Quentin Grimes has been the subject of recent trade rumors, but coach Tom Thibodeau wants the third-year wing to ignore the speculation and concentrate on basketball, writes Peter Botte of The New York Post. The Knicks have reportedly been taking calls about Grimes, but Thibodeau said that’s not a sign that anything will happen.
“For this time of year, for every 100 trades that get talked about, one gets done. That’s why you stick to your routine,” Thibodeau said. “You block out all the outside stuff. You lock into what’s in front of you and keep your focus there. Let basketball be your focus. So, I think where we are today, the popularity of the game is so huge. Media, social media and everyone talking about it. It’s a by-product of society today. But don’t get caught up in it. Whether it’s praise, criticism, speculation, it doesn’t matter. The only thing that really matters is what you think and what we think. That’s it.”
Botte notes that Grimes probably expected his playing time to increase after RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley were traded to Toronto last month. Instead, it has declined since the deal as Thibodeau has relied more on other players on his reconfigured bench.
There’s more from New York:
- With their top two centers hurt, the Knicks got a strong night from their reserve big men in Tuesday’s win at Brooklyn, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. Mitchell Robinson underwent ankle surgery and hasn’t played since December 8, and Isaiah Hartenstein saw his consecutive games streak end at 164 due to an inflamed Achilles, but Jericho Sims and Precious Achiuwa were capable replacements. Sims started the game and blocked four shots in the first quarter, and Achiuwa played the entire fourth quarter as New York rallied for the victory. “[They were] amazing,” Julius Randle said. “Precious gave us big minutes. Jericho gave us big minutes. Protecting the rim. Jericho was great protecting the rim in the first half. Precious just being in the right spots, getting us extra possessions rebounding the ball. Defending guards. All that type of stuff. Gave us a lot of versatility.”
- Jalen Brunson has been playing at an All-Star level, but that won’t guarantee him a spot in the game when the rosters are announced Thursday night, Botte notes in a separate story. Brunson ranked sixth among Eastern Conference backcourt players in the latest round of fan voting, which accounts for half of the final total. He may need to be selected by the coaches to earn his first-ever All-Star nod.
- The Knicks should monitor trade opportunities, but they shouldn’t risk their current chemistry with an aggressive move, contends Fred Katz of The Athletic, adding that he doesn’t see an ideal player for the team on this year’s market.
Fan favorite Tim Hardaway or Keldon Johnson to play SG for Evan Fournier and a pick
DeM DeR and Drummond >>>>
——— to Knickerbockers ———
Mitch Robinson, Fournier, two #1 picks >>>>
———- to Bulls ———-
Ooh. That’s a pretty decent swing. Robinson would be a good fit moving forward for the Bulls, Drummond gives the Knicks what they need right now (and his own opportunity to start, which he’s shown he can still do) and buffs the bench once Hartenstein comes back and they pick a starter, DDR allows DiVincenzo to the bench where he can replace IQ and keep playing well.
I’d chose Drummond as the starter at C, but Hartenstein is more offensively versatile, so he might get some starts even so.
Might be a little awkward at first with all of Randle, Brunson, and DDR being heavily ball-dominant, but it’s a worthy move.
People keep saying that about DeM. I just don’t see it. He plays to win. So will play the system. He’s there to win. They will accept him cause he’s a future HOFer. All he needs is 14-16 shots. He makes them better (Brunson n Randle). They don’t need to put up 30. What I like most. Is he’s a closer a 4Q guy. I see a good fit. And better team with Donte as 6th man. Grimes still there. Makes Knicks deep.
Frankly I don’t get why Knicks aren’t looking at DeM. He’s got minimum 3-4 good yrs. Can retire a Knick ……
Because he is. DDR is a good player and a good guy, but his style of basketball basically requires him to have the ball in his hands to be effective. He’s not a good shooter, doesn’t move around a ton off-ball, and is just above-average as a cutter. He’s a mid-range machine, but aside from running two-man games, you can’t really ply that kind of trade off-ball. His usage rate is higher than most point guards, and this season is actually quite a bit lower in that regard than the last two seasons and most of his career (only his first, second, and fourth years in the league did he have the ball less often). He’s also better at getting into the teeth of the defense and forcing it to collapse so he can kick out than most wings, but that also requires him to initiate the offense to an extent.
Sure, you *can* use him off-ball, but it’s not exactly the optimal choice when he’s so much better as a ball-handler.
Not true. He didn’t have it in Toronto or SA. His ast have gone almost very yr. He’s got be of best shooters in 4Q. His fade is unstoppable. He and Booker are best at it. You need to watch him. Him
On Knicks makes everyone else FG better. They will all get easier shots. He’s not RJ. He’s a vet who wants a ring lol.
I was referring specifically to 3pt shooting, which is obvious. He’s not a good 3pt shooter. And I said, mid-range machine. Of course he’s elite there. I already said all of that.
Also, he absolutely did dominate the ball in San Antonio and Toronto. His usage rate from his last three seasons in Toronto, 2016-2018, was higher than Brunson’s or Randle’s this year. I did watch him, often. The Lowry-DeRozan Raptors were one of my favorite viewing options in the 2010s. And he was still the highest usage player in San Antonio during his three seasons there. And his first season in Chicago, while just barely slipping below the ball-stopping LaVine last season. He’s ball-dominant. That’s a fact.
Assists don’t change that. LeBron is ball dominant, and is also the only player besides Magic to win a title while averaging 10+ assists in the regular season. Playmaking still requires you to have the ball.
It’s not even really a criticism of him that he’s ball-dominant. It’s just a reality of his situation. Good players are often ball-dominant. The question is whether his ball-dominance can fit on a team with Brunson and Randle. And I think it can. But it’s going to be awkward at first.
Stop Al. He heavily dominated the ball in San Antonio to the point he may have well been the point guard. Seen plenty of his games, in person as well.
Yeah right!… That’s what DeM dreamed about, retiring a Knick? LMAO!
Agree on DeRozan and Drummond but both are free agents after season. Giving up Mitch and two #1’s is too much. Would give Grimes and one pick with Fournier. Include Sims if necessary.
So, one of the best defensive centers in basketball on a good contract (sure he’s hurt but reported to be back for the playoffs and still much better than Drummond), two first round picks and basically the only salary available for a trade upgrade for half a season of DeRozan and/or the right to overpay him into his late 30’s, and Drummond – also expiring – who could probably be had for some second rounders and a trade exception.
I see you pitch DeRozan around here a lot and how is a ball dominant, poor 3 point shooting player who isn’t a defensive asset and is turning 35, the guy the Knicks need? He’s obviously a very good player but he’s about as good a fit with the Knicks as RJ Barrett was.
“one of the best defensive centers in basketball” is a… *very* rosy description of Robinson. He’s an elite rebounder, but his defense is not top 5, even top 10 among Centers. And his offensive value outside of O-rebounds is zero.
He’s certainly one of the best interior defenders in basketball by any measure, he also had the 13th best odds for DPOY at the start of the season and had All-Defense hype before he got hurt, so it isn’t just the view of Knicks fans that he’s dominant defensively.
Like you said, he’s also probably the best offensive rebounder in basketball and at the very least provides very efficient finishing at the rim.
Critizing his trade value, inability to stay healthy or lack of offense is valid, but saying Mitch Robinson isn’t a top 10 defensive center in basketball is delusional, and the Knicks have been better with him on the court than off.
His D is top 5. Outside of Embiid, it begins to get grey. Allen, Wemby, Turner if his mind is in the game, sure. AD, while good, only plays D when he feels like it.
Meanwhile Robinson will pick up guards on the perimeter and his close outs are among the best in the league.
Hard, hard, hard disagree. Basically everything you said there I disagree with. He also has been *way* worse in terms of results on contests this season than in past seasons. Opponents have been shooting 71% at the rim with him contesting. That’s nearly six percentage points worse than the league average. If you’re talking about last season, top ten absolutely. But not top 5. Porzingis, RWIII, Jarrett Allen, and AD were all *clearly* better than him. Then Embiid (obviously), Claxton, and Bam were arguably equally good or better as well. And this year he’s not even close. Check out his contest results and he’s been a negative almost across the board. Maybe he’s making the right *moves*, but the results aren’t there.
You also need to remember that A) Robinson is currently injured, B) will likely be rusty by the time he gets back, C) has a checkered injury history. He has *never* managed to top 65 starts in a season, and has only topped 65 games twice (one of them his rookie season).
God no. Emphatic no.
DeRo will take shots away in a starting lineup. Donte to the bench pushes Grimes further away. Drummond, while he can still rebound, imitates a sloth on D and would place Thibs into cardiac arrest.
RJs departure has opened up the shots for the two who need the ball to be effective and the team D chemistry has escalated. While I’m not a Donte fan, his D and role is a better fit than DeRo’s need for possession and shots.
A healthy Robinson and Hartenstein, along with a Lou Williams type for the bench will certainly push them to contend for another round. DeRozan is not the player that will put them over the top. And Chicago isn’t going to take another sizable contract at center with Vucevic unless they know he can be dealt for sure.
Agree on DeRozan and Drummond but both are free agents after season. Giving up Mitch and two #1’s is too much. Would give Grimes and one pick with Fournier. Include Sims if necessary.
Knicks should trade Fournier now.
It would be ridiculous to pick up his option this season and overpay him just for salary matching purposes.
Besides his expiring contract to match salaries he has no value…
They could trade Fournier, a First, a second and cash to Portland for Brogdon for example.
They would increase their salary this year but still remain under the tax. That leaves room for a second trade:
They could try to send out a player like Arcidiacono and a 2nd rounder and take a player back in their 5.2 or 6.8 million trade exception.
But if a major player becomes available in the off-season, wouldn’t it be worth it to have Fournier contract to trade off?
It can perfectly be the contract they trade Fournier for?
If salary matching is the reason, they can attach a 2nd rounder for a mediocre player.
Or collect a 2nd rounder by taking on some salary for next season (in case of a player like Bertans).
See also other comments below.
Gotta love this !!!!!!!!
New York Ballers
link to nypost.com
I’d move Obi and picks for him in a heartbeat.
I know some in the media have floated a notion that the NYK might exercise Fournier’s team option to keep him around through next season for use in a trade. It can’t be a serious consideration; the reports more likely reflect the media’s lack of understanding of the new CBA rules. I doubt the NYK will even carry Fournier over into the summer. If there’s no deal prior to the deadline, the most likely path is a buyout right after it. The odds of an extra matching contract being worth anything close to giving up the MLE, BAE, the right to do a S&T, etc. would be quite low.
Katz has embarrassed himself enough, I guess. Any fan with access to team propaganda and a habit of paying attention could have told him this immediately after the Anunoby trade.
He’s gone by the trade deadline. Evan a swap for someone who can contribute now for the bench would be better if they can’t land a star.
The question is what assets do they need to add to EF to get a worthwhile contributor(s). 1) SRPs, 2) Take on $$ next year, or 3) FRPs. Ideally, just 1, but its been reported they’re willing to do 2 as well, as long as the $$ are movable next year, whatever that means.