Knicks Morning News (2018.02.01)

  • [ESPN] Brown scales Porzingis, rates dunk as just a 5
    (Thursday, February 01, 2018 12:39:15 AM)

    Celtics swingman Jaylen Brown said his dunk on Kristaps Porzingis ranks well below others he has thrown down during his NBA career.

  • [ESPN] Sources: Noah won’t return by trade deadline
    (Wednesday, January 31, 2018 8:53:12 PM)

    The Knicks won’t ask Joakim Noah to return to the team before the Feb. 8 trade deadline, league sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The team told Noah to stay away after a disagreement with coach Jeff Hornacek, sources said.

  • [ESPN] Bucks to give Parker 15 minutes in return
    (Wednesday, January 31, 2018 2:43:31 PM)

    Drifting to the left elbow of the paint, Jabari Parker took the pass and put up a jumper that swished through the net.

  • [NYTimes] Celtics 103, Knicks 73: Knicks Dealt 30-Point Loss by Short-Handed Celtics
    (Thursday, February 01, 2018 5:47:03 AM)

    Boston, which was without Kyrie Irving, grabbed control by outscoring the Knicks by 31-20 in the third quarter.

  • [NYTimes] Five Things About James Harden’s Triple Double
    (Wednesday, January 31, 2018 3:38:20 PM)

    On Tuesday night, the Houston Rockets guard scored the most points in a triple double in N.B.A. history, 60, in a victory over the Magic.

  • [NYPost] Knicks destroyed by Kyrie Irving-less Celtics
    (Wednesday, January 31, 2018 5:41:31 PM)

    BOSTON — Kristaps Porzingis rode a stationary bike in the visitor’s locker room after this one — more energy displayed than the Knicks exhibited in an historically bad fourth quarter. “It felt like in the fourth, they couldn’t miss and we couldn’t make a shot,’’ Porzingis said. “That’s how it felt.’’ Kyrie Irving and Marcus…

  • [NYPost] Ron Baker may have found injury that ends painful year
    (Wednesday, January 31, 2018 12:16:12 PM)

    The sophomore jinx has leveled Knicks combo guard Ron Baker. Baker’s season is in jeopardy after the Knicks announced Wednesday he’s “out indefinitely” with a dislocated right shoulder and torn labrum following an MRI exam. If he has surgery, according to medical experts, it would take him three months to recover. Baker, whose rookie performance…

  • [NYPost] Why Kyrie Irving could top Knicks’ long-term wish list
    (Wednesday, January 31, 2018 9:29:14 AM)

    BOSTON — When the Knicks last visited TD Garden in late October, new Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving was asked, after Boston’s rout, why New York was on his summer trade wish list. “Where is this gonna go?” Irving said. “It’s pretty easy, man. They were on my list for a reason, I think you…

  • [SNY Knicks] Knicks suffer 30-point loss to Celtics, 103-73
    (Wednesday, January 31, 2018 11:05:00 PM)

    Terry Rozier filled in nicely for Kyrie Irving, logging his first career triple-double in his first NBA start and leading the Boston Celtics to a 103-73 victory over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night.

  • [SNY Knicks] Report: Noah will not be required to return to team through Feb. 8
    (Wednesday, January 31, 2018 8:20:00 PM)

    Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek said C Joakim Noah will not be with the team on Tuesday or Wednesday.

  • [SNY Knicks] Tonight’s game: Knicks at Celtics, 8 p.m.
    (Wednesday, January 31, 2018 6:00:00 PM)

    One of the tougher things for an NBA team to do is come off the road after a long trip and play that first game at home. That’s what the Celtics will try to deal with when they host the New York Knicks on Wednesday night as Boston plays the first of three straight games at TD Garden.

  • [SNY Knicks] Daily News Live: Is the Knicks’ season lost?
    (Wednesday, January 31, 2018 5:47:48 PM)

  • [SNY Knicks] Ron Baker out indefinitely due to dislocated shoulder and torn labrum
    (Wednesday, January 31, 2018 3:30:48 PM)

    Baker was averaging 2.4 points and 1.6 assists in 29 games this season, while averaging 13.3 minutes per game.

  • [SNY Knicks] Time for Knicks to start planning for NBA Draft
    (Wednesday, January 31, 2018 10:30:01 AM)

    NEW YORK — The Knicks crushed the crosstown rival Nets, 111-95, on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden to complete a four-game season sweep.

  • [NYDN] Knicks blown out by Kyrie Irving-less Celtics, 103-73
    (Wednesday, January 31, 2018 6:44:01 PM)

    You want evidence the Knicks shouldn’t think about making win-now moves at the trade deadline?

  • [NYDN] Baker’s dislocated shoulder could ease Knicks’ backcourt problem
    (Wednesday, January 31, 2018 11:25:26 AM)

    The sensible solution to an overblown issue became more of a reality against the Nets.

  • [NYDN] Porzingis can recruit fellow All-Stars as Knicks’ top pitchman
    (Wednesday, January 31, 2018 8:18:32 AM)

    The Knicks are in line to make a push for a top free in the summer of 2019 and are plotting accordingly.

  • [NY Newsday] Knicks routed by Celtics in worst performance of season
    (Wednesday, January 31, 2018 11:42:47 PM)

    BOSTON — The Celtics were missing their best player, but the Knicks went missing in the second half.

  • [NY Newsday] Ron Baker sidelined indefinitely with shoulder dislocation, torn labrum
    (Wednesday, January 31, 2018 3:41:00 PM)

    Knicks backup guard Ron Baker will be out indefinitely after an MRI revealed a shoulder dislocation and torn labrum, the team announced Wednesday.

  • 72 replies on “Knicks Morning News (2018.02.01)”

    Went to sleep at halftime (it was way past 3 A.M. here) down by 5 with a game that is a THJ’s hot streak away to winnable, woke up four hours later and found that we scored 28 points… in 2 quarters?
    WTF Happened?

    What I learned from the boxscore:

    – KP went 1-6 in 15 second half minutes
    – The starting 1-3 (Jack, Lee, THJ) went 4-23
    – Kanter has 5 TO
    – Frank didn’t score in the second half
    – Thomas went all in… and missed all his shots
    – Trey played 5 minutes (5 minutes in a 30 points blowout?!!?)
    – I’m surprised: Noah didn’t play, he must be pissed! 😀

    Do I miss something?

    P.S. Monroe buyout doesn’t help our tries to trade KOQ, Kanter and/or WHG

    P.S. Monroe buyout doesn’t help our tries to trade KOQ, Kanter and/or WHG

    It definitely doesn’t help, but Monroe has also been barely keeping in shape since he got to Phoenix, so I don’t know if teams will see him as much of a difference maker.

    Boston has been linked with Monroe, but doesn’t Cleveland make more sense with Love’s injury?

    Monroe’s never been a rim protector (the role they really miss in my opinion) but CLE is such a mess that he could be an improvement, if he’s in shape he’s a good scorer down low and a very good rebounder.
    Probably KOQ is the right guy for them (and for GS) but Perry thinks that their offer is not good enough… for now 🙂

    Yeah, I think Cleveland is in one of those weird situations where they have so many bad players that nearly any one would be an upgrade, or at least a change of pace.

    … And now they start talking about LeBron going to the Warriors this summer….
    I like when they refer to “league sources”…

    If ever a team should blow themselves up it’s the Cavs. They are going nowhere this year and getting older. They have players that can still easily be moved for a stockpile of good picks and younger players, but this is an example of where theory runs into reality.

    Gilbert would get killed by the media, the fans, and Lebron if he put Love, Thomas, and Crowder on the block.

    Lebron is too smart to stick around next year. The way it will probably shake out is that Lebron will leave next year and then Gilbert will be free to start shopping his assets for the rebuild without the backlash he would get for doing it now. He better hope he gets something good back for Lebron or he’s looking at a 6-8 year rebuild starting from scratch IF he does it right.

    Read yesterday that the Knicks are trying to trade Noah but are unwilling to give up any draft picks or young players. Yeah right, like that is going to happen. Phil must have left some of his weed behind if Mills and Perry think that anyone will trade for Noah and if by some weird happenstance that someone does take Noah imagine the sh*t contract the Knicks are going to get back. Any one want Deng from the Lakers? Although I would take Deng if somehow the Knicks could get Clarkson and Randle also.

    Eventually, Noah will land somewhere out of NY with the knicks paying most of his salary to play somewhere else. The knicks will get nothing for him. That’s bad, but it will get worse.
    Noah is going to play a productive 18 minutes a game that we’re going to watch and say, “we can use that”. It’s the knicks.

    That second half was brutal, but also hopefully very valuable, in that it was the kind of very public slap of reality to anyone in the front office thinking about buying at the trade deadline.

    What Woj said about teams not wanting to give up first rounders for role players like KOQ and Lee is a bummer, but I’d also be good with loading up on seconds, Eurostash players, etc. The tanking time is now, and every empty win we get because Kyle or Courtney or even Kanter (who might actually be appealing to other teams, if our FO doesn’t want to keep him) only hurts our chance of getting the most valuable possible piece to put next to KP and Frank.

    Well Woj clearly doesn’t have the type of inside sources Strato has, or else he’d know that there are several teams waiting to trade for Lee once the Knicks put him on the block.

    edit: OK, I’ll add a smiley face since it’s still early.

    🙂

    hoolahoop
    February 1, 2018 at 10:14 am
    Eventually, Noah will land somewhere out of NY with the knicks paying most of his salary to play somewhere else. The knicks will get nothing for him. That’s bad, but it will get worse.
    Noah is going to play a productive 18 minutes a game that we’re going to watch and say, “we can use that”. It’s the knicks.

    What exactly do you consider productive? He’s still a good rebounder and passer but he can’t hit layups. he’s lost a bit of lateral quickness so his defense has taken a hit, and even only playing 22 mpg last year he still got hurt and missed almost half the season.

    Reading through last night’s thread…

    How anybody can defend a guy who cost us 5-7 years with the MMM and the Noah contract is beyond me. Phil was right to not sign and trade melo because the press would have been mad? Really?

    Ainge was raked by everybody when he traded down and drafted Tatum; he didn’t seem to care about what people thought. Same with Hinkie not giving a f–k. I’m picking those 2 GMs because they’re in cities with nasty presses as well.

    I recant my smiley face.

    Noah was supposed to be the guy we ran our offense through, because he’s a good passer and screen setter.

    One small problem with that plan, Noah can’t shoot from even as close in as 7 feet from the basket. So other teams leave him when he gets the ball, and his defender can go double team someone else. Not a pretty sight to see Noah standing there by himself with the ball looking for cutters.

    Jayson Tatum has put up a 48 TS% in January. If he keeps shooting around 34% from 3 instead of being the best 3 point shooter in the NBA he’s still a nice prospect but it makes Ainge less of the super genius the lamestream media has been painting him as.

    Noah’s last good year was even the last before the Warriors Revolution changed the way the game is played.

    The clues are already there, but from then on the era of small lineups, uber emphasis on 3PT, stretch bigs was in full swing.

    The value of “classic” big men decreased accordingly, especially on offense, as declined the importance of midrange jumpers.
    It’s really hard today to play someone so limited offensively as Noah.

    Arguably the worst of Phil’s many errors was his stubbornness to use an obsolete system and choosing his players accordingly (this is why, for instance, we have Noah and not Ellington on the roster).

    Edit: having read all Phil’s books I understand the basic concepts of the Triangle and their positive aspects, but I think that in the modern NBA it could be a philosophy (share the ball, move around) not a scheming system. Spacing has changed too much, like it or not (I don’t like it, watching HOU shoot 55 3pt make me puke, but that’s life)

    @14

    I mean, at one point he was shooting like 50% from 3, it was very clear it was unsustainable… let’s see where he ends up. A guy like him with a .520 is not the greatest asset, but if he keeps it around .570 or something he’s still really valuable (and obviously he’s a rookie so that’s impressive anyway).

    Spacing has changed too much, like it or not (I don’t like it, watching HOU shoot 55 3pt make me puke, but that’s life)

    Watching Golden State do it is art.
    I’m surprised it took the NBA this long to figure it out, but it’s a no brainer.
    It’s a simple system. 3’s and easy points in the paint, and great defense.
    GS took it up a notch to “easy” 3’s and points in the paint.

    I have my reservations about THJ, but his style is perfect for today’s game. He opens the floor and creates easy 3’s for himself. If he can get a little more disciplined with his shot selection and became a lockdown defender, he can reach all-star level. He may actually live up to his contract.

    @21 Yes, the Golden State version is art, just as San Antonio’s 2014 Finals was art, or D’Antoni’s 7 seconds Suns, but I puke when I watch the Nets do it.

    @15

    Arguably the worst of Phil’s many errors was his stubbornness to use an obsolete system and choosing his players accordingly (this is why, for instance, we have Noah and not Ellington on the roster).

    Which is why the Rose trade was so puzzling to me at the time. I didn’t like Rose at all in general, but he also just didn’t seem to fit the “triangle” guard mode nor a guy you bring in to improve the “culture.” I think there must have been pressure, from himself or Dolan, to “win” that year. But that domino then left a void at C where Noah was signed. Alas.

    Last night’s game should really help clarify to management, if they did not already realize this, that going for the 8th seed would be folly. Even if they get there, a first round playoff series might be very ugly.

    Let’s hope that they can find decent deals for Lee and OQ or Kanter. If they do deal Willy, I hope it is for a 1st round pick or an interesting young three.

    Looks like the Bulls/Pelicans deal is back on, and that Chicago may be getting a first rounder from the Pels, probably in exchange for taking on Asik’s contract while they send Mirotic out.

    Crap.

    Edit, maybe the 2018 Pels pick, top 5 protected. Would love the Knicks to have gotten that…

    Just saw on bleacher report Thoughts?

    The New York Knicks would reportedly be willing to include a first-round draft pick to entice teams into trading for Joakim Noah.

    Per Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, the Knicks are open to using their 2018 first-round pick as part of a package that includes Noah to avoid trying to buy him out or carrying his salary-cap hit for next season.

    Of course, a high draft pick is better than a lower draft pick. But, at what cost for a perennial loser?

    – Forget about signing desirable FA’s (Lebron, KD, Kyrie, or anyone that’s getting an equal offer from another team). No secret here – NY is a black hole.
    – KP’s chances of staying in NY <50%.
    – Horrible team morale.
    – Exacerbating losing culture. One step further away from being winners.
    – Organization disarray and lack of continuity (fire the coach; fire the GM)
    – A poor draft pick and it compounds all of the above.
    – Watching shitty games where the knicks get blown out sucks.

    The draft lottery is a consolation, a stop gap if you screw up. It's not a yearly system to improve a team.

    @25
    Yeah, I saw something like that that claimed the Knicks don’t think they’ll be bad enough to get one of the elite players in the draft, so they are willing to include the first to unload Noah.

    Please no.

    In my darkest dream I imagine the Knicks trading Noah and their first rounder to the Lakers for KCP. I wake up in a cold sweat.

    I don’t know who to believe anymore @27 and 28. It wouldn’t surprise me if they felt that way, though. Welcome everyone, long time reader here.

    In my darkest dream I imagine the Knicks trading Noah and their first rounder to the Lakers for KCP. I wake up in a cold sweat.

    That would be terrible. Particularly for me since I live in SoCal and am surrounded by Laker fans.

    Please, Perry and Mills, if you’ve learned nothing else, I hope at the very least you’ll have learned to not trade 1st round picks anymore, under any circumstances.

    Yes, let’s trade our 2018 first round pick to rid ourselves of the worst contract in the NBA.

    Uber-Knicksy.

    @27
    I think Woj said that the Knicks would not part with “significant assets” in dealing Noah. But what if they don’t consider this year’s first rounder as “significant” as the other report seems to suggest?

    Hopefully this is just my Knicks paranoia creeping into my thoughts…
    🙂

    My KCP remark was mostly a joke. Reports are the Lakers are looking to shed salary…so taking Noah, even with a first rounder attached, might not interest them…

    attaching a first to get rid of noah would be unbelievably stupid… the only possible followup is that try and get a significant FA this year…. and that would mean a run at lebron… or maybe just nerlens noel/kyle anderson(i hope)….

    I’m eagerly awaiting 3:01 ET of next thursday.
    I like to finally understand how many of this rumors’ll reveal themselves as bullshit and on the other side how our management’ll prove himself.

    Giving away #1 to get rid of Noah would even be too stupid for the knicks.
    Wait, that’s not true.

    it’s funny how all the noah stories make it seem like the knicks are just now – all of a sudden – trying to get rid of noah…as soon as phil hit the door, maybe even sooner, i’m sure they’ve been doing all they can to get rid of him…

    i think a lot of the blame for this situation is on horny and the coaching staff – but, no doubt some of it falls on management for allowing four centers (plus kp) to remain on the roster…

    let him stay home, until we lose a center – or, until his contract runs out…

    i think a lot of the blame for this situation is on horny and the coaching staff – but, no doubt some of it falls on management for allowing four centers (plus kp) to remain on the roster…

    +1.

    Maybe the best outcome of the whole Noah situation would be a buyout, but that would depend from the Knicks point of view on how much he’s willing to sacrifice, and even how much is allowed in the NBA.

    Does anyone know? Is the amount of money the player willing to give up totally up to him? Hypothetically, could a player offer to waive 50% of the money, for example?

    I’m not saying that Noah would do this, but that then opens up the discussion for how much would it take for the Knicks to buy him out, thus releasing him to sign wherever he is wanted.

    Sadly I wouldn’t be surprised if they try to trade this year’s pick albeit with some protection- like 1-10- and unprotected afterwards. The crazy thing is even then they might not have takers- that’s how bad that contract is.

    Dragic replace K-Love at the All-Star Game. He doesn’t really deserve it this year. But I guess it made sense for the Heat to get 1 representative (though it should’ve been Whiteside) and Dragic has had a solid career.

    Kemba or Whiteside would’ve been my pick.

    First round picks are changing hands for veterans and the Knicks have made no moves yet. The teams that are willing to part with picks for vets is dwindling. I like the fact that the Front office is being deliberate and not rushing into anything stupid (yet), but it looks like New York will be left standing when the music stops and all of the chairs are taken.

    Hell No to trading the 2018 first rounder to dump Noah and his contract. That would be Isaiah level stupidity.

    I don’t understand why the Knicks are letting Noah dictate our actions. We don’t need to decide what to do with him now just Bc he isn’t happy.

    To be honest, though, that would actually be good value for a first round pick. I *know* we shouldn’t do it and I *know* it would be a colossal mistake.

    I’m just saying that technically if we made that trade for an expiring asset we’d be selling the 12th pick in the draft for $35 million.

    That’s why I think even if we do want to do, we’re probably safe. I can’t see a team spending that much for a draft pick.

    Everyone needs to be tweeting the Hell out of Mills telling him a first round pick to ditch Noah is unacceptable. Who knows if it helps, but it’s our only like of communication with these idiots! FUCK!!!

    You guys are stressing out about a report from Steve Kyler. Noah isn’t getting traded with our draft pick.

    If your stomach isn’t constantly in knots when some weird rumor comes up about the Knicks you haven’t been a fan for long enough. Ha!

    They only way dealing a first to rid ourselves of Noah could be justified is if we receive a few decent young players back. The only issue is that I have no doubt that there are no teams that would value Noah enough to want to give up anything of real value for him. So it is a definite N.O. for trading a pick.

    Since DRose is in Cleveland, trade Noah, KOQ and Lee to Cleveland for their trio of crap, JR Smith, Shumpert and Frye. That would be 2 good players plus a giant steaming pile for the LeBrons and the Knicks get one OK player (Frye) on a expiring contract and two smaller piles of uselessness. You could throw in a second round pick to make it smell less putrid. LOL

    @53 Please no. JR and Shumpert in the same locker room with Beasley?
    And Smith is signed for 2 more years for over 30 Mil.

    We’re not trading Noah… If not in a straight swap for Deng.

    🙂

    There is no reason to make that Noah trade now. It will be just as available in the offseason. Finish this year out and re-assess.

    Noah will be unhappy for a couple months. Who cares? Tell him to stay home. If he wants out now, he’s free to offer a buyout price.

    The trade proposal that I offered was a joke, hence the steaming pile reference. I am fine with Noah being the #15 man on the roster and never suiting up. If he wants to pout, let him. By the time he is done with this contract he will be way too old to play anymore. He will eventually want to play and ask for a buyout, he is too proud to sit on his butt and be a joke (I think)

    Send him home for conduct detrimental and eat the salary. No one’s going to give up a good player for him this year, and next year it’s just as likely that he’d be traded for a player on a big contract who isn’t performing to his contract anyway.

    Let’s not act like Noah’s going to be traded for Otto Porter or Jokic. He’s, at best, the “matching contract” to take on a shitty contract like Griffin’s. No thank you.

    @53 Please no. JR and Shumpert in the same locker room with Beasley?
    And Smith is signed for 2 more years for over 30 Mil.

    Add Randle and then trade KP for Cousins. Now, that would be fun. Best tank in NBA history.
    Shumpert
    JR
    Beasley
    Randle
    Cousins

    Ironically, that’s a lot of talent.

    I wouldn’t touch Cousins with a ten foot pole after that injury, not at any salary. He’d be a tank commander on a 5-year campaign.

    The Knicks looked truly terrible last night. The guard play was horrendous. I know Frankie is highly regarded on this board for his defense but hit passive game is growing old already. His forays into the lane are um…soft. The kid really needs to drive harder to the rim. Defenders know he is looking to pass and a lot of his turnovers last night appeared to be because the defenders were anticipated him passing off. This kid needs a lot of work but I’m holding off calling him a bust until I see what he does to improve his game this off season.
    As for KP, his defense on the perimeter is as bad as Kanter’s near the rim (or maybe even worse). He gives up so many 3’s it’s ridiculous.
    I’m trying to figure out the bullshit with Lance getting so much burn. His ass is useless. Burke can’t get run when the rest of the guards are plying like crap? Horny lost me last night.
    After watching Willie play this year, I don’t even recognize him. He looks terrible on defense and I don’t see much on the offensive end either. If someone is willing to trade for him, good riddance.

    Overall, I’m not very encouraged about the “building blocks” of KP and Frank. I think KP looks like a decent 2nd option, not a No.1 superstar type.

    The Mirotic trade involved Tony Allen, who will now be likely waived. He’d be an interesting pick-up for the Cavs.

    The Asik trade is probably a model for how to trade Noah. You find a team with cap space that doesn’t plan to use it this year and trade for some player they don’t want. However, we probably can’t do it this year because Noah has too many years left on his contract. Next year we could maybe do something like that. I am for waiting and not doing anything with because I think we will have to pay to much to get rid of him.

    Also, note that unless some team has a ton of cap space, you can’t just trade him by giving up a pick. Other players will have to be involved to make salaries work.

    Noah for Batum straight up.

    We get a useful player, Charlotte saves $40 million. Our cap is screwed anyway lets at least get a rotation player with that money.

    We definitely need another SG who can’t play point on the roster.

    Yeah, I’m all for waiting with Noah. How in the world are they letting him dictate how this is going?

    If he doesn’t want to play this year he can go home and we’ll see where we are next year

    I’m not sure the FO is letting Noah dictate much of anything. Personally, I think they’re just sitting tight and letting the whole Noah thing just blow over (which it eventually will). But if an enticing deal comes along whereby they can add long-term value (whether it involves Noah or not), they’ll consider it.

    Personally, after the way they played the Melo end game, I’ve got faith in Perry and Mills that they’ll only do something if it adds long-term value.

    I’m not sure the FO is letting Noah dictate much of anything. Personally, I think they’re just sitting tight and letting the whole Noah thing just blow over (which it eventually will). But if an enticing deal comes along whereby they can add long-term value (whether it involves Noah or not), they’ll consider it.

    Hopefully, because a buyout would be ridiculous.

    If he doesn’t want to play this year he can go home and we’ll see where we are next year

    Yeah, exactly.

    Someday the Knicks will have a competent point guard again.
    I hope I’m still alive to see it.

    @64 Batum is more of a SF than SG. He’s 6’8″ and has played SF for 8 or his 10 seasons.

    I would do Noah for Batum, but I don’t know why Charlotte would. They trade a starter for someone who will back up Howard. They also have Zeller. So even if we threw in someone else, for example, Doug McDermott, who is expiring, I still don’t see why they would do it.

    In the long term, they’d save a lot of money on the deal. But yeah, I don’t think that they’re that concerned enough about Batum to take Noah for him.

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