It’s too early to write off Emmanuel Mudiay as part of the Knicks‘ future, states Howie Kussoy of The New York Post. Playing for the first time since hurting his shoulder on January 23, Mudiay came off the bench to post 15 points, six rebounds and three steals Friday night.
He had been the starting point guard before the injury, but that was also before New York traded for Dennis Smith Jr., who has taken over that role. Mudiay wound up playing more than Smith did in a narrow loss to the Timberwolves, including the entire fourth quarter.
“I felt good,” Mudiay said. “I just gotta get my rhythm back. … Obviously, it’s a different team than I was playing with. Last time I played was with Tim [Hardaway Jr.] and them. This is the first time that I played with [DeAndre Jordan] and Dennis. It’s just about growing the chemistry.”
Mudiay’s future beyond this season remains uncertain as he is headed toward free agency. The Knicks will have to extend a qualifying offer expected to be worth about $4.5MM to keep him restricted and retain the right to match any offer, but they’ll have other priorities as they try to rebuild the franchise through the free agent market.
There’s more this morning from New York:
- Damyean Dotson displayed why his role has increased with an early scoring explosion Friday, writes Greg Joyce of The New York Post. He notched 18 of the Knicks’ first 25 points, hitting five straight shots from 3-point range. “Versatility, he’s tough, he rebounds, and he can really shoot the ball,” coach David Fizdale said of Dotson, who has started seven of the past nine games. “And he plays with an incredible pace. That’s why I really like him. He doesn’t need the ball a lot to score.”
- The Knicks still have no idea when Frank Ntilikina will return from a groin injury, Joyce adds in a separate story. The team expected it to be minor at first, but Ntilikina will miss his 12th straight game today. His absence complicates the organization’s effort to figure out a long-term plan for the backcourt.
- The decision to trade Kristaps Porzingis and create two max contract slots to gamble in free agency has been endorsed by former Knicks coach Rick Pitino, relays Adam Zagoria in a story for Forbes. “The rules have changed with the lottery,” Pitino said. “The Knicks have floundered the other way trying the opposite the last decade. It’s time to do it the right way [with] cap space [and a] decent draft. The other way had no chance of succeeding.”
Mudiay isn’t the answer, and as talented as Smith is athletically, I’m not sure he is either. Neither of them are true ball distributers, which will be needed if the Knicks sign two max free agents. If Irving is signed, this is all moot.
Sign Kyrie and Kd. Trade smith jr Knox and doctson for Beal draft Zion at 1 barrett if you have the 2 or morant at 3. If the pick is past 3 try to trade the pick and frank for devin booker or Donovan Mitchell
It would take more than Ntilikina and a pick 4th overall of later to get a young Star like Mitchell or Booker
Pipe dreams
Not enough cap room to do Beal if you sign KI and KD.
And while they’re at it, they should trade Lance Thomas and a 2nd round pick for Anthony Davis. I’m not sure they’d love the idea of parting with a 2nd rounder, but they may not be able to pass up putting Kyrie, Beal, Mitchell, KD and Anthony Davis on the floor together. LeBron would probably sign for the league minimum to play there too at that point.
Good Lord I needed this after that comment up there lol.
No one can be dumb enough to think a guy that can’t even get consistent clock on a horrible NY team and a top ten pick in a week draft is going to get Mitchell. There is no way someone is that uninformed when it comes to the NBA
Knicks fans be like: first we resurrect 1986 Micheal Jordan and sign him.
Then trade mudiay for harden
Then trade the remainder of Noah’s stretched contract for LeBron.
Kd and kemba come over for vet minimum.
Also Dolan suddenly becomes respected.
They really are
The Knicks made the right move. If they get max free agents. Make some good one year deals to use cap space and play the young guys. They will get there this time the Front Office is way better now.
How would the Knicks do if they sign just Durant and then use rest of cap space to sign 2-3 solid players. Say Mudiay, Deandre Jordan, and jj Reddick?