Julius Randle was already on a scoring tear in December, averaging 27.6 points per game. Randle has pumped up his production even more following the trade that sent RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to Toronto, scoring 39 and 35 points in the Knicks’ first two games this month.
“I think the trade has opened up a little bit more opportunity to be aggressive,” Randle said, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. “So I’m just trying to take what the defense is giving me.”
We have more on the Knicks:
- Isaiah Hartenstein seems quite comfortable as a starter. He had a career-high 20 rebounds and five blocks in Wednesday’s 116-100 triumph over Chicago, Bondy notes. “I can play this role. That’s the biggest thing,” Hartenstein said. “I always had the confidence that I can really play it, but was never really in that situation.”
- While the addition of OG Anunoby has helped the starting unit, the bench is in a state of flux, Mike Vaccaro of the Post points out. The reserves only produced 18 points against the Timberwolves and once again against the Bulls. “We have to try and find a rhythm for the second unit,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “They need a little bit of time but we’ll figure that out. You’ve got to make simple plays right now, trust each other, make advantages for each other.”
- While the Knicks have been linked in the past to the Bulls’ Zach LaVine, they’re now among the teams not interested in a swap for the high-scoring wing, according to Bondy’s sources.
- Bondy details how Precious Achiuwa‘s New York City upbringing has prepared him for the spotlight of playing in the Big Apple. Achiuwa was also acquired from Toronto in the Anunoby deal.
rct
rct, rct , where are you. still waiting for the explanation on how Knicks are worse now. Even here they tell you. What you can’t understand when I tell you. Gee I wonder why ???? Maybe now you will get it.
Julius Randle was already on a scoring tear in December, averaging 27.6 points. Randle has pumped up his production even more with the trade of RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to Toronto. He has scored 39 and 35 in the Knicks’ first two games this month.
“I think the trade has opened up a little bit more opportunity to be aggressive,” Randle said, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. “So I’m just trying to take what the defense is giving me.”
It’s called Team fit. It’s called team chemistry. Doesn’t necessarily mean one player is better than the other. It means they play better in other systems. Or with OTHER players. I know you and all the wannabeees here. Use the words that mean failures. Or want to define someone cause they are 22 yrs old and learning still getting better. But not on your timeline. Reality is , it’s cause you don’t understand athletic growth.
So your last famous words LOL
Knicks are worse cause of this trade…….
REALLY …….
You just have to define it. You just can’t let it play out. Nothing but noise. All StevenA wannabeeess …..
lmao it’s been two games, Al. I’m also happy to be wrong if I end up being wrong. Second unit has been awful since IQ left when it was previously a strength. Can Randle go for 35 ppg the rest of the year? Maybe the Knicks can get Dinwiddie like you were begging for and that’ll fix things.
Also where are you with Hartenstein? You said he couldn’t handle the load. You said he can’t handle starter minutes. He’s been killing it since Mitch went down. Another wrong opinion from the master of basketball.
That’s my point two games. When will you learn. No one here is more patient than me. I’m the who supports all the 20-24 yr olds you guys kill all the time. But if you can’t see fit. Then I can’t help you. Success comes in the playoffs. We’ll see.
You talked smack yet you can’t define it. Put words to your bravado. Cause I know I can explain why I say what I say.
I wasn’t a Quickley guy. But he proved me wrong. I strongly believe he’s a starter in this L now. Not better than RJ
You say two games then you cry Hartenstein after two gms. Knicks are 4-6 with Mitch out and before OG. I hope he proves me wrong. Even Thibs has said the same thing, after I did. Just so you know. He’s not the rim protector Mitch is. Our center is built on committee. Three guys really. That is our strength. It’s why I want another center. If we are going to make noise this yr.
So I’m still waiting for you to explain how they are worse ……..
You throw out hate. Then you can’t articulate it.
This who you are ?????
So now this is for all the DeM to Knicks posters who don’t get it ………
Did you watch the Bulls game ????
Do you ever watch. I know you just got answers…….. so read
DeM has one of the most unstoppable jumpers ever. It’s called positional size. Shoots over anyone . BUCKETS, Did you see an iso game. I sure didn’t . He took what the defense gave him. That’s called an all star. He runs the Bulls offense at times. Since they don’t have a true pg. he was killing every Knick. Thibs had to put OG on him. Slowed him down, still put up 28. Now imagine that positional size at SG next to Brunson. To me it’s a no-brainer. If you couldn’t see that last night. Then you will never see it ……..
He lost. Guess you missed the final score.
Yeah that’s it…. Only one who is lost. Are the haters like you. How long have you been wrong. I don’t even try and I own you by now. The day you have an intelligent remark. Will be a first.
It’s literally the perfect fit, my man these people are delusional because he’s on the wrong side of 30. But the Knicks time is now not 5 years from now
Perhaps the bench is in flux because Thibs is running his starters 35+ minutes a game since. As always, by playoff time his starters will be burned out and we’ll exit the first or second round.
Knicks have the deepest bench around. It’s been like this for yrs now. It’s their biggest strength. Players you didn’t want them to draft. Players you didn’t want them to sign. Every star on every team play mins ……
You got to be one DF …..
link to teamrankings.com
Two Knicks in top 13. No Mitch and just added depth ……..
Yeah you got answers .
They *had* the deepest bench around. Then they traded away one of the best bench players in the league and filled that void with Precious Achiuwa, who (ask Raptors fans), is not good.
Look I get you’re a Fanny of Quickley. But why can’t you understand. He has no future here with Jalen Brunson here. 26 yrs old Jalen. He was never going to stick around. I have always said. All teams who need a PG. Should be looking at Quickley. For Raptors it was a great move. They get a hometown hero too. Who is younger than Quickley. It’s good business and a smart move by the coaching staff. Fit builds chips.
And you think a bench guy is more important that a starter. Positional size …. You really should learn what that means.
RJ has positional size at SG. Haliburton has positional size at PG. Positional size is what separates greatness from good. Give it time.
I know Knick fans love Mitchell Robinson, but if you could move him, I would. Always injured. Doesn’t help you this year. Why waste this season? If you’re going to do this OG trade, might as well swing for the fences.
You’ve got 30-40M in contracts you could part with. See if you can’t improve this roster enough to actually make a run.
This year?
The last thing the Knicks should be thinking about is this year.
Why ????
Every yr should be better than the last. Especially when you are going thru a rebuild.
Why?
“They just reorganized with this trade. Knicks are better imo. But are not ready to contend. They still have one more major trade to make. I wouldn’t want to rush this.”
That’s my point.
How do they improve the roster if they let Fournier expire for nothing and they pay OG 40m? Mid 20s draft picks are misses more than hits.
I agree with you in principle, I just think they’ll have better luck finding someone who can move the needle in the off season as opposed to overpaying to “make a run”
I know people who are haters. Or just don’t really follow Knicks. Can’t get it.
Knicks have never done a full rebuild. They just reorganized with this trade. Knicks are better imo. But are not ready to contend. They still have one more major trade to make. I wouldn’t want to rush this. This FO and Thibs have done good. Gotta give them credit. So I can wait and see what they do. I know what I want. But I rather they do collectively what they think is the right move. Have to ride this ship of Rose and Thibs. The rebuild is not over yet.
Achiuwa is from the BX. He’s a better fit here than Obi was. He wants to fill backup role to Randle. He’s got gm. Still learning. I liked him in draft I like him now. MSG will bring out best in him. I believe that. I also like Flynn. He’s better than what he has shown.
It’s like McBride. He plays great in Gleague. Great in practice is what I read. But we are not seeing it in gms yet. I’m willing to wait. That’s the difference between us.
What is BX?
Bx bronx
Obi is from Brooklyn. What’s your point?
Again on the wrong side of knowledge….
Who’s talking about Obi .
It’s Achiuwa ….
NYK, particularly the starting unit, had a less than optimal shot chart before the trade. Too high a percentage of the overall shots being taken by 3 guys, with 2 of those 3 guys being poor 3 pt shooters. Barrett’s shots are now out there to be distributed, and, honestly, they really can’t wind up in less efficient hands. For better or worse some of those may go to Randle. But the goal should be for a decent portion of them to go to Anunoby (eventually), even if his are mostly catch and shoot 3’s.
IQ’s shots (who leads bench players, and 4th overall) are going to be harder to replace with equal or better quality. If we could have done the deal without him, it would have been simpler. But we still have enough. Other than Brunson or Randle picking some up when playing with the bench unit, Grimes is the obvious candidate to increase his shots.
Think Precious would take an unders deal to stay in NY in FA. He should get a decent opportunity behind Randle and Hartenstein. He’s got a good skill set (finishing and shooting plus that high impact energy). Think he’s someone that would work well under Thibs. He’s worked a lot with Chris Brickley in the past who’s based in NY so there’s potential for him to continue that work and develop his game better… He just seems suited to staying and I don’t see some team coming in and blowing NY out of the water with like a 14mil offer or anything for him either
Think the second unit just needs one of the guards to step up, either Flynn, Grimes or McBride. All 3 are alright but you need something more than just alright. Don’t need to be a sixth man of the year contender like IQ but just take the small step to being a decent contributor. 12-5-2 and like 38% from 3 or around that mark.
Think that’s were experience would be handy. Having someone that’s been a starter for a few seasons and knows the ins and outs of the game more. However I think John Wall, Kemba, IT those guys are all a little past it now. Maybe Austin Rivers could be that guy for them. Decent defender, on ball or off ball guard, and good competitor
Grimes was a starter. He’s the one that needs to fill the void. He’s the one we are waiting to challenge Donte. Hart also has to score consistently. And McBride, this is his chance. Trade just happened.
These three are the ones we are watching now.
Grimes has started what 20 odd games not what I meant by experienced starter hence why I then said names like Wall, Kemba, IT and so on…..
You don’t understand the NYK situiation. One of the big reasons that NYK did a 2-for-1 deal (this early) was because they didn’t have enough minutes for the their existing guys, and felt urgency to get Grimes and Hart back closer to last year’s minutes (when Grimes was a 30 mpg starter almost the entire year), while still playing DiV, and reintroducing McBride to the rotation. The minutes are still tight. They’re certainly not looking to add to the rotation level there.
I disagree, I don’t see Grimes winning back the starting SG job. Donte is a good competitor who shoots the ball really well and Grimes doesn’t do enough offensively.
Donte’s spacing has allowed Randle to really dominate down low recently I don’t see that changing.
And Grimes off the bench doesn’t play with the same confidence as IQ did and hasn’t provided that spark yet. I actually wouldn’t be surprised to see Evan Fouriner get a run and just see how he goes coming off the bench with this new looking unit
It has nothing to do with who starts, its about minutes. Nobody cares about sparks. NYK had 6 perimeter guys who collectively warranted more than the minutes at the 3 perimeter spots, plus they had McBride who’s earned minutes. Now its 5 + McBride, and that should work better. Fournier moves from 8th to 7th, and could well get some time if guys are out. In any event, they’re not in the market to add a perimeter player to their rotation.
Nyk gonna have their pick of Bol Bol or Mo Bamba soon , once that happens they’ll be unstoppable !
Throw a side order of Tj Warren in just ti not leave any doubt
I’m not a big fan of Thibs offense. And I have always said it. But it’s his offense. And RJ had more than his chance. Jalen is a bigger piece than RJ. So it was time to do this. OG is a FA and so is Quickley. It had to be done. Just gotta roll with it. Grimes, Hart, McBride, Achiuwa can fill the void. They have to. If they trade for a SG. Then it all falls into place. OG was a solid move. But it’s not the big trade…… DeM last night showed he gets Knicks into contention.
Knicks also got a 5.5 mill trade exception from this deal. No one talks about that. That gets us another center …. Depth …. Also have Mitch injury exception.
rct- for you. more knowledge
link to google.com
Your knowledge would be received a lot differently if you weren’t so consescending
I DGAF what you think …..
I respond. To the way they talk to me. It’s right there for all to see.
I like it, a real NY mindset. Honestly and straight forward, oh and he’s right on like 99% of his statements
Zach Collins for some picks would be a good move for the Knicks!
And pay him 18 million next season. No thanks