Kentucky head coach John Calipari, who has a long-standing relationship with new Knicks president of basketball operations Leon Rose, said today on a conference call that he thinks Rose is the right man for the job in New York, per Scott Thompson and Ian Begley of SNY.tv. While Calipari acknowledged that changes within the organization might not happen overnight, he’s confident that Rose will do a “great job” and will eventually get the Knicks on the right path.
“He’s a gatherer,” Calipari said. “And I believe that’s what the Knicks need right now, a gather who can bring things together and make it a culture that players want to be in because they know, ‘This is about all of us.'”
Calipari also spoke at length about former Kentucky forward Kevin Knox, who has struggled thus far in his two NBA seasons. As Danny Abriano of SNY.tv relays, Calipari said he has seen “glimpses” from Knox at the NBA level and believes the 20-year-old is still going through an adjustment period.
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Here’s more on the Knicks:
- Mike Vornukov of The Athletic identifies six ways the Knicks will be affected by the NBA’s hiatus, including its impact on the team’s coaching search, draft prep, and free agency period. As Vornukov points out, the Knicks beating Atlanta in their last game before the break will cost them in the lottery standings if the regular season doesn’t resume.
- Ignas Brazdeikis, who only appeared in nine games for the Knicks as a rookie in 2019/20, would have gotten a chance at regular minutes down the stretch after the NBA G League season ended, sources tell Marc Berman of The New York Post. “That was the plan — join the team, get an opportunity,” one source told Berman. “The Knicks were happy with his development. He kept a real positive mentality, kept his head down and was excited about the opportunity.”
- Former NBA head coach Rick Pitino tells Steve Selby of The New York Post that he was shocked by Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant signing with Brooklyn without even meeting with the Knicks. “The Knicks today, it’s not like the old days, where everybody dreamed of playing at Madison Square Garden,” Pitino said. “… The Knick organization is going through difficult times, but hopefully they got the right leadership now and they’ll turn it around.”
True teams do give up too soon on young players. What’s worse is drafting a 19 yr old. Who you know hasn’t even developed physically yet. Amazes me how many times high draft picks. Don’t get developed by playing. Once u see he can’t physically handle pros. U should have them in NBDL or let them stay in Europe and play mins. Look at Ingram. It took him 2 yrs to start showing. Now his fourth yr. He is an all-star. Knicks cause they change management n coaches. Always give up on young players. Nttilikina, DSJ, Knox, Trier even Robinson have not been coached right. Mitch who is solid but young. Should have a guy like Howard, a vet. Mentoring him n playing solid mins. He signed for min with LA. We should sign him next yr for 3 yrs. Play 20-25 mins and mentor Mitch. I’m so tired of watching Knicks mess up their own players. No development n kill their value for trade. Makes no sense.
I am on the fence with regards to Kevin Knox. He’d in love with the three which he shoots ok from there but he needs to be more of a force inside the paint. Workout more in the gym since his body is still developing. He should invest on that and show up for games looking chiseled. Right now he has a failing grade in my opinion.
If we decide to trade him it should be for a first round draft pick at least.
Knox, DSJ, Trier, Robinson, Ntilikina, and of course RJB, they have all been done a major disservice. Most of them have already had their confidence brutally crushed and ruined, and they have just been horribly handled on and off the court.
The Knicks are quickly not only ruining their own future, but they are ruining the futures of these young men as well. I just hope by the time these guys leave NY, they aren’t completely ruined mentally..
They bring in all the wrong type of veterans, have them take their young players minutes, and they aren’t even scheming to put their younger guys in a position to succeed..
You would be hard pressed to actually try and do a more terrible job!!! You dont bring in selfish, cocky veterans that solely want to get their own stats. You bring in hard working, well-respected veterans that are going to share their knowledge, not complain about getting less playing time, and that are going to positively impact your younger players..
You bring in veterans that are going to have no problems taking control off the court, but deferring to your younger players on the court. Guys that set the tone and atmosphere, help create a culture of confidence and growth, help promote not only individual growth, but most importantly team growth through working as a cohesive unit..
You want veterans that are all going to be extensions of your coach and your leadership as a whole..
There is none of this, no collective vision, no growth, no accountability, and no one to show these younger players how to grow into winners and how to be successful NBA players..
It is a dumpster fire and a sh1t show..With a different culture, this could have been one of the best teams in the league by now..They have had every chance in the world to draft well and pick up key free agents to build off of, yet no one wants to be around this cess pool of a franchise..
I really hope Rose can somehow turn it around, because the NBA is always alot kore fun when NY is a contender…I certainly wish him the best of luck, he is certainly going to need it..!!