Chasson Randle‘s odds of landing a 15-man roster spot with the Knicks won’t be affected by the injury he suffered during a Friday practice, according to head coach Jeff Hornacek. As Zach Braziller of The New York Post details, Randle will be given the chance to make the team despite sustaining a left orbital fracture. “We kind of understand what he can give us as a player,” Hornacek said. “It would’ve been nice to see him against [Celtics guard] Isaiah [Thomas] in those two Boston games, see how he can do. But, again, we have a pretty good feel for him.”
Here’s more out of New York on a couple more new Knicks who are making a good impression, along with some Nets notes:
- Newsday’s Barbara Barker examines the impact Mindaugas Kuzminskas is having off the Knicks‘ bench so far, while Braziller focuses on fellow rookie Willy Hernangomez in a piece for the New York Post. Kuzminskas was signed using New York’s room exception, while Hernangomez arrived as a draft-and-stash prospect.
- Greivis Vasquez is coming off a major ankle injury and didn’t place much for the Bucks last year, but he believes he has plenty left in the tank, and doesn’t want to be viewed as simply a “mentor” for the Nets‘ young players. Braziller has the quotes and details on Vasquez’s quest to become a key contributor in Brooklyn this season.
- Finally, in one more piece from the Post, Braziller writes that Nets youngsters Chris McCullough and Isaiah Whitehead are good bets to split their team between the NBA and the D-League this year. Both players will likely be assigned to the Long Island Nets at times this season to give them a chance at regular playing time, per Braziller.