Category: New York Knicks Blog

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Celtics sign-and-trade Evan Fournier to Knicks

The Boston Celtics have traded Evan Fournier in a sign-and-trade agreement, along with a 2023 second round draft pick, and a conditional 2022 second round draft pick (Charlotte’s, protected top 55) to the New York Knicks in exchange for cash considerations.

The transaction creates a trade exception for Boston.

“We identified Evan as a key addition as we entered free agency and are ecstatic that he’s joining us,” said New York Knicks President Leon Rose, “He’s a great teammate, a fierce competitor, and a perfect complement to our returning players. He wants to be a part of what we are building here, and we are happy to have him join our family.”

Fournier, 6-7, 205-pounds, spent last season with the Orlando Magic and the Boston Celtics, averaging 17.1 points, 3.4 assists and 3.0 rebounds over 30.0 minutes in 42 games (36 starts). He established career highs of 2.8 three-pointers per game and 41.3-percent shooting from behind the arc, which was seventh best in the NBA among players who attempted at least six threes per game. This marked the third time in his career that he shot at least 40-percent from downtown and the eighth time that he hit 35-percent of those shots or better. On March 25, Fournier was traded to Boston where he produced 13.0 points (46.3-percent 3P), 3.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists over 29.5 minutes in 16 games (10 starts) helping lead the Celtics to the NBA Playoffs. He averaged 19.7 points in 26 games (all starts) for Orlando, which would’ve been a career best for a single season.

Most recently the Saint-Maurice, France-native represented his country in the Olympic games in Tokyo, Japan, earning the silver medal after averaging a team best 18.7 points to go along with 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists over 28.2 minutes in six games. This was his first Olympic medal, the first for France since 2000 and just the third Olympic medal overall for the men’s basketball team.

Originally selected by Denver with the 20th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Fournier holds career averages of 14.3 points on 37.9-percent from downtown, 2.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists over 28.5 minutes in nine seasons with the Nuggets, Magic, and Celtics. He is one of 34 NBA players to average more than 15.0 points and shoot greater than 35-percent from beyond the arc in each of the last six seasons (2015-16 thru 2020-21).

New York Knicks sign Kemba Walker

The New York Knicks on Wednesday signed four-time NBA All-Star guard Kemba Walker.

“We are beyond thrilled to bring native New Yorker Kemba Walker back to the city he’s proud to call home. He’s a tremendous talent whose skill and leadership will be a huge addition to our organization,” said New York Knicks President Leon Rose. “We’ve already seen how well he performs on The Garden stage and can’t wait to witness it on a nightly basis in front of his family, friends and the best fans in the league.”

Per the New York Post, “according to a source, Walker’s new Knicks deal is fully guaranteed at two years, $18 million — no options. Walker gave up about $20.5 million in a buyout with Oklahoma City to become a free agent and sign with the Knicks, who had $8 million-$9 million of cap space left that he grabbed.”

Walker, 6-1, 184-pounds joins New York after averaging 19.3 points, 4.9 assists and 4.0 rebounds over 31.8 minutes in 43 games (all starts) for the Boston Celtics last season. In two seasons with Boston, he averaged 19.9 points, 4.8 assists and 3.9 rebounds over 99 games (all starts). In 2019-20, he was selected as an NBA All-Star reserve for the Eastern Conference.

More from the Post: “Even if it is a fallback option, due to Walker’s recent injury history, the addition could turn into a storybook signing for the franchise should the 31-year-old pan out and lead the Knicks to a second straight playoff berth.”

The Bronx, NY-native spent the first eight seasons of his NBA career in Charlotte, earning three NBA All-Star selections (2017-19), two NBA Sportsmanship Awards (2017, 2018) and an All-NBA third team selection (2019). Originally selected by the Bobcats ninth overall in the 2011 NBA Draft, he recorded 19.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.32 steals over 34.1 minutes over 605 games (560 starts) across eight seasons in Charlotte. In 2018-19, Walker averaged 25.6 points, 5.9 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.24 steals over 34.9 minutes in 82 games (all starts) on his way to being named to the All-NBA third team. He was one of five players that season who averaged at least 25.0 points, five assists, four rebounds, one steal and shot at least 35% from downtown (Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, James Harden and Bradley Beal).

A 10-year NBA veteran, Walker holds career averages of 19.9 points, 5.4 assists, 3.8 rebounds, 1.27 steals over 33.7 minutes in 704 games (659 starts) with Boston and Charlotte. He is one of six players (Stephen Curry, James Harden, Kyrie Irving, LeBron James and Russell Westbrook) with career averages of at least 19.5 points, 5.0 assists and 1.30 steals while shooting greater than 35% from behind the arc.

A three-year standout at the University of Connecticut, Walker averaged 16.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in 111 games (77 starts). He played an essential role in Connecticut’s magical run to a Big East title and National title in 2011. In the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden, his team became the first ever to win five games in five days en route to a title. His 130 points over that stretch are a Big East record and featured a buzzer beater that helped secure an upset win over the University of Pittsburgh. Kemba and his team carried that momentum into the NCAA tournament where they won six more games capped off by a national title. He was named the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after averaging 23.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 5.7 assists.

Knicks re-sign center Nerlens Noel

The New York Knicks have re-signed center Nerlens Noel.

Noel, 6-10, 220-pounds, averaged 5.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.20 blocks and 1.09 steals over 24.2 minutes in 64 games (41 starts) for New York last season. He ranked third in the NBA in blocks per game and was the only player in the NBA to average at least two blocks and one steal. He was signed by New York as a free agent on November 25, 2010.

Originally selected by New Orleans with the sixth overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, Noel holds career averages of 7.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.51 blocks and 1.28 steals over 425 games (208 starts) with New York, Oklahoma City, Dallas and Philadelphia. As a rookie with Philadelphia, the Malden, MA-native earned All-Rookie First Team honors after averaging 9.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.77 steals and 1.89 blocks over 30.8 minutes in 75 games (71 starts).

He spent one season at the University of Kentucky, averaging 10.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 4.42 blocks and 2.08 steals over 31.9 minutes in 24 games (24 starts). He earned 2013 SEC Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors and led the SEC conference in total blocks with 106 en route to being named All-SEC first team.

Knicks sign rookie Jericho Sims to two-way contract

The New York Knicks today signed forward Jericho Sims to a two-way contract.

Sims, 6-10, 245-pounds, was originally selected by the Knicks in the second round (58th overall) in the 2021 NBA Draft. He finished a four-year career at the University of Texas with averages of 6.6 points and 5.4 rebounds over 20.5 minutes in 119 games (77 starts). In his final season in Austin, he earned All-Big 12 honors, after recording 9.2 points on a career high 69.6-percent shooting, to go along with a team-leading 7.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 27 games (26 starts). His field goal percentage was good for second in school history for a single season (min. 200 points scored). In the postseason, he was named to the Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team after helping lead Texas to their first Big 12 tournament title since 1995. He averaged 15.5 points (76.5-percent shooting), 12.5 rebounds and 3.0 blocks during the tournament.

The Minneapolis, MN-native attended the Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in his hometown. He finished his prep career as the all-time leading scorer (2,005 career points) in Cristo Rey Jesuit history and averaged 25.0 points and over 10.0 rebounds in his senior season.

Knicks sign second round draft pick Miles McBride

The New York Knicks have signed guard Miles McBride, the 36th overall pick (second round) of the 2021 NBA Draft, to a contract

McBride, 6-2, 200-pounds, averaged 15.9 points on 41.4-percent shooting from downtown, 4.8 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.9 steals over 34.2 minutes in 29 games as a sophomore at West Virginia University last season. He was one of 30 players selected to the 2020-21 Lefty Driesell Defensive All-America team and was the only player in the Big 12 last season with multiple 30-point games (two). The Cincinnati, OH-native averaged 12.6 points, 3.3 assists and 3.1 rebounds in his two seasons with the Mountaineers earning him 2019-20 Big 12 All-Freshman and 2020-21 All-Big 12 second team honors.

McBride is currently competing for New York’s NBA Summer League team in Las Vegas, NV.

Knicks sign Quentin Grimes to his rookie contract

The New York Knicks announced today that the team has signed guard Quentin Grimes, the 25th overall pick of the 2021 NBA Draft, to his rookie contract.

Grimes, 6-5, 205-pounds, earned third team All-America honors at the University of Houston last season, after averaging 17.8 points on 40.3-percent shooting from downtown, with 5.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.4 steals over 32.7 minutes in 30 games. The Houston, TX-native played two seasons (2019-21) for the Cougars after beginning his collegiate career at Kansas University (2018-19). He was named MVP of the 2018 FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship after helping lead Team USA to a gold medal.

Grimes is currently competing for New York’s NBA Summer League team in Las Vegas, NV.

Two Knicks rookies added to USA Select Team

Two New York Knicks rookies have been added to the USA Select Team. Via New York Newsday:

Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley, after contributing as Knicks rookies this past season, were named as members of the USA Select Team which will train and scrimmage with the USA National Team in Las Vegas this month…

While Quickley emerged early in the season as a key piece to the team’s turnaround, Toppin, who was selected No. 7 overall, came on late in the season and helped in the postseason. With both joining the Select Team the Knicks are one of four teams with two players included in the mix.

A look at the Knicks and the 2021 NBA Draft

The Knicks had themselves quite a season, beating all expectations before then falling short in the first round of the playoffs. Now on to the draft, where they have a lot to think about. Via the New York Post:

As it stands in the July 29 draft, the Knicks have two first-round picks at Nos. 19 and 21 along with the No. 32 overall pick.

There’s talk inside the organization of packaging their two first-rounders to move up. The feeling around the NBA is the Knicks could possibly get to the No. 12-to-13 range by doing so.

If the Knicks stand pat at 19 or move up slightly, Seth Greenberg, ESPN’s college-basketball guru, has got a couple of guys for the Knicks.

One is in their backyard – UConn sophomore 6-5 combo guard James Bouknight, a Brooklyn native who played part of his high school career at Manhattan’s LaSalle Academy. The other is out of the Pacific Northwest – Oregon 3-point shooting machine Chris Duarte.

Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau wins 2020-21 NBA Coach of Year award

New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau is the recipient of the Red Auerbach Trophy as the 2020-21 NBA Coach of the Year, the NBA announced today.

This is the second NBA Coach of the Year Award for Thibodeau, who earned the honor in the 2010-11 season with the Chicago Bulls in his first season as an NBA head coach. Now honored in his first season as the Knicks’ head coach, Thibodeau has become the first person to be named NBA Coach of the Year in his first season as head coach with two different franchises. (Cotton Fitzsimmons won the award in his first season as the Kansas City Kings’ head coach, 1978-79, and again in the first season of his second tenure as the Phoenix Suns’ head coach, 1988-89.)

Thibodeau received 43 first-place votes and earned 351 total points to edge Phoenix head coach Monty Williams, who finished in second place with 340 points (45 first-place votes). The 11-point difference between the first- and second-place finishers marks the smallest margin since the current NBA Coach of the Year voting format was introduced in the 2002-03 season.

Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder finished in third place with 161 points (10 first-place votes). Coaches were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote from a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters.

With Thibodeau as head coach, New York finished tied for the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference (41-31) and made the NBA Playoffs for the first time since the 2012-13 season. The Knicks won 16 of their final 20 games to complete a turnaround from last season’s overall record of 21-45.

Thibodeau led New York to an 11-4 record in April for its winningest month since March 2014 (11-5). He was selected as the NBA Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for May after guiding the Knicks to a 6-3 record in the final month of the regular season.

The Knicks showed dramatic improvement on defense with Thibodeau at the helm, leading the NBA in points allowed (104.7) and opponents’ field goal percentage (44.0) and ranking fourth in defensive rating (107.8). Last season, New York finished 17th or lower in all three categories.

Under Thibodeau, Julius Randle was named an NBA All-Star for the first time and won the 2020-21 Kia NBA Most Improved Player Award. In addition, Derrick Rose was a finalist for the 2020-21 Kia NBA Sixth Man Award, 2021 NBA Rising Stars selection RJ Barrett ranked as the fourth-leading scorer among second-year NBA players (17.6 ppg), and rookie Immanuel Quickley averaged 11.4 points after being selected by New York with the 25th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Thibodeau is the 10th head coach to win the NBA Coach of the Year Award more than once and the eighth to do it with multiple franchises. In addition, he is the third head coach to be selected as NBA Coach of the Year with the Knicks, joining Red Holzman (1969-70) and Pat Riley (1992-93).

New York hired Thibodeau as its head coach on July 30, 2020. He has a career regular-season record of 393-277 (.587) in nine seasons as an NBA head coach, guiding teams to the playoffs seven times. Before joining the Knicks, he served as head coach of the Bulls for five seasons (2010-15) and the Minnesota Timberwolves over three seasons (2016-19).

The NBA Coach of the Year Award trophy is named in honor of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Red Auerbach. The legendary head coach guided the Celtics to nine NBA championships, including eight in a row from 1959-66.

Knicks made great strides forward this season

Here’s New York Newsday on big strides made by the Knicks this season:

If you have followed the Knicks any longer than the last two weeks, it’s not hard to consider what the organization accomplished this season as a rousing success. With new faces in the front office, with a proven coach in Tom Thibodeau and an assortment of low-cost additions, the Knicks shed decades of dysfunction and earned a playoff berth for the first time in eight years.

The Knicks jumped far above the expectations of anyone outside of their locker room, winning 41 games, earning the No. 4 seed and filling Madison Square Garden for three playoff games infused with hope and enthusiasm. It ended in disappointment, All that was dimmed by the abrupt ending, a five-game ousting at the hands of Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks, who talked and taunted and backed up every bit of it in humbling the Knicks.

“I think you learn from each experience,” Thibodeau said after it was over. “Atlanta really added some good pieces to complement Trae and I think that helped them. Every year, you analyzed the things you did well, the things you didn’t do as well as you’d like. You look at how you match up with the teams — you start with the division, then you look at the conference, then you look at the league. Then you see where you might have opportunities, whether it’s through the draft or free agency or trades, your own player development. All four areas factor into it.”

Although the Knicks quickly got sent home by the Hawks in the first round oif the playoffs, it was a better season than anyone predicted.