Knicks Morning News (2019.05.22)

  • [NYTimes] And-Ones: Pelicans, Draft, Hornets
    (Wednesday, May 22, 2019 12:00:07 AM)

    New Pelicans GM Trajan Langdon said leaving Brooklyn was a “very difficult decision” for him and his family, as he told reporters, including Hoops Rumors, during his introductory press conference call earlier today. However, the chance to team up with GM David Griffin again was too great to pass up. “The opportunity to join up […]

  • [NYTimes] Clippers Emerging Threat To Sign Kevin Durant
    (Tuesday, May 21, 2019 10:12:51 PM)

    The Clippers have emerged as an “equally dangerous” threat to the Knicks in luring Durant away from the Warriors, Marc Stein of the New York Times writes in his latest newsletter. New York has always been a constant in the rumors regarding Durant’s next employer. Stein previously heard from a trusted source that Durant was […]

  • [NYTimes] Kyrie Irving Open To Joining Lakers?
    (Tuesday, May 21, 2019 9:00:54 PM)

    Is Kyrie Irving seriously considering the Lakers as a free agent destination this summer? Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com (video link) believes Irving has become “more open” to teaming up with LeBron James than he was earlier in the season. Irving has done research on the Lakers and a move to Los Angeles isn’t off the […]

  • [NYTimes] Hawks Notes: Draft, No.8, Reddish, Fernando
    (Tuesday, May 21, 2019 7:37:27 PM)

    The Mavericks agreed to send their top-5 protected 2019 first-rounder to the Hawks as part of the Luka Doncic draft night trade last June. Entering the NBA draft lottery, Dallas had hoped to keep this year’s pick and delay conveying the selection. Assistant GM Keith Grant told Chris Kirschner of the Athletic that the Mavs […]

  • [NYTimes] List Of Suitors For Tobias Harris Continues To Grow
    (Tuesday, May 21, 2019 5:57:24 PM)

    Tobias Harris is set to hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career and he will have options outside of Philadelphia. The Grizzlies, Jazz, Mavericks, and Nets were previously linked to the combo forward and Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer adds the Kings and Pacers to […]

  • [NYTimes] Blazers, Terry Stotts Agree To Multiyear Extension
    (Tuesday, May 21, 2019 4:53:43 PM)

    Less than 24 hours after they were eliminated from the postseason, the Trail Blazers have agreed to terms on a multiyear contract extension for head coach Terry Stotts, tweets Casey Holdahl of Blazers.com. Head of basketball operations Neil Olshey said that the two sides finalized an agreement “20 minutes ago,” Holdahl adds (via Twitter). [RELATED: […]

  • [NYTimes] Pacific Notes: Looney, Durant, Lakers, Kings
    (Tuesday, May 21, 2019 4:08:04 PM)

    While it took him a few years to develop into the player he is now, Kevon Looney has become a key part of the Warriors‘ success, with head coach Steve Kerr referring to him as “one of our foundational pieces,” per Anthony Slater of The Athletic. “To be called a foundational piece, I never wouldâ??ve […]

  • [NYTimes] David Griffin Plans To Meet With Anthony Davis In L.A.
    (Tuesday, May 21, 2019 3:07:12 PM)

    Speaking today to reporters, new Pelicans head of basketball operations David Griffin reiterated that he remains focused on selling Anthony Davis on the idea of remaining in New Orleans, despite reports that Davis plans to stick to his trade request. According to Griffin, he intends to meet with the All-Star big man soon, as Mike […]

  • [NYTimes] NBA Announces 2018/19 All-Rookie Teams
    (Tuesday, May 21, 2019 2:06:19 PM)

    The NBA has officially announced its All-Rookie teams for the 2018/19 season. Luka Doncic of the Mavericks and Trae Young of the Hawks â?? widely viewed as the only two legit contenders for this season’s Rookie of the Year award â?? were also the only two players to be unanimously selected to the First Team, […]

  • [NYTimes] Blazers Notes: Lillard, Stotts, Offseason
    (Tuesday, May 21, 2019 1:03:57 PM)

    Earlier today, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported that the Trail Blazers are expected to sign Damian Lillard to a super-max extension that would lock him up for four additional seasons beyond the end of his current contract. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst covered the same subject in his own article this morning, pointing out that the […]

  • [NYTimes] 2019 NBA Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Denver Nuggets
    (Tuesday, May 21, 2019 12:03:44 PM)

    After narrowly missing the playoffs in 2018, the Nuggets expressed confidence in their core by bringing back virtually the same group, and that bet paid off to the tune of 54 regular-season victories, the No. 2 seed in the West, and the club’s first playoff series win since 2009. The Nuggets will count on continued […]

  • [NYTimes] Agent: Ntilikina “Extremely Happy” To Be A Knick
    (Tuesday, May 21, 2019 11:22:58 AM)

    MAY 21, 10:22am: Ntilikina’s new agent, Boune Ndiaye, denies that his client’s change in representation is directly linked to a desire to leave the Knicks, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post. “I can just tell you that the fact he was not traded has nothing to do with this change of agent,” […]

  • [NYTimes] Grizzlies Interviewed Raptors’ Griffin For Head Coaching Job
    (Tuesday, May 21, 2019 11:12:23 AM)

    The Grizzlies recently interviewed Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin for their open head coaching position, league sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). A former NBA player, Griffin became an assistant coach immediately after his retirement in 2008, spending time with the Bucks, Bulls, Magic, and Thunder before joining Nick Nurse‘s staff in Toronto as the […]

  • [NYTimes] Blazers, Lillard Expected To Agree To Super-Max Extension
    (Tuesday, May 21, 2019 10:05:43 AM)

    While Damian Lillard‘s 2019 playoff run came to an end on Monday night, his contract with the Trail Blazers is expected to be extended this offseason, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. Haynes reports that Lillard and the Blazers will likely agree to terms on a super-max extension this summer after the point guard […]

  • [NYPost] RJ Barrett schedules pro day as Knicks mull options
    (Tuesday, May 21, 2019 7:00:36 PM)

    Duke swingman RJ Barrett will stage a pro day with the rest of agent Bill Duffy’s draft-eligibles Tuesday at UCLA. Unlike the other participants, however, Barrett is not expected to perform drills — just interview with teams and speak with the media. This at least gives a chance for the Pelicans to meet with Barrett,…

  • [NYPost] Kevin Durant’s closest confidant dodges Knicks hype as whispers grow
    (Tuesday, May 21, 2019 5:08:02 PM)

    Kevin Durant’s closest confidant is playing it safe. The superstar’s manager and media business partner, Rich Kleiman, offered little hints over his client’s future Tuesday during an appearance at the Wall Street Journal’s Future of Everything Festival. “He really doesn’t know, and I don’t know,” Kleiman said. Many in the basketball community would seem to…

  • [NYPost] Pelicans lay out ‘next step’ in their Anthony Davis plan
    (Tuesday, May 21, 2019 10:51:48 AM)

    Anthony Davis’ status is the elephant in the NBA’s room. New Pelicans boss David Griffin said Davis’ status should be clearer after Griffin meets with his disgruntled star next month in California for a frank face-to-face. “Yeah, we’ll visit together. We’ll probably sit together in Los Angeles at some point around the draft workouts that…

  • [NYPost] Mitchell Robinson gets NBA honor before Knicks’ uncertain offseason
    (Tuesday, May 21, 2019 10:08:53 AM)

    The 17-65 record didn’t net Zion Williamson, but the season gave birth to one positive: center Mitchell Robinson. That became official when Robinson was named to the NBA’s All-Rookie Second Team on Tuesday. The Knicks’ lottery pick, forward Kevin Knox, did not make it, despite being an alternate selection in the Rising Stars Challenge. Knox…

  • [NBA] Mitchell Robinson Named to NBA All-Rookie Second Team
    (Tuesday, May 21, 2019 10:32:25 AM)

    NEW YORK (May 21, 2019) – New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson was named to the 2018-19 NBA All-Roo

  • [SNY Knicks] Steve Nash explains why godson RJ Barrett is perfect for Knicks
    (Tuesday, May 21, 2019 11:34:53 PM)

    Steve Nash says that his godson, RJ Barrett, has more than just the skills to be able to succeed in an environment like New York.

  • [SNY Knicks] Latest on Knicks target Kevin Durant: Clippers an ‘equally dangerous’ threat as New York?
    (Tuesday, May 21, 2019 9:25:09 PM)

    Warriors star Kevin Durant can be a free agent after the season, and the idea that he could team up with fellow free agent Kyrie Irving on the Knicks this summer has picked up steam since the Kristaps Porzingis trade cleared two max slots for New York. Here are the latest rumors…

  • [SNY Knicks] David Griffin explains why Knicks target Anthony Davis should want to stay with Pelicans
    (Tuesday, May 21, 2019 2:04:47 PM)

    Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin plans to visit with Davis in Los Angeles in the coming weeks to talk to him about remaining with the franchise.

  • [SNY Knicks] Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson named to NBA’s All-Rookie second team
    (Tuesday, May 21, 2019 2:18:39 PM)

    Knicks big man Mitchell Robinson has been named to the NBA’s second All-Rookie team, in large part due to his defensive accomplishments from the