Knicks Morning News (2019.05.23)

  • [NYDN] NBA draft profile: Knicks target Jarrett Culver of Texas Tech
    (Wednesday, May 22, 2019 9:43:00 AM)

    With the top three picks in the 2019 NBA draft seemingly set in stone, a dozen or so players are vying to be selected in the remaining seven spots of the top 10.

    Jarrett Culver, a sophomore guard from Texas Tech, is projected as a lock for that group. Culver helped the Red Raiders to the national…

  • [Hoops Rumors] Steve Mills Claims Kristaps Porzingis Gave The Knicks A Trade Ultimatum
    (Wednesday, May 22, 2019 9:53:18 PM)

    Knicks president Steve Mills offered some insight into the Kristaps Porzingis trade at a fan forum today, saying the Latvian star provided the team with an ultimatum and was very unlikely to re-sign this summer. Mills’ comments are captured in a video tweeted by #Knockstape of a JPM speaker event that Mills and GM Scott […]

  • [YahooSports] Scenarios where Knicks can trade for Anthony Davis, including one where they add 2 max free agents
    (Wednesday, May 22, 2019 1:00:37 PM)

    The Pelicans still hope to convince Anthony Davis to stay in New Orleans. “We feel confident that we can create the right, and are creating the right, environment for Anthony,” Pelicans top executive David Griffin said Tuesday.Those hopes aside, it’s fair to assume at this point that Davis remains committed to leaving the franchise.The Knicks, of course, will be among the many teams interested in trading for the big man this summer if he wants out of the Big Easy.

  • [Sports Illustrated] Knicks President Claims Kristaps Porzingis Demanded Trade or He’d Return to Europe
    (Wednesday, May 22, 2019 7:32:45 PM)

    Knicks president Steve Mills claimed that Kristaps Porzingis gave New York seven days to trade him or he’d leave the NBA and return to Europe. 

  • [NYTimes] Knicks President Claims Kristaps Porzingis Demanded Trade or He’d Return to Europe
    (Wednesday, May 22, 2019 7:32:45 PM)

    Knicks president Steve Mills claimed that Kristaps Porzingis gave New York seven days to trade him or he’d leave the NBA and return to Europe. 

  • [NYTimes] Josh Hart Talks Down on Analytics and Inadvertently Shades New Lakers Coach Frank Vogel
    (Wednesday, May 22, 2019 3:59:31 PM)

    Josh Hart doesn’t want a 45-year-old who loves analytics and hasn’t played basketball at a high level telling him how to play.

  • [NYTimes] Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Representative Rips Drake for Trash Talking Bucks Star
    (Wednesday, May 22, 2019 1:37:38 PM)

    Georgios Dimitropoulos had some words for Drake’s conduct during Game 4 between the Bucks and Raptors.

  • [NYTimes] FS1’s Chris Broussard Responds in Kevin Durant Texting Feud
    (Wednesday, May 22, 2019 1:24:18 PM)

    The feud between Kevin Durant and FS1’s Chris Broussard is continuing to heat up.

  • [NYTimes] Steve Kerr and the Warriors Are Finding More Strength in Numbers Than Ever
    (Wednesday, May 22, 2019 12:44:12 PM)

    Steve Kerr has leaned on his bench more than usual with Kevin Durant, DeMarcus Cousins and Andre Iguodala fighting injury. With the NBA Finals approaching, the Warriors are living by their strength in numbers moniker. 

  • [NYTimes] What the Bucks and Raptors Have to Do to Make the NBA Finals
    (Wednesday, May 22, 2019 11:48:49 AM)

    Toronto and Milwaukee have won two games apiece in their conference finals matchup. Here’s a look at what each side will have to do to advance to the championship round.

  • [NYTimes] This Warriors Playoff Run Will Only Add to Stephen Curry’s Legacy | Open Floor Podcast
    (Wednesday, May 22, 2019 11:08:06 AM)

    Stephen Curry has taken his game to another level since Kevin Durant went down with a strained right calf. This Warriors run will surely secure his legacy. 

  • [NYTimes] Warriors Owner ‘Confident’ Team Can Re-Sign Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson
    (Wednesday, May 22, 2019 8:37:43 AM)

    Warriors owner Joe Lacob on KD and Klay Thompson: “I am confident about (signing) both of them”

  • [NYPost] This may be closest Ja Morant gets to the Knicks
    (Wednesday, May 22, 2019 7:40:11 PM)

    Ja Morant hasn’t heard from the Knicks since meeting with the team in Chicago last week at the draft combine. He also hadn’t visited New York before Wednesday, and coming from Sumter, S.C., before playing at Murray State, a school of roughly 11,000 in rural southwestern Kentucky, it was an adjustment. “I’m from a small…

  • [NYPost] How RJ Barrett is ‘wired differently:’ Duke recruiter
    (Wednesday, May 22, 2019 7:23:57 PM)

    The man who recruited RJ Barrett to Duke said his best attribute is his “competitive streak.’’ Jeff Capel, a former Blue Devils assistant and now head coach at Pittsburgh, said he feels Barrett’s game translates better to the pros than it did in college. “I think the kid is a winner and he’s a competitor….

  • [NYPost] Knicks’ Steve Mills: Porzingis’ trade demand came with Europe threat
    (Wednesday, May 22, 2019 5:42:40 PM)

    Knicks President Steve Mills said Kristaps Porzingis threatened to return to Europe if he wasn’t traded within seven days. “He … point-blank said to us, ‘I don’t want to be here,’” Mills said at a Chase Fan Forum Series on Wednesday. ‘I’m not going to re-sign with the Knicks and I’m going to give you…

  • [NYPost] RJ Barrett would be Knicks star — or happy Zion wingman: close friend
    (Wednesday, May 22, 2019 9:52:58 AM)

    Georgia Tech shooting guard Michael Devoe knows how much his former Florida classmate RJ Barrett would love to play with his Duke buddy Zion Williamson in the NBA. Devoe also knows how much the Knicks need a player of Barrett’s ilk. Devoe, who led the nation in 3-point shooting percentage at Montverde (Fla.) Academy in…

  • [SNY Knicks] Kristaps Porzingis gave Knicks an ultimatum if not traded, says Steve Mills
    (Wednesday, May 22, 2019 6:01:58 PM)

    New information has surfaced in regards to the Knicks’ trade of their superstar forward Kristaps Porzingis.

  • [SNY Knicks] WATCH: Ja Morant’s NBA focus on being ‘best Ja I can be’
    (Wednesday, May 22, 2019 8:15:12 PM)

    With the 2019 NBA Draft less than a month away, elite prospect Ja Morant isn’t looking to follow in anyone else’s footsteps.

  • [SNY Knicks] Latest on Knicks target Kevin Durant: Knicks players react to KD/Broussard feud
    (Wednesday, May 22, 2019 1:25:09 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] Scenarios where Knicks can trade for Anthony Davis, including one where they add 2 max free agents
    (Wednesday, May 22, 2019 9:00:37 AM)

    If the Knicks are only able to pair Anthony Davis with one max free agent, they could potentially acquire Davis into cap room without regard to salary matching. Pairing him with two max free agents would require both precise timing and salary-match considerations.