Karl-Anthony Towns gave the Pacers fits this season and the Knicks hope that continues over the next two weeks. He averaged 30.3 points, 12.0 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 46.7 percent from three-point range in 36.5 minutes per contest vs. Indiana, Zach Braziller of the New York Post notes, with the Knicks winning two of three regular-season matchups between the Eastern Conference finalists.
Towns will likely be matched up against Myles Turner, who averaged 19.5 points and 2.5 blocks per game against New York this season.
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- The Knicks have been named the 2024-25 NBATA Athletic Training Staff of the Year, Mike Curtis of the Dallas Morning News tweets. New York’s training staff is led by Casey Smith, VP of Sports Medicine. The staff also includes senior athletic trainer Heather Mau. Smith and Mau are former members of the Mavs’ training staff, Curtis notes. Smith was fired in 2023 by Dallas GM Nico Harrison.
- All the extensions that the Celtics handed out last offseason could prove detrimental unless the front office can find a good trade offer for Jrue Holiday or Kristaps Porzingis, Brian Robb of MassLive.com opines. Holiday still has value but his production tailed off this season and he’s owed $104MM over the next three years. Porzingis has an expiring contract but has contributed little in the last two postseason due to injury and illness. A more dramatic reset for the franchise could be required if shedding these big-money contracts ends up costing Boston valuable assets, Robb concludes.
- While there has been some speculation that the Sixers will shop the No. 3 overall pick, Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports hears an entirely different story. A source told him that the front office isn’t interested in packaging that pick to acquire a veteran star (Twitter link). The team has spoken publicly about wanting to add more youth and athleticism to its core, Neubeck notes, and the No. 3 pick will provide an opportunity to do just that.
Seen mutiple reports of 3rd overall pick plus PG for either KD or Lauri…
KD would be an aggressive win now move, cause he’s 37. But Maxey KD and Embiid sounds good to me.
However Lauri is probably a better fit. He’s a lot younger, he’s a catch and shoot guy and we need a PF cause we are guard/wing heavy. Not to mention Lauris value is considerably less and we could probably also grab some of their young guys in the deal. Cody Williams and Taylor Hendricks included would be a good pull, cause atleast if we fail to win (more than likely) then atleast for the future we have a core we can build from. Both guys have underperformed since being drafted but doesn’t mean the potential isn’t there, both good 3 and D play styles.
After Cooper and Harper I’m not very high on Ace Bailey, especially in our set up. VJ, Tre and Malauch the same there’s potential but I don’t see a fit on our team trying to win now and not willing to rebuild.
I’m still a fan of the wizards deal I’ve suggested a couple times. Middleton, Smart and the 18th pick.
Two win now vets on expring deals and a draft pick
Trade 3 for 6 and 18, but no thanks to Middleton/Smart….better yet trade with Brooklyn 3 for 8 and get our 2028 first back in exchange
I really don’t see much point in adding two draft picks to a team just set on trying to win now. If we are trading it it’s to be better now or for financial reasons but the Brooklyn idea ain’t bad
Lots of ways to use those assets for financial relief/reasons. Perhaps dangle the 18, in this case as a sweetener to some under the cap team in order to get out from Drum and/or Gordon. We have a few options but unless Joel can return healthy or he decides to retire we are in bad shape till 2030 regardless of what we do with number 3
I’m pretty sure Embiid has played his last game for Philly. He was giving off strong “I’m done” vibes the last half of the season. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Embiid and the 3rd overall for KD happening.
Hell no Embiid and the pick for KD.
Dudes 37….
Durant has more productive games left in his body than Embiid does
Not #3 pick worth of a difference though
Hardly but let’s not let’s facts get in the way of the typical Embiid loathing.
His age is irrelevant. The guy can still ball. His shooting percentages and PPG were higher than George, Maxey or Embiid last year, while playing more games than any of the three. Embiid is a well known diva who has averaged 40 games a year over the past three years due to injury/attitude and he’s owed nearly a quarter of a billion dollars in the next four years. His trade value is negative. They will need to attach the #3 just to get rid of him.
There is a big difference between embiid wanting out and the team trying to dump his salary. Based on your OP, the thought is embiid wants out and not that the Sixers are looking to get out of his contract. There is no incentive to attach 3 to move embiid. You are better off hoping for 50 games. They would have nothing in the middle so a team of KD PG and maxey will get lit up on the glass and defensively.
I never said the team is looking to dump his salary. I said he wants out, and if he wants out, they will have to get rid of him. He has negative trade value, which means they will have to attach assets to him.
They won’t have to make an ill advised trade though. If Embiid wants out, the Sixers can let his team go find a trade. If they say they want #3, sorry Jo, we tried to accommodate you but giving up a top 3 pick just to appease you would be a disservice to the franchise. We are willing to work with you to find a preferred destination, but #3 is off the table. That’s how that conversation would go. If he’s disgruntled, maybe a dose of humility would do him well. Josh Harris is a business man. He knows what a sunk cost is. Not to mention that trading Embiid does nothing for them from a financial perspective, other than some luxury payments…maybe. PG and Maxey on max deals and grimes gonna get paid keeps Philly over the tax beyond Durant years.
Complete nonsense.
Still ball? He didn’t do squat in Brooklyn when he was younger and had Harden and Irving and didn’t do squat in PHX with Booker. What makes you think the results will be different in Philly with Embiid who can’t walk and PG with bad knees and aged out as well? Philly is best off loving Embiid and PG if they can and do the process over again.
I’m pretty sure Embiid will be starting at the 5 for the sixers in 2025 for a variety of reasons,his contract, injury history and a dozen others to long to list. The ” vibes” you claim to sense from your television, laptop or seat at the game, Embiid was giving off, lm done, don’t seem to be those of the Sixers organization or him Embiid and the 3rd for 37 year old Kds expiring contract is nonsensical.
You seem to be unfamiliar with how Danny Ainge operates. It’d take a multiple 1st round draft picks (at least 3 or 4) to pry Markannen out of Utah.
Lauri regressed, Jazz as a whole got worse and dudes getting something like 45 mil a year for the next 4/5 seasons…. Hard to see positive value in that
For Markannen? I think not. He’s barely a mid first rounder. He plays like a small forward with zero defense. Plenty of that out there with more talent. He only exists because he’s on a team with little talent.
Embid and George are toast. Trading for another aging past their prime star isn’t the answer. They need to add youth and retain or add picks if they can. Until those two contracts are done this team is hopeless.
I did not know we hired the guy Nico fired. But he deserves the award, our guys are all healthy and it’s the ECF … and it’s a Thibs team!
F the Knicks
Embiid won’t get traded unless Morey has a stroke.
Ainge isn’t that dumb.
F the Knicks
aww i’m sorry
Imo Homiday should be easy to move. He is still a top PG. Celtics offense wasn’t about a lead PG. So why would you talk about his stats being down. As lead PG he can still put up 20 n 10. He’s better than JVV. I promise you if they switched teams. Rickets might be in West Finals right now. Mavs or Heat should be all over this.
The biggest question to me is. What will Sixers do with that pick. Only pick that works now is Harper. And they would have to trade up for him. I’ve seen a lot of rumors about them trading the pick for a player now. Sixers healthy and with right player added are a dangerous team next year …. But do we really believe it will end well in Philly ????
I trade Embiid and draft Maluach. Can even trade down for Maluach and get more talent …..
Can’t wait for Wednesday night. Pacers are going to get the best of Knicks. Only chance they have is if they shoot well.
Unfortunately don’t see much of a market for Embiid cause of the injuries…
Otherwise absolutely
There’s no market, because Embiid isn’t available.
Yeah that’s the real issue. I’m sure Sixers know by now. But would they ever pull the trigger. At some point you have to look out for the franchise. Maluach this pick is a great opportunity.
Sadly it’s true. And sadly 3 is to high for maluach but I agree with need.
They can trade down for Maluach and add more talent. But would they really move Embiid. Morey will never do it.
Do you trade your franchise player at his lowest value for lowest value, that seems counter productive knick al. Morey will never do it.
The Pacers won’t know what hit them. True gentlemen’s sweep.
A team that in reality should have lost the series to Detroit and also made two extremely improbable 20 plus point comebacks on the road vs Boston, in addition to losing a home game with Tatum out, is almost guaranteed to struggle at times in the series with this Indiana team.
Haliburton comes to the rescue. Pretty cool thing man. There’s a video of a Pacers fan. At the Knicks clinching celebration outside MSG. That gets harassed and abused. Well Pacers and Haliburton are treating him like royalty lols……. good for him.
link to nypost.com