Category: New York Knicks Blog

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Knicks vs. Heat playoff series shifts to South Beach tied 1-1

Via the NY Daily News:

As the 1-1 series shifts to South Beach and Jimmy Butler’s ankle gets three days to heal, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was gearing up for a battle that the Roman Empire could appreciate.

“If you’re a basketball aficionado, you have to love this series. You have great competition. Guys going after it,” Spoelstra said. “Leaving nothing to chance. Both teams probably could use an extra day just to gear up for the gladiator battle that’s about to ensue on Saturday.”

The Knicks won the hustle game Tuesday night, specifically on the glass down the stretch. The possession that shifted the victory toward New York lasted over a minute and included four offensive rebounds, ending with a Josh Hart corner 3-pointer that knotted the score at 96 with 4:45 remaining.

Julius Randle misses Game 1 of Knicks vs. Heat playoff series

The New York Knicks versus Miami Heat second round playoff series began today in NYC, with the home squad starting the series short-handed. Via ESPN.com:

Knicks forward Julius Randle will not play Sunday in Game 1 of New York’s Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Heat because of a sprained left ankle, the team announced.

The Knicks also said swingman Quentin Grimes will play in Game 1 but will not start. Grimes missed the final two games of the first round after suffering a shoulder contusion in Game 3 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Knicks forward Julius Randle injured, out with ankle sprain

Via the NY Post:

All-Star forward Julius Randle will have his sprained left ankle reevaluated in two weeks, the team announced Thursday, meaning he will miss at least the final five games of the regular season — beginning Friday night against the Cavaliers — and possibly the start of the playoffs.

As long as the Knicks are not in the play-in round, the playoffs for them would start no earlier than April 15.

Historically, the league has played the eight Game 1’s on the first two playoff days (this year that would be April 15-16).

Randle, the team’s leading scorer at 25.1 points per game, has started all 77 games this season before departing late in the second quarter of Wednesday’s win over the Heat after landing on the foot of Miami forward Bam Adebayo.

FULL ARTICLE

Knicks sign DaQuan Jeffries

The New York Knicks have signed guard DaQuan Jeffries to a contract.

Jeffries, 6-5, 222-pounds, averaged 21.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists over 33.3 minutes in 21 games (all starts) for the Westchester Knicks. In 15 games (all starts) during the 2022 AT&T Winter Showcase, he averaged 18.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists over 32.9 minutes. New York signed him to a 10-day contract on Mar. 5 and then to a second 10-day contract on Mar. 16.

The Edmond, OK-native holds career averages of 3.8 points and 1.9 rebounds over 13.7 minutes in 47 games (five starts) over three seasons with Sacramento, Houston and Memphis. He appeared in five games for New York’s Summer League entry in July, averaging 8.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists over 21.7 minutes in five games in Las Vegas, NV.

Jalen Brunson says he loved his time with Mavericks

Via the NY Post:

Fans of the struggling Mavericks may not want to hear it, but Jalen Brunson says he had hoped to stay in Dallas.

The Knicks star point guard spoke highly of his former team — which he opted to leave in free agency last summer — in an interview with Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes, despite opting to leave Dallas for the Big Apple during free agency last year.

“I wanted that role of being with the Mavericks for the long haul of my career. I truly loved that place,” Brunson told Haynes. “I can’t say anything bad about Dallas, but obviously I wish things would’ve happened differently.”

FULL ARTICLE

Knicks legend Willis Reed has passed away

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement today regarding the passing of Willis Reed

“Willis Reed was the ultimate team player and consummate leader. My earliest and fondest memories of NBA basketball are of watching Willis, who embodied the winning spirit that defined the New York Knicks’ championship teams in the early 1970s. He played the game with remarkable passion and determination, and his inspiring comeback in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals remains one of the most iconic moments in all of sports. As a league MVP, two-time NBA Finals MVP and member of the NBA’s 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams, Willis was a decorated player who took great pride in his consistency. Following his playing career, Willis mentored the next generation as a coach, team executive and proud HBCU alumnus. We send our deepest condolences to Willis’ wife, Gail, his family and his many friends and fans.”

NBPA Statement on the Passing of Willis Reed

“The NBPA is mourning the passing of our brother, Willis Reed. Willis will always be a legend of our game, leaving an incredible legacy of achievement as the backbone and Captain of the New York Knicks during his 10-year playing career. While his contributions on the court generated great success on an individual and team basis, his work ethic, commitment, and dedication to his craft were a model for future generations of players. He was a true professional in every sense of the word. We send our condolences to Willis’ family, friends, and the entire Knicks organization during this time.”

Cam Reddish reflects on time with Knicks

Here’s Trail Blazers small forward Cam Reddish reflecting on his time with the Knicks, via the NY Daily News:

Cam Reddish spent most of his time in New York on the bench, a former lottery pick with a career that was derailing on a team and coach of ill fit.

But as the 23-year-old was losing a season to DNPs, Reddish took solace in his belief that the benching wasn’t about basketball.

“It was tough but at the same time, it ain’t even about basketball,” Reddish told the Daily News. “It had nothing to do with basketball. It was all the politics, all the favoritism. S–t like that. That’s why I wasn’t too worried about it.” …

“I’m in a completely different place. Now I’m blessed. Not everybody gets another opportunity so it’s refreshing,” said Reddish, the 10th overall pick in 2019. “I got some great teammates. Great staff. It’s real positive around here. Win, lose or draw. It’s not somebody beating you over your head — not that that was happening in New York — but it’s more my style.”

Reddish is currently a full-time member of Portland’s rotation.

Knicks sign Duane Washington Jr. to two-way contract

The New York Knicks have signed guard Duane Washington Jr. to a two-way contract.

Washington Jr., 6-3, 197-pounds, was waived by Phoenix on Feb. 1 after averaging 7.9 points, 2.0 assists and 1.2 rebounds over 12.7 minutes in 31 games (three starts) with Suns. He recorded four 20-point performances this season, including career highs of 26 points and seven assists in a win at Memphis on Dec. 27.

He began his career in Indiana, averaging 9.9 points on 37.7% shooting from downtown with 1.8 assists over 20.2 minutes in 48 games (seven starts) during the 2021-22 season. Among qualified NBA rookies, he ranked 12th in points per game, third in three-point percentage and ninth with 81 made three-pointers. Washington set a Pacers rookie record by making seven three-pointers at New Orleans on Jan. 24. He also appeared in 11 games (all starts) with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA G League, averaging 19.5 points, 4.4 assists and 3.4 rebounds over 32.5 minutes.

The Frankfurt, Germany-native went undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft following a three-year career at Ohio State University where he earned All-Big Ten honors in his final season after averaging a team-high 16.4 points to go along with 3.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists over 32.2 minutes in 31 games all starts).

Four-team NBA trade sends Cam Reddish and Matisse Thybulle to Blazers, Josh Hart to Knicks

The Portland Trail Blazers have acquired forward Cam Reddish, guard Ryan Arcidiacono and a 2023 first round pick from the New York Knicks in exchange for forward Josh Hart, it was announced today by General Manager Joe Cronin.

Additionally, Portland acquires guard Matisse Thybulle from the Philadelphia 76ers for a 2029 second round pick and sends a 2027 second round pick to the Charlotte Hornets.

Charlotte sends Jalen McDaniels and a 2024 second round pick to Philadelphia and receives a 2023 second round pick from the 76ers and guard/forward Svi Mykhailiuk from the Knicks.

RE-STATING SOME OF THE ABOVE: To complete the trade, Philadelphia dealt Thybulle to Portland and a 2023 second-round pick (most favorable of Atlanta, Brooklyn or Charlotte) to Charlotte. Portland traded its 2029 second-round selection to Philadelphia, a 2027 second-round pick (more favorable of New Orleans or Portland) to Charlotte, and Josh Hart and the draft rights to Bojan Dublijevic and Daniel Diez to New York. In addition to McDaniels, the Hornets traded New York’s 2024 second-round pick to the 76ers.

Reddish is averaging 8.4 points (44.9% FG, 30.4% 3-PT, 87.9% FT), 1.6 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 21.9 minutes per game in 20 games (eight starts) this season with New York. The former Duke University standout holds career averages of 10.2 points (39.3% FG, 32.3% 3-PT, 84.4% FT), 3.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 24.5 minutes in 153 games (70 starts) in three seasons for Atlanta and New York. Reddish was originally selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the 10th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

In 228 career games, Arcidiacono (aar-chee-dee-ACK-uh-no) has averaged 4.4 points, 2.0 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 16.4 minutes per game for Chicago and New York. After going undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft, Arcidiacono spent the 2016-17 season playing for the Austin Spurs, the NBA G League affiliate of the San Antonio Spurs, before signing a two-way contract with Chicago in 2017.

Originally selected by the Boston Celtics with the 20th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Thybulle (thigh-bull) is averaging 2.7 points (43.1% FG, 33.3% 3-PT, 75.0% FT) and 1.3 rebounds in 12.1 minutes per game in 49 games (six starts) this season with the 76ers. In 245 career games (78 starts) with Philadelphia over four seasons, he has accrued career averages of 4.4 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.0 assists in 19.8 minutes per game. The Australian guard was a two-time All-NBA Defensive Second Team selection in 2021 and 2022 and is the only NBA player to record at least 250 steals and 150 blocks since the 2020-21 season.

In a subsequent move, the Trail Blazers have waived Greg Brown III.

TNT adds January 26 Knicks at Celtics game to TV schedule, drops Bulls at Hornets

In NBA national TV news, on Thursday, January 26, TNT will now televise the Knicks at Celtics game, and have dropped the Bulls at Hornets.

The Celtics at 29-12 have the best record in the NBA, while the Knicks at 22-19 currently sit a respectable 7th in the Eastern conference.

The Bulls (19-22) are currently 10th in the East, while the Hornets (11-31) are just 14th.