Austin Rivers was aware of the Knicks‘ recent history when he decided to join them as a free agent, but he believed the organization was moving in the right direction, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News. Rivers, who is seeing regular minutes for the first time since suffering a groin strain in training camp, came off the bench to score 15 points and hit a clutch shot in Saturday’s win at Indiana.
At 28, Rivers is one of New York’s oldest players and has become a spokesman for the team. He recently wrote an online letter to fans asking for patience with the young roster and the new management group.
“They brought in all these great people, from top to bottom,” Rivers said. “From (team president Leon Rose) to (coach Tom Thibodeau) to players to trainers. Everything. Strength coach. The whole nine yards. So I just wanted to let people know to be patient. We’re working so hard. (Saturday’s) a big win but we know we have more work to do. Every time I get in the locker room, I tell guys, we got to keep building, we got to keep building. So we’re headed in the right direction.”
There’s more from New York:
- Thibodeau is getting contributions from his entire nine-man rotation and has instilled some stability in the team, using the same starting lineup in all six games, observes Marc Berman of The New York Post. The Knicks may get a boost soon from the return of Alec Burks, who has missed the past three games with a sprained ankle.
- The Knicks welcomed back rookie guard Immanuel Quickley, who played Saturday for the first time since suffering a hip pointer in the season opener, notes Greg Joyce of The New York Post. Quickley had a strong preseason, displaying an ability to drive to the rim and get to the line. “A little rust, obviously, but overall, very pleased,” Thibodeau said of Quickley’s return. “Good energy. You can see he’s clever in terms of drawing fouls, which is very important.”
- Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic offers Knicks predictions for 2021, including a trade of Julius Randle. The veteran power forward only has a $4MM guarantee on his $19.8MM contract for 2021/22, and Vorkunov expects him to be dealt to a team willing to give him an extension. The Knicks have Obi Toppin to take Randle’s place and can use the cap room in other areas. Vorkunov also believes this will be the last season in New York for Frank Ntilikina, Dennis Smith Jr. and Omari Spellman.
So since you don’t watch. You can read about RJ and his stats, like now. Don’t get why saying give a 19 yr old needs 3-4 yrs. To show his true worth is a problem for the geniuses here. RJ does need to get a better shot. But he’s always been a scorer. He’s also physically bigger than all SGs right now. Now you don’t have to believe in him, I get that. Well I see a big talent that needs time. Getting Thibs to help was a big move. Like I’ve been saying since we signed Thibs. He’s here to get this rebuilding on the right track. Cause we’ve been doing it since Phil left. He will keep the ones who deserve it. Plus use the 5 picks we have in 2021 draft wisely. Knicks a rebuilding team have plenty of options. The TD coming and FA are two big ones for us. A PG is must at some point. Payton has been playing well. But I still think he’s best as the backup. So getting one makes us deeper. I agree with article. Eventually Randle, Smith, Nttilikina all will be moved. So we got time for this. Knicks are all about improving getting better as a team and talent. Trust the process trust Thibs. He’s only been here for 6 gms. And so far so good.
I believe the Knicks only have 4 picks in the 2021 draft. 2 first rounders and 2 second rounders.
They made a few trades in 2020 draft. Believe they have 5. 2 first rd, 3 second rd.
link to prosportstransactions.com
On June 25, 2015, the Knicks traded a 2020 2nd round pick and a 2021 2nd round pick to Philadelphia for Willy Hernangomez.
Always seen they had 3 picks. Also some reported it. Yes it says they traded their pick. Got it 2 second rd picks.
Phil error was not hiring a real coach and of course every pick after KP . Had he hired a real coach those Knick teams especially when Rose came would have been decent if you had a coach like Tibbs
I really dig Rivers presence on this team. Keep building, keep working, and they’ll be there soon. This is only year one.
Actually, it’s Year 8.
2015-16 is yr KP was drafted. That’s when Phil started the rebuild. Tried to move Melo and owner stepped in and blew it up. Four coaches later, new regime. This is Thibs first yr. and the rebuild is back in motion and in a better place. 6 gms in
Al,
As a fellow Knicks fan I hate to have to disagree with you here. But NYK haven’t made the playoffs since 2013-14. This may be the first year of the MOST RECENT ITERATION of the rebuild.
But Marlins is actually correct. It’s Year 8 of our rebuild.
Have to agree that this is way more than Year One. Even if you wanted to discount all of the stuff before Rose, the culture changed last offseason, which would make this the second year. But in reality, they’ve been rebuilding since before Porzingas.
This one does, however, feel a little different. Building from within, not blowing money just for the sake of it, avoiding long-term megadeals or stupid trades. All of that could still happen, but it’s nice to have what feels like a *real* rebuild.
Dude then we all know there’s no rebuild with Mello here. They traded whole team for Melo. Then it took Phil to finally start a rebuild. Which Dolan again intervened. Till now. Knicks haven rebuilt since Ewing. And they didn’t do that one right. They traded away Mark and Strickland. Knicks for most part have always traded away their picks. Been part of problem. It’s why following up on what Phil started is so important. Go check out their picks you’ll see.
link to basketball-reference.com
A team isn’t in a rebuild merely because they’re bad or (in someone’s mind) should be in that mode. Jackson never went into rebuild mode, nor did he ever desire to. The drafting of KP6 was an outlier, and criticized by many on that basis – he even admitted it didn’t fit. All of Jackson’s other moves were strictly win now moves. Calderon, Lopez, Affalo, Noah, Lee, etc. In fact, Jackson’s departure in 2017 was related to his complete disinterest in being involved in a rebuild (while, of course, acknowledging it was needed). Mills spoke the language of rebuild. But he didn’t have the requisite mental ability to actually undertake one.
So, it’s Year 1, with an acknowledgment that the prior regime amateur hour moves did result in some additional draft assets.
Phil took over a team and yes he did Try and build some talent around Melo. He drafted KP cause he was BPA. Didn’t matter what others thought. Then Melo rebelled and Phil tried to trade him. Phil was trying to build a team offense. Which Melo didn’t want to be a part off. Cause the triangle uses all players to run it. Basically a motion offense. Melo wanted to be focal point. Which he had always been in NY. Phil had used the draft to get KP, a shooting big who could fit the triangle. The highest pick in a long time. He then drafted a guard to help run it in Frank. Then came the fight with Melo, media, owner, finally KP. KP sided with Melo didn’t like his treatment. Melo left for nothing really. To OKC and got exposed. So Knicks had to rebuild around KP. Soon Phil was gone. Then KP didn’t want to resign so he was gone. So hence the next two lottery picks Knox, RJ. The rebuild started with KP. And Smith and two picks we got. And cap space we got. Which to this day we still have two yrs later. 60 mill can come off books next yr. Plus the 4 picks. It’s still a rebuild. Fortunately for Knicks fans. Thibs is in charge now. And like I said it’s looking much better. So far so good. Look up the picks. Knicks have not done a full rebuild thru the draft since Ewing. Dolan has always stepped in. You can’t be a Knicks fan. And not know this. And to diss Phil is weak. A true rebuilding of a team occurs thru the draft. Dolan has never really allowed that. Phil was only one who could stand up to him to start it. Unfortunately he ran out of allies. Smith (22), Nttilikina(22), (Knox 20), (RJ 20), (Mitch 21), (Braz 22), (Toppin 22), (Quickly 20). Is the REAL rebuild now under Thibs a real coach. Unfortunately the 4th in four yrs. Trust in Thibs
Scot Layden was the worst enemy to the Knicks that ever existed. It started with the Ewing trade but the list of negative salary cap garbage he added was a record. I’m suprised there wasn’t a documentary on layden.
Then isiah Thomas waited almost a year cleaning the damage of layden before he probably realized it would take 6 years to wait for layden a carnage and then isiah made it worse by trading for Marbury and adding more cap damage.
Then Donnie Walsh did the only positive moment of Knicks executive history by basically doing nothing for 3 years and cleaning 85 percent of the damage but not having any talent when it was over.
Since then it’s been 9 years of the cap slightly getting worse but still with the talent being highly deficient until about a year ago with the the cap now perfectly empty but no true superstars available or wanting to come.
Today is about the most exciting moment in the last 20 years (maybe one playoff run by Carmelo until hibbert blocked Carmelo)
It’s a combination of salary cap relief, the new regime, and many 19 year old draft picks finally getting to normal adult age and playing well. The only bad news is I don’t see a cherry on top superstar free agent to sign that if luck was with us would be available. Unfortunately the only button to push is to trade the current talent for a superstar which I think would be a mistake as we don’t want to dilute the young talent we finally gained.
My recommendation is to trade or release quickly Payton and bullock and play the 10 talented players. Quickley and frank at point (I think frank is very good now that he got older), burks and rivers a 2 guard, Barrett and Knox at small forward (Knox has it all besides attitude and I think his aging may bring the attitude), randle and toppings at power forward, and Robinson and Noel at center