Tag: Kevin Knox

Could Kevin Knox make sense for the Boston Celtics as a depth player?

They could certainly do worse than Knox and his career averages of 7.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, and a 34.2% 3-point shot.

The Boston Celtics are looking to fill two open roster spots with players on minimum contracts due to the cap constraints created by the NBA’s new, punitive collective bargaining agreement. One option according to “Locked On Celtics” host John Karalis (h/t Heavy’s Adam Taylor) is signing Kevin Knox, a 24-year-old player who has had limited opportunities in his five-year NBA career.

While Knox would likely play a deep bench role, it could help him rebuild his value in a league he might otherwise end up out of this season.

Boston is likely looking for a player with a more proven track record given its focus on contention, but if it was looking to find a potential redemption project, it could certainly do worse than Knox and his career averages of 7.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, and a 34.2% 3-point shot.

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The Knicks’ super-long streak of not giving rookies a second contract continued with Kevin Knox trade

Maybe things will change with Leon Rose.

The Knicks traded Kevin Knox, which continues a rough tradition of New York’s front office punting on draft picks before their second deal.

Knox became the third player selected in the lottery by the Knicks since 2015 who is already no longer with the team. The former Kentucky wing joins Frank Ntilikina and Kristaps Prozingis as early draft picks who had unceremonious endings to their time in New York.

Unfortunately, however, this is nothing new for the franchise. As noted by The Athletic’s Fred Katz, the last time a first-round pick got a second contract with the team was actually all the way back in 1994.

Since 1994, when including draft-night trades and excluding draft-and-stash players, New York has selected 31 players who could become eligible for a second contract.

Charlie Ward, the former Heisman Trophy winner and two-sport athlete who played for the Knicks from 1994 until 2004, is the only individual in that group to play multiple seasons with New York after his rookie deal.

To put that in perspective, the last time the Knicks signed one of their drafted players to a multi-year contract after their rookie deal was in January 1999. Knox wasn’t even born yet. It’s baffling that not even one player has slipped through the cracks to earn a second deal in that stretch!

New York’s only other drafted players to even sign one-year extensions were Nate Robinson (who signed the qualifying offer in 2009 before he was traded to the Celtics in 2010) and David Lee (who also signed the qualifying offer in 2009 before a sign-and-trade to the Warriors in 2010).

Although that history reflects poorly on New York’s past ability to build through the draft, the tides could change. The front office changed many times (Ernie Grunfeld to Scott Layden to Isiah Thomas to Donnie Walsh to Glen Grunwald to Phil Jackson to Steve Mills) over that period.

Now, none of those people are involved with basketball operations and Leon Rose is at the helm. We won’t get much sense of how Rose conducts business when offering second contracts to drafted players until he has his first chance to do as much.

Mitchell Robinson, drafted alongside Knox in 2018, is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Rose’s decision there will be the first indicator of what might be to come.

RJ Barrett, selected with the No. 3 overall pick in 2019, is eligible for a rookie extension this offseason. He could earn up to a 5-year, $181 million deal — although would likely accept less than that. Barrett, however, is the first player selected since Rose joined New York’s front office.

Of course, it’s too early to predict what will happen to players drafted last year (Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley) and this year (Quentin Grimes, Miles McBride, Jericho Sims) so far. But early returns on their careers ought to make fans optimistic.

Regardless, it’s still crazy to think that no New York draft pick from this century has signed a multi-year deal with the Knicks after their rookie contract. If you don’t believe me, take a trip down memory lane to revisit the group of players Knox now joins.

Cam Reddish trade grades: Who won the Knicks and Hawks deal?

Who won this deal?

Cam Reddish, who was selected with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft, is headed from the Atlanta Hawks to the New York Knicks.

Reddish is extension eligible this summer and if the Hawks weren’t going to give him a deal that he wanted, he’ll now have an opportunity to prove to the Knicks that he is worth whatever money he is seeking.

Meanwhile, New York’s front office decided it was time to punt on 2018 NBA draft lottery pick Kevin Knox. That’s not exactly shocking considering  Knox was drafted when Steve Mills still ran the front office; now that Leon Rose is in charge, he is putting his own players in place.

This deal swaps two young players on teams that faced each other in the first round of the most recent Eastern Conference postseason. But who won and who lost the trade? As usual, here are our grades for each side of the deal.

Four potential Boston Celtics targets as the 2021-22 trade market begins to heat up

Recent reports suggest these players could be on the move.

With December 15th just around the corner and many if not most teams in the league interested as the Boston Celtics likely are in making moves on the trade market to improve their fortunes in the 2021-22 season and beyond, trade rumors are beginning to percolate.

On Monday, The Athletic’s NBA Insider Shams Charania reported on the state of the trade market ahead of Wednesday’s trade restriction expiry date, and a handful of potential trade targets who might be a good fit for what the Celtics need stood out. Boston will of course have to compete against the offers of an unknown number of teams which could drive up an ask, but there’s a good chance the roster looks considerably different before the 2022 NBA trade deadline passes, if not sooner.

Let’s take a look at some of the better options for the Celtics discussed by Charania.

Players who didn’t extend and are headed to restricted free agency

Here’s a look at those players that will be headed to restricted free agency in 2022 after the rookie-scale extension deadline passed.

The rookie-scale extension deadline has passed with a flurry of extensions for the 2018 draft class. Eleven players were extended, including four players signing maximum extensions. These extensions combine for a total of $1.146 billion in guaranteed money.

Twelve players on rookie-scale contracts that were extension-eligible did not extend and it will be interesting to see how the 2022 free agent market shakes out for them. There are now only 4 teams that can generate significant cap space next offseason, which explains why so many players extended now. Here’s a look at those players that will be headed to restricted free agency in 2022.

NBA free agency: Projected lineup for Knicks with Kemba Walker

The New York Knicks made a splash with a playoff appearance this past season and have continued to make noise with an active offseason.

The New York Knicks made a splash with a playoff appearance this past season and have continued to make noise with an active offseason.

During his first year as head coach of the Knicks, head coach Tom Thibodeau got the most out of his players. Julius Randle took a huge step forward, winning the NBA’s Most Improved Player. Meanwhile, Immanuel Quickley outperformed expectations and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second-Team.

The organization built on that success by re-signing Derrick Rose and Nerlens Noel. They have also managed to sign big names such as Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker, who were actually teammates on the Boston Celtics in 2020-21.

Statistically speaking, Walker’s play was elevated quite a bit once Fournier joined the Celtics. Boston outscored opponents by an excellent 14.8 points per 100 possessions when Walker and Fournier were on the floor at the same time during regular-season action, per PBP Stats. Boston’s net rating (1.1) was much worse when Walker appeared without Fournier.

Meanwhile, Walker averaged 27.0 points per 36 minutes when he shared the court with Fournier. Compare that figure to the 22.5 points per 36 minutes in minutes he played without Fournier this past season.

The two players can add some value to the momentum that the Knicks had en route to the 2021 NBA Playoffs. especially if players like Quickley and RJ Barrett continue their development.

NBA free agency: Projected lineup for Knicks with Kemba Walker

The New York Knicks made a splash with a playoff appearance this past season and have continued to make noise with an active offseason.

The New York Knicks made a splash with a playoff appearance this past season and have continued to make noise with an active offseason.

During his first year as head coach of the Knicks, head coach Tom Thibodeau got the most out of his players. Julius Randle took a huge step forward, winning the NBA’s Most Improved Player. Meanwhile, Immanuel Quickley outperformed expectations and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second-Team.

The organization built on that success by re-signing Derrick Rose and Nerlens Noel. They have also managed to sign big names such as Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker, who were actually teammates on the Boston Celtics in 2020-21.

Statistically speaking, Walker’s play was elevated quite a bit once Fournier joined the Celtics. Boston outscored opponents by an excellent 14.8 points per 100 possessions when Walker and Fournier were on the floor at the same time during regular-season action, per PBP Stats. Boston’s net rating (1.1) was much worse when Walker appeared without Fournier.

Meanwhile, Walker averaged 27.0 points per 36 minutes when he shared the court with Fournier. Compare that figure to the 22.5 points per 36 minutes in minutes he played without Fournier this past season.

The two players can add some value to the momentum that the Knicks had en route to the 2021 NBA Playoffs. especially if players like Quickley and RJ Barrett continue their development.

Report: Knicks could have interest in John Wall trade with Rockets

A new report suggests that John Wall could be a fallback plan this offseason for New York, should their initial pursuits not work out.

Evan Massey of the NBA Analysis Network cites a former NBA executive as saying the New York Knicks could have interest in trading for Houston Rockets star John Wall. A 6-foot-4 guard, Wall averaged 20.6 points, 6.9 assists, and 3.2 steals in 32.2 minutes per game this season.

Now 30 years old and previously a five-time All-Star, Wall clearly isn’t a long-term fit with the rebuilding Rockets. However, due to Wall’s contract — which pays him over $44 million in 2021-22 and has a player option of more than $47 million for the 2022-23 season — it’s unclear whether there would be any takers in 2021, since two full years could be left.

Here’s what Massey quotes a former NBA executive as saying, with indications a deal this offseason is possible:

The Knicks have some level of interest in John Wall. Houston would love to move him and get something of value for him. He isn’t a long-term fit for the Rockets, and if New York really wants him, they have the pieces to get a deal done. Wall isn’t their top priority this offseason, but he could be an excellent fallback option and the interest is there.

It’s worth noting the Knicks could have significant cap space this offseason, which might make them more viable as a Wall destination, relative to many other teams. Based on that cap space, New York wouldn’t necessarily have to send out as many salaries to Houston to make a trade work under the collective bargaining agreement. For most teams, finding approximately $40 million in tradable salary is challenging.

Even so, the Knicks would likely have higher priorities for that cap space (as Massey’s report indicates) than a 30-year-old who missed nearly half of the 2020-21 season due to various injuries. But if New York strikes out on those initial plans, it’s possible Wall could be viewed as a satisfactory Plan B. After all, while his contract is large in annual value, it’s not an especially long-term commitment. Moreover, after finally getting back to the Eastern Conference playoffs in 2021, the Knicks may prefer a veteran such as Wall who could help them remain competitive.

As for the report’s validity, it’s worth noting that just before the March 25 trade deadline, Massey reported the Rockets and Heat were discussing a Victor Oladipo trade. At the time, Oladipo rumors were few and far between. As it turned out, a Rockets-Heat deal for Oladipo materialized.

That doesn’t mean Massey’s report on Wall and the Knicks is necessarily accurate, but it does offer hope — since his connections have seemingly had credible information about the Rockets in the recent past.

As for the potential Wall proposal, Massey writes that New York “could offer a package built around Kevin Knox and a draft pick.” A 6-foot-7 forward, Knox was the No. 9 overall pick in the NBA’s 2018 draft, but he’s largely fallen out of favor with the Knicks and could potentially benefit from a change of scenery. From Houston’s perspective, the 21-year-old would effectively become a talented reclamation project.

As mentioned earlier, the Knicks could create enough salary cap room to where they would not have to send similar money to Houston in order to take Wall in. That might boost the odds of a deal getting done.

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Report: Sam Presti would want Knicks’ Kevin Knox in Chris Paul trade

The New York Post reports on some of the principal pieces in a potential Chris Paul trade.

Depending on who you ask, Chris Paul may be on a collision course with the New York Knicks. And according to a fresh report out of New York City, former Kentucky Wildcat Kevin Knox is one piece that Thunder general manager Sam Presti would want in exchange for the 35-year-old point guard.

It seems like every time Paul turns around, he’s being asked about his future and every time we turn around, there’s a new rumor involving the Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns and, yes, the Knicks.

As has been well-documented, Leon Rose — Paul’s former agent — has assumed leadership of the Knicks franchise, and if there’s one thing Paul has proven, it’s that he’s capable of effectively leading a group of young players.

The Knicks could certainly use someone like that.

Rose, it was reported, attempted to have Paul traded to the Knicks last summer, but no deal could be worked out and Paul, obviously, landed in Oklahoma City. Now, it appears Rose may take another crack at it, although this time, he’s sitting in a different chair.

Last summer, Rose was still Paul’s agent.

The latest batch of intel comes from Marc Berman of the New York Post, who not only offers that the Thunder are “motivated to deal Paul,” but that Knox is a player the franchise is enamored with.

Oklahoma City GM Sam Presti will likely want a first-round pick and a young prospect amid his rookie contract, multiple league officials believe.

According to the source, that young player preferably is Knox, the ninth pick in the 2018 NBA Draft coming off a disappointing sophomore campaign.

Berman, though, mentions that the Knicks would be reluctant to include Knox in a potential deal, and would rather send either Frank Ntilikina or Dennis Smith to the Thunder instead.

To make matters even better, Berman suggests that there is a possibility of Carmelo Anthony returning to New York to join Paul if a deal were to come to fruition.

Rose was Anthony’s longtime agent, as well, and Anthony and Paul — who were teammates during Anthony’s brief stint in Houston — remain close.

Most often, the trades that end up happening are the ones that we don’t hear about, so the constant speculation revolving around Paul and the Knicks would counter that. However, in this specific situation, a trade landing Paul in New York could make some sense. The only problem is it would seem to make a lot more sense for the Thunder and the Knicks than it would for Paul himself.

Still, Paul doesn’t have a no-trade clause or the like, so, if the Thunder decide to move him, he is ultimately powerless in determining his future home.

At this point, regardless as to whether the Thunder are truly enamored with Knox or not, the Knicks have other young players, salary cap space and future draft picks to offer in a potential deal.

For that reason — as well as the obvious connection to Rose — they are a team worth keeping an eye on.

Knicks guard Kevin Knox credits LeBron James for helping his mindset

New York Knicks guard Kevin Knox said during an Instagram Live that LeBron James helped him focus on not listening to social media.

The 2019-20 season was not an ideal second season for New York Knicks guard Kevin Knox. After having some promising games in his rookie season with the Knicks, including an Eastern Conference Player of the Month in December 2018 and a 31-point performance later on that season. But with turmoil engulfing the Knicks for much of the season, including the firing of David Fizdale, Knox wasn’t exactly in a position to thrive. But even though he has had a tough season, he still remembers a conversation that he had with LeBron James when Fizdale was still the Knicks coach during the season, which was transcribed by SNY’s Ian Begley.

“One of the biggest things that he said was really just staying locked in throughout the whole season, through ups and downs. Social media is going to try to bring you down. There’s going to be times when they’re going to hype you up. He was just telling me to stay level-headed,” Knox said in a Q&A on Twitter for the league’s “NBA Together” program during the coronavirus crisis. “Because there are times when he doesn’t have great games. He was telling me that he’s not really worried about what people are saying. He’s just getting back into the lab, back into the gym, putting more work in.”

After a sophomore slump of a season, as well as during the current pandemic when everybody is stuck inside, the advice from LeBron remains as relevant as ever.

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