The Knicks will have a hard time finding their next point guard either through the draft or free agency, writes Fred Kerber of The New York Post. With Derrick Rose unlikely to return next season, getting a replacement will be an offseason priority. However, Kerber notes that New York’s draft pick won’t be high enough to snag one of the elite point guards available, and the top free agents are likely to stay where they are.
The Knicks are currently in a three-way tie for eighth in our latest Reverse Standings, giving them just a remote shot at a top two pick that will probably be necessary to draft Washington’s Markelle Fultz or UCLA’s Lonzo Ball. That leaves lower-tier options such as De’Aaron Fox of Kentucky or international standout Frank Ntilikina.
The problem is similar in free agency, where the Knicks will have about $25MM to spend, but the best available players — Stephen Curry, Chris Paul, Kyle Lowry and George Hill — are all expected to remain with their current teams. Kerber says the Knicks might target Jrue Holiday or Jeff Teague, but the Pelicans and Pacers with both have Bird rights and the advantages of being able to offer more money and more years.
There’s more this morning from New York:
- Rose is optimistic about reaching the playoffs despite the Knicks’ 25-36 record, and says he plans to unleash his 3-point shot in the postseason, relays Marc Berman of The New York Post. “I’m trying to put pieces of my game together,” Rose said. “I’m not shooting 3s yet. Hopefully I’ll start shooting them in the playoffs. It’s going to take a lot of sacrifice and dedication to get there. I’m just adding pieces to my game throughout the season.”
- One positive for Rose this season has been his health, Berman notes in the same piece. Rose has appeared in 52 of the team’s 61 games, and if he plays 15 more it will be the most in a season since his ACL tear in 2012. “Two times, three times a day, the entire summer,” Rose said of his offseason workout schedule. “I worked on my game and body. That’s one of the reasons my body is holding up.”
- The Knicks’ defense has improved significantly since Lance Thomas returned six games ago, Berman writes in a separate story. Thomas missed about a month after taking an elbow to the face in a January game and breaking the orbital bone. The time off also allowed Thomas to overcome plantar fasciitis that had been affecting him since training camp.
The Knicks are a silly organization that don’t prioritize need over name
If Holiday and Teague are the targets give me Rose hands down, he already said he is not concerned with making max money.
Aside from the multiple report of him seeking max money at the end of the year, and the numerous quotes stemming back several years from Rose himself indicating he’s just looking forward to his next contract. So yeah aside from that you’re right.
Dionis
“he already said he is not concerned with making max money.”
That’s because he kept robbing us (Chicago) from 2013-2016 lol.
NYK needs to a massive rebuild and try to tank next year in order to get a top 3 pick. 2018 draft is top heavy and has some nice prospects if NYK actually wanted to overhaul the team.
I’m from CHI and deal with a lot of Rose love which I understand, but you are one of the most delusional Rose apologists out there. He doesn’t play defense (or even attempt to) and hasn’t since before his injuries, doesn’t pass, and doesn’t shoot threes. These are the cornerstones of the game today. He’s not an even league average player when you take a look at some advanced stats (which I’m sure you have never done with regards to Rose). Yes, he won an MVP. 5 years ago. What’s happened to him is a sports tragedy and I was a huge Rose guy, but don’t fool yourself into thinking he’s a good point guard in this league any more. The game has surpassed him.
^^ @dionis
The fact that he can’t get on the same page as Porzingis (literally the quintessential stretch 4, pick and pop 3 guy) is a joke. I don’t think there’s a better player out there in terms of skill set to compliment Rose’s. It’s because he doesn’t pass and is only out there to get his shots up (not unlike Melo). That’s all you need to know about D Rose at this point.
KP should actually be THE guy they should be building around. He should be hoisting up 15-20 shots per game and get 35 MPG but for some reason they keep feeding Rose or Melo the ball. I don’t even know why they didn’t deal O’Quinn, he would have gotten them possibly a nice piece or two back. He’s shown he can handle the starters work and has some nice ‘Oakley’ game in him.
He’s awful. He wasn’t a great defender, he cannot shoot 3’s consistently and he also is questionable as a leader. Any hopes to regaining His MVP level form died in 2013 after his meniscus tear. He’s a marginal player at best. I’m glad he’s off the team because all he does is create distractions wherever he’s played whether is college or pro.
Agreed with everything you said. He refused to recruit players when he was on the Bulls, while D Wade was out selling LeBron and Bosh on the heat. He’s a joke and he’s a selfish player.
That’s because he wanted the spotlight to himself. He wanted all the glory but NONE of the blame. There is a reason why Butler couldn’t coexist with Rose because Rose tried to make it about himself and he never made anyone around him better like all great ones do. He is delusional because he thinks he’s still a top 5 player. I understand confidence but COME ON dude when you say you are prepping for your son’s KG graduation back in 2014 you lost ALL respect from me. He belongs in the pantheon of has beens and what ifs.
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Finally someone with some sense about Rose. And I agree with the KP comment as well. It’s ludicrous that they don’t feature him. Much more efficient than anyone else on the team. Sucks he plays with two ball hogs who are all about me.
Josc2
I can see this clown being out of the NBA by 2020 or at very least become a Mo Williams type player at the end of his career. It’s a shame too because pre injury he was humble, dedicated, passionate for the game and his team but since his Adidas extension, he’s been the poster boy for not handing our extensions who guys who have questionable character and passion for the game.
Pape, you nailed it.
Knicks finally played the correct starting lineup for the first time all season. And Porzingis, Melo, and Rose all benefitted from the space on the floor, and their defense also was quicker and more disruptive.
2 bigs clogging the lanes mears there’s no space for Rose to attack. Whenever he tries, there’s 3 or 4 people surrounding him near the paint. I’m not saying Derrick Rose is still MVP derrick Rose, but he isn’t as bad as people are trying to say that he is
I dont understand how they can talk about adding even more triangle and slow paced play, when the 2 big lineups were clearly not working nearly as well as it does with only 1 big, as I’ve been saying all year, and what we’ve seen demonstrated in these last 3 games or so.
Geor get Hill or Jrue Holiday would be good fots, but I don’t see either going to NY, and they’d both cost a good amount of money. If the knicks stay in the same spot in the draft, I could see them getting Fox, Ntilikina, or even someone like Jayson Tatum, which would be good gets for them at that spot. Fox has shooting questions, but I really like him
Kerber is a lower tier writer. Ntilikina is not a lower tier prospect. The top 2 guys are talents, but they’re ahead of Ntilikina only in the minds of lazy scouts (and the idiot sportwriters who parrot them). Fox hasn’t been as good as advertised and maybe not a good fit for the Knicks (but also a very good late lottery level prospect). Great draft for PGs. Knicks can get a good one if they really want one and will put the time in. There is such a thing as trading up, and since so many around the league have their franchise PG, there will be chances. Too bad we couldn’t have accumulated some assets at the deadline (thanks Phil) which might come in handy on draft day.
I’d be impressed if Rose can unleash his 15 foot jump shot. He can barely hit that.
I think they might be able to go get Morris from Iowa State in round 2. He has leadership intangibles along with a nice old man’s game. Nothing great but he can be groomed into probably a Sheldon Mack type player.