landing Sarr and Houston getting Sheppard, but has Risacher falling to San Antonio at No. 4, Buzelis going No. 5 to Detroit and Castle landing in Charlotte at No. 6.
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NBA’s 2024 Draft Withdrawal Deadline Has Passed

June 17th, 2024 at 7:40am CST by Luke Adams

The deadline for early entrants to withdraw from the 2024 NBA draft passed on Sunday at 5:00 pm Eastern time, meaning that any players who haven’t removed their names from consideration at that point will remain in this year’s draft pool.

Because the NCAA has its own draft withdrawal deadline earlier in the spring, the NBA’s deadline typically represents decision day for non-college players, including international prospects. As we relayed on Sunday, several of those international early entrants who initially tested the draft waters decided to pull out before the deadline.

The following players also withdrew from the draft ahead of Sunday’s deadline:

Additionally, there were several reports on Sunday about international prospects who decided to keep their names in the draft pool. Here are those players:

There was no word on Sunday about several of the big-name international prospects, such as Alexandre Sarr, Zaccharie Risacher, and Tidjane Salaun, but there’s no doubt they kept their names in the draft, since they’re projected lottery picks. Nikola Topic is in that group as well, despite the fact that he recently suffered a partially torn ACL.

As our early entrant tracker shows, there are still a handful of prospects whose intentions haven’t been announced or reported, but it shouldn’t be long before we get clarity on them — the NBA will likely announce its official early entrant list for the 2024 draft at some point within the next 24 to 48 hours or so.

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