Category: New York Knicks Blog

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No return date yet for Knicks guard Derrick Rose

Derrick Rose has barely been on the court for the New York Knicks this season, and it’s unclear when his availability will change. Via New York Newsday:

Derrick Rose appeared on the floor at the Knicks’ morning shootaround Friday, not in uniform and not ready to rejoin the team on the court. But the Knicks at least had him with them, helping to provide some measure of leadership as they struggle through a downward spiral.

Rose hasn’t played since Dec. 16. He had ankle surgery later in December and had a second procedure last week to deal with an infection at the site of the first surgery.

“He can’t really do much,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “Just gotta be patient, let it clear up. That’s it.”

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No set return date yet for Knicks guard Derrick Rose

It’s unclear when Derrick Rose will be back in action for the New York Knicks. Via the New York Post:

Tom Thibodeau wouldn’t commit to Knicks point guard Derrick Rose returning in March.

The Knicks revealed Rose’s “minor procedure” Friday involved cleaning up a skin infection that developed where he underwent surgery in mid-December to remove a bone spur. Hence, it’s unclear on how invasive a procedure it was amid a report which stated he could be back in two weeks.

However, Thibodeau didn’t sound like that timetable was firm. The Knicks said he’s out indefinitely.

Yes, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau watched the dunk contest

It’s no surprise that an NBA coach watched the dunk contest. Surely most if not all of them do. So why the headline? Because it’s just fun to keep track of stuff Tom Thibodeau does. Via the New York Post:

Obi Toppin didn’t expect coach Tom Thibodeau to be as excited as he was after the Knicks’ forward won Saturday’s All-Star Slam Dunk Contest when he arrived Wednesday at the team’s first practice after the break.

“Everybody congratulated me [at practice], said I had some pretty good dunks,’’ Toppin said. “[Thibodeau] definitely did. I was kind of surprised for a second. He was the first one I talked about it with. He was talking to me about the experience and if I got to talk to any of the guys. But that’s my guy. Coach is cool.’’

Thibodeau thought winning — even if it is circus dunks — can be a boost as the Knicks begin their post-All-Star break sprint Friday hosting Miami.

“I did [watch],’’ Thibodeau said. “I’m a Saturday night guy — the 3-point contest. I’m happy for Obi. It’s good for him and good for our organization.’’

Knicks rookie Quentin Grimes getting larger role

When a rookie earns a serious role in an NBA team’s rotation, it’s worth noting. Because most first-year players tend to ride the bench. On the Knicks, here’s the New York Post:

Quentin Grimes’ rookie year started extremely slowly as he was used strictly in garbage time until early December.

But the Knicks’ 2021 first-round pick has impressed Tom Thibodeau so much with his ferocious demeanor, the shooting guard out of the University of Houston is now the coach’s choice to stay in the rotation over Cam Reddish.

Yes, the ballyhooed 2019 lottery pick out of Duke the Knicks traded for nearly two weeks ago is behind Grimes in the pecking order. Ironically, the Hawks asked for Grimes in the trade and the Knicks said no thanks…

In 30 games, Grimes, selected 25th in the draft, is averaging 5.5 points but shooting 40.5 percent from 3-point range, where a large percentage of his shot attempts come from. Though he’s shooting 41 percent overall, his effective field-goal percentage — which adjusts for 3-pointers being worth more than 2-pointers — is 57.2 percent.

Knicks trade Kevin Knox to Hawks for Cam Reddish and Solomon Hill

The Atlanta Hawks have acquired forward Kevin Knox II and a conditional future first-round pick (Charlotte’s protected first-round pick) in a trade with the New York Knicks for forwards Cam Reddish and Solomon Hill as well as a 2025 second-round pick and cash considerations.

In addition, New York has waived guard Ryan Arcidiacono.

Knox, 22, has played in 194 career games with the Knicks (61 starts), averaging 8.2 points and 3.1 rebounds in 20.1 minutes and scoring in double-figures 69 times. This season in 12 contests, he’s put in 3.9 points and 1.8 rebounds in 9.2 minutes.

Drafted with the ninth overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft by the Knicks, the 6’9 Knox was First-Team All-SEC and SEC Freshman of the Year in 2018 at Kentucky. The former Florida Mr. Basketball attended Tampa Catholic High School in Tampa, FL.

Reddish, 6-8, 218 pounds, holds career averages of 11.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals over 118 games (62 starts) over three seasons with Atlanta. He is currently averaging career bests of 11.9 points, 90-percent shooting from the free throw line and 37.9-percent shooting from downtown over 23.4 minutes in 34 games (seven starts) for the Hawks this season. He recorded a career high 34 points on Dec. 22 against Orlando and then followed that up with his second career 30-point effort, with 33 points against Chicago on Dec. 27.

The 22-year-old was selected by Atlanta 10th overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, following one season at Duke University, where he was teammates with RJ Barrett. The Norristown, PA-native, averaged 13.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists over 29.7 minutes as a Blue Devil.

Hill played in 84 games (17 starts) in two seasons with the Hawks, averaging 3.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 19.7 minutes.

Three-team NBA trade sends Rajon Rondo from Lakers to Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired guard Rajon Rondo from the Los Angeles Lakers in a three-team trade, Cavaliers General Manager Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

In the deal, the New York Knicks receive guard Denzel Valentine from Cleveland and the draft rights to Wang Zhelin (57th pick in 2016 NBA Draft) and Brad Newley (54th pick in 2007 NBA Draft) and cash considerations from the Lakers.

In addition, Los Angeles receives the draft rights to Louis Labeyrie (57th pick in 2014 NBA Draft) from New York.

Rondo (6-1, 180) played in 18 games for the Lakers this season. Over his 16-year NBA career, he has appeared in 936 games (732 starts) with the Lakers, Clippers, Hawks, Pelicans, Bulls, Kings, Mavericks and Celtics, owning career averages of 9.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.6 steals in 30.1 minutes per contest. His 7,481 assists rank 14th all-time in NBA history and are the fourth-most among active players. The veteran guard has also led the league in assists three times (2012, 2013 and 2016) and steals once (2010) while registering 32 triple-doubles and 236 double-doubles over his career.

A two-time NBA Champion (2008, 2020) and four-time NBA All-Star (2010-2013), Rondo has been named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Team four times (2009-2012), including two First Team nods (2010, 2011), and was an All-NBA Third Team selection in 2012. Additionally, Rondo has appeared in 134 playoff games (105 starts), averaging 12.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 8.5 assists and 1.7 steals in 34.0 minutes per game.

Rondo will wear jersey #1 with the Cavaliers.

Valentine (6-5, 218) signed with the Cavaliers on September 22, 2021 and appeared in 22 games this season.

Knicks sign Tyler Hall to a 10-day contract

The New York Knicks signed guard Tyler Hall to a 10-day contract today.

Hall, 6-5, 209-pounds, is currently averaging 14.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists over 38.5 minutes in 11 games for the Westchester Knicks, the official NBA G League affiliate of the New York Knicks. He holds career averages of 10.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists over 28.2 minutes in 64 games (41 starts) over parts of three seasons with Westchester. He appeared in three games for the Knicks Summer League entry this past summer, averaging two points and one rebound over 7.9 minutes in three games.

The Rock Island, IL-native went undrafted in 2019 after a four-year collegiate career at Montana State University. As a senior, he was named to the 2018-19 All-Big Sky First Team after averaging 20.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists over 33.5 minutes in 32 games (all starts). He amassed 2,518 points over his collegiate career, becoming one of 74 players in Division I history to accomplish that feat.

Interview with Knicks guard Quentin Grimes after big performance vs. Bucks

The Bucks beat the Knicks 112-97 on Sunday, but a bright spot for New York in the loss was the play of rookie guard Quentin Grimes, who in 40 minutes as a starter shot 9-of-17 from the field, including 7-of-13 three-pointers, for 27 points and three steals.

Here’s what Grimes said to the media after the game:

On if he could have dreamt of having such a big game in his first career start: “Not going to lie, I really didn’t. I found out about 90 minutes before the game started when we knew RJ [Barrett] couldn’t play that I was going to start. I just needed to keep my mind right and do it how I used to in college to prepare myself. It was definitely a surreal moment and I was just trying to soak it all in.”

On how the flow of the game was different being a starter: “It is just different when you start the game because you get into a flow a little bit. I felt like once I was out there and got into a flow, got up and down the court a little bit, I let my first shot go and I got comfortable. I felt like I was comfortable coming off of pick-and-rolls, pushing the ball, and with Thibs [Coach Thibodeau] he always preaches staying ready and he does a great job pregame every game of getting us ready, so I felt comfortable out there and it is a credit to him really.”

On what he learned today that will make him a better player moving forward: “I think that I can really play with these guys. They [Milwaukee] are the defending champs, they are not one of the lower seeds in the East, so I learned a lot more about myself going against the defending champs. I feel like I learned a lot about my game and I just need to keep improving day by day whether it is starting or coming off of the bench so that I can do what I can to help the team win.”

Knicks guard Kemba Walker remains benched

The Knicks are still finding their way this season. Via the New York Post:

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau is not ready to make a Kemba Walker reversal, but said he won’t hesitate to make more changes if the losing continues.

Among other factors, Thibodeau said he doesn’t have “a big enough sample size.”

“If we’re not performing well, look, there may be more changes coming,” Thibodeau said. “I want to make sure that — I do have respect for [Walker]. He’s part of the team and right now we have a rotation. He’s not in the rotation but he’s working in practice, he’s doing all the things he should be doing. As I mentioned before when I made that decision, I view Kemba as a starter.’’

Following the hideous 114-99 Garden rout by the Nuggets on Saturday, Thibodeau said there are two factors he looks at regarding decision-making: “Is the intensity part right? Is the execution part right?”

The Knicks are 11-12 so far this season. Their leading scorers are Julius Randle at 20.1 points per game, RJ Barrett at 14.0 ppg, and Evan Fournier at 13.3 ppg.

Knicks begin very tough stretch of games

The upcoming New York Knicks schedule is looking very unfriendly. It’ll be quite the extended test. Via New York Newsday:

If you’re looking for a bright spot as you stare at the Knicks upcoming schedule, consider this: They have played their worst games against the worst of the opponents. Oddly, they play up and down to the level of the competition.

The Knicks will need something to create some optimism because their play on the court has not done that. The team struggled against two of the league’s worst teams in recent days, losing to Orlando and needing a fourth-quarter flurry to overcome the Houston Rockets. On Sunday night they competed against the surging Chicago Bulls, the start of a brutal gauntlet through an assortment of last year’s playoff teams and this year’s surprising front-runners…

Starting with the loss in Chicago, the Knicks host Los Angeles and the red-hot Phoenix Suns before flying to Atlanta for the second half of a back-to-back set. On to Brooklyn to face Nets and then hosting Chicago and Denver before three games in four nights on the road. They then return home for Milwaukee and Golden State.

The Knicks are 9-8 so far this season, which through Sunday’s games puts them in a five-way tie for the sixth best record in the Eastern conference.

Their leading scorers so far in 2021-22 are Julius Randle at 20.4 points per game, RJ Barrett at 14.9 ppg, Evan Fournier at 12.1 ppg, Derrick Rose at 12.0 ppg, and Kemba Walker at 11.7 ppg.