Knicks Notes: Free Agency, Knox, Ntilikina, Robinson
Today’s game with the Clippers barely mattered to the Knicks; it’s the summer battle over free agents that’s going to be important, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post. There have been whispers around the league that New York is in good position to land Kevin Durant and another elite free agent after clearing tons of cap room with the Kristaps Porzingis trade.
However, the Clippers could be the toughest obstacle in the Knicks’ way. They can already offer one maximum contract and might have plans to unload enough salary to hand out another. Plus, as Berman notes, they have a playoff team already in place, while New York is at the bottom of the league standings. The battle of owners — the gregarious Steve Ballmer vs. the enigmatic James Dolan — may be the biggest mismatch of all.
“I’m not going to give you my spiel, man,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said when reporters asked how he would sell free agents on L.A. over New York. “Come on. Other than the weather, we’re going to stop there. No, I don’t talk about free agency a lot.”
There’s more from New York:
- Getting their 60th loss wasn’t the worst thing that happened to the Knicks this afternoon, Berman adds in a separate story. Kevin Knox and Frank Ntilikina, lottery picks from the past two seasons, left the game with injuries a few minutes apart. Ntilikina aggravated a groin strain that kept him out for 24 games before he returned Friday. It could mark the end of his time in New York, as the Knicks are expected to make him available in trades this summer. Knox suffered a sprained right ankle, but coach David Fizdale called it “day to day” and said he’s optimistic that it won’t be a long-term issue.
- The Knicks’ lack of a veteran core has exposed Knox’s weaknesses as a main option for the offense, observes Steve Popper of Newsday. Fizdale contrasts his situation with Tayshaun Prince‘s, who had limited skills as a rookie but was surrounded by veterans in Detroit. “Kevin’s warts show, because everybody else is screwing up, too,” Fizdale said. “So we can’t tuck him away and hide those things right now. But I think going through this is as good as going through it with veterans, because this fast-tracks you.”
- Mitchell Robinson has already set a Knicks’ rookie record with 137 blocks, and Fizdale believes he can develop into a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, relays Peter Botte of The New York Post.
Porzingis Never Planned To Play This Season
Despite speculation before and after his trade from New York to Dallas, Kristaps Porzingis had no intention of playing this season, he said in an interview with Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
Porzingis developed a plan more than a year ago with his brother and agent, Janis Porzingis, and physical therapist Manolo Valdivieso for the best way to recover from a torn ACL. That included sitting out a full season, even though it has been difficult to just watch.
“Oh my god, that’s the hardest thing for me to wake up on game days, go through shootaround with the team and then have to pick a suit to wear for the game,” Porzingis said. “… It’s so weird that I’m not able to — I am able to, but I’m not playing yet. It’s the game day, and I feel like it’s the game day, but you just pick a suit and you wear it and you’re there. And I try to be in the moment when I’m there with the team and help as much as I can without being able to be on the floor, but it’s very, very, very tough. Tougher than I expected.”
Porzingis confirmed that he is fully recovered from the injury to his left knee that derailed last season. He said he feels great and is doing all basketball-related activities except for playing in games. He adds that his power, explosiveness and lateral movement are all testing better now than they did before the injury.
The Mavericks gladly signed on to Porzingis’ plan when they traded for him at the end of January. The team added Valdivieso to its staff and has him working with its top training officials. Porzingis said he is “grateful” that the Mavericks have been so accommodating, which although he didn’t mention it, was a point of contention with the Knicks before the deal.
Porzingis participated in his first practice in more than a year on March 13 and said he is looking forward to more. He admits that he has been tempted to play since three months after the operation, but is focusing on what’s best for his future.
“I can feel the progress already, so it excites me even more,” he added. “It makes me even more eager to be out there on the floor. But I’m going to stick to what I have to stick to, stay patient, and when I’m back, I’m going to be back to 110 percent. At this point, I’ve matured a lot. I’m like, ‘This is the decision I have in my mind, and it’s the right decision.’ I don’t feel the same way every day, but I stick to it.”
Porzingis will be a restricted free agent this summer, but he already sounds committed to the Mavericks, who can offer him $158MM over five years. Porzingis said he wants to help the franchise end its three-year playoff drought and is ready to recruit free agents to Dallas.
Lakers To Consider Jason Kidd As Coach
Jason Kidd will get strong consideration to be the next coach of the Lakers if they decide to replace Luke Walton, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Hall of Fame point guard has been out of coaching since being fired by the Bucks in January of 2018. Kidd has a career record of 183-190, spending one season as coach of the Nets and three and a half in Milwaukee.
Wojnarowski’s tweet came in response to a message from Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated (Twitter link) that Kidd is expected to be targeted by his alma mater, the University of California, which fired Wyking Jones earlier today. Woj suggests that Kidd will be reluctant to accept a position in college if he believes an NBA job is available, particularly one as glamorous as the Lakers’ position.
Kidd has made no secret of his desire to return to the NBA sidelines and interviewed for the Pistons’ opening last summer before they hired Dwane Casey. He addressed the Knicks during their trip to Phoenix earlier this month and spent time giving instruction to New York’s young point guards.
Walton has been under fire in L.A. since the start of the season as expectations rose sharply after the signing of LeBron James. Recent reports indicate that it’s almost certain that Walton will be replaced after the Lakers missed the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year.
Heat Not Expected To Re-Sign Charles Cooke
The Heat probably won’t offer a second 10-day contract to guard Charles Cooke when his current deal expires today, tweets Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel.
Cooke was signed March 15 to get Miami back to the league minimum of 14 players. The 24-year-old spent most of the season with the Heat’s G League affiliate in Sioux Falls, averaging 14.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG and 2.2 APG in 37 games. He didn’t appear in any games for Miami and was kept in the G League for nearly the entire 10 days.
The Heat have two weeks to replace Cooke and get back to the league minimum, but Winderman believes they won’t be in a hurry to make a move. With just 17 days left in the regular season, Miami is likely to wait until its next deadline before adding a player or two to fill the roster.
Bucks Waive Trevon Duval
The Bucks have waived rookie guard Trevon Duval, who spent the season on a two-way contract, the team announced on Twitter.
Duval played most of the year in the G League, averaging 12.5 points, 3.6 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 38 games with the Wisconsin Herd. He got into three games for Milwaukee, playing six total minutes and averaging 1.7 PPG.
Duval went undrafted last summer after one season at Duke. He played for the Rockets’ summer league team before catching on with the Bucks.
Because he was a two-way player, the move won’t affect Milwaukee’s roster. All 15 slots are filled by players with guaranteed contracts.
Former NBA Coach Avery Johnson Out At Alabama
Avery Johnson, who spent seven years as an NBA head coach with the Mavericks and Nets, is no longer the coach at Alabama, tweets Jeff Goodman of Stadium. He had been negotiating a separation agreement with the university since Thursday, and a deal was announced today.
Johnson was mentioned as a possible replacement for Tyronn Lue in Cleveland when he was let go in October. Johnson mentored Cavs rookie point guard Collin Sexton during his lone year with the Crimson Tide and may have interest in renewing their relationship in the NBA.
The Cavaliers will search for a long-term head coach once the season ends, and it’s not clear if current coach Larry Drew will be considered for the job.
Johnson spent four years at Alabama, compiling a 75-62 record with one NCAA Tournament appearance. He is 254-186 as an NBA head coach and took the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2006.
B.J. Johnson Returns To G League
B.J. Johnson, whose second 10-day contract with the Hawks expired on Friday, has rejoined the Magic‘s G League affiliate, tweets Adam Johnson of 2 Ways and 10 Days.
The Lakeland Magic added Johnson to take the place of Anthony Brown, who suffered a season-ending injury. Johnson spent most of the year in Lakeland before getting the opportunity with Atlanta, averaging 15.4 PPG and 5.1 RPG in 39 G League games. Lakeland’s regular season ended last night, but Johnson will be eligible for the playoffs.
After going undrafted out of LaSalle, Johnson signed an Exhibit 10 contract with Orlando in September, but was waived before the season began. The rookie swingman appeared in six games during his time with the Hawks, averaging 3.5 points and 1.3 rebounds per night. He earned $47,371 in each of his 10-day deals.
Lakers Talked To Lonzo Ball About Changing Shoes
Lonzo Ball and his family have been the most visible representatives of Big Baller Brand, but the Lakers expressed concern that BBB shoes might be responsible for Ball’s frequent ankle injuries, according to Ramona Shelburne and Paula Lavigne of ESPN.
Ball has been sidelined since hurting his ankle on January 19 and was ultimately shut down for the rest of the season with a Grade 3 ankle sprain and a bone bruise. It’s the third ankle injury in two NBA seasons for Ball, who played just 47 games this season and 52 last year.
“Yeah, they talked to me,” Ball said of Lakers management. “They asked me about it, and I told ’em, ‘I feel comfortable.’ If I wasn’t comfortable, I wouldn’t play in ’em. If I didn’t play in [his signature BBB shoes], I’d play in Kobe [Bryant’s signature Nike shoe]. I work out in [LeBron James‘ signature Nike shoe], but that’s because they’re heavier.”
Ball told the Lakers he was willing to make adjustments to his Big Baller shoes, but said he meant “just minor things.”
The Lakers also reached out to Alan Foster, a partial owner of Big Baller Brand, about customer complaints to the Better Business Bureau, the ESPN story states. The company received a failing grade from the bureau in 2018 because of 184 consumer complaints, mostly related to shipping issues.
“They still have an F with us,” Blair Looney, president of the Better Business Bureau of Central California and Inland Empire Counties, told ESPN. “We are continuing to work with them on straightening things out.”
The information about the Lakers is contained in a larger story about Ball ending his relationship with Foster, the family’s former business manager, over concerns about a criminal past and his inability to account for $1.5MM.
Celtics Notes: Williams, Irving, Stevens, Hunter
The Celtics are dealing with another injured center after rookie Robert Williams took a hard fall onto his back in last night’s game, writes Darren Hartwell of NBC Sports Boston. Making his first career start because of injuries to Al Horford and Aron Baynes, Williams left the game with a back contusion in the second quarter.
“I’m guessing we’re looking at a Jaylen (Brown) time frame from this year, at least,” coach Brad Stevens said. Brown suffered a similar injury last March and missed six games. Boston has nine games left, so it’s possible that Williams won’t return until the playoffs. Jayson Tatum also fell on his back last night, but his injury appears to be less severe.
Losing Williams could affect the Celtics’ plans for their open roster spot. There was a report Friday night that they would be signing Greg Monroe to a 10-day contract, but when that didn’t happen yesterday, there were suggestions that the opening might go to Thomas Robinson, who joined the organization’s G League affiliate last week. If Williams is out for the rest of the season, that might tip the scales back in favor of Monroe.
There’s more this morning out of Boston:
- Kyrie Irving appeared to take another swipe at his young teammates, saying the Celtics need to be “more mature down the stretch” after blowing an 18-point fourth quarter lead in a loss to the Hornets, relays A. Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston. Irving, who has been outspoken about the difficulties of being a veteran leader on a young team, also questioned Stevens’ approach to handling Kemba Walker, who scored 18 fourth quarter points to lead the comeback. “We should have probably trapped him more like every other team does in the league but we didn’t,” Irving said. “He torches us every time we play them, so it’s no surprise.”
- Before Saturday’s meltdown, Stevens indicated rotation changes could be coming, Blakely adds in a separate story. He told his players that “toughness” will determine who plays in the postseason. “We are in evaluation stage on who’s reliable,” Stevens said. “… If you don’t have that reliability; if you don’t have that toughness. If you don’t have the ability to move on to what’s next, you don’t last very long.”
- R.J. Hunter hasn’t taken the court for Boston since signing a two-way contract in January, but he believes he’s a mentally stronger player than when he was drafted by the team in 2015. He talks about that aspect of the game an interview tweeted by the Celtics.
Al Jefferson Confirms Retirement
Al Jefferson, who announced last week that he plans to play in the BIG3 this summer, told Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe his NBA career is over (Twitter link).
“I was able to be home for Thanksgiving and Christmas for the first time since high school,” Jefferson said.
The 34-year-old center played for five teams in 14 NBA seasons, ending his career with the Pacers. Indiana waived him in July to save $6MM on his $10MM contract for the current season. The Pacers offered him a chance to re-sign, but Jefferson opted to play in China, saying he had a chance for a “nice payday.”
The Celtics selected Jefferson with the 15th pick in the 2004 draft. He also spent time with the Timberwolves, Jazz and Hornets, averaging 15.7 PPG and 8.4 RPG in 915 games.