Ben Simmons spent the offseason trying to show Nets coach Jacque Vaughn and his staff that he’s physically and mentally ready to be the team’s point guard, Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports writes. Simmons believes he can regain the All-Star form he displayed in Philadelphia before things went sour.
“Show him that I want to play at this level and be the point guard and do these things,” Simmons said, adding “I think that comes with, we speak about it, is grace. When you put that work in, you really get grace from the surrounding people. Your teammates, your coaches and staff.”
We have more from the New York teams:
- Nets big man Nic Claxton believes his hopes for the Defensive Player of the Year award ended last season when Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were dealt, according to Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “I went from being top three in the Defensive Player of the Year to an end of the season, nothing at all. KD and Kyrie, when they left, it’s like my name just fell off the map. It makes my blood boil,” Claxton said with a laugh. “I was robbed of [an All-]Defensive team [spot], not even saying Defensive Player of the Year. It definitely is motivating. It’s an even bigger chip on my shoulder, and I’m ready to be there for my team to prove to everybody, proving myself who I am as a defender and as a player in this league.”
- The Knicks didn’t add any star power so improvement will generally have to come from within, Jalen Brunson told Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. “It’s pretty much the same group, but we’ve got to continue to find ways to get better,” Brunson said. “It may be the little things, little mental edges, just concentration on the little things. Just our chemistry is going to get a lot better from knowing each other for a year now.”
- One of the big questions looming over the Knicks in training camp is whether they’ll reach a rookie scale extension agreement with Immanuel Quickley. The reserve guard brushed aside questions about it on media day on Monday, according to Zach Braziller of the New York Post. “Whatever happens, happens because it’s all up to my agent and the Knicks at that point,” he said, adding “I feel like I can be better. I feel like I can be a lot better. I feel like there’s a lot of untapped potential that I have in my game. And I’m going to do everything I can, like I’ve always done, to reach that.” A recent report indicated there’s optimism an agreement will be reached.
IQ 4 for 84 get it done
He’s gonna want more than that, and he should get it. He’s got all star potential.
If IQ gets signed……. When can he be traded. anybody????
I believe it’s TD ????
DeM DeR that’s who I want.
If not, then Grimes, RJ, Mitch, Quickley have to step up. The young guys gave to grow up some more ……..
Been a long time. Since Knicks are definitely a playoff team starting the yr. Go NYK
I believe immediately, but it’s a poison pill. Only can use his current salary, but the other team needs to be able to absorb his future contract.
Nets have an 18M one. I think that’s the highest?
Practically, not until next off season. Technically, no restriction (its an extension), but the poison pill would make a matching deal next to impossible. Nobody has that kind of cap space.
Knicks will be playing Milwaukee in the Eastern Conference Finals this year.
NYK should try and hold off on IQ’s extension. I’d rather pay more next year in order to have the flexibility to the deadline.
That said, there’s no reason to trade IQ unless we get an offer that reflects a higher value than him in his 6M role. He grades out as a starting caliber PG who’s still ascending. But its going to be tough to get that now. Maybe during the year.
IQ should look at what Vassel got. 5 for 135 is the benchmark now
Vassal is better than IQ think 20-22 mm a year is fair for IQ