New York Knicks Blog – Page 24 – NBA Blog

Will Knicks keep Jarrett Jack?

Here’s NY Newsday reporting on veteran guard Jarrett Jack, who has been helpful to the Knicks so far this short season:

Jarrett Jack is the only Knick with a non-guaranteed deal, but he’s making it very easy for the team to keep him.

They will have to do something soon to create a roster spot. The Knicks have been able to carry an extra guy on the roster because Joakim Noah is on the suspended list. Management could try to trade someone for a draft pick or do a two-for-one deal to keep Jack before Noah comes off in two weeks.

Jack became the Knicks’ starting point guard three games ago. Jack’s calming influence on the court helped the Knicks to wins over the Nets and Cavaliers in his first two games. He totaled 14 assists and three turnovers in his first two starts.

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Frank Ntilikina twists ankle in practice

We look forward to telling you about how Frank Ntilikina is doing in basketball games, but so far we’re forced to mention him a lot in regard to injuries. And it’s happened again. Hopefully minor. Here’s New York Newsday reporting:

On the eve of the Knicks’ home opener, first-round draft pick Frank Ntilikina had to be helped off the practice court Friday after twisting his left ankle in the final minutes of practice.

Ntilikina writhed in pain at the baseline for several minutes before leaving practice. He later told the Knicks’ staff that he injured the ankle when he changed direction while boxing out for a rebound.

“Looked like I thought he maybe stepped on Willy’s [Hernangomez’s] foot,” coach Jeff Hornacek said shortly after the incident. “He went to box him out and it looked like he stepped on his foot. Hopefully, it’s not too bad.”

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Knicks sign Isaiah Hicks to two-way contract

The Knicks have signed forward Isaiah Hicks to a Two-Way contract.

Hicks, 6-9, 230-pounds, is an undrafted rookie who most recently played for the Charlotte Hornets, appearing in one 2017 preseason game. The Oxford, NC-native averaged 11.8 points and 5.5 rebounds in his senior year for the 2017 NCAA National Champion University of North Carolina.

Per NBA rules, teams are permitted to have two Two-Way players on their roster at any given time – Hicks joins center Luke Kornet on the Knicks. A Two-Way player will provide services primarily to the team’s G League affiliate – the Westchester Knicks – but can spend up to 45 days with New York, not including any time prior to the start of Westchester’s training camp and at the conclusion of their season.

Many key Knicks are still very young

Here’s the New York Post reporting on the Knicks, who have a lot of young players, along with some non-star veterans:

The Knicks grew their 25-and-under battalion from five players to seven with the Anthony blockbuster. Kanter and sharpshooter Doug McDermott, likely their sixth man, are both 25.

The former OKC duo joined fellow 25-year-old Tim Hardaway Jr., their starting shooting guard; French rookie first-rounder, point guard Frank Ntilikina (19); starting power forward Kristaps Porzingis (22); center Willy Hernangomez, (23), who likely backs up Kanter; and backup guard Ron Baker (24). Rookie second-round pick Damyean Dotson, 23, is knocking on the door for admittance to the Baby Knicks club.

For now, it probably will look dirty. The five projected starters have been put in grander positions than they’re accustomed.

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Knicks waive Trey Burke, Xavier Rathan-Mayes and Nigel Hayes

The New York Knicks have waived guards Trey Burke and Xavier Rathan-Mayes and forward Nigel Hayes.

Burke, 6-1, 190-pounds, was originally signed on Oct. 11 and did not appear in the preseason. Rathan-Mayes, 6-4, 205-pounds, was originally signed on Aug. 18 and appeared in three preseasons games, scoring two points in 28 minutes. Hayes, 6-8, 240-pounds, was originally signed on Aug. 18 and appeared in four preseason games, scoring nine points in 33 minutes.

Knicks sign Trey Burke

The New York Knicks have signed guard Trey Burke.

Burke, 6-1, 190-pounds, has averaged 10.6 points and 3.6 assists over 24.8 minutes in 267 career games with Utah and Washington from 2013 through 2017. The Columbus, OH-native was originally drafted by Minnesota out of the University of Michigan with the ninth overall selection in the 2013 NBA Draft and named to the 2013-14 NBA All-Rookie First Team as a member of the Jazz.

Last season, Burke appeared in 57 games for the Wizards to average 5.0 points and 1.8 assists over 12.3 minutes.

Rough preseason for Kristaps Porzingis

Kristaps Porzingis is the main key young building block for the Knicks. After an excellent rookie season, things stalled a bit for him in his second season. And while preseason is just a warmup, health issues obviously matter, and right now the big guy isn’t at 100 percent. Not ideal. Here’s the New York Post with more:

Twenty-four hours after he was called out by MSG personalities Alan Hahn and Wally Szczerbiak for his ineffective play, Porzingis missed Monday night’s 117-95 preseason loss to the Rockets at the Garden with a sore right hip that could also keep him out of the final dress rehearsal Friday against the Wizards.

Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek said Porzingis is having problems lifting his leg, a concerning statement about the face of the franchise. Later, when pressed, Hornacek said he is “hopeful” Porzingis will play Friday.

“He said he went out there last game and felt it a little bit but he was playing. When he really took his stride it was soreness in there,” Hornacek said. “Trainers will work on him and get him a bunch of treatment to get him ready.

“I think it’s just sore. He doesn’t remember the play it happened. He had trouble lifting his leg. I don’t know how long that will be.”

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Preseason: Nets beat Knicks by 34

Preseason is just a warmup, but there’s also less of it this year. And the regular season is around one week away. And even in preseason, it’s fun for NYC-area fans to see what happens when the Knicks and Nets play each other. Here’s the New York Post reporting:

With Floyd Mayweather seated in the front row, the Nets put a beating on the Knicks that the boxing champion would have been proud of.

Yes, it was just preseason. No, it won’t count in the standings. But after rolling 117-83 on Sunday — and hammering their cross-river rivals twice in the span of three days — early returns say the Nets are the best basketball team in the city.

The Nets’ long-armed, versatile switching defense held the Knicks to 38.7 percent shooting, and 4-of-15 from beyond the 3-point arc. They had 13 steals and turned 25 turnovers into 35 points. And they turned that defense to offense, swing and moving the ball for 29 assists…

D’Angelo Russell had 16 points, seven assists and three steals, all team-highs.

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Frank Ntilikina out with lingering knee bruise

There are lots of minor injuries suffered in each NBA preseason. But it’s not a great sign when an injury is the same thing that hit a player during summer league. Still seems like no big deal for now, but here’s the NY Post reporting:

Frank Ntilikina will sit out his second straight preseason game — Sunday against the Nets — and is still considered day-to-day with a knee bruise, but the 19-year-old said he could return to action Monday night against the Rockets.

Ntilikina, who missed all of summer league because of the same injury, said he isn’t concerned the issue will linger much longer.

“It’s going to be all right,” Ntilikina said. “I’m feeling better, better than [Friday]. I did a lot of treatment on my knee. … This is a very long season, 82 games, so doing stupid things, trying to play even if my knee is not all right is not smart. So, it would be best for me be to be healthy and to be ready for the whole season.”

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Enes Kanter brings back-to-basket moves

The Knicks are rebuilding, but they have some talent who plan on winning right now. Not later. Well, they need to wait for the regular season to start. But then they plan on winning. Accuracy matters, people. Anyway, take new addition Enes Kanter, who is happy to discuss his classic big-man moves. Here’s New York Newsday with more:

Enes Kanter considers himself a throwback, a center who can play with his back to the basket and hurt teams with an array of post moves.

Those players are few and far between in the NBA, which is playing smaller and faster. But the Knicks hope to use Kanter’s skills to their advantage, and the Turkish big man believes he has multiple ways he can hurt teams.

“If you look at the NBA right now, you cannot give me three guys that play back to the basket anymore,” Kanter said after practice Thursday. “If you have a back-to-the-basket player and he can play, and he’s got the footwork, it’s over because if they’re going to send a double-team, if you make an extra pass, that’s it.”

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