Knicks Morning News (2018.06.06)

  • [SNY Knicks] Knicks to host workout for Villanova’s Mikal Bridges
    (Tuesday, June 05, 2018 3:45:22 PM)

    Villanova SF Mikal Bridges will work out for the Knicks in the coming days as the team continues looking at players it might take at No. 9 in the NBA Draft.

  • [SNY Knicks] Knicks target Trae Young excited at thought of playing in New York
    (Tuesday, June 05, 2018 11:05:22 AM)

    Oklahoma PG Trae Young, considered by some the second coming of Stephen Curry, had his private workout with the Knicks Tuesday.

  • [NYDN] 3-year-old Indiana girl dies in hot car after trip to church
    (Wednesday, June 06, 2018 6:00:00 AM)

    A coroner says the parents of 3-year-old girl who died in a hot car in central Indiana thought she was asleep inside their home.

    Madison County Coroner Marian Dunnichay says Hannah Grace Miller had a high core body temperature when she was pronounced dead at a hospital Sunday evening.

    Dunnichay…

  • [NYDN] Trump campaign launches website for ‘Promises Kept’ — even though not everything has been
    (Wednesday, June 06, 2018 3:00:00 AM)

    Promises, promises.

    President Trump’s re-election campaign launched a website dedicated to his administration’s accomplishments since the commander-in-chief took office in January 2017, which campaign boss Brad Parscale said touted what the former real estate developer has done during the last…

  • [NYDN] Brooklyn apartment fire kills two after erupting in garbage bag
    (Wednesday, June 06, 2018 2:20:00 AM)

    A fast-moving fire killed two people after erupting in a trash bag in their Brooklyn apartment early Wednesday, officials said.

    Firefighters battling the blaze found a 59-year-old woman dead inside the sixth-floor apartment near Ditmas Ave. and E. 22nd St. around 2:05 a.m., according to authorities.

  • [NYDN] Thank you, Bobby Kennedy for caring when others didn’t
    (Wednesday, June 06, 2018 1:10:00 AM)

    Robert Francis Kennedy died 50 years ago, struck down by an assassin like his brother and Martin Luther King before him.

    We do not what would have happened had RFK lived. Counterfactual histories are tempting to write, typically far too flattering to their protagonists. We do know that New York’s…

  • [NYDN] Brother of Kalief Browder says state has failed on criminal justice reform
    (Wednesday, June 06, 2018 1:00:00 AM)

    Upset with Gov. Cuomo’s failure to deliver promised criminal justice reforms, the brother of teen suicide victim Kalief Browder will mark the third anniversary of his death by pressing lawmakers to act before the legislative session ends later this month.

    Akeem Browder will be at the state Capitol…

  • [NYDN] EXCLUSIVE: Cop fired over fake shooting sued to get job back; now wants NYPD to return his gun
    (Wednesday, June 06, 2018 1:00:00 AM)

    A cop fired after he was accused of orchestrating his own shooting sued and got his job back — but he won’t rest until he gets his gun and is allowed to return to patrol duty, the Daily News has learned.

    The NYPD, however, appears determined to keep Officer Brian O’Byrne behind a desk, doing administrative…

  • [NYDN] Dozens of cops to be honored for heroics, sacrifice at NYPD Medal Day ceremony
    (Wednesday, June 06, 2018 12:50:00 AM)

    Some sacrificed their lives for the people of New York City, while others braved gunfire from cop-hating criminals and survived.

    The NYPD is set to posthumously honor more than two dozen cops, including Detective Miosotis Familia — who was executed by a career criminal in the Bronx last year —…

  • [NYDN] Judge who gave Brock Turner lenient sentence for sexual assault voted out of office
    (Tuesday, June 05, 2018 11:45:00 PM)

    The controversial judge who slapped ex-Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner with what critics called a light sentence for attempted rape will be officially removed from office.

    Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky was voted off the bench in Santa Clara County on Tuesday, as the San Francisco Chronicle…

  • [NYDN] Former Navy pilot wins Democratic primary in N.J. as other races across the U.S. draw political battle lines
    (Tuesday, June 05, 2018 11:35:00 PM)

    A Democratic former Navy pilot earned the chance to take on a deep-pocketed GOP state lawmaker in the suburbs of south New Jersey as a night of primaries across the country drew political battle lines for the November fight for control of Congress.

    Mikie Sherrill, a former military pilot, and Democratic…

  • [NYDN] Arizona cops surround, pummel man in gut-wrenching footage
    (Tuesday, June 05, 2018 11:20:00 PM)

    Four officers were sidelined Tuesday as brutal surveillance footage emerged showing cops encircling a man and beating him without relent in an Arizona apartment building.

    Mesa Police Chief Ramon Batista, struggling to explain the startling show of force, promised to follow through with an ongoing…

  • [NYDN] Man on LSD told cops he thought he was playing Grand Theft Auto when he stole a car right in front of them
    (Tuesday, June 05, 2018 9:40:00 PM)

    He thought it was all a game.

    An Oregon man who took LSD thought he was playing the video game Grand Theft Auto when he hopped into a Toyota Camry in front of police, then evaded them for 40 miles.

    Anthony Clark was arrested after a chase right out of the violent video game series, which ended…

  • [NYDN] Wendy’s employee hit with burger for screwing up customer’s order
    (Tuesday, June 05, 2018 9:30:00 PM)

    MIDDLETOWN, Conn. — Police say a Connecticut woman was so angry about a mishandled Wendy’s order that she hit the cashier with her burger.

    The Connecticut Post reports 50-year-old Holly Bartolotta of New Britain is charged with disturbing the peace Friday at the Middletown fast food restaurant.

  • [NYDN] Upstate congressman entering N.Y. State attorney general Democratic primary
    (Tuesday, June 05, 2018 9:00:00 PM)

    Upstate Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney on Wednesday will formally announce he’s running for state attorney general at the same time he’s seeking re-election to Congress.

    Maloney said he will try to petition his way onto the Sept. 13 Democratic primary ballot for attorney general. He said if he wins…

  • [NYDN] Charges dropped against man accused of killing cabbie after hitting him with hockey stick
    (Tuesday, June 05, 2018 8:45:00 PM)

    A Manhattan man who whacked a livery cab driver with a hockey stick outside of Chelsea Piers, will not be charged in the cabbie’s death.

    Kohji Kosugi, 39, claimed self-defense after he was arrested for the fatal scuffle with 68-year-old Randolph Tolk on Nov. 11. Prosecutors dismissed manslaughter…

  • [NYDN] ‘Ocean’s 8’ stars say they hope female-led movie will spark big changes in Hollywood, #MeToo
    (Tuesday, June 05, 2018 8:30:00 PM)

    The stars of “Ocean’s 8” are hopeful their female-led heist movie is only the beginning of a major shift in Hollywood.

    The film — which centers on eight women who team up to rob New York’s glitzy Met Gala — comes during a #MeToo era where the world is calling for more empowering and dynamic roles…

  • [NYDN] Brooklyn gym teacher arrested after play-fight with students turns real
    (Tuesday, June 05, 2018 8:20:00 PM)

    A city gym teacher is accused of choking two students when a play fight took a very real turn in a Brooklyn high school Tuesday morning, cops said.

    Xavier Guerrero, 32, who teaches at the Khalil Gibran International Academy in Boerum Hill, was scuffling with a teenage boy when he wrapped his hand…

  • [NYDN] Ex-con arrested for stabbing slay of Bronx man during robbery
    (Tuesday, June 05, 2018 8:15:00 PM)

    An ex-con is accused of knifing a Bronx man to death during a home invasion robbery last month, police said.

    Charles Randolph, 39, was arrested Tuesday and charged with murder, robbery and burglary in the May 13 slaying of 52-year-old William Easter, authorities said.

    Easter argued with a woman…

  • [NYDN] Tennessee man wanted for killing ex-boss with hatchet arrested in Kentucky
    (Tuesday, June 05, 2018 8:00:00 PM)

    A Tennessee man wanted for killing his former boss with a hatchet during a workout was nabbed after a two-day manhunt, authorities said.

    Metro Nashville police caught up with Domenic Micheli near Bowling Green, Ky., on Tuesday night as he rode in a Toyota Prius, department officials said.

    The 36-year-old…

  • [NYDN] Kate Spade’s sister says she was not surprised by designer’s suicide
    (Tuesday, June 05, 2018 8:00:00 PM)

    Designer Kate Spade, who struggled with depression and alcoholism later in life, fixated on comedian Robin Williams suicide by hanging and that may have served as her inspiration, her sister said.

    Rato Saffo wrote in an email to the Daily News that the designer’s suicide was a long time coming.

  • [NYDN] Harper: Even if Mets really got their guy in Jarred Kelenic, what happens between now and his MLB arrival?
    (Tuesday, June 05, 2018 7:40:00 PM)

    Early June somehow felt like late September at Citi Field, as two of the four lowest-scoring teams in the majors played fast but far from furiously, as if they couldn’t wait to be somewhere else on Tuesday night.

    And so it goes for the Mets, who put up little resistance in losing 2-1 to the dreadful…

  • [NYDN] Judge ‘likely’ to allow city cops to sue to keep their NYPD disciplinary records secret
    (Tuesday, June 05, 2018 7:35:00 PM)

    A judge on Tuesday said he will “likely” allow NYPD rank-and-file to proceed with their lawsuit over department plans to release their disciplinary records.

    Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron heard arguments both from lawyers representing the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association and city…

  • [NYDN] Cops stun, bust driver who took armored military vehicle from Virginia’s Fort Pickett out for spin
    (Tuesday, June 05, 2018 7:25:00 PM)

    A man was busted after taking a massive armored military vehicle for a joy ride and leading dozens of police on a bizarre chase through Virginia highways and towns Tuesday night, authorities said.

    The vehicle left the Virginia National Guard-operated Fort Pickett near Blackstone at around 8 p.m.,…

  • [NYDN] Bill Clinton gets a do-over on Monica Lewinsky #MeToo question during ‘Late Show’ appearance
    (Tuesday, June 05, 2018 7:20:00 PM)

    Bill Clinton’s second attempt at the #MeToo movement went better than his first — and not just because it couldn’t go worse.

    The former President appeared on “The Late Show” Tuesday night to promote his book, “The President is Missing,” with James Patterson, and was granted a do-over after ill-advised…

  • [NYDN] Authorities bust 17 alleged dealers of violent crew that peddled heroin, fentanyl in Bronx, Westchester
    (Tuesday, June 05, 2018 7:15:00 PM)

    A gang takedown Tuesday netted 17 people accused of slinging heroin laced with fentanyl in the Bronx and Westchester County, police said.

    NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea said at least five people fatally overdosed with drugs bought from the crew, and there were additional nonfatal ODs in the…

  • [NYDN] State Department spokeswoman uses D-Day as an example of long relationship with Germany
    (Tuesday, June 05, 2018 7:10:00 PM)

    A top State Department spokesperson referenced the D-Day invasion during World War II as an example of the United States’ strong ties to Germany.

    The department has been under fire since U.S. Ambassador to Germany Rick Grenell told Breitbart News he wants to help empower far-right groups in Europe,…

  • [NYPost] Why Trae Young chose the Knicks for hyped workout
    (Tuesday, June 05, 2018 8:00:34 AM)

    The Knicks became the first — and lowest-in-the-draft — team that electric Oklahoma point guard Trae Young will work out for. After going through his Knicks workout Tuesday in Tarrytown, Young said the Knicks would be a “cool” franchise to join and he doesn’t care a whit they are selecting at No. 9 on June…

  • [NYTimes] LeBron James and Stephen Curry Unite Against White House Visits
    (Wednesday, June 06, 2018 1:09:04 AM)

    The N.F.L. champion Philadelphia Eagles didn’t have a customary White House visit, and apparently the winner of the N.B.A. title won’t go, either.

  • [NYTimes] On Pro Basketball: LeBron James: The Strange Thrill of a One-Man Show
    (Wednesday, June 06, 2018 12:52:40 AM)

    Rarely has one of the N.B.A.’s supreme players chased a championship with less help and more athleticism. Will his thrilling performances prove futile?

  • [NYTimes] Not at the Game: Over, Easy: A Basketball Aficionado Foresees the Warriors’ Surge Past the Rockets
    (Wednesday, June 06, 2018 10:23:12 AM)

    Fabulous Flournoy, a Bronx native, has been a player-coach for a professional team in Britain for the past 17 seasons.

  • [NY Newsday] Knicks work out Oklahoma point guard Trae Young
    (Tuesday, June 05, 2018 2:42:34 PM)

    GREENBURGH — Trae Young has not been to a game at Madison Square Garden. He has been on a tour there, however, visiting with his AAU team in fifth grade.

  • [NY Newsday] Knicks add Keith Smart, Pat Sullivan, Royal Ivey to David Fizdale’s coaching staff, source says
    (Tuesday, June 05, 2018 12:25:14 PM)

    David Fizdale’s coaching staff with the Knicks is taking shape.

  • 66 replies on “Knicks Morning News (2018.06.06)”

    Carrying over from the last thread — I’m sure this will come back to bite me in some sort of THCJ rant in 8 years, but I have zero interest in Kevin Knox. Literally the only thing he does well is be born in the year he was born in, be tall, and look athletic. He doesn’t block shots. He doesn’t steal the ball. He doesn’t rebound the ball He doesn’t pass the ball. His 2P% as a supposedly freakish 6’9″ athlete is 50.9% which would be a middling number for 6’1″ guard. Maybe he shows some upside as a shooter, but certainly nothing special. I’m not all into “production” as the ultimate arbiter (as opposed to tools/potential) but you have to produce a little bit at least, he’s maybe the least productive wing in projected to be drafted in the 1st round (minus Porter, but that was due to injury). I couldn’t possibly imagine picking him unless it were in a trade-down scenario at maybe something like #16 — and even in that case I’d prob rather have Troy Brown.

    That’s the thing with guys like Knox, though. I, too, would not want the Knicks to draft him because he’s all projection. Sometimes those all projection guys pay off, though. He certainly has the body for it.

    Knox is a really good shooter off screens for a guy his size. I like his chances more than most people here, but I wouldn’t draft him 9th either

    Is a 14.5 DRB% for a guy who predominantly played the 3 next to 2 bigs bad? He’s not a very good help defender at the 3, but he didn’t look or play like a huge defensive minus either.

    Is 55.6 TS on 44.5/34/77 splits in an offense with horrible spacing and driving angles in which Knox was essentially used as a Monk replacement as an off screen shooter not promising at all?

    I’m not interested in Knox at 9, but he’s a guy who has the tools to be a 3 level scorer in the NBA and in many ways was hampered by his situation at Kentucky. The role he was asked to play as essentially a floor spacing wing really obscures what he could potentially do IMO.

    If we traded down from 9 with the Clippers for 12 and 13 I’d seriously consider him there. I do think there’s upside and the potential for growth long term with him. The main question I have with him is whether he’s quick enough to defend 3s or long and active enough to perform the duties of a 4 defensively.

    I liked Tatum alot last year, quite a bit more than most here who I think were still in the early stages of Melo PTSD. I see Knox as a much rawer, less athletic version of Tatum. At the end of the lotto or mid-first that’s a promising player worth taking a chance on IMO.

    Stratomatic "Porzingis, Ntilikina, and one of the Bridges are going to lead us to the promised land"says:

    I’m still projecting Anthony Randolph to be a great player.

    Stratomatic "Porzingis, Ntilikina, and one of the Bridges are going to lead us to the promised land"says:

    Trae Young was the most double teamed point guard in NCAA history last season. He was double teamed on 43.7% of his touches past half court. #2 on that list was Steph Curry at 31.4%.

    This is the kind of thing that could help explain the 2nd half drop off in his numbers. We saw how KP struggled with that. He kept shooting progressively tougher shots. But I don’t watch much college basketball. I have no idea if that’s a clear cut explanation in Young’s case.

    what tools does kevin knox have to be a 3 level scorer exactly? his dribble drive sucks… his ability to finish is very mediocre…. he has a semblance of a floater game but he looks awkward most of the time because he’s simply not a fluid athlete…. and I mention his floater game because he’s not exactly great in traffic….

    he has a jumpshot… and that’s about it… and he depends on it too much because of the above…. it’s like the arguments ppl were making about frank last year… there is simply a large gap between what he currently is and what ppl think he is….

    if you think he will become something he currently has not shown the ability to do.. then ok… but you have to realize that it’s not projection at that point.. that’s hope….

    I see Knox as a much rawer, less athletic version of Tatum.

    that is actually how i see myself. knox is the player that would bum me out most. not a great athlete, not a plus passer, not a high motor, meh physicality at best. lots of talent and fluidity for his length and pretty good looking shot but that doesn’t seem like nearly enough.

    if you think he will become something he currently has not shown the ability to do.. then ok… but you have to realize that it’s not projection at that point.. that’s hope….

    It is projection. IMO he depends on the floater not because he can’t get to the rim — he shot 67.4% there — but because the spacing at UK sucked and poor decision making on his part, something that’s fixable.

    People are allowed to disagree on this, but plenty of scouting reports on Knox mentions his potential to become a 3 level scorer.

    Here’s some positives on him from the Ringer’s NBA draft guide

    Skilled finisher around the rim; uses either hand, can yam on defenders, and has fluid body control driving around opponents.

    Displays pick-and-roll scoring upside; can pull up, get to the rim, or take advantage of smaller players on a switch.

    And from his weaknesses

    Settles for too many midrange jumpers and floaters early in the shot clock.

    So yeah, I feel comfortable in my assessment that he has the ability to develop into a 3 level scorer. The likelihood of him doing so as well as what position he can and will defend in the NBA is why I wouldn’t take him at 9.

    I don’t know what arguments people were making about Frank last year. I do know that when you’re drafting 18, 19 and 20 year olds projection and hope are inextricably tied together.

    @9 I totally agree. From the film I’ve watched, he clearly has the potential to be a #3 scorer at least. That floater is very effective even if it is awkward looking. He has nice touch on his jumper and has good range.
    At his age, he is probably still growing a bit and certainly will get stronger which will help him at the next level.
    Depending on who is there at 9, the kid could certainly fill a need. We could use a guy with his size and shooting ability at the 3.

    In the past, I would’ve been really hesitant drafting a guy as young as Knox and then handing him over to Kurt Rambis or whoever to mold into a decent player. I’m going to assume this regime will be better at player development, but it’s really impossible to judge yet.

    I like Knox better as a big, long 3 than as a 4, but he needs to improve his three-point shooting, off-ball movement on offense, handle and passing. Can this be done? Sure, I guess.

    But I think his defense was actually pretty good in the tournament.

    Knox is 6’9″ with a 7′ wingspan, runs the floor we’ll and has a 36″ vertical. He is more versatile offensively right now than most of our roster. Mikal maybe better now, but if you’re looking 3 years out, I like Knox, especially next to Porzingis.

    I’m convinced that we should just go for a bunch of long, athletic 3 and D wings. Stack the team with guys like that position. We already have a 6’7 guard in Ntilikina. Let’s create a uniform profile from positions 1-3.

    Woj says the Knicks have a workout with Robert Williams. I highly doubt they pick him but glad they’re doing due diligence I guess. I still think he’d be a great pick both from a value and fit perspective but our front office isn’t exactly being subtle about their desire for a wing.

    @14 – I wonder whether they are exploring trade-down scenarios in case whoever they are targeting at 9 is gone by then?

    If anything, Mills looks like he’s scouting a lot more roads than we’re used to. That’s good, in a vacuum.

    If we traded down from 9 with the Clippers for 12 and 13 I’d seriously consider him there

    I think 12 & 13 has much more value than 9 in this draft, and West probably knows that. At 9, you’re hoping someone from the top 8 falls. It’s possible, but the likely BPAs are Mikal and Miles Bridges.

    At 12 & 13, you can come away with Sexton and whoever you like best from Knox, Smith, Brown. All 4 players are 19 years old so they’re hard to project, but I would be happy to have three high-ceiling 19 year old prospects like Frank, Sexton, and Knox to go along with Porzingis.

    We’d almost definitely have a top 5 pick next year and possibly even the year after. But there’s a huge difference between watching a team suck because it’s composed of promising young prospects vs the crap that we’ve had to watch.

    The downside to so many young players is we’d have a lot of challenging second contracts to navigate. Second contracts to non-elite players are becoming much more problematic with the recent CBA changes.

    I mean, if Porter or Young falls to us at 9, do you trade him to the Clips for their 2 picks to get a Williams/Knox platter? Would be fun to be able to run out a KP/Williams/Knox/Dotson/Ntilikina lineup!

    Stratomatic "Porzingis, Ntilikina, and one of the Bridges are going to lead us to the promised land"says:

    When did we all decide to start saying 3 level scorer?

    Bird was a 4 level scorer. He could score from 3 point range, mid range, at the basket, and behind the basket.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebx61XuFGX8

    When did we all decide to start saying 3 level scorer?

    Guess I’m not the only one who has no clue what this means. Regardless I have no interest whatsoever in Knox. The Tatum comparison does very little for me because despite them looking somewhat alike and having similar measurements, Tatum was more productive in college across the board. Save guys who are all projection for bought second round picks, not the lottery.

    I don’t think the Clippers trade 12 and 13 for 9 regardless of who falls, if for no other reason because I’m sure there’s someone in the top 8 who would make that trade. I also don’t think the difference between 9 and 12/13 in this draft is large enough to justify trading two swings for one.

    @6, Yeah, as someone who watched many of his games, I can vouch for the fact that Trae had no help from his crappy teammates and, so, was swarmed by defenses (though that number you posted is shocking) after his ridiculous first month or 2. He did make the effort to adjust by shooting less and distributing more, but again, the guy was getting no help – on a much different level (NO I AM NOT COMPARING HIM TO LEBRON), think of LeBron putting open 3s on a silver platter to his collection of misfit bricklayers.

    I’m preparing to be miserable again as we miss out on him because of those morale boosting wins over the Nets.

    Seems like you guys are softening in young and Knox. Earlier in the year those guys were crap.

    The Stepien has some great draft articles lately on specific positions, with the emphasis on favoring well rounded guys who can stretch the defense. ie. they are very high on Wendell Carter and low on Robert Williams (in terms of lottery talent – nothing wrong with Williams as a late round pick, but he’s very limited on both sides in terms of stretching a defense and guarding anyone on the perimeter/switching).

    I want no part of Knox or Miles Bridges. Either would make me very sad.

    There are just so many guys who are projected outside the top 10 I’d hope for over Knox. I mean, quite a few mocks have De’Anthony Melton as a second rounder and I’d take him over Knox 10 times out of 10.

    Stratomatic "Porzingis, Ntilikina, and one of the Bridges are going to lead us to the promised land"says:

    I want no part of Knox or Miles Bridges. Either would make me very sad.

    If I had to bet, I’d say the Knicks are taking one of the Bridges. Initially I thought Mikal would be the selection if he was available and the Miles would be the selection if Mikal was taken by the Bulls or Cavs. Now I think they are neck and neck and Miles may even have a slight edge. If they are both available, that may be an interesting selection. Be prepared to be sad.

    (personally I’m not sure which I prefer. i see positives and negative on both sides)

    Yeah, don’t get me wrong, I’m still hoping for Young or Carter (and to a lesser extent Porter Jr.) to drop, but there’s a very good chance we’re going to be picking between Bridges, Bridges, Sexton or trading down, and I’m not sure I have a favorite of those.

    the evidence simply isn’t there with knox despite what folks at theringer say… I mean saying someone has ‘pnr scoring upside’ for a guy who had 1.0 assist per 40minutes is basically saying he can score with a screen which about 100% of the wings and guards should be able to do…. it’s not great analysis…

    the difference between projection and hope is that projection starts with something there…. at least that’s how I use it but many confuse the two…. I don’t really think height and wingspan are enough to project anything… at least with guys who are expected to excel with the ball in their hands…. and the reason being if they have the ball in their hands… you need to judge them on what they can do with the ball…

    knox isn’t the first player who put up subpar rebounding, steals and blocks #s on top of his really poor ball handling ones… and there’s no evidence to suggest that he’s something special to ignore all of those things….

    I think my tiers would go something like this:

    I would be very happy: Young, Porter Jr., unrealistic drops / tradeups for Doncic or Jackson Jr.

    I would be happy: Carter Jr, Mikal, Bamba.

    I would be ok: Miles.

    I would be unhappy: Sexton, Knox.

    Miles at this moment gets the advantage over Mikal for his excellent rebounding and secondary play making skills. Mikal not being big enough to guard big 3’s hurts him in the Bridges debate IMO.

    the difference between projection and hope is that projection starts with something there…. at least that’s how I use it but many confuse the two…. I don’t really think height and wingspan are enough to project anything…

    We’ve seen players with pedestrian college stats get selected in the lottery based on athleticism and upside and not pan out. And we’ve seen players with excellent college stats get selected in the lottery and not pan out. And, obviously, we’ve seen many players with excellent college stats get selected in the lottery that have gone on to be excellent in the NBA.

    Are there many examples of players in that forth box: the ones with pedestrian college stats that get selected in the lottery based on athleticism and upside that do, in fact, go on to have excellent NBA careers?

    The closest success I can think of to Knox’s profile is Paul George, who had similar measurements and similar stats his freshman year. But for every Paul George success, there are probably a dozen Joe Alexanders/Eddie Griffin/Dejuan Wagner “athletic upside” lotto picks that don’t pan out, right?

    I think Mikal should be able to guard 3’s just fine, assuming his measurements are for real. 6’7″ with 7+’ wingspan is plenty big to check pretty much any wing that isn’t Lebron. Those measurements are pretty much exactly MKG-sized, but of course Mikal is a lot skinnier than MKG. The real question with Mikal is whether he will ever be strong enough to switch onto 4’s comfortably and not get bulldozed, and whether he has enough diversity in terms of ways to score or otherwise help an offense.

    Would be fine with Miles Bridges too. We’ve been predicting him to end up on the Knicks for 2 years now so my brain is numb to it.

    Pretty much co-sign on Bruno’s draft feelings although I would pretty psyched if we landed Bamba just to watch two pterodactyls on the court at the same time.

    Tayshaun Prince was a few inches taller and heavier than Mikal but defensively he could hold his own against a guy like Lebron because of his length. That would be the best case scenario defensively for Mikal IMO.

    kinda disappointed Mikal didn’t do the measurements, but maybe he will do them for the teams individually during the workouts.

    I mean if he is a legit 6’7″ and 7’1″ or 7’2″ wingspan (ie. they were not lying all these years like so many teams/prospects do) then I think he’ll be totally fine guarding at least 1-3.

    When did we all decide to start saying 3 level scorer?

    If you can’t communicate with the modern NBA basketblogger I might have to retract my endorsement of you for GM.

    george had pretty decent #s in college… certainly lightyears ahead of knox… but had subpar scoring efficiency…. and he was also aided by a decent growth spurt during his rookie year which probably helped him with overcoming that…

    the best examples of guys who overcame pedestrian college numbers are actually a group of prospects…. ucla guards/sfs for the entire decade of 00.. they all posted pretty mediocre numbers but all became good to very good pro’s….

    that list includes… jrue holiday… matt barnes… afflalo… jordan farmar… ariza… mbah a moute… darren collison… and the most extreme version of this was westbrook…

    some of these guys were actually underrated headed in but it’s uncanny how high of a success rate they had compared to their actual college production…. it’s likely that howland’s system .. or the overcrowding of talent… hid some of their abilities on offense to certain degrees…

    environment matters.. deandre Jordan is another example where he just sort of got put in a bad coaching situation also… but you can’t explain away all of a prospect’s lack of production due to environment alone either…

    I’ve seen Klay Thompson guard Kevin Love on the perimeter with no problem with my own 2 eyes; I see Mikal having similar success on stretch 4s when the need arises.

    #eyetest

    Mikal has blocked Centers on post ups before. I’m sure he’ll be fine on switches.

    George took a while to become a high usage scorer too, it wasn’t until his 4th season when he was 23 that he became the player he is now. Mikal is already a more stable shooter from 3 and there’s still room for growth. I still like him a lot because growth in prospects seems so hard to predict, and he already has shown ability to shoot and defend at a good level. If there’s no guy available with a much higher ceiling (meaning mostly Young and Porter) I’d rather take the guy who at least will be a good Lance Thomas type player than gamble on guys like Knox or Sexton figuring it out.

    I’m kind of meh on Mikal. 3 & D wings who don’t add much in the way of passing or rebounding can be found readily enough- heck the Knicks have two guys in Frank and Dotson who might give you 3 & D plus playmaking (Frank) or rebounding (Dotson). That said, the Knicks are so talent starved that they need to get a useful player with this pick and Mikal is probably the safest bet to be at least a quality rotation player on a good team unless somebody unexpected drops. I’m hoping Cleveland or Chicago takes Mikal so one of Carter/Porter/Young drops but we’re probably choosing between one the Bridges and Sexton- If that’s the choice then I’m fine with Mikal.

    The maturation of Kristaps Porzingis from teenager to today pic.twitter.com/8ku2yD0xbj— Knicks Film School (@KnickFilmSchool) June 6, 2018

    KP getting bigger. I wonder if him gaining all this muscle is a good thing though. I sometimes feel that more weight only puts more stress on his back, knee, ankle and feet. The goal should be to get stronger not bigger.

    I gotta hand it to Fizdale. He sure does talk the talk:

    “I know my history — that’s the one thing I know,’’ Fizdale said. “I’ve watched all of their old teams. That’s part of why I wanted to be here. I want to have an unselfish ballclub just like them.”
    Fizdale added: “There’s a lot of known parts from different [Knicks] teams I want. The roughness from the Riley-[Jeff] Van Gundy teams. [In the 1970s] I loved how they ran the floor and moved the ball back in their day. I want dynamic guard play like Walt [Frazier] and those guys. I want all of it.”

    Let’s see if he can walk the walk.

    Sign and trade, Lebron to the Knicks for Kanter, Noah, and every odd year Knicks first round pick starting in 2019 to the ending of the world.
    🙂

    Might be unpopular but him winning a title here would feel like Lebron winning more than the Knicks winning, if that makes sense.

    It’s not gonna happen, so don’t worry about it.

    I mean, the only way we’d end up with LeBron would be when he’s almost done and is no longer a three level scorer.

    This might sound weird, but I would hate it having all LeBron’s fan boys jump on the bandwagon if he came to NY and won a chip. I want to enjoy a championship with the fans that have suffered through the last 18 years rather than with the LeBronites.

    Silly thing to say considering we haven’t won a championship since the 70’s, but it would irk me a little. Not going to happen so it probably doesn’t even matter ha ha

    I wouldn’t mind Lebron on my team, but we don’t have the cap space for this.

    Lebron is awesome but steph is going to start making shots at some point and then it’s over.

    Watching the Finals, I’m just counting my lucky stars that we didn’t choose Mark Jackson as our coach.

    I would rather eat a bag of potting soil than have to listen all day to “Hand Down, Man Down. Mama, There Goes That Man. That’s a Grown Man Move.”

    Please, please, please. Help us all.

    Deadspin had a solid Fire Mark Jackson piece this week. Watching him, every time, makes me wish the Fire Joe Morgan guys watched basketball.

    Rodney Hood making Lue look silly for not benching Clarkson sooner.

    KD is a bad man. Absolute bomb from 3 to pretty much close the game and the series.

    LeBron please go to Philly I wanna see the warriors lose and Joel Embiid clown them on Twitter for it

    The Warriors are something else. Steph and Klay combine to go 7-27 and they still win a road game against LeBron and his triple double because Kevin Durant politely put up 43 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists. The truth is there is no team currently assembled that can beat the Warriors when they only turn the ball over 10 times.

    Thank you , Kevin Durant, for going to Golden State and taking all the drama out of the NBA playoffs.

    Now I’m hoping Orlando takes Young because that increases the odds of Cleveland taking Sexton and letting Carter or Porter slip to us. They seriously have zero playmaking outside of LBJ.

    Comments are closed.