Knicks

Knicks’ Evan Fournier says team is ‘hungry’ as they embody ‘old school’ vibes

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evan fournier, knicks

New York Knicks free agent acquisition Evan Fournier wasn’t around for the 2020-21 season, so he didn’t know what to expect entering the team this off-season in preparation for elevated expectations.

Last year, the Knicks completely surprised the NBA and its fans, winning the 4th Seed in the Eastern Conference, which was considered a longshot at the beginning of the season. Despite having deficiencies at multiple places, including point guard and center after Mitchell Robinson went down with a fractured foot and hand, the team fought hard and played some of the best defense in the entire league.

They ranked among the top in defensive efficiency and points allowed per game, which is a staple of a Tom Thibodeau lead team. However, replicating that will be difficult, especially as they allowed Reggie Bullock to depart in free agency, despite Thibodeau wanting to retain him.

Fournier, though, offers a more refined skill set as a scorer but doesn’t offer the versatile defense bullock contributed last year. However, he is preparing to join a team that is deadly focused on the goal ahead — to go even further in a post season.

“I’m not sure what it was like last year on a daily basis, but the young guys are hungry, the veterans are hungry, the coaching staff is hungry,” veteran wing Evan Fournier said. “You can definitely feel that work atmosphere.”

The former Boston Celtic detailed how the team’s style is exactly what he expected, given Tom’s mentality and communication.

“Exactly what I expected,” Fournier said. “A coach that’s about working, a coach that’s very intense, that tells you things how they are, keeps it real, and just wants to get better. I think he’s very good at making sure you understand what he wants from you. It’s very clear. There’s no gray area and there’s no place for misinterpretation. As a player, especially a new guy, it’s easy because you know what to do.”

After signing a four-year, $73 million deal, the Knicks are expecting Fournier to contribute heavily on offense, averaging 17.1 points last year, including 3.4 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and shooting 41.3% from three-point range. He is far and away a better threat as a shooter and play creator compared to Bullock, so he does offer more value in some categories. Thibodeau loves a stingy defense, though, so he will expect the French sharpshooter to focus on that portion of his game as well.

Can the Knicks afford to give Kevin Knox another opportunity? | Team must drop 5 from active roster

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New York Knicks, Kevin Knox

The New York Knicks are flush with talent as they approach preseason and training camp gets underway. Adding Kemba Walker, Evan Fournier, Quentin Grimes, and Miles McBride this off-season should contribute toward far more effective and productive play during the 2021-22 season.

However, there are not enough spots on the active roster once the regular season comes around to host a few fringe players. An NBA roster is limited to 15 players while carrying 20 during the off-season.

The current Knicks roster includes:

Dwayne Bacon

RJ Barrett

Alec Burks

Evan Fournier

Taj Gibson

Quentin Grimes

Kevin Knox

Miles McBride

Nerlens Noel

Immanuel Quickley

Julius Randle

Mitchell Robinson

Derrick Rose

Wayne Selden

Aamir Simms

Jericho Sims

Obi Toppin

Luca Vildoza

Kemba Walker

MJ Walker

With 20 players currently on the roster, the odd men out seem to be Bacon, Selden, Simms, Walker, and Sims. Most of these options will find their way to the G-League, but it presents Kevin Knox with another opportunity to stick around an NBA team for the time being.

Knox has had a lackluster start to his career at the top level, barely making an impact last season despite the team enjoying plenty of success.

Knox has continuously seen his minutes decreased since his rookie season when he averaged 28.8 per game. Last year, he finished with just 11 minutes per contest, making 42 appearances and averaging 3.9 points, 1.5 rebounds, shooting 39% from the field. Unfortunately, his career in New York is likely coming to an end after this season, as the Knicks will not have an extra roster spot for him to ride the bench. At this point, the only way he can get on the court is if his team is blowing out their opponents and they want to get him in during garbage time.

Knox is set to earn $5.8 million this season and will have a qualifying offer next year at $7.9 million. It is highly unlikely the Knicks exercise that option, electing to move on from him if they cannot find a trade partner.

Ideally, the team will find a club interested in his services, but given his lack of development and offenseive deficiencies, his value doesn’t represent much.

What do you think the Knicks should do with Kevin Knox? Should they offer a roster spot to a player like Bacon or Jericho Sims? Comment here!

Knicks News: Julius Randle is a man of the people, Derrick Rose’s presence is enough to attract stars

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new york knicks, julius randle

One of the more impressive accomplishments the New York Knicks have enjoyed the past two years is the building of a culture on the backs of great people. The first step in changing the course of the franchise was to alter their trajectory in the locker room regarding mentality and discipline.

Head coach Tom Thibodeau has done a phenomenal job implementing his style, which focuses on strict defense and practicing at 100%. He has no worries running a player into the ground with significant minutes, which some have questioned in the past, but ultimately brings out the best in those who embrace it.

The one player that saw his talents take a jump to the next level is now All-Star power forward Julius Randle, who signed a lucrative four-year extension this off-season to stick with the Knicks. When the extension kicks in after the 2021-22 season, Randle will earn about $30 million per year. The contract lands at $117 million, making him a free agent in 2026. The deal includes a player option during the 2025-26 campaign and a 15% trade bonus if the Knicks elect to part ways prematurely.

Interestingly, the two sides agreed on a deal well before the season began, electing to capitalize on his performance from last season instead of betting on himself and seeking a contract even more impressive in stature (Dennis Schroder set the stage for that mistake). The Knicks felt confident executing this contract mainly because of how Randle has reinvented himself, becoming a leader and face of the franchise.

Julius is not only a ferocious player on the court, but he’s a man of the people off the screen. He spent his day off reading to children at his son’s school, setting an example for players on the team.

The culture the Knicks have built revolves around discipline and respect for one another. New acquisition Kemba Walker already indicated one of the main reasons he joined the team was because of Derrick Rose’s presence within the roster. Rose alone is capable of attracting big names, given his experience and wisdom at the point guard position.

Rose has already submitted the starting job to Walker, indicating he will help the team in any way he can, whether it be with the starting team or the reserves. With so many mentors to help curate a learning environment for the younger players like RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin, Quentin Grimes, and Miles McBride, the sky is the limit for this team. If they can remain positive and motivated, they might even be able to push beyond the first round of the postseason this upcoming year, which would really set the stage for a franchise that is headed toward a renaissance.

Knicks’ Kemba Walker raves about togetherness of team and winning mentality

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immanuel quickley, rj barrett, new york knicks

The New York Knicks are on the right path toward becoming a more prominent team in the NBA after years of struggling. The 2020-21 season represented a shift in culture and mentality, aiding in the acquisition of several big names this off-season, including Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker.

Walker has expressed his excitement about joining the Knicks, his hometown club, after being raised in the Bronx. Walker has spent the last few seasons with the Charlotte Hornets and Boston Celtics, eventually being bought out and finding his way back to New York.

Walker’s new team has welcomed him with open arms, and the veteran point guard has reciprocated his excitement. He’s noticed how his new teammates are focused on developing and establishing a winning mine said before the season begins.

“It’s been fun. Guys work hard. And these guys are really together … For the most part, the things that I’ve noticed is how guys pick each other up in practice.”

They say practice makes perfect, and the Knicks undoubtedly take that to another level with their intensity. All-Star power forward Julius Randle mentioned several days ago how the team has been scrimmaging before training camp began — exerting maximum effort to prepare themselves for a grueling 82 game season.

Walker raved about the emotions and feelings of being with the Knicks back in the city:

“Every team gives you sweatsuits and bags. My New York sweatsuit just hit a little bit different. I just feel like me being from here — like, I’m really, really from here. Born and raised in the Bronx, you know? So, it’s definitely just a little bit more special.”

Some of the younger players on the team are looking forward to working with Kemba and fellow veteran Derrick Rose. Rookie Quentin Grimes is ecstatic he will have two of the league’s most famous players at his fingertips to learn from and follow.

“Having two big-time veterans like that is going to be really big for my development”

Head coach Tom Thibodeau has done a great job bringing in talented players who can also act as mentors and leaders for the younger guys on the team.

Knicks News: See Mitchell Robinson’s new muscles, Obi Toppin’s worth-ethic is unmatched

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New York Knicks, Mitchell Robinson

The New York Knicks are patiently waiting for Mitchell Robinson to make a full return from a fractured foot last season. Robinson underwent two surgeries to correct fractures in his foot and hand, suffered at different points during the 2020-21 campaign. Despite his struggles, Robinson has worked diligently to improve his overall muscle mass and size this off-season, hoping for his newfound strength to translate to elevated performance on the court.

“I want someone to hit me in the chest,” Robinson told the media on Thursday.

mitchell robinson, knicks

Playing in just 31 games last year, Robinson averaged 8.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and shot 65% from the field. His small sample size doesn’t entirely tell a full story of his growth over the past three years, but he’s hoping to take a significant step forward this upcoming season after the team’s success under the leadership of Tom Thibodeau.

Robinson has been vocal about his increased strength, and he will have an opportunity to put it to the test on the regular season begins on October 19, which is just three weeks away.

The New York Knicks are expecting big things out of Robinson…and one of his teammates:

Another teammate who has been working this off-season diligently is second-year player Obi Toppin. Toppin struggled during his rookie season, posting just 4.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, and shooting 50% from the field over 62 games. He averaged just 11 minutes on the court at 22-years-old, one of the older rookies from the 2020 draft class. However, Toppin spent the entire summer improving, working on his shooting and isolation moves.

“Coming in here, especially coming off last year, I knew I had to improve a lot,” the forward said Wednesday. “So, coming in here every single day this summer, that was my motivation. Come in and just be better than what you were last year.”

Toppin’s best mode of getting on the court is by consistently hitting three-point shots and deploying solid defense. Thibodeau prefers players who can guard the perimeter and also drop into the paint to help clog driving lanes. Toppin had issues communicating and getting into the right position last season, but with a year of experience under his belt, growth is on the horizon.

Thibodeau noticed that Obi was putting in the extra effort, which is exactly what he wanted to see from the impending sophomore.

“For me, it’s more of watching the actions. Because oftentimes you get people who will say all the right things and do none of them,” Thibodeau said. “The actions tell me how important it is to him and he’s done all the right things. I think his actions reflect his priority. So I knew he was very committed to improve.”

When the Knicks drafted Toppin 8th overall in 2020, they knew his work ethic was unmatched, and he’s showing that desire early on in his career.

Report: Knicks’ Thibodeau kept three of his four veterans, but had to let go of Bullock

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Reggie Bullock of the New York Knicks

The New York Knicks let several players from the 2020-21 roster go this off-season, including Elfred Payton, Frank Ntilikina, and Reggie Bullock. All three offered different attributes and skills but ultimately didn’t make the cut to continue on with the team.

In Frank’s case, his offensive development hit a wall and was unable to take his game to the next level, so the Knicks needed to clear his spot in favor of another player. Payton struggled considerably on offense and toward the end of the season last year, making way for Kemba Walker as the team’s new prolific free agent signing. However, Bullock played well at 29-years-old, averaging 10.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and shooting 44% from the field. He also connected on 41% from three-point range, an adequate number that helped the Knicks tremendously with their spot-up shooting.

Bullock isn’t the type of player to create opportunities for others like Evan Fournier, who signed a four-year contract with the team this off-season. He does offer improved defense, though, which made him a favorite for starting minutes.

Head coach Tom Thibodeau wanted SG/SF Reggie Bullock back on an extension but was overruled by the front office:

According to an NBA source, Thibodeau lobbied hard to bring back the team’s defensive heart-and-soul in starting shooting guard Reggie Bullock but team brass went another direction. The coach was disappointed.

The Knicks could have had the free agent for roughly the same three-year, $30.5 million package ($25 million guaranteed) the Mavericks offered him, according to a source. But on Day 1 of practice Tuesday, Bullock was in the Big D, not leading the Knicks D.

It is quite interesting to see how Thibodeau wanted Bullock back, but instead, the front office overruled him, despite allowing him to retain Alec Burks, Derrick Rose, and Nerlens Noel. When looking at Fournier, though, his more detailed statistics point toward a more efficient offensive player. He averaged 37.2% of his points on unassisted shots while Bullock landed at 6.5%. He’s clearly able to open up space for himself and score without an assist, which should take pressure off Julius Randle and some of the Knicks’ other playmakers.

The loss of defense will certainly hurt, making it difficult for the team to maintain some of their impressive qualities in the category. Of course, Thibodeau leans on defense to characterizes the team, but he will have to find a balance with more scoring production this upcoming season.

Knicks News: Thibs tells how players are giving extra effort, Dolan providing great support

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New York Knicks, Tom Thibodeau

On the first day of training camp for the New York Knicks, there was no drama, there was no animosity, and there was no hostility. They were clear-cut signs of progression and development for a franchise that has been lost in the abyss for many years. However, the tides are shifting with head coach Tom Thibodeau and a strong staff of executives that are helping piece together a team that relies on stingy defense. While defense can limit opposing teams, the Knicks need to be productive themselves on offense, which is why they went out and signed a variety of players to help at specific positions.

Spending money and acquiring talent was a priority this off-season, but they didn’t do so blindly. The front office signed players to healthy contracts that include well-timed outs. The players they brought in are committed to helping build something special, which plays into the newfound mentality of the organization: a focus on improvement and strength.

On Tuesday, Thibodeau mentioned how players are coming in after dark to continue working on their attributes and developing more skills. In fact, it’s been a challenge to keep track of their hard work, putting young assistants to the task of monitoring them.

“Part of the challenge, to be honest with you, has been we have so many guys coming back at night, we wanted our video guys, our young guys, who are getting started, and are all capable of being coaches one day. But I think that’s a big part of development. That’s how your players get better.”

Thibodeau also mentioned how owner Jim Dolan has contributed heavily toward giving them the resources necessary to build a winning team. Dolan has been quite involved in the past, but it seems as if he’s taking himself out of a more prominent role and handing over basketball operations. Taking a backseat in the processes, he has provided monetary/connection resources to provide Thibodeau with a stellar coaching staff that has helped the Knicks improve dramatically in just one season.

“Jim Dolan has given us everything we’ve asked for in terms of whether it’s technology, adding staff, analytics people, whatever we need to help us get better. He’s provided that and Leon and Wes and Scott have been great in terms of supporting that.”

Wholesale changes have commenced behind the scenes, which have led to success on the court. Without good coaching and player development, nothing matters at the end of the day.

Knicks’ Immanuel Quickley details his new improvements and dominant floater game

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New York Knicks, Immanuel Quickley

The New York Knicks are expecting big things out of sophomore guard Immanuel Quickley, who had a surprising rookie season where he averaged 11.4 points. As a late first-round pick, the 22-year-old has added different elements to his game in just one year, including a legit floater derived from veteran Derrick Rose.

Quickley is a skinny guard who will likely feature in a shooting role this upcoming season, as the Knicks signed Kemba Walker to aid at point guard.

Last season, Quickley made 59% of his overall shots unassisted, including 39% unassisted from three-point range. He’s great at creating his own opportunities, which oftentimes signals more advanced talent. Compared to Reggie Bullock, who is a spot-up shooter, rarely creating opportunities for himself, Quickley can fill the shooting guard role with more versatility.

However, Quickley’s biggest weakness is his defense, which is something he worked diligently on this off-season.

“I dedicated a lot to my summer in terms of working on my body,” Quickley told reporters after practice on Tuesday. “Getting stronger defensively. I feel like I’ll take a step this year and that’s going to be big on this team is guarding, just to be able to stay on the floor, stay in front of key guys and things like that. And then my passing ability, I feel like got better. And then just working on my strengths – shooting, I still have my floater, and being able to shoot left side to right is something I added to my game as well. So just my overall game.”

The Knicks could view Immanuel as a long-term solution at PG after the contracts of Rose and Walker expire after two seasons. Quickley will have plenty of time to revise his game and add different qualities while working on his strengths, which remain shooting and his floater. Adding more versatility when driving to the basket would do him well, but his defensive attributes must be prioritized if he wants to get more playing time on a Tom Thibodeau lead squad.
The toughest reality for Quickley will be his playing time — when he’s on the floor, he must provide efficiency and production, proving his worth to Thibodeau. There aren’t many minutes to go around after the signings of Fournier and Walker, so when the young guard has an opportunity, he must capitalize.

The Knicks’ offense is capable of being elite, but how can they get there?

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knicks, julius randle

The New York Knicks are heading into the 2021-22 season with added firepower on offense and development with some of their younger players. Letting Elfrid Payton, Frank Ntilikina, and Reggie Bullock walk this off-season left a few holes behind, but they replaced them eagerly with even better talent.

Signing Evan Fournier, Kemba Walker, and drafting Miles McBride, the Knicks filled those three spots with productive players who will offer a much more moving forward. Fournier is capable of creating shots for himself and others, which will open up the floor for players like Julius Randle and RJ Barrett, giving them more opportunities from beyond the arc. Walker is an elusive small guard who prides himself in scoring efficiency and explosive play-making. Payton was the exact opposite of that, offering better defense over offensive production, which came back to bite the Knicks in the butt later on in the season.

However, one category the Knicks are looking to improve upon is their three-point shooting. When looking at their three-point percentage last season, the Knicks ranked third in the NBA at 39.2%, tied with the Brooklyn Nets for second place. However, they ranked in the bottom portion of the league in three-point attempts per game, a statistic that Rose spoke about specifically on Tuesday.

“I think our staple (last season) was defense. Now that I feel like we got better on the offensive side of the ball, it’s about adding little things,” Rose said. “Last year, we only shot 30 threes. This year, now we have three-point shooters. We gotta get up to 37 to 40 attempts.”

The Knicks averaged 29.9 attempts per game, which was far less than the 36.1 attempts the Nets took. If they can increase that number and open up shots for themselves but maintain the same hit rate, the offense should see a significant boost in production.

“I’m not saying we gotta force threes, but take the right threes and don’t pass up any good looks. Push the ball. I felt like last year, we didn’t push the ball. We needed to (push the pace) to get easy buckets and easy looks for Julius (Randle) to get him downhill or to get RJ (Barrett) going downhill to open up the floor for everybody.”

Rose has the right idea, spreading the floor and creating open shots for their best playmakers. Forcing three-point attempts is not ideal, but a healthy Mitchell Robinson will provide them with more offensive rebounds and talent down low. RJ Barrett shot above 43% from three-point range in the corner, so expect him to continue featuring in that way moving forward.

This is a clear-cut way for the Knicks to improve their offense and take it up a notch, but it starts with Julius Randle commanding attention in the paint and spreading the floor.

Knicks’ Julius Randle explains why he flopped in post-season series V Atlanta

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knicks, julius randle, trae young

When the New York Knicks needed their All-Star power forward the most, Julius Randle flopped during the postseason against the Atlanta Hawks. After averaging 24.1 points per game, Randle didn’t post more than 20 points until the fourth game of the series in Atlanta, when he recorded 23. His rebounds remained in the double digits, and his assist numbers were consistently high, but his turnovers skyrocketed, with the most coming in the final game of the series when he committed eight. Randle only turned the ball over 3.4 times per game last season, which is an unreasonably high number, but his playoff issues were glaring.

Looking towards the future, Randle remains excited and optimistic about the upcoming season but detailed his struggles during the postseason and why he failed to play to his potential.

“I could have made the game more simple,” Randle said Monday at Knicks’ media day. “Part of that was me being me, putting a lot on my shoulders. Not making the moment bigger than what it was but just me wanting to be great in that moment. So I just feel like it was overcomplicated but I’m excited to get back there this season.”

Despite his issues against Atlanta, the Knicks extended Randle on a four-year, $117 million contract. The deal will pay him under $30 million per season but offers him a player option in 2025, which is essentially the kicker in the deal to keep his salary hit lower in case the Knicks need to free up any money.
With the need to extend RJ Barrett in the future, most likely, Randle took one for the team and presented the front office with flexibility. In fact, the entire team seems to be buying into the culture and mentality, which should fuel them to another postseason appearance, where Randle can hopefully dominate.
After an incredible season where he became the Knicks’ franchise player and face of the team, it is essential he pieces together another successful campaign. He saw improvements in nearly every important category, watching his three-point percentage increase nearly 14% to 41.1% and his free-throw percentage increasing to 81%.
As a quality defender and elite scorer, Randle has begun to add different elements to his game, including long-range shooting and the ability to create for others. The signings of Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier should take significant pressure off the power forward, which will hopefully open up the floor and provide him with easier looks at the basket. One of the primary reasons Randle struggled during the postseason was due to a physical Atlanta team that didn’t respect the Knicks’ alternative playmakers, focusing on Randle and triple-teaming him in the paint.
Fortunately, that strategy will no longer be available, as with Walker, Fournier, and Barrett, the Knicks have plenty of weapons to punish teams for hyper-focusing on Julius.