Knicks Morning News (2018.06.11)

  • [NYPost] Knicks want to see more of ‘best player’ in draft
    (Sunday, June 10, 2018 4:00:53 PM)

    Top-level Knicks brass will head to Chicago on Friday to work out Missouri small forward Michael Porter Jr., according to an NBA source. One year ago, the uber-athletic Porter was projected as the No. 1 pick of the 2018 draft, but he played in just three games for the Tigers last season after suffering a…

  • [SNY Knicks] Knicks to host prep school point guard Anfernee Simons
    (Sunday, June 10, 2018 5:30:00 PM)

    Rick Pitino has been helping Anfernee Simons with the NBA Draft process.

  • [NYDN] Running Doc on how to treat blisters after running
    (Monday, June 11, 2018 3:00:00 AM)

    Dear Running Doc:

    I am a 27-year-old runner that just started running last year. Every time I run, starting with the first time, I get blisters all over my feet that I need to pop. I have tried all different weights of running socks, thin and thick, and powders. Can you help me with a strategy…

  • [NYDN] Robert De Niro gets bleeped at the Tony Awards for Trump F-bomb
    (Monday, June 11, 2018 2:25:00 AM)

    Robert De Niro had the CBS censors on high alert at the Tony Awards Sunday night.

    The legendary actor, introducing a performance by Bruce Springsteen, earned a standing ovation when he proclaimed “f— Trump” at the beginning of his speech.

    “It’s no longer ‘down with Trump,’” he said behind the…

  • [NYDN] Without the test, Stuyvesant won’t work
    (Monday, June 11, 2018 2:00:00 AM)

    At the end of my sophomore year at Stuyvesant High School, my AP European History class was required to take the Global History Regents. We hadn’t studied the statewide global history curriculum that year, so as the Regents approached, we nervously asked our teacher how we could possibly learn…

  • [NYDN] Nix this admissions test: A recent Stuyvesant grad makes the case against the SHSAT
    (Monday, June 11, 2018 2:00:00 AM)

    “Let my people study.”

    A movement to keep the Specialized High School Standardized Admissions Test as the sole criterion for admission to specialized high schools appropriated the line, “Let my people go,” from the African American spiritual, “Go Down Moses.”

    The protesters — mostly low-income,…

  • [NYDN] American pilot in serious condition after F-15 crashes off coast of Japan
    (Monday, June 11, 2018 1:15:00 AM)

    An American pilot is in serious condition after his F-15 crashed off of the coast of Japan.U.S. Forces Japan said that the aircraft from the Kadena airbase was on a routine training mission when it went down on Monday.The pilot was rescued by Japan Air Self-Defense Force Search and Rescue and was…

  • [NYDN] For Percoco, sometimes ziti is just ziti
    (Monday, June 11, 2018 1:05:00 AM)

    Sometimes ziti is just ziti.

    Former Gov. Cuomo top aide and confidante Joseph Percoco, awaiting sentencing for his conviction on three federal corruption charges, received permission from a judge to travel upstate last week with his daughter for her team sporting event, court filings show.

    A source…

  • [NYDN] Many GOP lobbyists hedging their bets over NYS Senate
    (Monday, June 11, 2018 1:00:00 AM)

    The following is an expanded version of the second item from my “Albany Insider” column from Monday’s print editions:

    With control of the Senate up for grabs in November and some predictions of a “blue wave”, Senate Democratic Minority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins’ fundraiser in Albany last week…

  • [NYDN] Brooklyn landlord with criminal contempt warrant is still harassing tenants
    (Monday, June 11, 2018 1:00:00 AM)

    A fugitive Brooklyn landlord who has been on the run for two years over one of his housing court cases is still trying to run tenants out, advocates allege.

    Yaniv (Ben) Erez is the subject of a March 2016 New York City Sheriff’s Office warrant for criminal contempt after damaging an apartment on…

  • [NYDN] LOVETT: Cuomo taking bus to push for ‘red flag’ gun control bill
    (Monday, June 11, 2018 1:00:00 AM)

    ALBANY — Heading into the final days of the legislative session, Gov. Cuomo will make a final push for passage of a “red flag” bill designed to make it easier to keep firearms out of the hands of those feared to be dangerous to themselves or others.

    During the next two weeks, Cuomo will travel…

  • [NYDN] N.Y. lawmakers call on Trump to reject proposal that expands restrictions for green card applicants
    (Monday, June 11, 2018 1:00:00 AM)

    More than 70 Democratic state lawmakers have written President Trump expressing opposition to a draft proposal that would make it more difficult for immigrants to receive green cards.

    “If finalized, these changes would fundamentally and negatively alter who we are as a nation, directly threaten…

  • [NYDN] NOW slams lieutenant governor candidate Jumaane Williams on abortion, same-sex marriage
    (Monday, June 11, 2018 1:00:00 AM)

    The National Organization for Women’s New York chapter is going after lieutenant governor candidate Jumaane Williams on gay rights and abortion stances.

    The Brooklyn city councilman, who is challenging fellow Democrat Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, has said he is personally opposed to same-sex marriage…

  • [NYDN] Staffers taped together official documents Trump ripped up
    (Sunday, June 10, 2018 11:45:00 PM)

    Staffers in charge of presidential records were forced into the task of of Trumpty-Dumpty and put together again official documents he had ripped up, according to a report.

    Two employees in records management told POLITICO that their department in charge of preserving documents that needed to be…

  • [NYDN] Tennessee woman charged with transporting two young children in pet kennels inside her car
    (Sunday, June 10, 2018 10:45:00 PM)

    A Tennessee woman is being charged with with two counts of child endangerment after transporting a pair of kids in pet kennels stored in the back of her car.

    According to a Memphis police affidavit, Leimome Cheeks claims there was no room inside her vehicle, so she told the children ages 7 and…

  • [NYDN] Bronx man takes his own life by setting his girlfriend on fire in murder-suicide
    (Sunday, June 10, 2018 10:40:00 PM)

    A man’s hatred of his girlfriend burned so hot that he set her and himself on fire in a murder-suicide in the Bronx, police and neighbors said Sunday.

    The blaze erupted at 1:15 p.m. Saturday on Adams Place in Belmont.

    The man died soon after he was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital, authorities said….

  • [NYDN] Tree-killing beetles that have wreaked havoc in southern forests are coming to Northeast
    (Sunday, June 10, 2018 9:40:00 PM)

    ALBANY — A beetle that has killed millions of acres of pines in southern forests is munching its way north, and new research suggests its tree-killing prowess could be magnified in cooler climes.

    Once unheard-of north of Delaware, southern pine beetles have been steadily expanding their range as…

  • [NYDN] Todd Frazier gets last laugh following playful trash talk toward ex-Yankee teammate Luis Severino
    (Sunday, June 10, 2018 9:35:00 PM)

    Luis Severino lobbed some playful trash talk toward former teammate Todd Frazier, who threw some right back at him. Frazier got the last word with his bat.

    After Severino chirped at Frazier for the way he reached out on a third-inning single, Frazier homered off Severino in the fifth inning, a…

  • [NYDN] President Trump tees off on Canada and NATO in angry tweets from Singapore as he prepares for meeting with Kim Jong Un
    (Sunday, June 10, 2018 9:35:00 PM)

    President Trump didn’t waste any time firing back at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and NATO in his first day in Singapore on Monday, after meeting with US allies at the G7 in Canada.

    “Fair Trade is now to be called Fool Trade if it is not Reciprocal,” Trump tweeted.

    “According to a Canada…

  • [NYDN] Mets release 1B Adrian Gonzalez, call up Dominic Smith from Triple-A Las Vegas
    (Sunday, June 10, 2018 9:10:00 PM)

    The Adrian Gonzalez experiment is over.

    After the 36-year-old first baseman went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in the Mets’ 2-0 win Sunday night over the Yankees, the Mets announced they were giving Gonzalez his unconditional release. Prospect Dominic Smith will be called up from Triple-A Las Vegas.

  • [NYDN] ‘Ocean’s 8’ opens with franchise-best to top weekend box office
    (Sunday, June 10, 2018 8:30:00 PM)

    “Ocean’s 8,” the female-fronted overhaul of the starry “Ocean’s” heist franchise, opened with an estimated $41.5 million at the box office, taking the weekend’s top spot from the fast-falling “Solo: A Star Wars Story.”

    At a lower price point and in less fanboy-guarded franchise, “Ocean’s 8” — despite…

  • [NYDN] Tony Awards celebrate Parkland survivors, ‘Band’s Visit’ and ‘Harry Potter’ in quiet ceremony
    (Sunday, June 10, 2018 8:15:00 PM)

    Survivors of a mass shooting at a Florida high school stole the show at Sunday’s Tony Awards ceremony when they sang one of Broadway’s biggest hits and brought the crowd to tears.

    The theater world’s big night was upstaged by one of America’s darkest moments, a school shooting commemorated in a…

  • [NYDN] Harper: Seth Lugo has become too valuable as a starter for the Mets to move him back to the bullpen
    (Sunday, June 10, 2018 8:10:00 PM)

    On anight when Seth Lugo made the case that he should never go back to the bullpen, he also allowed the Mets to salvage at least a little bit of dignity.

    Or as Todd Frazier put it, “Thank God we got a win tonight. We couldn’t get swept at home by the Yankees.”

    It was that kind of week for the Mets,…

  • [NYDN] Robert De Niro gets Tony Awards crowd on its feet with a hearty ‘f–k Trump’
    (Sunday, June 10, 2018 8:00:00 PM)

    Robert De Niro had the CBS censors on high alert at the Tony Awards Sunday night.

    The legendary actor, introducing a performance by Bruce Springsteen, earned a standing ovation when he proclaimed “f–k Trump” at the beginning of his speech.

    “It’s no longer ‘down with Trump,’” he said behind the…

  • [NYDN] Seth Lugo, Todd Frazier lead Mets to 2-0 win over Yankees in Subway Series finale to snap eight-game skid
    (Sunday, June 10, 2018 7:55:00 PM)

    Perhaps the loud “Let’s go Yankees” chants reverberating throughout Citi Field early Sunday night convinced the Mets they were no longer playing at home.

    For the first time this homestand and in the last 10 games in Flushing the Mets were victorious, beating the Yankees 2-0 to avoid a sweep in…

  • [NYDN] Asdrubal Cabrera leaves Yankees-Mets Subway Series finale with tight left hamstring, replaced by Jose Reyes
    (Sunday, June 10, 2018 6:30:00 PM)

    Asdrubal Cabrera left Sunday’s Mets-Yankees game after the third inning with a tight left hamstring and was replaced at second base by Jose Reyes.

    Sandy Alderson said on May 31 that Cabrera was playing at less than 100 percent. Cabrera, batting leadoff Sunday, was particularly slow running to first…

  • [NYDN] Marjory Stoneman Douglas High drama department performs ‘Seasons of Love’ at Tony Awards
    (Sunday, June 10, 2018 6:25:00 PM)

    The survivors of the Parkland school shooting celebrated life at the Tony Awards Sunday night.

    About 20 students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School’s drama department took the stage to perform the iconic “Seasons of Love” from “Rent” in a tear-jerking moment that had the crowd on its feet.

  • 33 replies on “Knicks Morning News (2018.06.11)”

    On a basketball note, is it me, or shouldn’t Michael Porter be coming to us? I get it with Frank and Doncic, but he’s in the US, not playing…wtf?

    Hard to quantify, of course, but it feels like we’ve done a better job getting a wide range of top guys to come and work out for us this year than last. We’re the lowest picking team that both Young and Carter have visited, and I don’t think Porter has any workouts scheduled behind us in the draft.

    Maybe a sign that Perry’s much vaunted network around the league and with agents is actually worth something. If he was interviewing unrealistic coaching candidates to help them with their profile, this kind of thing is presumably the reason why. In any case, feels promising.

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

    @5

    I feel the same way about it. The competency of this management team is still to be tested, but it seems like coaches, agents, and players are more attracted to the organization now. That’s part of the battle. If you bring in high quality personalities, treat players really well, and create a more positive atmosphere, word gets out.

    Last year players were interested in going to OKC.

    Do you think anyone wants to go to OKC to play with Westbrook and Melo next year given the mess there now?

    @6

    I think it plays a part, players do look for what the front office is doing, but OKC is a weird case. We all know despite everything reasonable players still regard Melo very highly and are probably not happy seeing him take so much of the blame. On the other hand, they also view Westbrook super highly and yet his reputation has certainly taken a hit going from “he has no help” to “he actively makes teammates worse”.

    I think it’s too complex and case by case to really matter, it’s not a hive mind of players. One guy might be a big friend of Westbrook and want to join OKC no matter what Presti does, another guy could be Melo’s BFF and vow never to join OKC, etc.

    What I’m saying is that while obviously it helps in a general way to have a front office that’s viewed as competent, it doesn’t really mean anything because all player decisions are super specific.

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

    What I’m saying is that while obviously it helps in a general way to have a front office that’s viewed as competent, it doesn’t really mean anything because all player decisions are super specific.

    I agree. Things are never black or white. They are more of a net positive or negative.

    It’s a net positive to be viewed as competent, without turmoil, and as treating players well, but it’s never the only thing that matters.

    It seems like there is a consensus Top 8 in this draft which of course is the case because the Knicks are picking 9th.

    Man, they are really working out a lot of point guards. Anfernee Simons and Aaron Holiday? It reads as if they DO NOT feel comfortable with Burke/Mudiay/Frank as their point of the future.

    With the chance of Trae falling about .01%, I hope they don’t end up reaching on a pg. A trade down seems tricky too.

    It seems like there is a consensus Top 8 in this draft which of course is the case because the Knicks are picking 9th.

    This gets said every single year but is rarely the case.

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

    Ian Bagley

    The Knicks have an individual workout scheduled with Miami’s Lonnie Walker IV this week, per ESPN sources. Opposing executives believe that Walker, 19, is one of several players in consideration to be selected at No. 9 by the Knicks:

    @9

    One thing for sure is that it pays off to not be seen as a complete mess, and it pays off to have a glowing reputation, the extreme cases are relevant. Like San Antonio – Sacramento or Golden State now – Sterling Clippers.

    The in between gets a lot more difficult to visualize having an impact. I do think the Knicks are at this mid-level situation where Dolan is terrible but not involved enough to really make a player who would want to go to NY not do it, while also not being specially attractive. It’s a good thing because if the wins do start to come it won’t be a major hindrance to the team.

    A guy nobody is talking about that I think would be maybe a better pick than Miles or Mikal Bridges is Kevin Huerter. He’s younger than both of them and has a picture perfect jumper with some ball handling skills. I wonder if the Knicks would work him out because he’s basically a taller Luke Kennard.

    Kevin Huerter is decent but he’s a total non factor on defense and has pretty mediocre secondary skills (subpar A/TO for a secondary handler/mainly a shooter). Hes worth a look around 18-25 though imo.

    @7

    Melo apologist apologists are the third-worst people in the world. Why does this always get qualified otherwise reasonable or some such nonsense when the simple fact of the matter is that a lot of people think Melo is good because a lot of people are dumb?

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

    Enes Kanter is working on his 3 point shot (via Twitter).

    He shot 3’s occasionally when he was on OKC I was a bit surprised to see he didn’t attempt a single one last season.

    Will be interesting to see if he pulls that out during the season. I always thought that as awesome as Kanter is on the offensive glass and maneuvering for high-efficiency shots, his presence down low basically makes it hard for other guys to score in the paint. If you look at the rest of the Knicks shooting efficiency with Kanter on the floor, literally every single player is significantly worse with Kanter on the floor except Courtney Lee and Trey Burke.

    Player / TS with Kanter / TS without Kanter (per nbawowy.com)

    Courtney Lee / 57.3 / 53.7
    Jarret Jack / 48.2 / 50.9
    THJ 47.8 / 56.4
    Kristaps 53.2 / 54
    Lance Thomas 45 / 52.6
    Michael Beasley 52.4 / 58.1
    Ntilikina 41 / 43.9
    McDermott 53.4 / 58.4
    Trey Burke 58.3 / 56.6

    Shooting 3’s obviously would take him away from the offensive glass which is where he derives so much of his value, but it would improve transition defense presumably, and might make other guys’ offense more efficient. And, of course, if he can actually make 3’s then that will help too.

    I wonder if that’s a spacing thing or if it has something to do with Enes never passing or if it’s just something else.

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

    @21

    Excellent.

    It’s things like that may help account for plus/minus data that isn’t always consistent with what the boxscore data says. I think having the ability to knock down 3s will be a plus. It will be on Fisdale to devise the strategy to maximize the extra skill.

    this draft has a lot of pretty decent players and it’s guaranteed that one will be available when the knicks pick… the one problem is that they aren’t paying attention to some of the more intriguing names like troy brown or sga but forgoing them for guys like lonnie walker and kevin knox or colin sexton….

    that being said…. there’s a pretty clarified top 9 of players being talked about and we just happen to be picking 9…. miles bridges would make it 10 if you count him…. and as long as bagley or ayton don’t drop there’s probably a >90% chance that we are choosing between some solid names… mikal bridges… carter… young … with porter and bamba as outside shots….

    so in that lens… we are actually in a pretty good spot …. but the clips are in a more enviable spot with the 12 and 13 picks… they have a great chance at getting the 2nd and 3rd best players in those slots….

    All those extra offensive rebounds mean more opportunities to miss? It’s not like KOQ’s outside shooting was pulling big men away from the rim.

    KOQ played in the high post a lot and was a very effective passer (and not a bad shooter) from there.

    @17 believe it or not Kevin Huerter is actually a decent defender on the wing if you can get past his pedestrian steal and block numbers:

    https://www.thestepien.com/kevin-huerter/

    https://youtu.be/FMcTNK06SNo

    I think I like Huerter more than both Bridges. He might be taller and he’s for sure younger than both of them, has an excellent shooting form, can create for himself, and can defend the 2, 3, and maybe the 1. His per 40 splits are good for a wing, he shot 60.5% from 2 and 41.7% from 3, he had a great combine, and to top it all off he was Mr. Basketball in the state of New York back in 2016.

    I hope it’s not too late to start the #HuerterToNYK campaign. I’d be totally comfortable with picking him 9th overall, and I hope the Knicks get him to workout for them. Honestly if the top of the draft goes Ayton, Bagley, Bamba, Doncic, Jackson Jr, Young, Porter Jr, Carter Jr, I’m taking Kevin Huerter 9th overall and I’m not blinking. I just have less questions about him than I do with the Bridges, and he’s a local talent.

    Huerter looks like a nice player. He does appear to be a better athlete and defender than I initially realized. He has some serious range on that jumper!!!!

    I have less questions about him than I do either Bridges. Mikal can’t create and never will be able to, but here’s Huerter with a picture perfect jumper and more ball handling ability. Mikal Bridges is the better defender due to that length, but Huerter is the more versatile offensive player and he moves better laterally.

    Miles Bridges is stronger, but he’s two inches shorter and a worse shooter. I’d say they create at or around the same level, but we know Huerter has good size to play the 2-3 while we think Bridges is an undersized 4 in both height and wingspan. While I have questions about Miles Bridges’ size, I have none about Huerter. I really hope the Knicks give him a workout and fall in love with him because he’s what we need. A knock down shooter in motion and from a stand still that can defend and has good size for the position? If he shot a higher free throw percentage than the mid 70s (and he’ll definitely be a 90% free throw shooter in the NBA), he may have flirted with a .700 TS%. He and Frank Ntilikina would make a great pairing on the wings. If the Knicks are going to work out Lonnie Walker and Anfernee Simons, they may as well see about Kevin Huerter.

    high 3pr… low scoring volume…. and low defensive stats is a really bad combination… so bad that i’m not sure any nba player has had a sustainable career with those three things being true…

    we’re talking steve novak type of bad…. and i’m afraid huerter is just a specialist…. if you’re offensive game isn’t diverse you’ll need some competence on the defensive end at the very least.. and he’s not stacking up on that side either….

    he’s a typical tail end of the first rd type shooter type that gets overdrafted because some playoff team thinks bench shooting is their one answer that puts them over the top….. guys like him generally should be in the second rd….

    @30 did you even read the article I posted from The Stepien or did you just assume because he’s a white kid that he was a poor defender with no versatility to his offensive game? I’m not sure what you’re talking about with the low scoring volume angle, either. He posted a 21.8% usage rate all year long and a 22.5% usage rate in Big 10 games. He also tested at the combine and placed in the top 10 in pretty much every category.

    I don’t think you could be more off about Huerter as a prospect. He’s a knockdown shooter with the ability to create for himself, attack close outs, and he can make plays for others with his passing. He’s also a good team defender and slides his feet well to stay in front of guys despite the poor steal and block stats. I think you need to look at Huerter again.

    5 two point attempts per 40 is a really really low number… that’s kyle korver /steve novak territory… and he’s not kyle korver…. you can it whatever you want.. but it’s hard to interpret the numbers any other way….

    i’m not a huge fan of thestepien so i’m not too interested in their take on things…. i just see guys like huerter a lot and they very rarely get a second contract…. the upside is you get someone like pat connaughton.. who coincidentally… got late buzz due to combine performance also…. someone who’s unspectacular and very limited but you might think about giving a cheap second contract to…

    but you’re supposed to get those guys in the second rd…. you don’t reach on these type of guys in the first and certainly never ever a lotto pick …..

    that’s been vlade divac’s draft strategy…. and you might be proud of drafting guys like justin jackson, nik stauskas and malachi richardson… but personally… i think it’s the dumbest thing you could do…. or maybe if you don’t agree with those comps maybe tony snell is athletic enough for you? or maybe kyle singler with a little bit more pro upside?

    Got it, so you looked at his sports reference page and decided you can write the book on Kevin Huerter. Great work

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