Tag: Taj Gibson

Former Trojan Taj Gibson signs another 10-day deal with Tom Thibodeau, Knicks

Taj Gibson and Tom Thibodeau can’t quit each other.

Taj Gibson and Tom Thibodeau just can’t quit each other. With Mitchell Robinson out for most of the season (if not the full season, including the playoffs) and Julius Randle expected to miss at least several weeks, the New York Knicks have signed veteran frontcourt utilityman and savvy veteran Taj Gibson to a 10-day deal, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN via Priority Sports agency.

A Thibodeau favorite who played for the Knicks from 2019-22, and who previously played for Thibs on the Chicago Bulls in previous years, Gibson appeared in 10 games through December before he got officially waived on Jan. 7.

During his brief tenure with the Knicks earlier this season, Gibson averaged 1.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, one assist, and one block per game in nearly 10 minutes per game.

The former Trojan, now 38 years old, received a standing ovation from the New York crowd at Madison Squad Garden upon returning for his latest 10-day stint. The Knicks are having a strong season and Gibson is treated with respect in New York because of his strong work ethic and dedication to team-first goals.

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The remaining active NBA players from each draft class between 2003 and 2010

It is truly remarkable that LeBron is still playing as well as he does.

With each passing season, more and more players in the previous generation of the NBA are graduating into retirement.

Some of the most recognizable and dominant players of a beloved era (e.g. Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard, etc.) have recently ended their professional playing careers.

As the league begins to look increasingly different every year, we decided to look at which players drafted before 2011 are still active in the league. There are only 30 players who fit those qualifications and only 19 have started more than one game this season.

Here is a look at each NBA draft class and who remains active years later.

All data is provided via Stathead and is accurate as of publishing.

USC NBA veteran Taj Gibson reunites with Tom Thibodeau one more time

Taj and Tom, yet again.

Some partnerships in professional sports just never seem to end. Certain players and coaches seem inseparable. If they are away for a short period of time, they find ways to reconnect. Such is the case with former USC Trojan Taj Gibson and the man who has guided him for most of his NBA career. Yes, Gibson is returning to the New York Knicks, reuniting yet one more time with coach Tom Thibodeau.

The 38-year-old Gibson, a first-round pick in the 2009 draft, previously played for Thibodeau in Chicago and Minnesota. He has career averages of 8.7 points and 5.9 rebounds.

Gibson also played for the Knicks from 2019-22, helping them return to the postseason in 2021 after a seven-year absence. He then spent one season with the Washington Wizards.

With starting center Mitchell Robinson expected to miss at least eight to 10 weeks due to an ankle injury, New York was in the market for additional frontcourt depth. Gibson was an obvious candidate to fill that role, given his familiarity with Thibodeau and the Knicks, who highly value his leadership.

The former USC Trojan forward has appeared in 159 games over the course of the past three seasons.

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New York Knicks reportedly looking to create cap space; could the Celtics capitalize?

Alec Burks in particular might be an ideal target for Boston.

Rumor has it that the New York Knicks are looking to clear cap space in their pursuit of Dallas Mavericks unrestricted free agent point guard Jalen Brunson according to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, which ought to have the attention of the Boston Celtics as they look to add talent to the team in their quest for an NBA title in 2023.

Specifically, Fischer shares that the Knicks are looking to move Nerlens Noel and Alec Burks into another team’s space, which aligns well with Boston’s goals of adding some wing depth and passing to the team’s rotation in the case of Burks. A 6-foot-6, 30-year-old veteran with some passing chops, solid defense, and a career 38.0% 3-point shot, Burks and his $10 million salary would slot in well to the team’s $17.1 million traded player exception leftover from sign-and-trading wing Evan Fournier to New York at the end of the season prior.

There would be about $7 million left over to absorb another deal to help the Knicks generate the space they’d need to sign Brunson as well.

Not enough to take in Noel’s $9.2 million salary for this season but perhaps New York would be happy sending over veteran big man Taj Gibson.

Gibson may still have enough in the tank to function as a third-string big man able to help the team off of the bench, and his veteran voice might help steady the team in future playoff runs.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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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.

Former Thunder big Taj Gibson won’t make his Knicks season debut Friday

The New York Knicks signed Taj Gibson, but he will reportedly not make his season debut against the OKC Thunder, one of his former teams.

Taj Gibson has re-joined the New York Knicks, but the big will not make his season debut against one of his former clubs on Friday night, according to Rotoballer.

Signed Thursday, Gibson needs to go through coronavirus protocol before he will be allowed to join the team, Rotoballer reported based on the league injury report.

Gibson played half a season for the Oklahoma City Thunder after a deal at the trade deadline in February 2017.

The Chicago Bulls dealt the Thunder Gibson, Doug McDermott and a 2018 second-round pick in exchange for Cameron Payne, Joffrey Lauvergne and Anthony Morrow. McDermott and that second-round pick were part of the Thunder’s package to the Knicks for Carmelo Anthony.

Gibson averaged 9.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in 21.2 minutes over the 23 regular season games he played for Oklahoma City. He started all five Thunder playoff games and averaged 10 points per contest, including a 20-point performance in a Game 3 win.

He signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves that offseason, reuniting him with his former Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau.

Gibson played for Minnesota for two years before signing with the Knicks last offseason. He was waived in November but brought back aboard Thursday — for another reunion with Thibodeau.

The Thunder and Knicks game is scheduled to tip off at 6:30 p.m. on Friday.

Detroit Pistons at New York Knicks odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Detroit Pistons at New York Knicks sports betting odds and lines, with NBA matchup analysis, picks and best bets.

The Detroit Pistons (20-44) are in the Big Apple Sunday for a 7:30 p.m. ET tip-off against the New York Knicks (19-44) at Madison Square Garden. We analyze the Pistons-Knicks odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.

Place a legal sports bet on this NBA action or other games at BetMGM.

Pistons at Knicks: Key injuries

Pistons

  • PG Brandon Knight (hamstring) questionable
  • PG Derrick Rose (ankle) out
  • SG Luke Kennard (knee) out
  • PF Blake Griffin (knee) out
  • SG Bruce Brown (thumb) available

Knicks

  • PG Frank Ntilikina (ankle) probable
  • PG Dennis Smith Jr. (concussion) questionable

Pistons at Knicks: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 3:40 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Knicks 112, Pistons 104

Moneyline (ML)

Both teams have been pretty dreadful recently. The Knicks (-250) have lost back-to-back games and eight of their past 10, while the Pistons (+200) are on a three-game losing streak and have dropped nine of their past 10 games. New York eked out a 95-92 win in their last meeting in Detroit Feb. 8, but the Pistons smoked them 122-102 back on Nov. 6.

There’s no way anyone should lay -250 on the Knicks even against a Detroit team without three starters due to injury—(including two former All-Stars in Rose and Griffin)—and traded away another former All-Star in Andre Drummond. Also, the Pistons are just 5-20 straight up as a road dog leading me to PASS ON THE MONEYLINE.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

Betting either New York or Detroit here is like deciding between the lesser of two evils. The Knicks (-5.5, -115) are a quality team against the spread, going 33-29-1 so far this year. There has been only one game in which New York was favored by more than five points and that was Nov. 18 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. They won 123-105 and covered the 5.5-point spread. with ease

The Pistons (+5.5, -106) are 2-4-1 against the spread when getting 5-7 points. Detroit is 10-14-1 ATS, with a minus-8.3 margin of victory, when they are a road dog and New York is 4-4 ATS as a home favorite. At the moment, New York is a half-game less crappy than Detroit so BET THE KNICKS -5.5 (-115). 

Over/Under (O/U)

Nowadays in the NBA bad basketball is chucking prayers from behind the arc. It used to be slow, ugly, defensive games that would end something like 85-80. In their recent demonstrations of bad basketball, six of the Knicks’ last seven games have gone Over the projected total and the Pistons have a 3-1 Over/Under record in their previous four outings.

Look for one of these two teams to come out firing threes, the other team trying to match them from deep and the game going OVER 210.5 (-110) due to worse defense more than good offense. 

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

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