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The New York Knicks have signed forward Phillip Carr.
It’s probably just a non-guaranteed deal that will end during or at the conclusion of preseason.
Carr, 6-8, 190-pounds, played three seasons (2015-18) at Morgan State University, posting 13.4 points and 8.5 rebounds over 32.9 minutes in 87 games (85 starts). Carr was named to the All-MEAC First Team, twice (2017-18) and was named MEAC Defensive Player of the Year during his junior season.
For NBA veterans, preseason is mostly a warmup. A time to loosen up and get the joints moving again. But for rookies, it’s a bit more serious. First-year players need to prove themselves worthy of regular season minutes, and until they do that most of them will be sitting watching the vets do their thing.
Here’s the New York Post with preseason debut notes on the Knicks rookies:
The Knicks went 3-for-3 in Washington D.C. during their preseason opener. Not from the field — but with their rookie showings, and that is what general manager Scott Perry’s 2018-19 vision is mostly about after running his first draft as chief operator.
Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson and Allonzo Trier all excelled in different ways.
Knox, their lottery pick who could make a bid for Rookie of the Year, hit the defensive glass with panache, after which he pushed the pace in point-forward fashion and wound up with a double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds).
Robinson, in the center of the storm, didn’t back down from Wizards’ feisty veteran Markieff Morris. That led to Morris’ ejection and crybaby act in the locker room after the Knicks’ 124-118 overtime victory. A Knicks security man was seen entering the Wizards locker room with a Washington staffer, ostensibly to ensure Morris didn’t escalate matters.
And a usual yearly reminder is, don’t judge any rookies based on just a couple of games, let alone one game, let alone one preseason game. It’s all a process.
Look. Preseason starts tonight. Which means for the next week or so, there is going to be tons of speculation about which young players are ready for a breakout season.
Of course, players who were rookies last year and showed some skills are almost all expected to do better as NBA sophomores.
But what about guys who have been in the league for a few seasons, and haven’t shown the anticipated improvement, and need to step up sometime soon to keep themselves on the basketball map?
Here’s the New York Post on Knicks guard Emmanuel Mudiay:
Less turnovers. Less pounds.
That’s been point guard Emmanuel Mudiay’s modus operandi during the first week of Knicks training camp.
First-year coach David Fizdale said Mudiay has the lowest turnover rate of anyone during the first week of scrimmages. Mudiay’s loss of 10-15 pounds since the regular season finale has helped with stamina and adjusting to Fizdale’s fast offense.
He looks much improved so far from late last season when he didn’t make a big impression after the February trade with Denver.
Sounds reasonable. If he really did work hard enough to drop that much weight, maybe something is brewing.
Preseason begins tonight with Celtics vs Hornets.
The Knicks starting lineup this season can’t be predicted right now. Not if what new head coach Dave Fizdale is saying will hold up, that the five starting jobs really are up for grabs. Of course, Kristaps Porzingis, when fully healthy, is expected to be a core starter. As for the rest of the team? Here’s the New York Post with more on this:
Tim Hardaway Jr. said he believes coach David Fizdale will make the right call on starters and won’t play favorites. Fizdale has opened up the competition for all five spots.
On the surface, Hardaway has an advantage, having known Fizdale for longer than any other Knick. Fizdale was first Miami’s video coordinator in 1997-98 when Hardaway’s father, Tim Sr., played for the Heat. And Tim Sr. was a scout for the team when Fizdale became a Heat assistant.
It would be an upset if the $71 million man isn’t starting at shooting guard opening night versus Atlanta on Oct. 17, but the 26-year-old Hardaway won’t win the job because of the close relationship between Fizdale and Hardaway’s father.
“He doesn’t show any favoritism to myself, treats everybody equal out here on the floor,’’ Hardaway said. “Growing up, knowing Fiz, going back to the days of my dad playing with the Heat, Pat Riley, he knew when I was out here running on the court as a little kid. Me going back after college, during college, and watching the Heat in the playoffs, saying a few words [to him]. It was just mutual respect.”
Knicks head coach Dave Fizdale seems wide open to new ideas, including a possible total overhaul to the team’s starting lineup. Here’s the NY Post with more:
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Enes Kanter and Tim Hardaway Jr., both starters last season, make significant salaries. Kanter will make $18.6 million in his final year and Hardaway Jr. has three years and $54 million left on his pact.
President Steve Mills lavished that $71 million deal on Hardaway Jr. in his first move after being promoted from general manager upon Phil Jackson’s dismissal.
On Tuesday, Fizdale threw all five jobs open.
“Didn’t I answer that question already?” Fizdale said with an edge after Wednesday’s first of two practice sessions. “No one is promised a starting position. I got freedom to do what I want to do from my bosses over there. So it’s open. Don’t matter if you make a lot of money or you make a little money. If you earn the spot you play. That’s it.”
Are players outside of New York thinking differently about the Knicks? Here’s ESPN.com reporting what top team brass had to say about it:
New York Knicks team president Steve Mills believes the perception of the club among NBA players has changed recently.
“In our circles that we travel and the people that we talk to, we know that there is a change in how people perceive us,” Mills said at an event for fans on Monday night. “… We know that the players are talking about New York as a place that, ‘Things are different there now.’ If we do all the things that we’re supposed to do over the course of the year, we’ll be in a good place [to attract free agents].”
The Knicks plan to have enough cap space to attract at least one max free agent in the summer of 2019. Players expected to test free agency next summer include Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Jimmy Butler, Kawhi Leonard and Kemba Walker.
The Knicks are in a rebuilding phase. The squad is build around Kristaps Porzingis (injured), Tim Hardaway Jr. and Enes Kanter. They’re hoping Frank Ntilikina can develop, and that new additions Mario Hezonja, Kevin Knox (rookie) and Mitchell Robinson (rookie) can be difference-makers. But another new team member, Noah Vonleh, has been in the NBA since 2014 and is still looking to get serious minutes in a rotation. One thing Vonleh is sure to bring to the Knicks is excellent rebounding ability. Here’s the New York post with more:
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Noah Vonleh may be regarded as another lottery-pick disappointment on the Knicks’ roster, but the 6-foot-9, 245-pound power forward has one exceptional attribute he will bring to the Garden — rebounding.
“To be in the NBA, you have to have an elite skill and do something really well,’’ Vonleh told The Post in his first comments since signing as a free agent July 24.
“Rebounding has always been the biggest thing for me. Since I was a young kid, I was always able to rebound. I got a good eye for what angle it’s coming off and just going after it. That’s my skill that got me in the NBA. That’s what I get myself going with.’’
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The New York Knicks signed Kadeem Allen today.
The signing may just be a non-guaranteed deal that merely brings Allen to training camp.
A 6-foot-3, 200-pound guard, Allen played for Boston and their G League affiliate Maine last season. In 34 games (33 starts) for the Red Claws, he averaged 17.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, five assists and 2.2 steals over 34.5 minutes, and he received an honor for his efforts — being named to the G League All-Defensive Team. He also played in 18 games (one start) for the Celtics, totaling 19 points and 12 assists over 107 minutes.
The Wilmington, NC-native was originally selected by Boston in the second round (53rd overall) of the 2017 NBA Draft, following two seasons at the University of Arizona and two seasons at Hutchinson Community College (NC). As a senior at Arizona, he averaged 9.8 points, four rebounds, three assists and a team-leading 1.6 steals.
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The New York Knicks signed free agent forward Noah Vonleh today.
Vonleh, 6-9, 245 pounds, spent last season with Portland and Chicago, averaging 4.9 points and 5.8 rebounds in 16.2 minutes over 54 total games (16 starts). The 22-year-old was selected by Charlotte with the ninth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
Vonleh started last season with Portland where he averaged 3.6 points and 5.1 rebounds in 14.4 minutes over 33 games (12 starts). He was traded mid-season to the Bulls and appeared in 21 contests (four starts), recording 6.9 points and 6.9 rebounds over 19.0 minutes.
The Haverhill, MA-native holds career averages of 4.1 points and 4.7 rebounds over 15.5 minutes in 231 total games (113 starts) played with Charlotte, Portland and Chicago. He was traded from Charlotte to Portland on June 24, 2015.
Vonleh played one season for Indiana University where he was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and third team All-Big Ten. In 30 games (29 starts) he averaged 11.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks.
The Knicks have waived Troy Williams.
A 6-foot-7, 220-pounds forward, Williams played in 17 Knicks games last season, and averaged 7.5 points on 49-percent shooting in 17.1 minutes per outing.
This summer, Williams participated in five games for the Knicks’ Vegas summer league team.
A native of Hampton, Virginia, Williams originally signed two consecutive 10-day contracts with the Knicks, the first back in February, and then in mid March signed on for the remainder of the season.
The Knicks now have 17 players under contract — 15 regular contracts and two Two-Way players.