Knicks center Enes Kanter hasn’t had much to say since being demoted to the second team, but he expressed his feelings about the move on social media last night, relays Marc Berman of The New York Post. Kanter’s tweet was just a period symbol, which is evidently his way of expressing his speechlessness over losing his starting job to second-round pick Mitchell Robinson.
Kanter had 18 points and 14 rebounds in about 24 minutes off the bench Sunday against the Wizards, but was still replaced by Robinson with 5:36 left to play and the Knicks down six points. Washington pulled away as the rookie committed multiple fouls and drew a technical.
New coach David Fizdale has said the team is not “chasing wins” and will prioritize player development over its record. Kanter had been a locker room leader, but Berman notes that he has become more detached since the lineup change. He suggests it may be an ongoing “soap opera” as long as Robinson remains the starter.
There’s more today out of New York:
- Fizdale promised a five-game run for his current starting lineup and doesn’t plan any changes now that the trial period is up, Berman adds in the same piece. Frank Ntilikina, Tim Hardaway Jr., Damyean Dotson and Noah Vonleh have joined Robinson as starters, and Fizdale likes the energy that group brings. Rookie Allonzo Trier has been helping to close out games because of his ability to create his own shots.
- Kevin Knox, who is expected to eventually join that starting unit, is listed as a “game-time decision” tonight against the Bulls, Berman relays in a separate story. Knox has missed seven games with a sprained left ankle and Fizdale would like to see him in a five-on-five scrimmage before he returns to the lineup. Knox went through a three-on-three session with contact on Saturday. “My 19-year-old pro right now,” Fizdale said. “We’ll see how it goes. I told you I wanted him to play five-on-five. I know he feels great. At the same time, we have to make sure with that deal.”
- The decision to assign Luke Kornet to the G League today could lead to an eventual roster move, Berman tweets. There’s speculation that Trier, a two-way player, will have his contract converted to a standard NBA deal when his 45 days are used up in December, while Kornet will be waived and re-signed to a two-way contract.
Who cares about this year? When my guy KD joins KP and Knox, they will have a big 3 next year that will 100% win the east. And then with 3 of the top 8 players in the league, we will be the new DYNASTY overnight
You’re forgetting about Ntilikina. With him they’ll have 4 of the top 5 players in league history and will be unstoppable until Fizdale decides to bench them in favor of young 20 year old undrafted rookies.
HAHAHAHa. Oh man. That was a good one dionls.
This person is clearly trolling Dionis..lol..No person in their right mind would consider Knox or even Porzingis, coming off an injury a top 10 player in the league…
Btw, Fiz is going to eventually start caring about wins, when he gets put on the hot seat..He’s safe for this season, and he knows it, but if he doesn’t add some W’s to the win column next year, then it won’t be long until the Knicks “faithful” is calling for his head!!
However, I think he’s making some good decisions by playing his younger players, but he’s also got to balance that with keeping his important veterans happy..Otherwise, he very well may have trouble attracting other veterans next season..And he’s definitely going to need some quality role players to surround their young core, or they aren’t going anywhere..
They’re too fragile. “My 19-year-old pro”.
feel bad for kanter on this deal all he does is put up 18 and 10 and gets treated like dirt because fizdale is racist he also had issues with marc gasol and it is only a matter of time before he has them with KP just wait and see.
Defense is a race now?
it is just my opinion from comments and actions he has made over his career.
he also has a huge ego for someone who has won zilch as a head coach.
Well when you’re making claims of this nature you should provide evidence or not make those claims
you might be right on that SO I take it back but will continue to keep the mental note until more evidence I can point to presents itself.
either way I think most can agree benching gasol in favor of davis and green not too smart and the same now with kanter and robinson. especially in crunch time when you need buckets.
You might be right in effect, but there might be other factors involved, such as Gasol & Kanter being foreign & proud. Fitz made a huge effort to get to know Zinger. Fitz seems to need a personal relationship, something emotional, with a player.
These sorts can wear heavily.
I think the Knicks will not be going anywhere with their new management.
Common now, Fizdale is a defense first coach. Lantern happens to be one of the worst defensive big men in the entire league.
What does Berman want him to say? He’s happy about it?
I thought that when a veteran starter is re-assigned to a bench role in favor of a younger player that the hope is that he not create problems over it, but continue to produce off the bench. Now, that’s not enough. He has to be happy about it.
Fizdale’s job is to evaluate the roster, because hard choices may need to be made between now and next summer. Kanter is part of that, but not as big a question as most of the others, and it’s not like he isn’t getting minutes.