Knicks Morning News (2019.07.02)

  • [Sports Illustrated] Maybe 2021 Will Be the Summer Knicks Fans Have Dreamed of, but Probably Not
    (Monday, July 01, 2019 1:54:27 PM)

    The Knicks missed out on Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker in 2019 free agency, but maybe 2021 could be their year to become a title contender.

  • [Sports Illustrated] NBA Free Agency Report Card: Grading Nets, Knicks, 76ers and More from Crazy Day 1
    (Monday, July 01, 2019 8:20:47 AM)

    There’s an avalanche of deals to process from Day 1 of NBA free agency. The Crossover grades the wild start to the summer and weighs in on the Knicks, Nets, Sixers and more.

  • [RotoWire]
    Elfrid Payton: Agrees to deal with Knicks

    (Monday, July 01, 2019 10:47:00 AM)

    Elfrid Payton: Payton and the Knicks have agreed to a two-year, $16 million contract, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.

    Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

  • [NYPost] The piece of hope Knicks’ starless roster overhaul still provides
    (Monday, July 01, 2019 9:55:56 PM)

    The Knicks didn’t sign every role player on the planet. It only seems that way, creating a roster that may be the league’s deepest but without one proven standout. In a historic signing flurry following Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving marching to Brooklyn, the Knicks attempted to save face with quantity over quality. They added…

  • [NYPost] Kevin Durant’s close friend: Porzingis trade doomed Knicks
    (Monday, July 01, 2019 8:51:16 PM)

    ESPN’s Jay Williams, a Kevin Durant confidant, believes the Knicks trading Kristaps Porzingis could have hurt the team’s chances of landing the two-time NBA Finals MVP. Back in Porzingis’ rookie year, when Durant visited the Garden, he gave the 7-foot-3 Latvian a nickname that stuck. “Who gave Porzingis the nickname, the Unicorn?” Williams said Monday…

  • [NYPost] Nets now risk becoming the next New York disappointment
    (Monday, July 01, 2019 7:50:39 PM)

    There has been so much celebration in and around Brooklyn since late Sunday afternoon you would have thought the Dodgers had announced they would be coming back home and a new-age Ebbetts Field was under construction. Kyrie Irving first, then Kevin Durant — KD is how we all know him, of course — Nothing But…

  • [NYPost] Inside the Knicks’ epic Durant-Irving choke: ‘Moment of clarity’
    (Monday, July 01, 2019 5:53:10 PM)

    The Knicks never even got a meeting. Knicks charismatic coach David Fizdale never got a chance to give his recruiting spiel. Maybe the Achilles tendon rupture changed everything in Kevin Durant’s head for good. Durant wasn’t coming alone — and Kyrie Irving wasn’t coming. Despite reports last week that Durant’s decision would not be based…

  • [NYPost] Outlining the Knicks’ do-or-die mission
    (Monday, July 01, 2019 4:13:06 PM)

    And as for the other team in town … OK, OK, we kid. If it is indisputable the Nets’ star-splashed Sunday made significant strides in their perpetual effort to gain equal footing with the Knicks, it is equally unarguable that the Knicks still remain the prime holders of the deed to the city’s basketball soul….

  • [NYPost] NBA free agency winners and losers: Warriors’ new reality changes everything
    (Monday, July 01, 2019 3:17:23 PM)

    As usual, the potential drama of NBA free agency was discussed and dissected for months. For once, the upcoming season could be even more suspenseful. Following the myriad league-altering moves made during Sunday night’s wild opening to free agency, next season begins with the NBA championship appearing up for grabs for the first time since…

  • [NYPost] Enes Kanter: Trail Blazers gave me 6 minutes to decide future
    (Monday, July 01, 2019 1:55:52 PM)

    Turns out, Enes Kanter had a pretty solid reason to leave Portland. The former Knicks center reportedly inked a two-year, $10 million deal with the Celtics on Monday afternoon despite playing well in Portland and seemingly liking it there. “I was considering signing with (the) blazers, but they gave me only 6 (minutes) to make…

  • [NYPost] Knicks have pushed Stephen A. Smith over the edge
    (Monday, July 01, 2019 10:29:21 AM)

    The Knicks have officially broken Stephen A. Smith. Smith, a lifelong outspoken Knicks fan, reached the brink of his own sanity after the Knicks whiffed on Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving as free agency opened on Sunday, with the stars instead opting to pair up with the Nets. “Somehow, someway I’m just trying to hold…

  • [NYPost] Knicks sign Elfrid Payton in point-guard shakeup
    (Monday, July 01, 2019 10:11:25 AM)

    The Knicks may have found a new starting point guard. In the Knicks’ sixth signing of free agency, general manager Scott Perry landed a player he drafted in Orlando with the 10th pick in 2014: Elfrid Payton. Payton will receive a two-year, $16 million deal with the second year being a team option, according to…

  • [NYPost] Breaking down Knicks’ plan to salvage James Dolan’s day of hell
    (Monday, July 01, 2019 7:46:23 AM)

    Five observations on the Knicks’ calamitous opening of free agency, when their $72 million of cap space set for two max players did not lead to a superstar coming to the Garden. 1. Let’s hit this right away. It’s disingenuous and an oversimplification to spin that the Knicks weren’t interested in post-Achilles Kevin Durant for…

  • [NYPost] Knicks sign Wayne Ellington to latest short-term deal
    (Monday, July 01, 2019 7:00:58 AM)

    The Knicks continued their Plan B on Monday of throwing money at backup players on short-term contracts to use cap space that is not going to either Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant or Kawhi Leonard. The team added journeyman shooting guard Wayne Ellington with a two-year, $16 million deal. The Knicks have about $9 million left…

  • [ESPN] Ellington to join Knicks as team’s 6th FA pickup
    (Monday, July 01, 2019 11:19:51 AM)

    The Knicks have agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal with free-agent guard Wayne Ellington.

  • [NYTimes] Ellington to join Knicks as team’s 6th FA pickup
    (Monday, July 01, 2019 11:19:51 AM)

    The Knicks have agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal with free-agent guard Wayne Ellington.

  • [SNY Knicks] A closer look at issues surrounding the Knicks, Nets and Kevin Durant
    (Tuesday, July 02, 2019 1:30:28 AM)

    There are plenty of things to sort out as the dust settles from one of the most eventful NBA free agencies in recent memory.

  • [SNY Knicks] Where the Knicks stand in free agency so far
    (Monday, July 01, 2019 10:32:27 PM)

    The anger over the Knicks missing on Kevin Durant is warranted given the steps the club took to create max cap space. But they seemed to do well in their pivot to Plan B.

  • [SNY Knicks] Charles Oakley rips ‘toxic’ culture after Knicks whiff on star free agents
    (Monday, July 01, 2019 7:46:39 PM)

    Charles Oakley pointed to his incident with Knicks owner James Dolan as one factor why players are avoiding the Knicks.

  • [SNY Knicks] Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving reportedly knew ‘months ago’ they wouldn’t join Knicks
    (Monday, July 01, 2019 4:24:44 PM)

    While the Knicks had hoped they would land Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in free agency, the two superstar free agents reportedly knew ‘months ago’ they would not join the Knicks.

  • [SNY Knicks] Knicks giving themselves flexibility with this crucial element of free agent deals
    (Monday, July 01, 2019 2:49:58 PM)

    If there is one positive out of the Knicks missing out on Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, it is their smart spending on the second-tier options they have brought in for next season.

  • [SNY Knicks] Knicks add free agent PG Elfrid Payton on two-year deal
    (Monday, July 01, 2019 2:01:44 PM)

    The Knicks have made their sixth free agent signing of the summer as they brought in PG Elfrid Payton on a two-year, $16 million deal, agent Ty Sullivan of CAA sports told SNY’s Ian Begley.

  • [SNY Knicks] Knicks smart to avoid disastrous panic deals after striking out on top free agents
    (Monday, July 01, 2019 1:00:13 PM)

    After the Knicks cleared enough cap space to sign two max free agents and after months of rumors that had Kevin Durant all but guaranteed to land at The Garden, he went to Brooklyn instead. And Kyrie Irving went with him.

  • [SNY Knicks] Knicks agree to two-year deal with veteran free agent Wayne Ellington
    (Monday, July 01, 2019 10:41:19 AM)

    After an active Sunday night, the Knicks continue their free agent signings with veteran SG Wayne Ellington joining the team on a two-year deal.

  • [SNY Knicks] Knicks’ signing of free agent Reggie Bullock means you can officially cross Kawhi Leonard off their list
    (Monday, July 01, 2019 8:11:22 AM)

    Bullock joins Julius Randle, Taj Gibson and Bobby Portis. None of the deals were guaranteed for more than two years, so the club accomplished its goal of maintaining flexibility if big stars decide to go elsewhere.