The Knicks are coming off an exhilarating win against the Spurs to clinch the NBA Cup, but their focus still remains on the NBA Finals. With an expensive roster and few trade chips outside of their core players, it’s unclear how or if team president Leon Rose will go about addressing any weaknesses he feels exist on the roster, but at the moment, the front office is happy with how the team is playing, according to SNY’s Ian Begley.
“As we sit here today, the Knicks are not in a rush to make a huge deal,” Begley said (video link).
He reiterated previous speculation that the Knicks would be interested in making an offer for Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado if New Orleans makes him available. He adds that New York would likely be one of a number of teams interested in Dennis Schroder if the Kings decide to move him, but notes that Schroder’s larger contract and league status could make the logistics of a deal more complicated.
He also cites several big men the Knicks could pursue as backup insurance for the often-injured Mitchell Robinson, noting that the team has shown interest in Sixers’ backup Andre Drummond in the past.
We have more from the Knicks:
- Jalen Brunson was named MVP of the NBA Cup tournament, joining LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo as the first three to win the award, writes Steve Popper for Newsday (subscriber link). Brunson took the opportunity to display his leadership and team-forward mindset. “Can I say something?” Brunson said. “OG Anunoby, Tyler Kolek, Jordan Clarkson, Mitchell Robinson, they played their [butts] off tonight. Without them, we don’t win this. We got down 10, whatever it was and we found a way to win. That’s it. That’s going to be our motto going forward. We’re going to find a way.” Head coach Mike Brown offered high praise for his star point guard’s approach. “He’s an unbelievable competitor, but an unbelievable teammate,” Brown said. “I’ve been around those guys. You’re talking about Tim Duncan, Steph Curry, those guys, [De’Aaron Fox, James]. Those guys all mention their teammates because bang, bang, bang, they know this is a team sport at the end of the day.“
- Part of what made the Knicks’ defeat of the Spurs so exciting is the proof of concept it showed of Rose’s main focus this offseason: adding depth that could help swing a game when things got tight, writes Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News. It was losing to the Pacers team that New York will face on Thursday that prompted the directive to create a bench unit that could survive for stretches, and even without Miles McBride and Landry Shamet, the Knicks showed on Tuesday that their bench could do just that. Jordan Clarkson and Tyler Kolek combined for 29 points on 5-12 shooting from three, and Mitchell Robinson contributed 10 offensive rebounds and two blocks while bothering Victor Wembanyama on drives multiple times. By following the lessons taken from the Pacers, Winfield writes, the Knicks have managed to level up last year’s Eastern Conference Finalist squad.
- The Knicks have chosen not to raise a banner for their tournament win, but what they’re taking home is far more valuable, writes Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post. That is the statement to a national audience that they belong in the conversation for true title contenders this season. The Knicks beat the team that handed the Thunder their second loss of the season, and according to Vaccaro, people are noticing.
If Clips go into sell mode perhaps those 2 good Wiz 2nds and their own. 2032 2nd w Yaba gets Dunn ????
I’d hold Dunn if Clips but who knows where they going – Hed be an awesome fit on about 20 teams currently