Happy Tuesday from the basement. Temperatures are set to hit 99 F later today at the place I’m typing this thing from, so I guessed it’d be better to do it now before the keyboard melted. Such is life in sunny Spain, where summers are not as cool and fun as they look.
- It’s Draft Day! Not that we care (that much) with the Knicks coming off winning the title, but SNY’s Ian Begley put together a comprehensive report of who’s worked out in New York, potential targets, and everything else for those watching on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
- Most interestingly, and in the lone insider-like note included in his write-up, Begley named St. John’s forward Zuby Ejiofor as someone with “fans” within the Knicks organization. Color me excited, we’re finally getting Ron Artest!
“If Robinson and Shamet are back, the Knicks probably look at size on the wing or a player who can handle the ball. Ejiofor has some fans in the organization. If they think they are losing Robinson or Hukporti, maybe the Knicks draft
a center? Tarris Reed Jr. from UConn would be a strong pick in New York’s range.”
- The Knicks are set to sign the realest Frenchman hooper to a four-year, $10.5 million deal. Hooray!
- Loud Monday night across the Association, with two All-Stars moving places in Giannis Antetokounmpo (destination Miami) and Julius Randle (back to New York, but the bad one).
- As ClydeWingo pointed out on Monday night’s post-trade comments, and something I wasn’t aware of or simply had forgotten, Randle was seemingly key in the hiring of Tom Thibodeau as the man to lead the Knicks out of wherever the hell they were a few years ago, after Leon Rose asked him about it given his A1 role back then. Gotta love good ol’ Jules.
- The Celtics balked at adding players to the Giannis deal, ended up submitting a one-for-one package built around Jaylen Brown and two first-round picks, failed to convince the Bucks, kept trying to ostracize one of their two superstars, and seem poised to move new-generation Carlos Boozer anyway, says ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. Windhorst argued that Boston has simply realized the Celtics don’t have enough to beat the Knicks as currently constructed, and the only way out of purgatory is by dealing Brown away and quickly. Music to my ears.
“The Celtics took a hard look in the mirror and decided, we weren’t going to beat the Knicks”
- Windhorst surely was on a hot run yesterday, also saying that Brown “is accepting (the Celtics want to trade him) and realizes this is a chance to turn the page in his career and he may be getting his own team.” For the next chapter, tune in on whatever platform he streams his life so you get his take on it from the rawest possible source.
- On Tuesday morning, ESPN’s Shams Charania brought the Knicks name back into the Giannis trade conversation. Remember when NYK was close to pulling it off a few months ago? Here’s some tiny additional details.
“Antetokounmpo pushed for a trade, with his reps making it clear that the New York Knicks were his preferred destination. The Bucks and the Knicks briefly engaged in discussions last summer, but New York never believed Milwaukee seriously considered trading its superstar. The Bucks, on the other hand, believed the Knicks’ offers were never serious enough.”
- John Wall thinks it’s time.
- Speaking of Carlos Boozer, he was a bit salty about his son Cameron undoubtedly not getting drafted with the No. 1 overall pick, but the No. 2 either. Have a great time in Memphis, Bozo.
- The Knicks are going to need some depth next season, and if they really don’t cross the second apron, well, they will need to work the vet-min market with pinpoint accuracy and savviness. Helping New York, however, is OAKAAK Frank Ntilikina, who just left Olympiacos by mutual agreement. How we feeling?
- Vegas has its first backer for an NBA franchise once expansion comes to fruition, and it’s the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights owner, Bill Foley, who is set to pony up as much dough as needed to bring hoops to Sin City. Years away, yes, but just for fun, if the expansion draft happened tonight, which eight players would you leave unprotected from the Knicks’ title-winning roster?
Knowing Leon Rose and how the Knicks have operated under his guidance, I was always (and still am) convinced they’d move their first-round pick, leaving us all waiting for something to enjoy on Tuesday night on the cold, and with no prospect to call one of ourselves. Anyway, I still think they will end up drafting someone at some point in the second round, and then the UDFA market will open for undrafted prospects.
That’s all for today, fellas. Exciting times ahead!
