New York Knicks Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Knicks Prepare Four-Year Offer For Hernangomez?

May 12th, 2016 at 4:39pm CST by Chuck Myron

4:39pm: Miller says New York has made no offer to his client, Ian Begley of ESPN.com reports (Twitter link). Of course, this could simply be a matter of semantics, as the Knicks can’t formally make an offer until July, as we noted below.

1:02pm: The Knicks have a four-year, $4.5MM offer in the works for draft-and-stash prospect Guillermo “Willy” Hernangomez, reports Javier Maestro of Encestando (translation via HoopsHype and Joe Flynn of SB Nation’s Posting and Toasting). The 6’11” center has rejected two offers from Real Madrid, his Spanish team, and it would take a significant shift in momentum for him not to wind up with New York next season, according to Maestro.

Still, the latest news is a change from this past fall, when Hernangomez said he wanted to stay with Madrid for many years to come, despite an earlier report that the Knicks were planning to sign him before the 2016/17 season. He’d like to play for the Spanish national team this year, which would keep him from taking part in Knicks summer league action, among the obstacles agent Andy Miller discussed a few months ago with Marc Berman of the New York Post.

The Knicks won’t be able to formally present Hernangomez with a contract until July 7th, when the July moratorium is over, and they’ll need to use cap space or the mid-level exception, since the deal would cover more than two years. Still, New York has his NBA rights exclusively, having acquired them in a draft-night deal last June with the Sixers, who picked him 35th overall. Hernangomez, who turns 22 later this month, has posted averages of 5.5 points and 3.4 rebounds in 11.6 minutes per game for Real Madrid this season.

Draft Combine Updates: Thursday Afternoon

May 12th, 2016 at 1:30pm CST by Chuck Myron

The NBA draft combine began Wednesday and kicks into high gear today. The players have been measured, with the the NBA releasing the results on its website, and drills and five-on-five action will take place for willing participants. The general rule is this: The more highly regarded the prospect, the fewer combine events in which he takes part. Cameron Payne was the only eventual 2015 lottery pick who did any basketball activity at last year’s combine, notes Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress (Twitter link). Top-pick contender Ben Simmons is among those who are skipping the combine altogether, while lottery prospects Kris Dunn and Deyonta Davis will be limited participants, Givony and Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com report (Twitter links). Interviews with teams are a key part of the combine, as The Vertical’s Bobby Marks details, but teams don’t directly select the players they interview, as Marks explains.

Here’s more news on the draft:

Givony, writing for The Vertical, said the private workout Skal Labissiere had Wednesday was one of the best he’s ever seen. The big man from Kentucky also interviewed with the Sixers on Wednesday, a source told Jessica Camerato of CSN Philly (Twitter link).
Top-10 prospects Brandon Ingram, Buddy Hield and Jamal Murray are among those interviewing with the Celtics, reports Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald (Twitter link).
First-round prospect DeAndre’ Bembry will work out for the Sixers on Monday, reports Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link). The small forward from St. Joseph’s met with the Nets on Wednesday, according to Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv (Twitter link), and Bembry also interviewed with the Thunder, Wizards, Spurs, Pelicans and Knicks, Pompey adds (via Twitter).
St. Joseph’s power forward Isaiah Miles worked out for the Celtics this week and will do so for the Nets on May 19th, Pompey also reports. The Mavericks, Spurs, Rockets, Bucks and Knicks will also work him out, according to Pompey, who adds that he’ll interview with the Pacers and Wizards at the combine and previously interviewed with the Mavs, Spurs, Magic and Grizzlies at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, a showcase for seniors.
The Nets are among the teams working out Kentucky combo guard Isaiah Briscoe, sources tell Evan Daniels of Scout.com (Twitter link), who also echoes previous reports of his workouts with three other teams.
Oklahoma senior shooting guard Isaiah Cousins will work out Tuesday for the Pacers, Zagoria tweets.
Oakland University point guard Kay Felder met Wednesday with the Suns, Pelicans, Jazz, Nuggets, Cavaliers, Celtics and Nets, reports Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press (Twitter link).
Evansville center Egidijus Mockevicius will work out for the Nets, Bulls and Pacers, reports Daniel Allar of the Courier & Press (Twitter links). The Nuggets, Cavaliers and Magic are also interested in scheduling workouts with him, Allar adds.

Reports Conflict On 'Melo's Opinion Of Blatt

May 12th, 2016 at 10:42am CST by Chuck Myron

It’s a “gross exaggeration” to say Carmelo Anthony likes the idea of the Knicks hiring David Blatt, league sources told Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com, refuting an earlier report. It’s unclear whether Anthony would support or oppose a Blatt hiring, as he hasn’t expressed any opinion thus far, Begley hears.

Knicks Possibly Targeting Yogi Ferrell In Draft

May 11th, 2016 at 7:37pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Knicks don’t own a pick in this year’s NBA draft, but the team is looking to acquire one from another franchise, Ian Begley of ESPN.com notes. One player New York may be targeting is former Indiana University point guard Yogi Ferrell, who has a workout scheduled with the team on June 10th, Begley notes. Ferrell is a potential second-rounder, with Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress ranking him No. 66 overall, while Chad Ford of ESPN.com rates him 99th. The Knicks still have up to $3.3MM that they can spend to purchase a draft pick if they are unable to swing a deal involving a player for one.

Despite not having a pick in this year’s draft, the Nets have sent a large contingent of personnel to the scouting combine in Chicago, NetsDaily relays (Twitter link). Like the Knicks, Brooklyn could be looking to swing a deal to acquire a pick, the scribe notes.

Carmelo Anthony Not Waiving No-Trade Clause

May 11th, 2016 at 12:06pm CST by Chuck Myron

Carmelo Anthony made it clear today that he doesn’t plan to waive his no-trade clause over the offseason, reports Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com (ESPN Now link). Speculation has suggested that Anthony would become open to a trade this summer if the Knicks don’t make strides in free agency, and multiple reports have indicated that Anthony would like the team to choose a coach other than Kurt Rambis, who’s reportedly the preference of president Phil Jackson.

“Oh yeah, you’ll see me [playing] for the Knicks, absolutely,” Anthony said today at the TechCrunch Disrupt Summit, an entrepreneurial convention in New York.

Anthony would see a financial windfall in the event of a trade, since his contract includes a 15% trade kicker, but he’s continually expressed his affection for playing in the spotlight of New York. No serious trade rumors have emerged concerning Anthony since his name was linked to three-way talks with the Cavs and Celtics shortly before the February deadline.

Still, the high-scoring small forward tends to dance around the issue of his long-term commitment to the franchise, saying that his goal is to retire with the Knicks but putting pressure on Jackson to conduct a broad coaching search. Anthony suggested that he has faith in the Zen Master only because no other alternative exists, and he’s admitted that he’s thought about playing on the same team with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul at some point late in his career, adding that he’d probably want to do so in “someplace warm.” Anthony, who turns 32 later this month, is under contract through the 2018/19 season and can opt out in 2018.

'Melo Fond Of Blatt; Knicks Seek Second-Rounder

May 11th, 2016 at 8:59am CST by Chuck Myron

Carmelo Anthony likes David Blatt, who’s drawing sincere consideration from the Knicks for their head coaching job, reports Marc Berman of the New York Post. Anthony likes and respects interim coach Kurt Rambis, but he has reservations about him and believes the ex-Cavs coach would be better for Kristaps Porzingis than Rambis would be, Berman hears. Blatt interviewed last month with team president Phil Jackson and GM Steve Mills, but owner James Dolan wasn’t in the meeting, a league source told Berman.
The Knicks are looking to trade for a second-round pick, according to Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv (Twitter link). New York is without a pick in either round.

Phil Jackson's Commitment To Team Remains A Question Mark

May 10th, 2016 at 7:15pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Knicks president Phil Jackson‘s lack of urgency to settle on a new head coach is hurting the franchise as a number of solid candidates are already off the board, having filled other vacant posts around the league, opines Chris Mannix of The Vertical. The question also exists regarding just how committed Jackson is to his job, with the executive not a sure bet to finish out his five-year contract, Mannix adds. Jackson has the ability to opt out of his deal next summer.

J.R. Smith Maintains Affection For Knicks

May 10th, 2016 at 8:59am CST by Chuck Myron

J.R. Smith is having a strong playoff run for the Cavaliers, but he thinks back fondly on his time with the Knicks, as he reveals in a video for VICE Sports, pointing to his close friendship with Carmelo Anthony and the lure of Madison Square Garden (YouTube link). “Every person that plays in the NBA should experience playing in New York, at least once in your career,” Smith said. “To play at the mecca of basketball, at the Garden, every night, it’s probably the greatest decision I’ve ever made, to go to New York.” Smith, who can opt out of his contract this summer, spoke about his initial anger at the trade that sent him to Cleveland last January, but he also made it clear that he loves playing with LeBron James.

Frank Vogel‘s representatives gave positive signals to the Knicks when the team reached out to gauge his interest last week, a league source told Marc Berman of the New York Post, who nonetheless adds that the Grizzlies are a much more likely match for the ex-Pacers coach. Vogel is widely believed to be the favorite to take the Memphis job, as Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal wrote.

Shaw Doesn't Expect Coaching Interview

May 9th, 2016 at 10:30pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Brian Shaw does not expect to interview for the Knicks head coaching job and speculates that interim coach Kurt Rambis will be retained, as Shaw said in an ESPN TV interview that was relayed by ESPN.com’s Ian Begley. The ex-Nuggets coach, who is considered a candidate for the Grizzlies’ head coaching opening as well as the Pacers’ job, told SportsCenter’s Hannah Storm that Rambis is a better fit. “Kurt Rambis is there,” Shaw said. “He’s very adept at running the triangle, and if Phil Jackson wanted a coach that’s going to run that system for him, he has a guy that’s there that he has confidence in. So I don’t see him bringing in somebody else who has the knowledge of that system when he already has somebody there.”

Draft Updates: Ferrell, Ndiaye, Moore, Hawks

May 9th, 2016 at 4:30pm CST by Chuck Myron

A major draft-related event takes place this week, as scouts, executives and these prospects will gather for the NBA combine in Chicago from Wednesday through Sunday. Teams will start working out players in earnest after that, though some auditions have already taken place. Here’s the latest on that front with the June 23rd draft little more than six weeks away:

The workouts that former Indiana University point guard Yogi Ferrell has with the Lakers and Clippers are slated for May 16th and 18th, respectively, tweets Jonathan Goodman of ESPN.com, advancing an earlier report from Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv. Ferrell will also work out for the Suns on the 20th, Jazz on the 22nd, Bulls on the 23rd, Hawks on the 25th, Mavericks on the 26th, Pistons on the 31st, Wizards on June 2nd, Nets on June 8th, and Knicks on June 10th, Goodman reveals. Ferrell is trying to work his way into the second round, with Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress ranking him No. 66 while Chad Ford of ESPN.com rates him only 99th.
Massive UC Irvine center Mamadou Ndiaye will work out for the Rockets and Lakers, Goodman tweets. Givony, who ranks him the 30th-best prospect among juniors, lists Ndiaye at 7’6″, while Goodman says he’s 7’5″. Ford, who also lists him at 7’6″, ranks him the 136th-best prospect overall.
Utah State small forward Jalen Moore will work out with the Grizzlies on May 16th, the Timberwolves on the 18th and the Nets on the 23rd, as he tells Goodman (Twitter link). Moore is Givony‘s 69th-best junior and Ford‘s 190th prospect overall.
The Hawks worked out Taurean Prince, Justin Jackson, Nigel Hayes, Pascal Siakam, Alex Hamilton and Wes Washpun on Saturday, a source told Jake Fischer of SI Now (Twitter link).