Knicks

Report: Knicks looking to trade Kemba Walker after being dropped from rotation

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kemba walker, knicks

New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau elected to drop veteran point guard Kemba Walker from the rotation over the weekend, indicating that Alec Burks would remain the team’s starting point guard moving forward.

After Burks contributed 23 points against the Atlanta Hawks and helped the starting unit play at a far more efficient level, Thibodeau was forced to make a decision regarding Walker. Kemba was virtually useless as a defender, disrupting the identity of the Knicks, something that Thibodeau couldn’t sit by and watch.

“It’s a tough decision to make, but you always have to do what you think is best for the team,” Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters following the team’s practice on Monday.

However, the Knicks don’t want Walker’s skill set to go to waste, as they will likely consider trading him before February 10 deadline.

According to A. Sherrod Blakely of Bleacher Report, the Knicks will look to move Walker before the deadline in February:

Multiple league sources believe the Knicks will look to trade Walker, whose value on the trade market, much like his production, is at an all-time low.

However, league sources believe Walker’s value has the potential to change as the Knicks get closer to the Feb. 10 trade deadline and teams get more desperate to add a veteran who, despite his defensive shortcomings, has shown he can still make shots, albeit in a more limited capacity.

Walker’s regular-season statistics average out at 11.7 points, 3.1 assists, 42.9% shooting from the field, and 41.3% from three-point range. However, those numbers are quite misleading, as, in the month of November, he’s shooting just 29.6% from deep and 39% from the field. He’s recorded just four double-digit point games out of 12, making him a non-factor.

However, the most grueling statistic is that of his defense. When Walker is on the court, the Knicks have the worst defense in the entire league, but when he is off it, they have the top-ranked unit in the NBA. Specifically, the Knicks are allowing 99 points over 100 possessions when Walker is on the bench, but 116.3 when he’s on the floor. Offensively, it doesn’t get much better, ranking 27th in offensive production with 103 points per 100 possessions when he is playing. However, when he is inactive, the Knicks rank 9th with 110.2 points per 100 possessions.

Ultimately, the statistics speak volumes about his contributions, and if the Knicks want to be a solid team looking to build momentum, they ultimately had to make a difficult choice and drop Walker.

3 keys for the Knicks to dismantle strong Nets team

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julius randle, james harden, knicks

The New York Knicks are gearing up to take on the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday evening, just a day after announcing they would be starting Alec Burks as the primary point guard moving forward. With Kemba Walker struggling defensively, the Knicks ultimately had to make a big decision to spark the starting unit.

“It’s a tough decision to make,” Thibodeau said after announcing Kemba Walker would be pulled from the rotation, “but you always have to do what you think is best for the team. … I’ve got great respect for who Kemba is as a person, number one, and all that he’s accomplished in this league.”

Walker has struggled considerably this season, especially in the month of November. When he’s not scoring and facilitating, Walker is virtually useless on the floor, given his poor defense. Head coach Tom Thibodeau relies on discipline and aggressive defense to put pressure on opposing teams, but his team has lost their identity early in the year.
The Knicks will look to mount another victory over Brooklyn after taking down the Atlanta Hawks this past weekend.

Three keys for the Knicks to take down a strong Nets team:

1.) Double Kevin Durant

One of the best scorers in NBA history is Kevin Durant, so stopping him is incredibly difficult. Durant is leading Brooklyn with 28.6 points per game over 35.6 minutes. He’s also contributing 5.4 assists and 7.6 rebounds. When you have a player like Durant who is capable of driving to the rim but also knocking down three-point shots at an incredible rate, it makes things a bit more difficult.

Durant is hitting 41.1% of the shots from deep and 54.8% from the field, showcasing one of the best all-around scores in the league currently. The Knicks essentially have to double-team him as much as possible and force the Nets’ other players to win the game for them. Without Nicolas Claxton and Blake Griffin being dropped from the rotation, the Knicks have an advantage on the boards, but they have to guard the perimeter well.

2.) Lockdown defense on the perimeter

The Knicks have done a solid job guarding the perimeter the past few weeks, but Brooklyn ranks 2nd in three-point percentage as a team, landing at 37.5%. However, they are only attempting 34.4 per game, good for 20th in the NBA.

Aggressive defense on the perimeter will force Brooklyn to go inside, where they’ve struggled this year. Hopefully, the team will have Nerlens Noel back, who is questionable for the contest. Mitchell Robinson will have to step up and play solid defense and dominate the defensive rebounds.

3.) Hit open shots

The Knicks can’t let opportunities go to waste against Brooklyn. When they have open shots, they need to be knocking them down consistently, otherwise, it will be a long evening. Against Atlanta, New York hit 37.9% from three-point range and 43.9% from the field, holding the Hawks just 24.3% from deep.

When the Knicks are hitting their open looks from range, they’re an incredibly difficult team to beat, especially when their defense is on point. As stated before, limiting Kevin Durant is virtually impossible, but making life incredibly difficult for him is something they can achieve. Hopefully, the newfound reliance on Burks to operate as the starting point guard will increase their production out of the gates.

Knicks making Alec Burks full-time point guard, what will he bring to starting five?

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New York Knicks, Alec Burks

The New York Knicks announced a massive change on Monday regarding the starting point guard position, formally held by Kemba Walker, their free-agent acquisition. Walker has struggled considerably in recent days, recording double-digit points just once in his last five games. In fact, the month of November has treated him poorly, shooting 39% from the field and a measly 29.6% from three-point range.

Head coach Tom Thibodeau announced that Alec Burks will be taking over the starting point guard job, as Kemba walker was dropped from the rotation, making him a depth piece.

What does Alec Burks offer the Knicks’ starting team?

Burks is an intriguing player, having experience at guard and forward. At 30-years-old, Alec signed a three-year, $30 million deal this past off-season with New York, after averaging 12.7 points and 2.2 assists during the 2020-21 season. He shot 42% from the field and 41.5% from three-point range, and he’s finishing even more consistently this year.

Over 20 games this season, Burks is averaging 10.5 points over 22.3 minutes, slightly less than his statistics a year ago, but he’s more efficient shooting. He’s connecting on 42.6% of his shots from the field and 45% of the shots from deep, giving him far superior numbers compared to Walker.

In the month of November, Burks is shooting 47% from three-point range and 43.9% from the field, recording double-digit points in five of his last six games, including 23 points in the team’s most recent victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

The biggest difference between Burks and Walker is the defensive effort. Burks is a bit taller at 6’6″ and 214 pounds, playing more resilient defense and offering more energy. When Walker is failing to score efficiently, he’s virtually useless on the court, which disrupts the flow of the team, especially with power forward Julius Randle.

In Burks’s first game as the starting PG, three of the Knicks’ starters recorded double-digit points, including 20 from Evan Fournier and 15 from RJ Barrett. Randle finished with just eight points, but contributed 11 rebounds and played adequate defense.

The efficiency and production of Burks allow the second team to feature in a normal role, whereas they were forced to pick up the slack in recent days due to the starting team’s deficiencies.

While this change comes as a surprise, Thibodeau had to make a move, with Kemba struggling so much to develop chemistry with his new teammates. In addition, the Knicks are dead last in fast-break points when Walker is on the court and an unsustainable statistic that has significantly burdened the team.

Knicks should make big shift at point guard against Nets

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knicks, kemba walker

The New York Knicks need more firepower on offense to start games, especially with the inconsistencies of Kemba Walker and Derrick Rose currently dealing with an ankle injury. Walker has struggled to open the year with his new team, averaging 11.7 points, a career-low over 24.5 minutes. Walker may be hitting 41.3% from downtown this season, but in the month of February, he’s connected on just 29.6%.

Ultimately, when Walker isn’t producing on offense, he’s virtually useless. Considering his defensive game-plan is entirely reliant on drawing charging fouls, Kemba’s value plummets the second he’s not knocking down shots at an efficient rate. However, second-year guard Immanuel Quickley has become one of the team’s better on-ball defenders, utilizing aggression and shiftiness to create bad shot opportunities for opponents.

Quickley has been a well-rounded player this season, averaging 9.3 points and shooting 36.6% from deep on the year. However, in November, he’s hit 40.8% of his shots from three and 44.2% from the field. In fact, he’s recorded double-digit points four times in his last five games, making a significant impact not just as a score, but as a facilitator.

The Kentucky product posted seven assists in the most recent win over Atlanta, showcasing his vision, especially in transition. The argument revolves around Walker losing starting minutes in favor of Quickley, but head coach Tom Thibodeau may not want to disrupt his chemistry with Obi Toppin, who features primarily on the second team.

Separating Quickley from Toppin may be a poor move, but having him develop chemistry with Julius Randle may be more beneficial for the team’s production in the first half. The starting five have struggled so badly at times this year, the second team has been forced to supplement deficiencies, which is not a sustainable strategy.

Some might argue that Walker sitting out against Atlanta gave the Knicks an advantage, as Alec Burks filled his spot with the starting five. Burks had an incredible performance, posting 23 points and seven rebounds over 39 minutes. The starting team as a whole actually performed better, as Evan Fournier contributed 20 points and RJ Barrett 15. It is starting to become obvious that Walker is holding back the squad from reaching their potential, due to a lack of poor facilitation and shot selection.

Against a Brooklyn Nets team that is known for its offensive prowess, they need to start off strong, which may promote Quickley earning more minutes to open the game over Walker.

Do you think that Quickley should be earning more time on the floor? Comment here!

Knicks’ RJ Barrett comes to Julius Randle’s defense for lack of scoring production

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rj barrett, julius randle, new york knicks

When the New York Knicks signed All-Star power forward Julius Randle to a four-year, $117 million extension, they expected him to be their primary leader, taking over games offensively and putting them in a position to win. However, Randle has been wildly inconsistent this season, posting -3.3 +/-, with 19.2 points, 5.0 assists, and 10.2 rebounds per game.

Overall, Randle has had his fair share of ups and downs this year, posting just eight points in the Knicks’ win over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday evening. Over his last five games, Randle has showcased elite scoring capabilities and insufficient production at the same time. On November 21 against the Chicago Bulls, he earned 34 points.

The Knicks need a more reliable and consistent version of their All-Star, who in the month of November is shooting 32.9% from three-point range. On the year, he’s only hitting 33% of his shots from deep, far below his 41% clip from just a year ago. His inefficiency from deep has hurt his scoring production, despite his attempts seeing a slight increase compared to the 2020–21 campaign.

However, Julius has made an impact in different ways, specifically with his rebounding, matching his 10.2 from last season. Nonetheless, head coach Tom Thibodeau still sees positives from his game and what he’s able to contribute.

“I thought he made a lot of good plays for us,” Thibodeau said after the win against Atlanta.

Thibodeau was straight into the point with his review of Randle’s play. Whether he’s willing to say it or not, the veteran forward needs to be more consistent with his shooting and use his physicality to open up opportunities for his teammates. Randle isn’t playing being selfish at times, forcing isolation shots and trying to do too much on his own when he can curate higher probability attempts by just passing the ball one extra time.

Third-year guard RJ Barrett came to his defense as well, stating that he does a lot more for the team than just score points.

“Even if he’s not scoring a lot,” RJ Barrett added, “he’s doing so much out there.”

Barrett has a point, as Randle does a lot of the dirty work other players are not capable of doing. Posting double-digit rebounds per game is a serious statistic that shouldn’t be overlooked. Without his consistent bounding, the Knicks wouldn’t be in the top-15 in defensive rebounds this season. He’s also seen an astronomical increase in his block rate, more than doubling compared to last year.

It was anticipated that Randle would see a bit of natural regression after having his best season, but he’s still making a solid impact for a team that desperately needs him to be at the top of his game. The burden has gotten a bit heavier on his shoulders with the Knicks’ complementary players failing to make a significant impact, but the play Obi Toppin has convinced Thibodeau to utilize him more, especially for his transition abilities.

Toppin is having a steadfast second season in the NBA, averaging 8.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 0.8 blocks, and shooting 52.9% from the field. He’s scored double-digit points in three of his last five games, playing a significant role off the bench. Interestingly, the second Thibodeau pulled Toppin from the game against Atlanta, the double-digit lead shrunk instantaneously with Randle on the floor.

Randle has struggled in the month of November to find a balanced game between his offense and defense, but his compliments haven’t done him any favors with lackluster positioning and ball movement. Oddly, I think the catalyst for New York is energy — the second team pushes the defense, creating opportunity in transition with fewer defenders when the starters seem to slow things down and allow opposing teams to close out shots. The up-tempo game isn’t necessarily sustainable, but the energy has been looking with the starters the past few weeks.

Should the Knicks be reducing Kemba Walker’s minutes?

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knicks, kemba walker

The New York Knicks played a dominant game against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday evening, and one interesting factor that led to a more prominent defensive performance was the loss of point guard Kemba Walker, who elected to skip out on the game due to maintenance.

After the team was blown out by the Pheonix Suns, Walker indicated that needed to grow, and his squad did just that with him watching from the bench.

“It’s a great learning experience,’’ Walker said after the blowout loss to the Suns. “It’s a great team out there. We need to grow as a team.’’

Kemba has struggled considerably this season, scoring a career-low 11.7 points, 3.1 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and shooting 42.9% from the field. Overall, Walker has been a shell of his former self, primarily due to a lack of chemistry and experience with his teammates. However, he’s posting the worst +/- of his career at -6.8, as the Knicks have lost their identity at times as an elite defensive team.

However, with Walker riding the bench against Atlanta, the Knicks relied heavily on some of their youth players, including Immanuel Quickley and Quentin Grimes. Both played fantastic press defense, getting in the face of their assignments and forcing tough shooting opportunities. This led to just 90 total points from Atlanta, a team that hadn’t scored less than 100 since November 14 against the Milwaukee Bucks, when their seven-game win streak started.

The question needs to be asked: Are the Knicks better one Kemba Walker isn’t on the floor as often?

In the absence of the veteran PG, Alec Burks stepped in to fill his role, posting 23 points with the starting five, hitting 7-of-17 shots from the field and 4-of-7 shots from three-point range. Burks also contributed seven rebounds and three assists. Overall, he was far better on offense and provided adequate defense in combination, which helped the Knicks post a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter.

In the month of November, Walker has started in 12 games, in which the Knicks have lost eight, winning five. New York has won despite his lackluster offensive efficiency, posting double digits in the points category just once in those five wins. He’s also shot just 29.6% from three-point range in November, an insufficient number that isn’t a reflection of his regular-season total, which sits at 41.3%. Walker started off extremely hot in October, posting double-digit points in every single game, but has since tapered off in a significant way.

There’s an argument to be made that Immanuel Quickley should be earning more minutes, which should be taken away from Walker’s playing time. Looking at Quickley, he offers more as a defensive player and has also been extremely efficient this month. In November, Quickley is hitting 45.5% of his field-goal attempts and 43.8% from three-point range, recording double-digit points in 8-of-14 contests.

In fact, over his last five games, he has recorded a low of nine, which came against Atlanta on Saturday evening, and a high of 16 against Phoenix. Quickley has also been far more efficient as a facilitator, recording seven assists against Atlanta in the win.

Do you think that Walker should forfeit minutes to Quickley in the future? Comment here!

Knicks 99, Hawks 90: Alec Burks leads Knicks past red-hot Atlanta team

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alec burks, knicks

The New York Knicks stepped up against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday evening, toppling them by the score of 99–90. After falling to the Phoenix Suns in a disappointing loss at MSG, the Knicks bounced back with physicality and elite defense, despite playing without Kemba Walker and Derrick Rose.

Thankfully, the starting team posted a far more efficient performance against Atlanta, despite power forward Julius Randle recording just eight points over 31 minutes. However, Evan Fournier and RJ Barrett recorded 18 and 15 apiece, knocking down a combined five 3-PT shots. In the absence of Walker, reserve Alec Burks picked up the start, having one of his most dominant games of the season with 23 points, two steals, three assists, and seven rebounds.

Burks, who has played an instrumental part with the second team, helped secure the win, and his presence might’ve been even more beneficial than having Walker in the first place. However, the reserves for New York also played a significant role, as Obi Toppin contributed 13 points and Immanuel Quickley 9. Toppin was fantastic in transition, hitting 5-of-8 shots from the field and all three of his free-throw attempts. Quickley acted as a facilitator in this contest, posting 7.0 assists, a season-high for the second-year player.

Head coach Tom Thibodeau indicated that the team lacked effort against Phoenix, but they showed nothing but maximum energy against Atlanta, especially on defense. The Hawks hadn’t dipped below 100 points since before they began a seven-game win streak against the Milwaukee Bucks on November 14.

The Knicks needed a fantastic defense performance to get back on track, and despite giving up 33 points to Trae Young over 39 minutes, they limited some of their more prominent scorers to minimal performances. John Collins posted just 12 points, and Clint Capela recorded 16, but no other player on the team record a double-digit production.

The Knicks will now look ahead to the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday evening at 7:30 PM, and coming off a dominant win over Atlanta, they will hopefully be able to roll over their performance. They are going to need every ounce of defense against a Nets team that is on fire as of late, relying on Kevin Durant and James Harden to carry the load.

3 keys for the Knicks to take down red-hot Atlanta Hawks

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New York Knicks, RJ Barrett

One day after being embarrassed by the Phoenix Suns, the New York Knicks are back at it against the Atlanta Hawks down south. The Suns completely demolished New York at home, with Devin Booker posting 32 points and every single starter hitting double digits thanks to poor defensive play by the Knicks.

With the starters struggling to play cohesive basketball and produce offensively, the team is in shambles trying to pick up the pieces. Atlanta presents a formidable challenge, given they are on a seven-game winning streak after losing six games consecutively before turning their season around completely.

During this recent stretch of success, Atlanta has scored 110+ points in every single game, finishing with 132 against the Memphis Grizzlies in their most recent victory.

Three keys for the Knicks to take down Atlanta:

1.) Limit Trae Young

One way or another, the Knicks have to find a way to limit Trae Young, who is one of the best point guards in basketball. He’s averaging 25.6 points per game, 9.2 assists, and 3.6 rebounds over 33.5 minutes. He’s averaging nearly 10 points more than the team’s second-leading scorer, John Collins.

Young is hitting on nearly 39% of his three-point attempts this year and 46.5% from the field, showcasing incredible efficiency at a high clip. If New York can utilize some of their press defenders on Young, like Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes, and potentially even Miles McBride, they may have a bit more success defending him.

2.) The Knicks need more energy

The Knicks have lacked energy this season at times, as multiple players have indicated they’ve been outpaced. Against the Suns, they weren’t just out-hustled, they were completely outmatched. Head coach Tom Thibodeau stated after the game that their energy simply wasn’t where it normally is, which has been a reoccurring issue this year.

“I didn’t think our energy was where it normally is,” Thibodeau said. “You got to keep your edge. Overall we didn’t play well. It’s on all of us. It’s not on one particular person.”

If the Knicks don’t come out guns-blazing and showing sufficient energy, Atlanta will take advantage with ease.

3.) Physicality inside

One of the primary reasons Atlanta pushed past the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs last season was due to their physicality inside. Having Collins and Clint Capela dominating in the paint certainly poses a significant challenge for New York.

Luckily, they will have Mitchell Robinson back to help assist in that category, as he was missing in the postseason last year. Robinson is having a solid campaign thus far, averaging 7.1 points, 1.6 blocks, and 7.6 rebounds. They will need him to be at the top of his game, especially against Young and his elite floater.

Knicks: Tom Thibodeau’s excuse in blowout loss to Phoenix isn’t acceptable

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tom thibodeau, knicks

The New York Knicks were demolished by the Phoenix Suns on Friday evening 118–97, failing to lock down star shooting guard Devin Booker. Booker posted 32 points and three assists in the win, hitting 14-of-27 shots from the field. Every starter for Phoenix recorded double-digit points, while the Knicks failed to match their offensive efficiency.

New York shot a measly 30.8% from the field while Phoenix landed at 46.4%. With such a vast difference, there was no chance Tom Thibodeau, and his squad were going to crawl back into the game utilizing their second team.

Power forward Julius Randle failed to make an impact, finishing with single-digit points for the first time this season. Kemba Walker led the team with 17, and Evan Fournier backed him up at 11, but second-year guard Immanuel Quickley recorded 16 off the bench over 20 minutes. Quickly has made a legitimate push for starting minutes, and with Derrick Rose currently missing time, he has earned more playing time to supplement his loss.

Thibodeau spoke after the game regarding his team’s performance, which was rather embarrassing at home in front of a packed crowd at MSG.

“I didn’t think our energy was where it normally is,” Tom Thibodeau said. “You got to keep your edge. Overall we didn’t play well. It’s on all of us. It’s not on one particular person.”

The Knicks have come out lacking energy in several games this year, and the players have indicated they need to show more hustle. There’s no excuse for lacking energy and motivation, especially as professional athletes — great teams play with gusto and confidence, something the Knicks don’t have on most nights these days.

The Knicks recorded 51 rebounds in this contest while the Suns posted just 35, an interesting statistic given how poorly New York played. However, Phoenix recorded 20 assists while the Knicks posted just 13. Clearly, the Suns are passing the ball at a far more productive rate, indicating better movement and chemistry.

Booker, what’s the difference-maker for Phoenix, hitting 4-of-9 shots from deep and completely taking over offensively with his elite shooting capabilities.

“Great players are going to have that ability (to make tough shots). You have to have the discipline to keep challenging the shot time after time,” Thibodeau said regarding Booker’s performance. “He’s a shotmaker. He’s a helluva player.’’

It is becoming clear that the Knicks lack a true star talent, as Randle has disappeared this season at times and showed inconsistencies. Until they have an elite player to pair with Julius, the team is going to face challenges in the scoring department and matching more efficient teams who capitalize off poor defense.

Suns 118, Knicks 97: Youngsters get tons of playing time as starters disappear

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knicks, new york knicks, miles mcbride

The New York Knicks fell to the Phoenix Suns on Friday evening by a score of 118–97. The starting team completely disappeared as Julius Randle contributed just nine points, four-assist, and six rebounds. Having played in 32 minutes, Tom Thibodeau needed his best player to step up and provide a sufficient performance, but he was unable to get going and was pulled early in the game.

The highest scorer of the game for the Knicks was point guard Kemba Walker, who contributed 17 points over 23 minutes. While Walker was their best offensive player, his defense was lackluster, as was the entire starting unit. Not a single starter earned a positive +/-, allowing Phoenix to post an absurd stat line.

One of the keys for the Knicks was to limit Devin Booker, the Suns’ top scorer. Over 35 minutes, Booker recorded 32 points, hitting 14-of-27 shots from the field and picking up three assists. Chris Paul added 14 points and 10 assists, in line with his season average. Every single starter from Phoenix scored double digit points, which allowed Thibodeau to give his youngsters some added minutes in the loss.

For the first time this season, rookies Quentin Grimes and Miles McBride earned some playing time. Grimes featured in 16 minutes, picking up three points and four rebounds. McBride posted two points over four minutes, while second-year guard Immanuel Quickley added 16 points over 20 minutes, hitting 50% of the shots from deep. Quickley has been on a tear recently, justifying starter-level minutes.

The Knicks are trending down as of late, especially with the starting team struggling to produce on a regular basis. Randle had posted 20 or more points over his last two games, but this was his first outing of the season, where he earned single-digit points.

The team needs more for their All-Star power forward if they want to be a top team, and this disappearing act cannot be a frequent occurrence. Thibodeau will undoubtedly have a few critical words for his squad after an embarrassing performance against Phoenix, and the schedule doesn’t get any easier as the Knicks prepare to take on the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, and Chicago Bulls consecutively in the coming days.