Knicks Trade Rumors: Tom Thibodeau 'Didn't Want' Cam Reddish Deal, NY 'Did It Anyway'
Feb 7, 2022
New York Knicks' Cam Reddish during the second half of the NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in New York. The Knicks defeated the Kings 116-96. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
The New York Knicks added depth to their rotation with the January trade for Cam Reddish, but head coach Tom Thibodeau has barely used the former Atlanta Hawks guard.
"From my understanding, Thibs didn't want him and they did it anyway," an NBA source told Marc Berman of the New York Post.
The Knicks sent seldom-used forward Kevin Knox and a protected first-round pick to Atlanta in exchange for Reddish, Solomon Hill and a 2025 second-round pick. Reddish was averaging 11.9 points in 23.4 minutes per game for the Hawks and was hoping to get an even bigger role in New York.
But almost a month after the trade, Reddish has made only three appearances with his new team, totaling 12 points across 21 minutes.
Berman reported the Knicks front office could make a trade before Thursday's deadline to clear more space for Reddish to play, with Kemba Walker being the "likeliest" to move. It still doesn't mean Thibodeau will change his approach, especially with Derrick Rose set to return soon from his ankle injury.
It isn't as though the rotation is thriving without Reddish, either.
New York has lost eight of its last 10 games, falling to 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 24-29 record. Walker is averaging a career-low 11.9 points per game this season while fellow guard Alec Burks is shooting 38.2 from the field while scoring 11.1 points per game.
Reddish has also been inconsistent during his short career, but the 2019 lottery pick has plenty of upside as a scorer. He made only seven starts with Atlanta this season, yet he topped 30 points in two of those games.
Even if Thibodeau didn't want the Knicks to make the trade initially, it might be worthwhile to give Reddish more minutes moving forward.
Lakers Beat Julius Randle, Knicks in OT Behind LeBron James Triple-Double
Feb 6, 2022
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron Jame, left, shoots as New York Knicks guard Quentin Grimes defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LeBron James returned after a five-game absence to drop a 29-point, 13-rebound, 10-assist triple-double and lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 122-115 home overtime win against the New York Knickson Saturday at Crypto.com Arena.
James, who had been out withswelling in his left knee, played 40 minutesandshot 13-of-24 from the field. He helped the Lakers overcome a 21-point first-half deficit en route to the win.
Malik Monk matched James' scoring total and hit four three-pointers along the way. Anthony Davis dominated on both ends with 28 points, 17 rebounds, four blocks and three steals.
Russell Westbrook struggled, scoring just five points on 1-of-10 shooting. Head coach Frank Vogel benched him in overtime.
Lakers forward Carmelo Anthony (hamstring) was sidelined for this game.
Knicks wing RJ Barrett led all players with 36 points and 50 minutes of court time. He scored the final five points in regulation, including a three-pointer with 8.7 seconds left, to force OT.
Julius Randle added 32 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists.
The 26-28 Lakers have won two of their last three games. The 24-29 Knicks have lost five of their last six games and eight of their last 10.
The Lakers' backs were against the wall after a first half that saw Barrett and Randle combine for 41 points for a 71-56 New York lead. It was an inexplicable start for a Lakers team playing at home with all three of their star players on the court against a reeling Knicks squad.
However, the Lakers stormed back in the second half behind the trio of James, Davis and Monk.
Monk scored 18 third-quarter points as the Knicks, who led 71-56 at halftime, somehow fell behind 87-84 going into the fourth.
The shooting guard drilled a corner three to cut New York's lead to 79-78 after a full-court Westbrook pass:
In the fourth, James dropped 10 points. He muscled his way into the paint for one bucket, getting past most of the Knicks defense for a layup and a 96-93 lead:
AD kept crushing it on the glass. He outworked Knicks defenders down low as well, grabbing an offensive board and putting it back for a 105-97 advantage.
James' energy was clearly evident in overtime, as he turned on the jets to corral a loose ball and slam it home for the overtime period's first bucket.
The Lakers never trailed again, and James eventually found Trevor Ariza for his 10th assist and a three-pointer that put L.A. up 120-113 with just over one minute left.
LeBron finds Trevor Ariza for the CLUTCH corner three for his 10th assist of the night and a triple-double 🏀
This certainly wasn't easy for the Lakers, and Westbrook may have just played his worst game of the year. However, a win is a win for L.A. at this juncture as it fights just to make the playoffs.
Randle, RJ Not Enough as Knicks Fall in OT
In a battle of reeling teams, it appeared the Knicks would easily come out on top after virtuoso performances from Barrett and Randle.
Barrett scored 17 points in his first eight-and-a-half minutes, shooting 6-of-7 along the way. With 3:30 left in the first quarter, he found himself outscoring the entire Lakers team, 17-16.
The rest of the Knicks matched him, though, so the Knicks led 34-16 at that point before polishing off a 42-point quarter.
New York kept the pace up in the second quarter and led by as many as 21 after an Evan Fournier bucket.
Meanwhile, Randle looked like his 2020-21 self. He's struggled this season after an All-Star campaign last year, but Randle showcased his top form Saturday.
That proved to be the Knicks' final highlight as the Lakers held them off in overtime, but Barrett's phenomenal performance plus Randle turning back the clock are certainly positives for New York to take away from this one.
What's Next?
The Knicks will continue their five-game Western Conference road swing with a matchup against the Utah Jazz on Monday at 9 p.m. ET.
L.A. will welcome the defending NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks into town on Tuesday at 10 p.m ET.
Knicks Rumors: Julius Randle's Trade Value Plummeting, According to NBA Execs
Feb 5, 2022
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 02: Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks dribbles upcourt during the first quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies on February 2, 2022 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Getty Images)
The New York Knicks aren't in an advantageous position if they want to deal Julius Randle ahead of Thursday's NBA trade deadline.
The New York Post's Marc Berman spoke to an NBA scout who said Randle has "a low trade value."
"He hasn’t come across as a good teammate," the scout said. "He has played selfish. His contract isn’t an issue. Perception is."
An NBA general manager concurred, telling Berman, "Not now," when asked about whether the 2020-21 All-Star represents good value.
Randle averaged 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game last season. He also shot 41.1 percent from three-point range despite attempting a career-high 389 threes—231 was his previous high.
The 6'8" forward parlayed that production into a four-year, $117.1 million extension that kicks in next season.
At the time, it seemed like a reasonable deal for both parties. Randle got a level of long-term security, while the Knicks didn't have to pay a full max salary for his services.
Instead, Randle's performance in 2021-22 mirrors that of his team in that he's not reaching the heights he did one year ago. He's putting up 18.5 points, 9.9 boards and 5.1 assists per game, and New York is on pace to miss the play-in tournament.
Some of the things contributing to the shifting perception of him aren't reflected in the box score, either.
He apologized in January after making a thumbs down gesture toward fans inside Madison Square Garden in a comeback victory over the Boston Celtics.
That did little to quell the level of ill will building toward Randle. A few weeks later, he received loud boos after turning the ball over in a matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upD8dpZpLWQ
Most recently, Randle did what every disgruntled star does in the era of social media: He unfollowed his own teams accounts.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst (via RealGM) reported the Knicks have expressed interest in Sacramento Kings star De'Aaron Fox and posited Randle would be included in any deal. That might be a lateral move for both teams.
Time is obviously running out for New York if the front office is seriously entertaining the idea of trading Randle. The team might be better off keeping him for the remainder of the season in the hope the situation improves.
Knicks Trade Rumors: Kemba Walker Move Eyed by NY, Could Fetch 2nd-Round Pick
Feb 5, 2022
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JANUARY 24: Kemba Walker #8 of the New York Knicks reacts during the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on January 24, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
The New York Knicks are reportedly looking to trade Kemba Walker by the Feb. 10 deadline, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post.
One NBA source told Berman he doubts any team would be willing to give up more than a future second-round pick for the veteran point guard, who is struggling in his first season in New York.
"It's not that a team won’t want him, but I don't see [anyone] giving up something valuable," the source said. "I can definitely see a team rolling the dice with Kemba."
This news doesn't necessarily come as a surprise, however. ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported last month that the Knicks were looking to unload some of their more experienced players to make room for their younger pieces, like Cam Reddish.
"In conversations this week with teams, the Knicks have expressed a willingness to trade some of their veteran players," Windhorst said on NBA Today. "That includes Kemba Walker, Evan Fournier, Alec Burks, guys like this."
Walker joined the Knicks on a two-year, $17.9 million deal before the 2021-22 campaign after reaching a buyout with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Boston Celtics, with whom he spent two seasons, traded Walker to the Thunder in a deal that included Al Horford.
Through 31 games in New York, Walker has seen his job diminish into a non-scoring role. He has even gone scoreless in his last two games.
Walker is averaging 12 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game this season. His scoring output is the lowest it has been since his rookie season with the Charlotte Hornets in 2011-12 when he averaged 12.1 points per game.
The New York native hasn't been the same player he was in his final season with the Hornets, when he averaged 25.6 points per game, because of a nagging knee ailment. So it should come as no surprise that teams aren't willing to give up a lot to acquire him.
However, it's hard to imagine that teams looking for depth at the point won't at least look into acquiring Walker, especially considering he's on an affordable contract. He's also still a solid player and would be a good addition for just about any team entering the postseason.
Julius Randle on Knicks Trade Rumors: 'Sounds Like Gossip to Me'
Feb 5, 2022
New York Knicks' Julius Randle during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, in New York. The Grizzlies defeated the Knicks 120-108. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Knicks forward Julius Randle dismissed any trade rumors involving himself in advance of the Feb. 10 trade deadline, calling any reports "gossip" in a chat with reporters Friday.
”Sounds like gossip to me”: Julius Randle after practice today on reports the Knicks are open to trading him pic.twitter.com/wfCnk86MKs
The question comes after ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported on The Hoop Collective podcast (via RealGM) reported that the Knicks had interest in Sacramento Kings point guard De'Aaron Fox.
"This has been reported elsewhere, but I've heard as well that the Knicks have shown some interest in De'Aaron Fox," Windhorst said. "The player that makes the most sense in that swap is Julius Randle."
Last year's Knicks enjoyed their best season in eight years, going 41-31 and finishing fourth in the Eastern Conference. After the season, Randle signed a four-year, $117 million deal that kept him under contract with New York through 2025 (plus a 2025-26 player option).,
The Knicks fell to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round, but they entered this season with playoff expectations yet again, especially after acquiring a new backcourt of Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker.
This year's Knicks are on the outside looking into the playoffs in 12th place. They are 24-28 and have lost seven of their last 10.
The parity-stricken Eastern Conference doesn't have any dominant team this year, so New York is only 8.5 games behind first and 1.5 games below the Atlanta Hawks for the final play-in tournament spot.
However, the Knicks have not fared well this year. Randle in particular has struggled after an All-Star campaign last year, posting 18.5 points per game on 41.4 percent shooting after scoring 24.1 points on 45.6 percent from the field last season.
There's still time for the Randle to turn it around and the Knicks to make a move up the standings with 30 games remaining. They notably finished last year 16-4, so perhaps the Knicks can end a second straight season strong sand make a run.
De'Aaron Fox Trade Rumors: Knicks Eye Kings Star amid Julius Randle Buzz
Feb 4, 2022
Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox (5) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The New York Knicks reportedly continue
to show interest in a potential blockbuster deal for Sacramento Kings
point guard De'Aaron Fox ahead of the 2022 NBA trade deadline on
Thursday.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported the
news Friday on The Hoop Collective podcast (via RealGM).
"This has been reported elsewhere,
but I've heard as well that the Knicks have shown some interest in
De'Aaron Fox," Windhorst said. "The player that makes the
most sense in that swap is Julius Randle."
Fox, who's been sidelined by an ankle
injury since Jan. 19, has emerged as one of the most popular names
ahead of the deadline.
The 24-year-old New Orleans native
hasn't been quite able to match his breakout numbers from last
season, but he's still been highly effective when healthy for the
Kings. He's averaged 21.0 points, 5.2 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.2
steals across 43 appearances in 2021-22.
Sacramento has a crowded backcourt
rotation, which also features Tyrese Haliburton, Davion Mitchell and
Buddy Hield, among others. It's raised questions about whether Fox
could be available to upgrade another area of the roster.
Randle, who was voted the NBA's Most
Improved Player last season, has also taken a step back during
the current campaign. He's averaging nearly six points less (24.1
down to 18.5), but he's still putting up 9.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists
per game.
It creates the foundation for a trade
that at least has a little traction on the surface.
The financial situation also matches up
pretty well as Fox is in the first season of a five-year, $163
million contract, while Randle, 27, will begin a four-year, $117 million
extension next season.
Put all the factors together and it's
not a major surprise the Fox-for-Randle rumors have created some buzz
in recent weeks.
That's especially true with the teams
seeking a shake-up, as both the Knicks (24-28) and Kings (19-35) are
currently below the play-in tournament cutoff with the All-Star break
looming.
Even if it's unable to land Fox, New
York will likely make a serious push to land a point guard before the
deadline next week.
Knicks Trade Rumors: NY Open to Alec Burks Deal in Order to Move Other Veterans
Feb 3, 2022
New York Knicks' Alec Burks during the first half of the NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
The New York Knicks are reportedly open to trading guard Alec Burks if it helps them jettison other veteran contracts on their cap sheet.
Ian Begley of SNY.tv reported the Knicks have no interest in moving Burks to a contender to open up a rotation spot but could add him as sweetener to get rid of an unwanted contract.
The Knicks' increasing willingness to move players before the Feb. 10 trade deadline seemingly speaks to an acknowledgement their offseason focus on talent retention was a mistake. Nearly every veteran on the roster is performing well below their 2020-21 form, leading to the Knicks sitting a disappointing 24-28.
Burks is in the midst of a miserable shooting slump that saw him shoot 33.3 percent from the floor in January while averaging just 9.5 points per game. He's a bit better overall for the season (38.3 percent), with his lone source of efficiency being his 39.9 percent rate from three-point range.
Contending teams could look at Burks and see him taking on more of a spot-up role that obscures his struggles as a finisher.
Either way, it's clear the Knicks are willing to listen intently regarding players they just brought back less than a year ago.
The NBA trade season can bring surprises from all across the basketball landscape. With the 2022 buzzer quickly approaching (3 p.m. ET on Feb. 10, if you want to get technical), the New York Knicks look like the wildest of wild cards...
Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. Lead Grizzlies to Win vs. Julius Randle, Knicks
Feb 3, 2022
Memphis Grizzlies' Ja Morant, left, makes a shot during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Jaren Jackson Jr. posted a 26-point, 10-rebound double-double to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 120-108 road win over the New York Knicks on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden.
Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant added 23 points, nine assists and three steals for Memphis, which never trailed after the opening minute and led by as many as 19. Ziaire Williams posted 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting, and center Steven Adams led the Grizz with 13 boards.
The Knicks made it close in the fourth quarter when Immanuel Quickley scored seven points in 22 seconds to cap an 11-0 run and cut the Grizzlies' lead to 95-90 with 9:05 remaining.
However, the Grizzlies responded with nine straight points for a 104-90 edge. The Knicks cut the lead to six on two separate occasions down the stretch but could not come any closer.
For the Knicks, Evan Fournier led the way with 30 points, making eight of 12 three-pointers along the way.
RJ Barrett added 23 points, Julius Randle fell one assist short of a triple-double and Mitchell Robinson fell two blocks shy of one after a 14-point, 11-rebound, eight-block night that put him in some great company:
Mitchell Robinson is the first Knicks player with at least 10 points, 10 rebounds and 8 blocks in a game since Patrick Ewing in 1991
The 36-18 Grizzlies have now won four of their last five games. The 24-28 Knicks have lost seven of their last nine.
Notable Performances
Grizzlies PF Jaren Jackson Jr.: 26 points, 10 rebounds
Grizzlies PG Ja Morant: 23 points, 9 assists, 3 steals
Grizzlies SF Ziaire Williams: 21 points
Grizzlies C Steven Adams: 13 rebounds
Knicks SG Evan Fournier: 30 points, 5 rebounds
Knicks G/F RJ Barrett: 23 points
Knicks PF Julius Randle: 18 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists
Knicks C Mitchell Robinson: 14 points, 11 rebounds, 8 blocks
Grizzlies' Fantastic Roster Shines Again
The NBA MVP award is up for clear debate this year, with some great candidates such as Morant, the Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, the Phoenix Suns' Chris Paul and the Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry.
One postseason award that needs zero thought, however, is the Executive of the Year award. That should go to Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman, who has assembled a deep, young roster that very well could win the NBA Finals.
For starters, rookie Ziaire Williams missed only two field-goal attempts en route to his 21 points.
— Grizzlies On FanDuel Sports Network (@FDSN_Grizzlies) February 3, 2022
It was a great effort after he missed a three-pointer that would have given the Grizzlies a 122-120 overtime lead with seven seconds remaining in their game against the 76ers on Monday, but his shot did not connect, and Memphis ended up losing by three.
The rookie immediately and impressively shook that shot off by dominating the Knicks.
JJJ was great. Ja was solid
But Ziaire Williams showed out tonight after that miss in the Sixers game. He’s still a work in progress but he’s coming along nicely. Good Grizzlies W at the Garden
Jackson continued to be a menace on both ends, leading the team in scoring and rebounding and showcasing why he should receive some Defensive Player of the Year looks.
Sometimes, he's unguardable. He appears just as likely to hit a three as he is to throw a slam dunk on someone's face.
— Grizzlies On FanDuel Sports Network (@FDSN_Grizzlies) February 3, 2022
Morant is a well-deserved MVP candidate, and he once again showed why Wednesday. Yes, he shot just 9-of-27, but he played tough defense (three steals) and finished with a game-high plus-13 rating.
The fact that he was able to positively affect the game despite a bad off-night shooting shows just how special he is. He's an electric and entertaining player whose leadership skills are becoming readily apparent:
— Grizzlies On FanDuel Sports Network (@FDSN_Grizzlies) February 3, 2022
Such insane leadership and such an amazing bounce back by Zaire. People wonder why team is the way it is this year… look no further… https://t.co/eQHUCbdygx
Elsewhere, Adams did the dirty work on the boards, Desmond Bane filled the stat sheet (seven rebounds, two steals, two blocks) despite scoring 13 points on 4-of-18 shooting and De'Anthony Melton (14) and Brandon Clarke (10) combined for 24 points despite playing just 18 minutes apiece.
This team is going to be a force to be reckoned with come playoff time, and right now, the Grizz are showing why.
Knicks' Free Fall Continues
The Knicks' chances of finishing strong following a slow start to the season a la last year appear bleaker by the day.
New York has now fallen to 24-28 in the Eastern Conference standings, bad enough for 12th overall and two spots behind the final play-in tournament position.
Any hope of a deep playoff run seems all but lost at this juncture, especially with the top nine of the East separating themselves from the rest of a losing pack.
To make matters worse, the Knicks entered the Grizzlies' game with the third-toughest remaining schedule in the league. They also have four more road than home games down the stretch.
The Knicks were 23rd in offensive rating last year, and that's where they sat this year, per Basketball Reference. Missing an injured Derrick Rose hurts, as does Randle's struggles this season.
However, the big difference is a dip on the defensive end, where New York now sits 11th as opposed to third the year prior.
Outside Robinson throwing a block party, the defense struggled against the deep Memphis roster.
Six Grizzlies scored 10 or more points. Memphis dropped 120 on the Knicks in the Garden despite Morant and Bane combining to shoot just 13-of-45. The Grizzlies also had a 30-9 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Any chance the Knicks have of salvaging this season and somehow sneaking into the playoffs needs to start on the defensive end. The Knicks' offensive struggles are what they are at this point, but the defensive effort is sometimes lacking. That needs to improve quickly with the All-Star break nearing.
What's Next?
Both teams will play on the road Saturday.
The Grizzlies will visit the Orlando Magic at 5 p.m. ET in Amway Center, and the Knicks will take on the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Charles Oakley: LeBron James Said James Dolan Is Why He'll 'Never' Play for Knicks
Feb 2, 2022
James Dolan, owner of the New York Rangers, speaks during a news conference in New York, Wednesday, May 22, 2019. John Davidson was hired as the Rangers team president Friday, hours after leaving his post with the Columbus Blue Jackets. . (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Knicks governor James Dolan is the reason LeBron James never signed with the team. At least that's how Charles Oakley tells it in his new book, The Last Enforcer.
In the book (h/t Brad Botkin of CBS Sports), Oakley discussed a moment during the 2014 NBA All-Star Weekend when he was with LeBron and agent Rich Paul before being introduced to Dolan for the first time. Dolan allegedly refused to shake Oakley's hand and didn't even look up at the longtime Knicks player.
"You would have thought I did something to his wife," Oakley wrote in the book.
"I walked back to LeBron and said, 'This mother--ker (Dolan) wouldn't shake my hand,'" Oakley added. "All LeBron said was: 'This is why I'm never going to New York.'"
The feud between Dolan and Oakley escalated in later years, with the 19-year NBA veteran taken out of Madison Square Garden by security in 2017. Oakley played for the Knicks from 1988 to 1998.
LeBron, meanwhile, seemingly considered the Knicks as a destination in free agency in 2010 before ultimately signing with the Miami Heat. The superstar met with the team that summer, while Dolan took part in the free-agent meetings and reportedly handed out copies of his own CD.
Bill Simmons later reported (h/t Dan Feldman of Yahoo Sports) that the Knicks were James' first choice at the time, but the meeting with the Knicks was a "disaster."
The Knicks have had other chances to land LeBron over the years when he was a free agent, including in 2014 when he instead returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers. In 2018, he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Oakley also recently predicted in an interview for SiriusXM NBA Radio that James will leave the Lakers at some point to win another championship before he retires. Even if he does become a free agent again, Knicks fans shouldn't hold their breath.
