The speculation over Zion Williamson‘s future with New Orleans has Knicks fans dreaming of acquiring the 2019 top pick. Williamson’s former coach and current TV analyst Stan Van Gundy scoffs at the notion that big-name players want to go to New York, Ethan Sears of the New York Post relays.
“No matter how many times people have proven they don’t want to play for the Knicks, the Knicks have this idea that everybody in the league wants to play for the Knicks,” Van Gundy said on the Dan Le Batard Show. “Now, what is the last time it actually happened that somebody came and tried to get their way to New York? Like, never in the last 20 years? But still the Knicks and Knicks fans think everybody is trying to get to the Knicks. I’m not saying [Zion] won’t end up there — there’s all kinds of ways people can end up somewhere — but this idea that everybody wants to be a New York Knick, I mean if that were the case, then they wouldn’t be as bad as they’ve been for the last 20 years.”
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau played rookie center Jericho Sims ahead of Nerlens Noel and Taj Gibson on Friday, which may signal a shift in philosophy, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes. Thibodeau typically relies on veterans, so it was unusual to see a late second-round pick get 18 minutes of playing time. “We’ll see how it unfolds. Taj did a good job for us,” Thibodeau said. “Nerlens did a good job for us. Jericho, the opportunities that he’s had, he’s played well. So just let him get in there; let him gain some more experience.”
- Raptors forward OG Anunoby will get a second opinion on his injured finger, Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports tweets. An X-ray revealed that Anunoby had a fractured right ring finger and would miss some games. The trip to the specialist will presumably clarify a recovery timeline.
- James Harden, who made his Sixers debut on Friday, wanted to play with Joel Embiid “for a long time,” president of basketball operations Daryl Morey told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. “James is a basketball genius,” Morey said. “And he’s been wanting to play with Joel for a long time. I think he’s always thought Joel was, like, the perfect guy to pair with him.”
I felt bad for the T’Wolves last night. That was a beat down
SVG…never understood why teams would entrust him with a roster. As for his last 20 years comment, how about Melo?
Melo was traded to the knicks
He forced the trade to accomodate his wife, so he did choose Nix, and in the process ruined their team since they traded away all prospects and picks for years.
They traded Gallinari, Chandler, Felton and Mozgov and a first plus two second rounders. They also got back Billups, Balkman and someone else I forgot. That’s nothing for a star in his prime. The Knicks would kill to make a deal like that for a star again today.
Yes, I read that LaLa was pushing him to move to NY so she could better pursue her career. But that’s actually the point of why NY would be an attractive spot, if you so beloved it was.
Personally, I don’t think stars care anymore. With social media, you don’t need to be in a big city to be under the spotlight anymore.
Correct. He forced the trade to the Knicks (and never wanted to leave, either). As Steven-4 stated, partially for his wife and the fact he grew up a Knicks fan and is from NY.
At least SVG has been to a finals.
Bill Musselman could’ve coached that team to the finals.
Yes, everybody wants to be Knick
Leon Rose is cheap
Nobody wants the “Michelin Guy”.
Only delusional fans think players want to come Knicks. Like half the posters here.
The media makes more noise and just feeds the hungry. It’s why they all got the same takes. Nothing but a herd getting fed …….
JVG has never won anything. He made it off Patrick’s shoulders. Only reason he’s where he is. Is cause he came out of Knicks kingdom. So Freak him
It wasn’t Jeff van Gundy who said all that if was his brother Stan. Reading is hard
So Hard!!
That’s a small detail for Al, unable to ruin a great tale
Player agents create these rumors that their star player is considering the Knicks when it is about that time for a new contract. But that doesn’t mean players don’t want to play for the Knicks.
Also, the reason players don’t want to play for the Knicks is because they can’t handle the media pressure and fan pressure. They are soft. I truly believe Zion will come to the Knicks. When his contract is up he will be a free agent and the Knicks can sign him straight up. I don’t want.a trade done for him because that would require some of our rookies and young players. For me I want to keep Grimes, McBride, Quickley RJ and Obi and also if possible Sims. Everyone else can be traded. Oh, I forgot, also want to keep Cam.
You have a long wait then… 2.5 years minimum?— just to protect that lesser guard mob. Before then, the Pels will have wanted to deal ZW to move past him.
The way the nix are going, there will be higher picks coming to protect.
More than that since he will be a restricted FA and I doubt he will risk the QO
Right, because Zion isn’t soft
Baby fat is soft..
Sixer fans love this all star point guard who looks to pass first,can score at will,hit his free throws, takes over the game anytime he sees fit and most importantly doesn’t have to sit at crunch time. And looked engaged on the defense at least during this beatdown.
I agree that Sixers fan would love that PG. But who is THAT exactly? When you talk about a “look to pass first” point guard, you CAN’T be talking about Harden.
I wouldn’t say that Harden’s a pass first first PG but he has average double digit assists for the last 6 seasons. I think the term willing passer would be a better term.
I guess Stan forgot the time that Melo wanted to come here. It wasn’t just that he got traded here, he asked to come to NY
Even if true, that’s one guy in 20 years.
Stephon Marbury would be another example although that was 18 years ago.
Such prominent individualism from individuals is not really the trend anymore. There are so many more player critics getting face-time on tv these days. (And space on sites like this!)
It is still post-2019… the hot FAs wanted teams that had established good teamwork— which ironically they compromised by joining them! (Clips, Nets)
Wait. The true amazing thing in the story was overlooked. Thibs played a rookie over 2 vets in February? Huh. Looking outside my window to see if pigs can fly. Somebody must of put the word out but who?
Maybe he’s feeling the heat to play Deuce and this is some weird compromise? “Sure, I’ll play young guys, but DO NOT touch my Point Burks”
SVG has no clue what NBA players want, in particular Zion (obviously), and is bitter over several things.
Truth is that many NBA players would love to come to NYC to play. BUT, for star players, that will be true ONLY if they think they have a real chance to win here. No place is great to play in if you’re losing, but NYC is worst because stars in particular can’t hide. All of this has been true forever, and remains so. The only difference over the past 20 years is that the Knicks haven’t provided a winning platform. Even in that period, when there’s been a hint of that platform, plenty of elite players wanted to come. Of course not “every player” will want to come here regardless (and no Knick fan thinks that). It’s really the NY media that keeps bringing up every name that might be available, and they don’t necessarily think that either, but they have to write about something.
Yes, Berman is less boring than most writers, given his willingness to write plausible fantasies and ignore sourcing to lead with a stimulating theme.
He’s the most shameless. But, as long as people keep rising to the bait, it’s not hard to see why he keeps doubling down.
First, isn’t SVG the guy that barely made it through a single terrible season with the Pels? And that’s with him having a healthy Zion on his roster. He’s kind of like the Knicks, they haven’t been good in 20+ years, and SVG hasn’t been good in 10+ as the last time one of his teams won a playoff game was 2010-11.
I don’t disagree with any of the comments above that most Knicks fans and media believe everyone wants to play for the team. In the past decade, only Melo has forced his way to NY. There are others that wanted to come that had been All-Stars at one point (STAT, Rose, Walker), but none of them were in their prime when they made their Garden debuts.
There has been too much instability for too long, effectively since Dave sold the team to useless Dolan. I sometimes feel like the day that Dolan finally sells the team, he’ll rip off his shirt to show the Celtics tattoo that he’s had since the 80’s and laugh at all of us Knicks fans as he’s been intentionally screwing the team for years. Like Hulk becoming Hollywood.
Instability reigns again as a team so desperate for sustained success that all of the decisions of this past year were based on a 29 game span where the team went 16-4 to finish last season. Let’s say for argument sake they went 10-10 instead, made the play-in and were bounced during the play-in. Do they make the same decisions? Likely not. Having an extra year to evaluate Randle instead of giving a big extension is more likely. Trading up instead of trading back in the draft is more likely. Rose and Gibson come back because, well, Thibs, but do they spend on Noel again, Walker and Evan? Possibly Walker, but the other two???
The plan was financial flexibility, youth and draft picks for a couple of years, and the Zinger trade opened up that possibility. Instead of sticking to the plan though, management used a 20 game sample to decide the near future of the franchise. They didn’t even consider the playoff series, where it should have become evident that Randle can’t be “the guy”.
Sorry for the novel, 23 years of crapulance has led me to it.
I understand (and share) your frustration, but the FO decisions (good, bad or otherwise) were consistent with their original plan, which was never to tank (or go with all youth, which is the same thing), but to do a traditional rebuild by getting back to a level of competence on the court with a definable identity and culture. So we could be attractive to stars. Some young players, sure, but not exclusively.
I disagree with you on (i) the draft (they desperately tried to trade up, but IMO they did better at the end of the day), (ii) Randle (it was an extend or trade scenario, and even with the worst imaginable result, the contract will likely still be an asset) and (iii) financial flexibility (it’s better than you think relative to landscape). I agree on some other things.
We’ll see.
FWIW, after Melo came to the Knicks, CP3 made overtures to the Knicks and did request a trade here. We didn’t have any trade assets left, and he was not a FA until after the following season. That off season, we got the best FA available (Tyson Chandler), after which we wouldn’t have cap space for many years. Point is that being a real team did make the Knicks a relatively attractive destination.
Even DeRozen mentioned he would’ve taken the Knicks offer if they matched the Bulls, apparently.
Was FO conceit the problem? Derozan’s history, (if not reality), of not being clutch?— the myth(?) lasted thru Spurs years until lately.
If you believe Stan Van Gundy for truth you are a fool.
He’s sexy though when he’s got the mustache. Very handsome guy.
Let’s not forget how many stars came here in the last 20 years. Kidd, T-Mac, Francis, Marbury, Stoudamire, Rose, Billups, B. Davis, Penny, Rasheed, etc … Problem is they were all past their prime and/or didn’t have much left lol
Other than Dolan, other issues for the Knicks ability to attract stars are:
– Cap. No cap, money wouldn’t be an issue.
– FO. Idiots have run the front office.
– Poor signings. Sucked up any cap room that was available.
– Coaches. Not sure we’ve had one since Riley. JVG was ok, but it was the team that carried him, like Orlando did for his brother.
Outside of RJ, I’d say anyone is available and look to construct around him via the draft and free agency. First though, a little house cleaning needs to be done. Can start with Thibs.
Reality is no one, & I repeat no one wants to go to NYC, as simple as!
Zion has reportedly had problems handling the scrutiny he’s getting in NoLa… Not sure the bright lights of New York will do himmany favors.
I don’t see Knicks fans as thinking the way Van Gundy describes them at all and I know quite a few lifers
Yankees fans, most certainly yes, but baseball operates under a very different set of guidelines (mainly big bank takes little bank) which gives Yankees fans an airway to at least take off and land from even if their takes are blasphemy for the most parts to begin with.
Knicks fans seem pretty informed (and upset/rightfully) . From what I take from my Knick fan friends they are just upset the plan never gets to be fully seen thru and starts hedging out in all sorts of directions early on