New York Knicks Blog – Page 44 – NBA Blog

Knicks waive Lou Amundson, Lance Thomas, Alex Kirk

The New York Knicks have waived forwards Lou Amundson and Lance Thomas and center Alex Kirk, President Phil Jackson announced. All three players were acquired as part of a three-team trade on January 5, 2015.

After a season of struggle that has led to a lot of losing, the Knicks appear to be in full rebuild mode, parting ways with Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith. The question is if Amar’e Stoudemire, Andrea Bargnani or even Carmelo Anthony will remain on the roster. It’s likely that the team will keep Melo, while attempting to say goodbye to almost anybody else who makes more than a minimum salary.

At 5-32, Knicks have worst record in NBA

The New York Knicks are rebuilding, and have suffered lots of injuries all season, and were short-handed yesterday as a trade was being finalized. Still, the team wasn’t expected to lose quite like this. Here’s the New York Post reporting:

The Knicks finally hit bottom.

Derek Fisher’s Knicks made ignominious history Monday and finally fell to the basement of the NBA, even below the 76ers.

In the wake of Phil Jackson gutting the roster, the Knicks dressed nine players and fell 105-83 to the Grizzlies at FedEx Forum to drop to 5-32.

The Knicks’ loss and Sixers’ victory over Cleveland put the Knicks below Philadelphia with the worst winning percentage in the league (.135), while tying a franchise record with their 12th consecutive loss. The 1984-85 team starring Ken “Animal’’ Bannister also lost 12 games in a row.

Three-team trade sends Iman Shumpert and JR Smith to Cavs, Dion Waiters to Thunder

The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired guards Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith from the New York Knicks and a protected 2015 first round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder. In exchange, the Cavs will send guard Dion Waiters to the Thunder, and Lou Amundson, Alex Kirk and its own 2019 second round pick to the Knicks. New York will also receive forward Lance Thomas from Oklahoma City.

In addition, Knicks center Samuel Dalembert has been waived.

“As our journey moves through this season, we will search for the type of players that fit the style we hope to exhibit for our fans. Our desire is to improve our ability to compete,” Knicks President Phil Jackson said. “In addition, these transactions improve our flexibility to the current roster and the salary cap for future seasons.”

“We wish Dion the best as he continues his career with the Thunder and thank him for his effort and work here with the Cavaliers. Dion is a talented player with potential ahead of him. Trades like this are always difficult to make because there are relationships and bonds built and that was the case with Dion,” said Cavaliers general manager David Griffin. “At the same time, we’re very excited to welcome Iman and J.R. to Cleveland. With their size and versatility, we think both Iman and J.R. can help our team on both ends of the court and we look forward to them joining us.”

Currently in his fourth NBA season, Shumpert has appeared in 202 games (162 starts) with the Knicks, averaging 7.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.3 steals in 26.2 minutes per game. The 6-5 guard has ranked among the NBA’s Top 20 in steals-to-turnover ratio in two of his three pro seasons (15th with 0.91 in 2011-12; fifth with 1.16 in 2013-14). He holds a .348 career three-point percentage and was an All-Rookie First Team selection in 2012. This season, Shumpert is averaging 9.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.3 steals in 26.0 minutes over 24 contests (all starts).

Smith, an 11-year veteran, has played in 716 career games (173 starts) with averages of 13.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 26.1 minutes for New Orleans, Denver and New York. The 6-6 guard is also a career .370 shooter from the three-point line and .736 from the charity stripe. He has made at least 100 three-pointers in seven of the last eight seasons and was named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year following the 2012-13 season. This season, Smith is averaging 10.9 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 25.8 minutes through 24 games (six starts) with New York.

The pick from Oklahoma City is protected 1-18 in 2015 and 1-15 in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Should the pick not convey during this period, the Thunder would send the Cavaliers its second round draft picks in 2018 and 2019.

“Dion Waiters is a player that we’ve tracked and liked since his time at Syracuse, in the NBA, and with USA Basketball. Dion provides another proven scorer that positively impacts our roster and adds depth and flexibility,” said Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. “We have a lot of respect for his toughness and competitiveness, and believe that he is a physical playmaker who will enhance the versatility of our team. We are excited to welcome Dion to Oklahoma City and the Thunder organization.”

Waiters was originally drafted by the Cavaliers with the fourth overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft. In 164 games (75 starts) in three seasons with the Cavs, Waiters averaged 14.3 points on .420 shooting from the field, including .328 from beyond the arc, 2.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.0 steal in 28.1 minutes per game. He was named to the All-Rookie First Team in 2013. Through 33 games (three starts) this season, the 6-4 guard is averaging 10.5 points, 2.2 assists and 1.3 steals in 23.8 minutes per game.

Kirk, an undrafted rookie out of New Mexico, originally signed as a free agent by the Cavaliers on August 11 and played in five contests for Cleveland in 2014-15. Amundson, who was part of the 2014 Cavs training camp and preseason roster, appeared in 12 games for the Cavs this season.

Carmelo Anthony dealing with sore knee

Here’s the New York Post reporting on the 5-28 Knicks, whose star Carmelo Anthony is dealing with an issue of his own:

The Knicks are well on pace to finish with the worst record in franchise history, and it’s looking more and more as if Carmelo Anthony won’t make it to the finish line.

Anthony did not finish Sunday’s 101-79 blowout loss to the Trail Blazers, pulled at halftime by coach Derek Fisher after Anthony’s sore left knee acted up late in the second quarter.

Anthony stayed in the locker room and it hardly mattered as the Knicks were blown out from start to finish at the Moda Center. The Knicks fell to 5-28, losers of eight straight and 18 of 19 games.

Anthony would have sat out the game entirely after playing 45 minutes Saturday night had the club not been decimated by injuries. He played, and shot 5-of-14 for 13 points in the first half before Fisher pulled the plug on Anthony, who said his leg felt “heavy and weak.’’

Quincy Acy suspended for foul on John Wall

New York Knicks forward Quincy Acy has been suspended one game without pay for committing a Flagrant Foul Two which initiated an altercation with Washington Wizards guard John Wall. Wall has been fined $15,000 for pushing Acy and escalating the incident, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

The incident, which resulted in an ejection for Acy, occurred with 5:31 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ 102-91 loss to the Wizards at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, Dec. 25.

Acy will serve his suspension on Saturday, Dec. 27, when the Knicks travel to Sacramento to play the Kings at Sleep Train Arena.

Carmelo Anthony relates to Knicks fans

Here’s ESPN New York reporting on the Knicks, who keep on losing:

Carmelo Anthony relates to frustrated Knicks fans

There’s a New York Knicks fan out there who lives and dies with the team, a fan who’s been doing much more dying than living with this group.

Carmelo Anthony has a message for that fan.

“I feel what the fans are feeling,” Anthony said after the Knicks fell to 5-26 following a Christmas Day loss to the Wizards.

“The fans are dying, we’re dying. We’re out there, we’re not producing. We didn’t expect, I didn’t expect to be sitting at 5-26,” he said. “So as much as I feel for the fans, I feel for us going through it, too. I don’t expect nobody to feel sorry for us, I don’t expect nobody to feel sorry for me.”

Samuel Dalembert fined by NBA for elbowing Jonas Valanciunas

New York Knicks center Samuel Dalembert has been fined $15,000 for elbowing Jonas Valanciunas of the Toronto Raptors in the face during the Raptors’ 118-108 victory over the Knicks on Sunday, Dec. 21, at Air Canada Centre, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

Dalembert’s actions, which resulted in a Flagrant Foul 2 and his subsequent ejection, occurred with 10:59 remaining in the third quarter of the game.

Dalembert this season is averaging just 3.8 points and 5.3 rebounds in 17.1 minutes per game for New York, who have the second worst winning percentage in the NBA through Sunday’s games.

Knicks now 5-24 after loss to Suns

The New York Knicks have the second worst record in the NBA, and after Saturday’s home defeat at the hands of the Phoenix Suns, they have the most losses of any team in the league. The season remains a challenge. Which was expected. Phil Jackson isn’t likely to make his mark until the 2015 offseason. Here’s New York Newsday reporting on the latest setback:

Carmelo Anthony’s balky left knee felt good enough for him to face the Suns. But by the end of the game, he and the rest of the Knicks had the same feeling of pain, frustration and doubt.

The Knicks led at the start of the fourth quarter Saturday afternoon at the Garden but lost another winnable game in a fashion similar to so many other losses this season.

Poor execution on both ends with the game on the line led to the Knicks’ 99-90 loss to the Suns. It was their 14th defeat in the last 15 games, and they were booed as the clock wound down on their seventh straight home defeat.

The Knicks are 5-24 — and more fragile than you might think.

“It’s the same thing that’s happening game in and game out,” Anthony said. “I don’t know if we believe in ourselves at that moment that we can win the basketball game or have a chance to win the basketball game. I think it’s more mental than it is physical out there.”

Knicks fall to 4-16 for season

The New York Knicks are now 4-16 this season, one of the worst winning percentages in the league. They came close to beating the Cleveland Cavaliers at home in MSG Thursday night on national television, but fell just short. The struggle is real. Here’s the New York Post with more:

Carmelo Anthony had one of his worst nights with the Knicks, and now they are off to their worst start in franchise history.

Despite getting plenty of help from his teammates, Anthony couldn’t close the deal as his miserable evening ended with a missed 3-pointer that rimmed out over LeBron James in the final seconds to seal the Cavaliers 90-87 victory at the Garden.

The Knicks fell to 4-16 — the worst record any Knicks team has had after 20 games. Anthony finished shooting 4-of-19 for nine points, scoring just two points in the second half, shut out in the fourth quarter. He also didn’t take one free throw. Incredibly, the Knicks are just two games ahead of the 1-17 Sixers in the standings.

Jersey City native Kyrie Irving starred over James (19 points, 12 assists) and Anthony. Irving finished with 37 points and hit the game-sealing bucket.

Knicks off to 4-15 season start

Here’s the New York Post reporting on the 4-15 Knicks, who weren’t expected to do big things this season but on paper at least appeared capable of playing a bit better than they have thus far. Through Tuesday’s games, the team has the third worst winning percentage in the NBA:

The 4-15 Knicks lead the NBA in the unofficial stat of “comeback losses.’’

You’ve seen the drill. The Knicks get pummeled for three quarters, then come roaring back when their opponent relaxes to nearly steal the win.

Tuesday’s 98-93 Nets heartbreaker marked the fourth time this season the Knicks fought back to within one possession of tying or winning the game after trailing by at least 15 points in the third quarter — only to lose.

Hence comes a misleading stat — and Derek Fisher’s misleading perception — on how close they are to turning this around. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Knicks are 2-10 in games separated by 5 points or fewer with five minutes to go. In the Knicks’ 19 games, a league-high 12 have been separated by five points or fewer entering the final five minutes of regulation.