Knicks

Knicks’ Derrick Rose details who will be the starting point guard to open the season

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New York Knicks, NYK

The New York Knicks have decided who their starting point guard will be, according to Derrick Rose, who signed a three-year, $43.5 million extension this off-season. Rose indicated that newly acquired point guard Kemba Walker would be the starter to open the year, but the veteran will do whatever it takes to contribute and help the team win games.

“He’s starting,” Rose said to reporters on Monday. “He’s starting and I’m doing whatever it takes to change the game. I’m not worried about minutes, playing time or anything like that. I know Thibs is going to handle that.”

Walker signed a two-year, $17.9 million deal with the Knicks this off-season after a buyout with the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder. Last season, Walker played in just 43 games with a knee injury that has continuously bothered him over the past few seasons.
Walker, who is making his return to MSG after spending the last 10 seasons in Charlotte and Boston, averaged 19.3 points, 4.9 assists, and shot 42% from the field last year. Curating a balancing act between Walker and Rose is likely for head coach Tom Thibodeau, who will try to mitigate fatigue for both players.

The Knicks have a great plan in place at one of their most important positions:

Ultimately, if the team can maintain their health, they will have a fantastic duo at the PG position, just one year after featuring Elfred Payton as the primary starter to open the season. Rose can be a solid contributor off the bench at nearly 33-years-old, as he contributed 14.9 points, 4.2 assists, and shot 48.7% from the field last season over 35 games. Running the second-team offense will give Rose more youth to work around, but don’t be surprised to see him featuring with Julius Randle and RJ Barrett on the floor frequently.
After Rose coined Kemba as the starter, the new acquisition was taken aback by his comments. Walker explained how big a fan he is of Derrick and how winning is the primary goal this upcoming season, whether he’s starting or not.
“I mean, I wouldn’t know about that. I don’t know yet, but that’s pretty cool,” Walker said. “For me, I’ve always been a huge D Rose fan. Regardless, starting, not starting, whatever, it doesn’t even matter. I just want to win. To have a guy like him, a former MVP, a guy who’s been through it all. To be on the same team as him is really special for me.
Kemba also explains how Rose is one of the biggest reasons he elected to come to New York, making the veteran point guards extension that much more important.
“D Rose is one of the biggest reasons I came here. I wanted to be around him, wanted to get a chance to see how he prepares himself every day. Just really get a chance to pick his brain as best as I can while I’m here.”

Knicks’ Tom Thibodeau raves about RJ Barrett’s development and future success

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new york knicks, rj barrett

One of the New York Knicks‘ most valuable players is young guard RJ Barrett. Heading into his third season in the NBA, Barrett has three years remaining on his contract, with a maximum salary of $14.3 million during the 2023-24 season, when the front office can extend him a qualifying offer.

Barrett, who enjoyed massive up-swings in several categories during his sophomore season, is looking to improve even further this upcoming year. He posted 17.6 points, 3.0 assists, 5.8 rebounds, and shot 44% from the field last year. He also increased his three-point percentage by 8% to 40% and logged a 74.6% free-throw success rate, an increase of 15%.

Already being a solid defender helped Barrett get on the floor more frequently under head coach Tom Thibodeau, but the team has committed to him as their long-term solution at shooting guard. Last season, RJ played in all 72 games, averaging 34.9 minutes.

Thibodeau had nothing but great things to say about the 21-year-old Canada native during an interview last week:

“I think you guys have watched his growth. His ability to go off the dribble and get into the lane, his size, and also the way he improved his 3-point shooting last year, he made a major step. He’s made a huge commitment this summer. We think he’ll continue to get better; people tend to forget, he’s 21 years old. He averaged 18 points per game on a playoff team. He’s hungry, he’s driven. He’s smart, he’s competitive. Those are all the characteristics we’re looking for…. That’s why he’ll continue to get better.”

One of Barrett’s most exciting attributes is his ability to create shots for himself and others, seeing an increase in assists compared to his rookie season. If he can open up the floor for fellow teammates like Julius Randle and Evan Fournier, his impact will continue to expand.

Opposing teams focused on stopping Randle and Barrett during a dream turnaround season for the Knicks, but with added weaponry, the offense will have plenty of options to work with. At such a ripe age, Barrett continues to add muscle mass and increase his basketball IQ, which hopefully will aid in his growth moving forward. Barrett has been scrimmaging with Randle and a few other teammates prior to the start of training camp, further attesting to his work ethic.

Knicks’ Tom Thibodeau opens up about Kemba Walker’s health ahead of 2021-22 season

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knicks, kemba walker

The New York Knicks are just several weeks away from the start of training camp, and with expectations rising after a successful 2020-21 season, the front office is feeling the pressure.

Despite increased expectations, the Knicks made several progressive moves to help facilitate more scoring this upcoming year, signing Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker to fill two spots of weakness. Replacing Reggie Bullock and Elfrid Payton, the Knicks used some of their salary space to increase their probability of victory after surprisingly landing the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference last year.

The addition of Walker specifically should provide more production at the point guard spot, which represented a massive weakness outside of Derrick Rose. However, that didn’t stop president Leon Rose from pursuing more talent, bringing in Kemba and his four All-Star appearances. Rose, who average nearly 15 points per game after being acquired from the Detroit Pistons at the deadline, signed a fresh three-year contract with the team this off-season.

At one point, Walker was considered one of the best point guards in basketball, averaging 19.3 points, 4.9 assists, and shooting 42% from the field last season. Walker played in just 43 games, struggling to maintain a knee injury that has continuously degraded.

“Health, I think it’s a big question for every team, and it’s important [Walker] feels good,’’ coach Tom Thibodeau said Friday. “[Kemba’s] been in. He’s doing a lot of work. And you got to trust him. He understands what he has to do to be ready for a season.’’

Walker has spent ample time with the training staff preparing for the upcoming year, but the Knicks have made proper moves to mitigate fatigue as he rehabilitates.

Despite the degenerative knee, the coaching staff raved about his work ethic and impact on the teams he’s played with, including Boston and Charlotte.

“He’s been around,’’ Thibodeau said. “Everyone who’s played with him, everyone who’s coached him, everyone who’s been part of an organization with him, everyone raves about him. So, we think that’s gonna be a big plus for our organization.’’

While the team expects Walker to contribute significantly, signing him to a two-year, $17.9 million deal indicates his value has dropped off. Walker was preparing to earn upward of $30 million this upcoming season in Boston but had to settle for a contract under $10 million AAV, which depicts a player who is dealing with injury issues.

Nonetheless, if Thibodeau can balance out the minutes between Rose and Walker, he can maximize their potential on the floor, offensively and defensively. Neither are elite defenders but provide offensive efficiency the team hasn’t enjoyed at the point guard position in years.

Knicks News: Leon Rose details ‘aggressive’ approach, team signs Wayne Selden to camp roster

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wayne selden, knicks

The New York Knicks have entirely changed course after hiring new president Leon Rose to help steer the ship in a direction that better represents New York City. With a tough defensive mentality under head coach Tom Thibodeau, players are beginning to view the Knicks as an appealing destination in free agency, despite missing out on several big-name players like Damian Lillard and Chris Paul. However, the front office has been working diligently to add talent to an already strong team.

Rose indicated that they consider every opportunity aggressively, which hints at their mentality this offseason eyeing blockbuster trades. Nonetheless, while Lillard remains with Portland and Paul sign an extension with Phoenix, the Knicks walked away with Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker, two players that should contribute significantly moving forward.

The mentality toward growth and development is what should spark fans’ excitement. The team finally has a front office that is not making premature moves and decisions that would set the franchise back, but they are remaining diligent and progressive.

“We’re gonna be aggressive as far as knowing what’s going on and as far as being on top of things and looking at opportunities,’’ Rose said, per The New York Post. “But at the same time, we’re going to be prudent and disciplined in decisions that we make that are going to take into account positives and negatives, short term, long term, all those factors in a decision-making process.”

The front office has failed to remain disciplined over the past few years prior to the 2020-21 season, making premature moves and signing players without an established plan has hurt the team’s progression and draft selections. After a strong first season under Thibodeau, they backed up their words with several improvements to the roster and a strong draft class, including Quentin Grimes and Miles McBride.

The players have adapted this disciplined mentality also, partaking in intense scrimmages before training camp even begins in a few weeks.

The Knicks are signing a few players as camp bodies, including Wayne Selden, who agreed to a non-guaranteed training camp contract, per Keith Smith of Spotrac.

Selden has spent three seasons in the NBA, enjoying 124 games of action. He averaged 7.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. Selden spent the off-season with the Knicks playing in the Summer League, and while he’s a long shot at making the roster, you can never have enough bodies competing to start the season.

Knicks’ president Leon Rose side-steps Mitchell Robinson contract extension question

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Mitchell Robinson

Confidence in New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson has never wavered, and the coaching staff remains optimistic he will be a part of their long-term plans. Robinson has one year left on his rookie contract, which will pay him $1.8 million. However, if Robinson can remain healthy for the 2021-22 season, there’s a good chance he is signed to an extension, and the team is hoping it is more friendly than foe.

Robinson managed to play just 31 games last year, averaging 27.5 minutes during those contests. He contributed 8.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and shot 65% from the field. His numbers took a slight dip, but with a larger sample size, there’s no doubt his offerings would’ve been more adequate.

The 7-foot big man has a unique skill set as a defender, containing the qualities to guard at the perimeter and drop down into the paint with his physicality. All-Star power forward Julius Randle used the word “brolic” to describe Robinson and his muscular gains this off-season.

Considering the hard work that Mitchell has put into his development, it is obvious why the Knicks brass still considers him a big part of the team. However, President Leon Rose was careful not to provide any contract expectations, according to SNY.

Knicks’ president Leon Rose side-stepped a question on a contract extension for Mitchell Robinson, providing a positive review instead:

“It’s a work in progress and as far as contract goes, we love Mitchell Robinson and we look forward to seeing him play,” Rose said.

Head coach Tom Thibodeau raved about Robinson’s performance last year before suffering a broken hand. Upon his return, the high-energy center went down with a fractured foot, limiting his statistical output for the remainder of the season.

“Mitch, I thought last year, was really starting to take off when he got hurt,” Thibodeau said. “And then obviously, he had the set back. And this summer he’s put in a lot of time. He hasn’t been able to play. He’s put a lot of time into conditioning, strength and conditioning and whatever he’s allowed to do – being in the pool, weight training, form shooting, watching a lot of film.”

The Knicks retained Nerlens Noel after a successful campaign last season with the Knicks. Noel was looking for a new home, establishing himself as an elite shot blocker. Having two centers capable of featuring in different scenarios is ideal, as Noel can contribute nicely against less physical interior offensive teams. Robinson, with his added muscle, will likely handle players like Clint Capela, whom the team struggled with during the postseason.

Nonetheless, it is nice to see the front office sticking with their young talent and providing encouragement rather than resentment. While the 23-year-old has dealt with injuries in the past, the Knicks are hoping to reverse that negative narrative and start a more positive trend.

Just how great was the Knicks’ defense under Tom Thibodeau during 2020-21 season?

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New York Knicks, Tom Thibodeau

One category the New York Knicks excelled in last year was defensive performance, and it wasn’t just one specific subsection; it was as a whole. If there’s anything that had coach Tom Thibodeau does well, it is create a unit of players that is capable of playing high-level defense and limiting opposing teams. That is the primary reason Thibodeau has commanded so much respect from executives and players around the NBA.

Keeping Thibs as the primary coach will only facilitate more efficiency and aggressiveness from a Knicks team filled with veteran experience and youth. However, the improvements of several players last season were a catalyst behind his style of play. The elevation of Julius Randle and RJ Barrett played a significant role. Adding Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker this off-season will put more pressure on opposing teams, forcing them to take more 3-PT shots, a category the team thrived in limiting success.

However, comparing the team’s defensive efficiency from last year to 2019 paints a bright picture of the transition.

Here’s how the Knicks performed last season compared to the 2019-20 season:

Opponents Points Rank:

2019 – 18th

2020 – 1st

Opponents Field Goal %:

2019 – 27th

2020 – 1st

Opponents 3-PT %:

2019 – 28th

2020 – 1st

Defensive Rating:

2019 – 23rd

2020 – 4th

The Knicks managed to secure the 4th Seed in the Eastern Conference despite having multiple weaknesses on the roster and a lack of depth at some positions. Losing Mitchell Robinson for the majority of the season and forcing Randle and Barrett to play a crazy amount of minutes isn’t a recipe for success. Mitigating fatigue over the course of a long 82-game season is essential, which is why the Knicks will likely rely on reserve players like Alec Burks, Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes, and Miles McBride.

One Lowkey move the front office made was to add players in the draft who were defensively stout. Grimes is known for his aggressive defense in Houston, as well as his shooting prowess. McBride is a sleight of hand specialist with the biggest hand size and wingspan of any point guard in the most recent draft class.

Theoretically, if the Knicks can maintain their defensive production and increase their scoring, they should have an even more successful season in year two under Thibodeau.

Report: How Knicks’ RJ Barrett can change team’s long-term trajectory

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new york knicks, rj barrett

After RJ Barrett’s rookie season, the New York Knicks knew they had something potentially special. Averaging 14.3 points per game over 55 starts, Barrett proved he could stand his ground at just 19-years-old in the NBA. However, it wasn’t until his sophomore season that he really demonstrated he could be a quality shooter, which was an essential piece of the puzzle he was missing during his rookie campaign.

In his first year, Barrett shot just 40% from the field and 32% from three-point range, but bashing him off his first year at the professional level is ludicrous. He saw a 4% increase in field-goal efficiency and an 8% increase in three-point efficiency, landing at 40% last season and above 42% from the corner. Barrett saw an increase of about 7% regarding his overall points coming from three-point shots made. His ability to create shots for himself opens up the floor for his teammates, which was a massive reason Julius Randle managed to have an All-Star caliber season.

Ian Begley of SNY spoke to a professional scout, who was first skeptical that Barrett could reach his potential and was surprised by how much his shooting developed.

“If we were talking a year ago, I would have said, ‘I’m not sure about his shot.’ I don’t think I was alone there. But he surprised me. I think he surprised everyone. Can he repeat that this season? I think teams will pay more attention to him on the perimeter. But maybe Kemba (Walker) and (Evan) Fournier help create more open looks for (Barrett and his teammates)? Either way, it will be interesting to see if he can maintain (his shooting from last season).”

Teams will have to allocate attention toward the corner where Barrett thrived last season from beyond the arc. However, the acquisitions of Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker should contribute toward spreading the floor and allowing him more opportunities to take clean looks at the basket. This past season, he saw an increase in three-point shots made assisted, indicating teammates were passing to him more as a spot-up shooter instead of creating opportunities for himself.

“If he can shoot this year somewhere near where he was last year, it would change (the Knicks’) long-term trajectory, I think,” the scout said.

Barrett having another solid shooting season, if not improving, would be a massive development for a team that is depending on him to become a leader. With three years left on Barrett’s contract, the Knicks still have plenty of time to continue helping him reach his potential at a low cost.

New York Knicks: Reacting to a proposed Karl-Anthony Towns trade

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rj barrett, julius randle, new york knicks

The New York Knicks front office did exceptional work this off-season, bolstering multiple positions and providing head coach Tom Thibodeau with more player combinations to work with during the 2021-22 season.

While rumors circled this off-season regarding potential trades for players like Damian Lillard, the Knicks elected to retain some of their own free agents and sign others to replace Reggie Bullock and Elfred Payton. The team also drafted several contributors with upside, including Quentin Grimes and Miles McBride.

However, the Knicks are never left out of the rumor mill, as Stefan Bondy of New York Daily News presented the idea of trading Julius Randle and RJ Barrett for Karl-Anthony Towns.

Anthony Towns is going into his seventh year in the NBA, averaging 24.8 points during the 2020-21 season, including 10.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and shot nearly 49% from the field. He also connected on about 39% of his shots from range, averaging 6.3 attempts per game. Despite missing out on the All-Star game, having only played 50 contests last season, Towns is a bonafide superstar.

Despite his statistical woes and production, trading Randle and Barrett is simply far too much for a Knicks team that is expecting both players to take another step forward this season. Randle, who had his best campaign to date last year, averaged 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and shot 45.6% from the field. He also connected on 41% of his three-point attempts, averaging 5.5 shots per game.

Comparing Randle and Towns’s numbers, they are quite similar, so throwing Barrett into the mix pushes the comparisons over the edge. RJ Barrett is just entering a stage where his numbers could see All-Star level production, posting 17.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and shooting 44% from the field last year. He also connected on 40% of his three-point shots, showcasing the ability to create for himself but also act as a spot-up shooter.

In addition, Towns recently signed a five-year, $158 million deal in 2019, earning over $30 million per season. The Knicks managed to retain Randle at less than $30 million per year, and Barrett is only set to earn $8.6 million this upcoming season.

Based on the statistical and monetary value of all three players, we can confidently say, sticking with Randle and Barrett is an easy decision, especially since we haven’t seen the best of RJ yet.

What do you think of this proposed trade? Would you consider trading Randle and Barrett for Towns? Comment below!

How Knicks’ Immanuel Quickley became an elite free-throw shooter with a fearless mentality

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imannuel quickley, new york knicks

New York Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley spent two years with Kentucky before taking his talents to the NBA level. During his first season in the SEC, Quickley averaged 82.8% from the free-throw line, starting off his collegiate career on a high note. However, it wasn’t until his second season with Kentucky when he really advanced with his shooting mechanics and confidence, earning a 92.3% free-throw percentage. He averaged 16.1 points that season, contributing 41.7% shooting from the field and 42.8% shooting from range.

Quickley’s development has been a process, and there’s no bigger factor in his growth and his own mother, Nitrease Quickley.

“I was the free throw shooting coach,’’ Nitrease Quickley told The Post last season.

“It’s been so commonplace that when he misses a free throw, it takes myself a couple of minutes to get myself together,’’ Nitrease said. “He missed that? But the game is going on and I miss the next two minutes. But what I like about him is he doesn’t allow a missed shot to stop him from being the player he is. If he misses a free throw he gets upset a second, and he’ll come back on the line and here we go again.’’

One of Quickley’s biggest mentors and most consistent teachers is his mother, as he was gifted with a family lineage built on the game of basketball and competition. During his rookie season, quickly was a godsend for a team that was unable to maximize the impact of eighth overall pick, Obi Toppin. Quickley contributed 11.4 points over 19.4 minutes per game, and he impressively connected on 89% of his free-throw attempts, getting to the line 2.7 times per game.

Quickley isn’t one to boast about his accomplishments and present an egotistical mentality, but rather remain quiet and build upon his talents.

“He’s having a lot of fun,’’ Nitrease said. “He’s a humble kid but someone who is working hard and fans appreciate that. When you have someone willing to work hard for the team and teammates, you can’t help but gravitate to him.’’

Quickley is the type of player that could win Sixth Man of the Year with a bit more development and consistency at the NBA level, and he already has a significant advantage with a strong support system behind him.

Knicks: ESPN’s NBArank disrespects RJ Barrett after big sophomore season

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new york knicks, nyk, rj barrett

New York Knicks shooting guard RJ Barrett is criminally underrated in the basketball community, routinely being left off top-100 lists and rankings. In the latest offense, Barrett was left off ESPN’s NBArank, with several rookies getting the nod ahead of him, which is rather unexplainable.

Oddly, ESPN ranks Cade Cunningham and Jalen Green, two rookies, ahead of RJ Barrett, who established himself as a productive offensive scorer and adequate defender during the 2020-21 season.

Cunningham ranked 76th, ahead of players like Caris Levert and Knicks’ point guard Derrick Rose. Green ranks 96th with the expectation he will lead all rookies in scoring, which is all hearsay until he actually accomplishes that feat.

Realistically, unless you’re a generational talent like Zion Williams or LeBron James, any rookie making the top-100 list is spotty.

Looking at Barrett’s production from his sophomore season, he saw massive increases in several categories, including field-goal percentage, three-point shooting, and free-throw percentage. He enjoyed a slight increase in total rebounds and turned the ball over less.

He finished the campaign averaging 34.9 minutes per game, playing in all 72 games. He tallied 17.6 points, 3.0 assists, 5.8 rebounds, and shot 44% from the field. Barrett saw his three-point percentage increase 8% to 40% last year compared to his rookie season. With an effective field-goal percentage of nearly 50%, it is ludicrous he was left off a list that features multiple rookies who haven’t accomplished anything as a professional level yet.

The Knicks haven’t seen the best of RJ Barrett:

Heading into just his third year, Barrett still has three years left on his contract, including a qualifying offer for the 2023-24 season. The team has plenty of time to continue helping him develop, and with the additions of multiple scorers and facilitators, it will take a tremendous amount of pressure off him to force shots.

However, RJ paired nicely with Julius Randle last season, seeing a few advanced statistics increase with more minutes. The best part about RJ is his ability to finish in the paint using strength and elusiveness while also featuring as a spot shooter in the corner. Only 2.4% of his shots from three were unassisted, indicating that he found space and allowed his teammates to find him open. Nearly 30% of his total point production came from beyond the arc, while 54.3% of his points came from the paint and 7.0% from mid-range. He was able to create a lot of opportunities for himself, converting 64.7% of his two-point field goals unassisted.

Seeing clear advancements on offense and remaining aggressive on defense, it is crazy to think Barrett is considered more inferior than two players who’ve never enjoyed a single minute in the NBA. Hopefully, Barrett uses this as fuel for his growth and progression moving forward.