Porzingis, Noah To Have MRIs On Thursday
Kristaps Porzingis and Joakim Noah will both undergo MRIs on Thursday to determine the extent of nagging injuries, writes Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com.
Porzingis missed his fourth straight game tonight with an Achilles problem, while Noah was sidelined by a sprained ankle. Porzingis is confident in his health, saying he is “90% ready.” He also dismissed the idea of sitting out long-term to rest the injury.
“Never felt that bad to actually take some time off,” he said. “I thought I would be [back] like next game, next game and it has taken long, longer time than we expected. … [Doctors] want to be smart about it and have me tell them exactly how I feel, not hide it a little bit and say, ‘Oh, I’m good.'”
Noah said his ankle was all right during Monday’s game, but began to swell during Tuesday’s flight to Boston. His availability for Thursday’s game against the Wizards may depend on the results of the MRI.
“I hope it’s going to be OK,” Noah said. “I mean, it is what it is. I wish I could be there with my teammates right now. We’re struggling. I want to be out there, be part of the solution.”
Carmelo Anthony On His Future With The Knicks
Carmelo Anthony said the conversation between him and Phil Jackson “wasn’t that long,” as Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com relays. “We didn’t break bread. We didn’t have an hour’s conversation. It was a short conversation.”
Anthony previously said he wants to remain with the Knicks and he reiterated that desire today. “I’m committed [to staying]. I don’t have to prove that to anybody,” Anthony exclaimed “I don’t think I have to keep saying that. I don’t think I have to keep talking about that. I know for a fact that people see that.”
The soon-to-be 10-time All-Star never thought it would get to the point where he and Jackson would have to sit down and talk about his future with the team. He added that he’s happy he has a no-trade clause in his contract.
“I think, as players, you always want to protect yourself,” Anthony said. “I didn’t think it would get to this point. I think, as a player, if you can get that [no-trade clause], you have a right to protect yourself and take care of yourself when it comes to that. It’s very hard to get, very difficult to get. I have it and that’s that.”
Anthony said he is “numb” to the drama that follows him this season. “That [George Karl] situation, we all know what that was about. He was trying to sell something. In this situation you almost have to pay a little bit closer attention to it because you have to deal with it on a day-to-day basis,” he added. “Other than [that], I’m fine, man. I’m good mentally. I’m good. Trust me.”
The Knicks have won just two of their last 13 games. They will take on the Celtics tonight.
NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 1/17/17
Here are today’s D-League assignments and recalls:
- The Pacers have assigned Rakeem Christmas and Joe Young to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, according to the team’s website. Christmas has seen action in three games for Indiana this season, while Young has appeared in 20 contests.
- The Knicks have assigned Marshall Plumlee to the Westchester Knicks, per the team’s Twitter feed. The center has only seen 27 minutes of action for New York this season, but he’ll be recalled after Westchester’s game tonight.
- The Celtics have assigned Demetrius Jackson to the Maine Red Claws, according to the team’s Twitter feed. The point guard is averaging 17.9 points per game for the Red Claws this season.
Porzingis Could Play Center; Jackson Doesn't Agree With Rosen
- Desperate for a positive development, the Knicks have considered playing Kristaps Porzingis at the five, writes Ian Begley of ESPN. “Sometimes it’s a chance you have to take, but we continue to look over that,” head coach Jeff Hornacek said. “We just need to mix it up maybe a little more.” Moving Porzingis to the center position would push Joakim Noah to the bench.
Carmelo Anthony Tells Phil Jackson He Wants To Remain A Knick
The previously-reported meeting between Carmelo Anthony and Knicks president Phil Jackson took place on Tuesday, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com. Sources close to the situation inform Shelburne that Jackson asked Anthony during the sit-down if he wants to remain with the Knicks. And according to Frank Isola of The New York Daily News (Twitter link), Anthony told Jackson that he does indeed want to stick with the club.
One source who spoke to Shelburne described today’s meeting as “far more contentious” than previous sit-downs between Anthony and Jackson, though Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical (Twitter link) hears from a source that the meeting was “calm” and “business-like.”
Shelburne’s story suggests that, while no specific trades were discussed, the two sides left the meeting intending to take some time to think about the situation. However, as Isola reports (via Twitter), Anthony’s response to Jackson’s inquiry today echoed what he has been saying to reporters this week — he prefers to remain a Knick, and wants to win with the franchise.
Anthony is one of just three players who has a formal no-trade clause written into his contract, so any deal that sends him out of New York would require his approval. A substantial salary and a 15% trade kicker would make it hard for the Knicks to find a match, but assuming Jackson and the front office accept Melo’s preference to remain in New York, it doesn’t sound as if the team will need to explore the trade market anyway.
This week’s drama in New York stemmed from a column by Charley Rosen of FanRag. Rosen, a longtime Jackson confidant, was extremely critical of Anthony, writing that the forward’s legs are “going, going, almost gone,” and adding that the nine-time All-Star has “outlived his usefulness” in New York. While Rosen clarified that those were his views alone, and didn’t come from Jackson, the close relationship between the two created some uncertainty for Anthony, necessitating today’s meeting.
Carmelo Anthony To Meet With Phil Jackson
After hinting on Sunday that a meeting with the Knicks’ brass might be useful, Carmelo Anthony will get that meeting this week, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com. Sources tell Shelburne that Knicks president Phil Jackson intends to meet with Anthony within the next few days to discuss the forward’s feelings toward the organization.
This week’s drama in New York stemmed from a column by Charley Rosen of FanRag. Rosen, a longtime Jackson confidant, was extremely critical of Anthony, writing that the forward’s legs are “going, going, almost gone,” and adding that the nine-time All-Star has “outlived his usefulness” in New York. While Rosen clarified that those were his views alone, and didn’t come from Jackson, the close relationship between the two created some uncertainty for Anthony, necessitating a meeting.
Anthony has indicated that he hasn’t thought at all about waiving his no-trade clause to go to another team, telling reporters on Monday that he wants to remain with the Knicks. So, unless Jackson has other ideas, the two sides will likely make an effort to mend fences during this week’s meeting.
Here are a few more notes out of New York:
- Although Jackson will speak to Anthony in the wake of Rosen’s column, head coach Jeff Hornacek said on Monday that he doesn’t feel the need to talk to his forward about it, per Al Iannazzone of Newsday (Twitter link).
- Speaking of Hornacek, he made some interesting changes to the Knicks’ starting lineup on Monday, including plugging Ron Baker in at shooting guard in place of Courtney Lee. Lee, who signed a lucrative four-year deal with the Knicks in the offseason, posted pictures from the movie Dumb and Dumber on his Instagram account shortly after being benched, as Fred Kerber of The New York Post details. Lee quickly deleted those posts and explained in a subsequent message that he didn’t intend to criticize the coaches, the rotation, or the lineup change.
- While Lee backed off his apparent criticism, Brandon Jennings didn’t hold back after Monday’s game, per Marc Berman of The New York Post. Asked about the lineup change, Jennings said that players “don’t know what’s going to happen” with the rotation when they show up for a given game. “Every day is something new,” Jennings said. “There’s kind of no consistency. It’s tough.”
Carmelo Wants To Stay With Knicks; Lee Removed From Starting Lineup
Carmelo Anthony followed up today on recent remarks about his situation in New York, telling reporters, including Mike Vorkunov, that he hasn’t spoken to management and hopes to remain with the Knicks. It’s been a slog for Jeff Hornacek‘s squad, as a myriad of on-and-off the court issues have resulted in a 2-11 record since December 25. Following a matinee loss to the Hawks at MSG, the Knicks slipped to 11th-place in the Eastern Conference; a far cry from expectations entering the season.
- The Knicks aren’t guaranteeing court time for veterans during their swoon, recently replacing Courtney Lee in the lineup with undrafted rookie Ron Baker. Lee, who signed a $50MM deal during the offseason, has shot just 17.6% on 3-pointers over his last five games. “You’re looking for little things. Who is going to do the little things on this team? Who is going to take charges? Who is going to make the extra pass?” Hornacek told Stefan Bondy of the Daily News. The first-year Knicks coach also requested his team take more charges.
Carmelo Anthony Discusses No-Trade Clause, Knicks
As we noted last night, Sunday was another interesting day for the Knicks, as Carmelo Anthony faced questions about his future with the team and his potential willingness to waive his no-trade clause. The latest round of speculation was fueled by a column from Charley Rosen of FanRag. Rosen, a longtime Phil Jackson confidant, was extremely critical of Anthony, writing that the forward’s legs are “going, going, almost gone,” and adding that he has “outlived his usefulness” in New York.
Twice during Sunday night’s conversation with the media, Anthony was reminded that the critique came from Rosen, not Jackson. Rosen said in an email to Marc Berman of The New York Post that the opinions in the piece were entirely his, and that he hadn’t spoke at all to Jackson about them. However, as Frank Isola of The New York Daily News writes, the nine-time All-Star “had no trouble connecting the dots.”
Here are a few of Anthony’s notable postgame comments, via Isola and Berman:
On the idea that he has “outlived his usefulness” in New York:
“If that’s the case, if that’s where it’s coming from that side, I guess it’s a conversation we should have. If they feel my time in New York is over, I guess that’s a conversation we should have.
“Listen, if that’s how they feel, if that’s coming from that side, then that’s what’s coming from that side. I haven’t thought once about that. I hear it, hear all the rhetoric going on out there. I still come to work every day, play and bust my ass, and try not worry about it.”
On the fact that some media and fans have speculated about him waiving his no-trade clause:
“They want me out? People can have their own opinion, but I haven’t spoken about it. I haven’t mentioned it, not once. That’s been the trend when you start losing. … I think I posted that (on Instagram) the other day. When we lose, it’s me. When we win, it’s us. That’s how I feel. It is what it is.”
On whether he would waive his no-trade clause:
“I’ve never even thought about that. Like you said, I guess there’s people talking about it. I don’t know … it’s not something that I’ve thought about so far.”
On the Knicks’ poor performance so far this season:
“It’s a disappointment, but what can we do other than try to change it at this point? I don’t feel like the season is slipping away, but it doesn’t feel like an average slump either, because we’re much better than what we’re putting out on the court.”
Community Shootaround: Melo Drama
The power struggle in New York grows more hostile by the day but eventually one of either Phil Jackson or Carmelo Anthony will get their way. On Sunday, Anthony reiterated that he has no intention of waiving his no-trade clause and suggests that, if Jackson and the Knicks feel his time with the organization should be over, they should have a discussion about it.
Anthony is under contract through the 2018/19 season and can’t be moved without his permission.
The latest uptick in drama surrounding the pair revolves around a story recently published by Charley Rosen of FanRag. Rosen, a close associate of Jackson’s, wrote a scathing column of the team’s superstar.
What we want to know is what readers think of the developing, hostile situation. Should Anthony feel obligated to waive his no-trade clause if a deal would help the franchise? Is Jackson wildly out of line speaking through his supposed confidant or the media making too much of their affiliation to each other?
Weigh in below!
Anthony Won't Waive No-Trade Clause; Thomas Suffers Orbital Fracture
The Knicks suffered a disappointing loss in Toronto on Sunday, at one point down 38 points. It was a fitting end to a chaotic week. To the chagrin of those looking for a drastic roster moves in the Big Apple, New York Daily News writer Frank Isola confirmed that Carmelo Anthony has not considered waiving his no-trade clause.
Anthony spoke to the media following the game. Per Isola: “If [the Knicks] feel like my time in New York is over, I guess that’s a conversation we should have.”
With three years left on his contract, Anthony could technically remain with the Knicks until he’s 35 years old. Whether recent events could change things, remains to be seen. If one thing is known, it’s that Anthony won’t be hastily moved without his permission.
- After leaving New York’s Sunday matchup, Knicks forward Lance Thomas is said to have suffered a “fracture to a bone in his cheek,” says ESPN’s Ian Begley over Twitter.