Can Jalen Brunson elevate his performance? What role will Mikal Bridges play? Is Julius Randle capable of being a standout on a championship-caliber team? Will Tom Thibodeau experiment with Randle and OG Anunoby at the center position?
Who really cares?!
September 30 marks Knicks media day, and practices will commence the following day, October 1. In just five weeks, we will dive into an 8-9 month stretch of obsessively analyzing the same core group: nine players and one coach. This marks the first time since 1995 that the Larry O’Brien trophy has even considered the Knicks worthy of attention, a year that coincides with the airing of Seinfeld. Yet, two constants remain for each Knicks season, regardless of whether hopes hinge on tanking or trophy aspirations: Clyde will always look sharp, and we’ll inevitably convince ourselves of the most absurd notions. Both are true.
It’s a familiar rhythm in the P&T community. This phenomenon occurs several times a season, sometimes more frequently than one might expect. The comment section tends to fill up quickly. Normally, there’s a healthy exchange of ideas; fresh perspectives enter the fray at a consistent pace, refreshing the discourse and keeping the environment lively. You can tell it’s time to change the filter when sub-threads start to emerge, those spiraling conversations initiated by seemingly innocuous comments—“Mitch has been their best player this month!”/”I think it’s been Brunson”—and suddenly, 38 replies later, real arguments ensue, invoking fierce debates that disturb even the ancestors. Great-grandchildren, however, remain off-limits.
<img srcset="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qeswdFUThSn7H9VDZ140PLZbbHc=/0x0:365×266/320×0/filters:focal(0x0:365×266):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25584960/Screenshot_2024_08_22_191743.png 320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xM0ncx5tf0W26ThSteAaOrC3Szs=/0x0:365×266/520×0/filters:focal(0x0:365×266):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25584960/Screenshot_2024_08_22_191743.png 520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Xd_OCrkAqw5bUS0O0fAZUH2BTMg=/0x0:365×266/720×0/filters:focal(0x0:365×266):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25584960/Screenshot_2024_08_22_191743.png 720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Df_zJiAEVpAS3U_ZWBURotkDoK8=/0x0:365×266/920×0/filters:focal(0x0:365×266):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25584960/Screenshot_2024_08_22“`html
Aside from Dwyane Wade, I wouldn’t choose any other shooting guard from the East over Iman Shumpert!
The Knicks actually let Shane Larkin go?? They just LET SHANE LARKIN GO?!?
The IMF’s decision to lower its growth forecast for Argentina’s economy to a projected 3.5% contraction does not enhance the hardships faced by a majority of the population living in poverty.
It’s hard to believe now, but these were indeed genuine comments made by real users on Posting & Toasting, albeit paraphrased. When reflecting on them during the offseason, they come across as amusingly absurd, given the repetitive nature of the discussions.
“`
It was 9-10 human beings that brought us to Barguments, leading to Noah Vonleh’s projections that were so absurd they nearly ventured into the realm of the erotic. This phenomenon contributed to the intense buildup of hot air, igniting the bloodiest conflict in P&T history: the Ntilikina Wars.
For the sake of site upkeep and mental health, I’m organizing a get-to-know-you session, with “you” referring to 10 largely unknown individuals, all of whom are Knicks players. However, they aren’t on the roster, have never been, and are unlikely ever to play beneath the pinwheel ceiling. Nevertheless, they hold value for Leon Rose and his team.
You’re mature enough to understand this: NBA teams sometimes select players they know won’t join the league immediately for personal, legal, or developmental reasons. The term “Euro-stashing” used to describe the practice of teams selecting mainly foreign players in the first round, knowing they were years away from playing in the NBA, if they ever would. This allowed teams to retain their rights while international squads continued to pay and develop them, all while securing cap space, as first-round selections who sign contracts receive guaranteed deals.
These days, teams primarily use this tactic with second-round picks to build stashes for later trades. Just two months ago, the Thunder dealt five second-round picks to the Knicks to acquire Dillon Jones late in the first round; in 2023, the Hawks paid the same price to the Warriors for Saddiq Bey, a rare Villanovan not associated with the Knicks.
At present, there are 49 players who are not in the NBA but whose draft rights are held by 23 teams. Simple math reveals that averages out to roughly two players per team. However, when was the last time you consulted an abacus? Averages are hardly the point; we exist in a period of such extreme inequality that it makes the Gilded Age resemble Levittown. Why should draft stashes be any different? Well, they aren’t!
Close to two-thirds of the league, or 18 teams, possess zero or a single draft stash. Tied for second-most are Cleveland and Brooklyn, each with four. The Knicks, on the other hand, boast an impressive 10, dating back to the 2007 draft. Ten stashes! What extravagance! (Imagine those last two statements in an excited Ian Eagle voice.) The Knicks stand as the Chelsea of draft stashes, a mass of disproportionate abundance. So let’s see how well you are acquainted with . . . the 2024-25 Unknown Non-Knicks!
Pop quiz, hotshot: what do Juhann Begarin, Marcus Zegarowski, and Balša Koprivica share in common? If you responded with “They’ve never been in my kitchen,” it’s likely you’re at an age where nighttime bathroom trips are frequent. If you noted, “They’re the only 2021 draftees besides Rokas Jokubaitis yet to make an appearance in an official NBA game,” you are correct! Despite being recognized and coveted for years by die-hard Knicks fans online, Jokubaitis—easily the most notable name among the Knicks’ stashed players—remains largely unknown to extensive segments of the basketball audience.
The only other Knicks stashes I recognized were both selected in 2017. Ognjen Jaramaz is a name that has stuck with me since that draft night when I was up late updating player selections for P&T (Frank was selected in the lottery, and they picked Damyean Dotson early in the second round). I had never heard of Jaramaz before and started researching him, learning his first name is pronounced “OWN-yen.” Quite the delight for the mouth and the ears. Give it a try. I’ll wait.
The other Knick stash from 2017 was originally drafted by Philadelphia but ultimately made its way to New York through a trade with OKC during the 2021 draft night that brought IQ to NY. If you tuned in to watch any of France’s games during this summer’s Olympics, you might have glimpsed some of Matthias Lassort’s capabilities. Although this particular footage is from the Euros a year prior, it illustrates the point well.
Among their draft class, Jaramaz and Lassort are two of the three players who have yet to play in an NBA game. The third is Alpha Kaba, the final pick of that draft, who is French-Guinean. I have to admit, as someone who still often misspells “Arron Afflalo” as “Aron” and took years to correctly pronounce “Arcidiacono,” I would love to cover an athlete named Alpha Kaba. That’s a name you can definitely rely on.
Juan Pablo Vaulet is currently in the Spanish second division. The Knicks acquired the rights to the Argentinian small forward from the Nets as part of the Mikal Bridges trade. Although he was dubbed “The Next Ginobili” nearly a decade ago, I should note that Vaulet is now at an age where there are even Vines featuring him dunking. He isn’t even the oldest player in this group.
Nikola Radičević began his professional journey with Sevilla in 2012. Fast forward ten years, and at 30, his rights were sent to the Knicks by the Pistons in a deal for Nerlens Noel and Alec Burks. Bojan Dubljević, now 33, is even more seasoned, standing at 6-foot-9. He has demonstrated that he can shoot 3-pointers, has finesse in the low post, and has a knack for finding open teammates as shown in this video. Given that the Knicks acquired the Montengran player in the Josh Hart trade while seeking another big man, could they possibly be reserving a spot for the pride of Nikšić? No, they are not. Nevertheless, Dubljević has enjoyed a successful career starting in 2010, being a consistent presence in Valencia’s frontcourt since 2012. I wish him the best.
Emir Preldžić may not be a household name among NBA fans, but the lack of mainstream recognition doesn’t diminish his talent. Standing at 6-foot-9, this point forward from Fenerbahçe is known for drawing fouls, finishing among the top 10 in the EuroLeague for free throws attempted and assists . . . although, to be completely transparent, that was a decade ago. Preldžić will be turning 37 next week, and while it’s unlikely his name will ever ring through MSG, in 2020, EuroLeague fans honored him with the rare distinction of voting this impressive endgame double-block as their Play of the Decade.
If you know how Sergio Llull’s rights ended up with the Knicks, you’re either Sergio Llull himself or perhaps you’re stalking him. And though stalking is never acceptable, Llull’s accomplishments are noteworthy: three EuroLeague titles, EuroLeague MVP, La Liga MVP, two-time La Liga Finals MVP, the EuroLeague’s all-time leader in made 3s, a three-time Euro gold medalist, a FIBA gold medalist, and an Olympic silver and bronze medalist for Spain. If Llull isn’t “The Man,”
He is among the few. His rights ended up with the Knicks, alongside one Issuf Sanon, after New York traded Austin Rivers, Axel Hervelle, and Tadija Dragićević to Houston. If any of this sounds familiar, contact your doctor. Seek help immediately.
The last two players on our list form a package deal and intersected with the patron saint of Knicks draft stashes. Shortly after the transition to 2022, the Knicks engaged in one of the most forgettable three-team trades, acquiring Denzel Valentine, Brad Newley, and Wang Zhelin in exchange for Rajon Rondo moving from L.A. to Cleveland, along with trade exceptions heading to the Cavs and Lakers. This trio cost New York Louis Labeyrie, a 2014 pick from Indiana, acquired by Phil Jackson during one of his initial moves as James Dolan’s consigliere, after signing Shannon Brown and Lamar Odom late in 2014, dismissing Mike Woodson, hiring Derek Fisher, trading Tyson Chandler, and drafting Cleanthony Early and Thanasis Anteonepotism. Labeyrie spent eight years as a Knick stash. Let us take a moment of silence in his honor.
Valentine never donned a Knicks uniform, nor did Newley, the tough Aussie featured at the top of this article and former high school teammate of Joe Ingles. However, he has had an impressive career overseas: he was an All-Star in Lithuania and Greece, as well as Rookie of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year, and All-Star MVP in Australia’s NBL, and he earned the 2011 Gaze Medal as the best player on the men’s national team. Newley is now 39, becoming more of an Oldley.
In contrast, Zhelin has established an elite career in the Chinese Basketball Association. With averages of 21 points and 11 rebounds over twelve seasons, the 7-footer was named Rookie of the Year in 2013, is a seven-time CBA All-Star, and won league MVP with both the Fujian Sturgeons (2019) and the Shanghai Sharks (2023). Earlier this year, he hit a game-winning 3-pointer to silence Shenzhen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpVG9ypUKwI[/embed>[/embed>
That’s all for now. I merely wanted to attach some faces and narratives to what are typically dry transactional phrases and provide something unconventional to ponder. I just searched for “Knicks news” and came across a Bleacher Report recap announcing their discussion with Utah about Walker Kessler, as well as a newspaper article about Kiyan Anthony, Carmelo’s son, “dominating” at Rucker Park. Ogjnen, take me away.
.
# New York Knicks Media Day: Key Questions and Concerns as the Season Approaches
As the 2023 NBA season looms, the New York Knicks Media Day has kicked off the excitement and anticipation among fans and analysts alike. This annual event serves as a significant platform for players, coaches, and management to discuss the upcoming season, share insights, and address pressing questions. Here’s a deep dive into the key questions and concerns surrounding the Knicks as they prepare for a hopeful season ahead.
## Team Dynamics and Player Development
### Will the Young Core Step Up?
The New York Knicks have cultivated a promising young core that includes players like RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and Obi Toppin. A vital question surrounding the team is whether these young talents can take the next step in their development.
– **Player Performance Metrics**: Last season, Barrett averaged 20 points per game, showcasing his scoring ability. Quickley added depth with his playmaking and shooting. Fans will be keen to see if they can elevate their games further.
– **Coaching Impact**: Head Coach Tom Thibodeau is known for his rigorous coaching style. How will his approach influence the development of the younger players?
### Chemistry on the Court
Team chemistry is crucial for success in the NBA. With some roster changes in the offseason, how will the Knicks establish chemistry on the court?
– **Key Additions**: New signings can disrupt the existing dynamics. It’s vital to monitor how quickly these players integrate into the system.
– **Practice Sessions**: Early practice sessions and scrimmages will be telling in determining how well the team meshes.
## Injury Concerns
### Health of Key Players
Injuries have plagued the Knicks in recent seasons, raising concerns about the health of key players. What’s the status of the Knicks’ roster heading into the season?
– **Julius Randle’s Fitness**: Randle was a pivotal player last season, and any lingering injury concerns could significantly impact the team’s performance.
– **Updates from Media Day**: Keep an eye on injury updates revealed during Media Day for insights into player readiness.
## Coaching Strategies and Game Plans
### Thibodeau’s Approach
Tom Thibodeau’s coaching strategies have come under scrutiny. Will he adapt his game plan to suit the current roster’s strengths?
– **Defensive Philosophy**: Known for his defensive-minded approach, Thibodeau must find ways to improve this aspect of the Knicks’ game.
– **Offensive Schemes**: Adapting offensive strategies to utilize the strengths of Barrett and Randle will be essential for scoring efficiency.
### Rotation Decisions
With a deep roster, determining the right player rotations will be critical. How will Thibodeau manage playing time effectively?
- **Bench Contributions**: The effectiveness of bench players like Quickley and Toppin will be a focal point in assessing the overall team performance.
– **Starters Vs. Bench**: Balancing minutes between starters and the bench will be crucial to maintaining energy levels throughout the season.
## Offseason Moves and Roster Changes
### Impact of Trades and Free Agent Signings
The Knicks made several moves in the offseason that could shape their season. What are the implications of these changes?
– **Acquisition of New Players**: Evaluating how new players fit into the already established team structure is essential.
– **Departures**: Understanding the losses of key players and how those gaps will be filled will be a significant topic during Media Day.
### Salary Cap Management
The Knicks are navigating the complexities of the salary cap. How will this impact roster decisions?
– **Future Flexibility**: Managing the salary cap wisely can provide opportunities for future trades and signings.
– **Retaining Talent**: Keeping core players while managing financial health is a juggling act for management.
## Fan Engagement and Expectations
### Building a Stronger Fan Base
The Knicks have a passionate fan base that plays a critical role in the team’s identity. How can the organization engage fans this season?
– **Community Relations**: Strengthening ties with the community can enhance fan loyalty and support.
– **Interactive Events**: Organizing events where fans can interact with players and coaches can foster a deeper connection.
### Expectations Heading into the Season
Given their performance in recent years, what should fans realistically expect from the Knicks this season?
– **Playoff Aspirations**: Fans hope for a playoff berth. Assessing the team’s current trajectory is essential.
– **Performance Benchmarks**: Setting performance goals for the young core will be important for fan expectations.
## Benefits of Following Media Day Updates
### Informed Fanbase
Staying updated with information shared on Media Day can provide fans with a competitive edge in understanding team dynamics.
– **Understanding Player Roles**: Fans can better grasp players’ roles and responsibilities, enhancing the viewing experience.
– **Anticipating Game Strategies**: Insights into coaching strategies can prepare fans for the season ahead.
### Enhancing Fan Engagement
Media Day helps bridge the gap between the team and its supporters, fostering a sense of community.
– **Increased Interaction**: Engaging with content and updates can increase fan involvement and excitement.
– **Access to Exclusive Content**: Media Day often includes exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes looks, enriching the fan experience.
## Key Takeaways from Media Day to Watch For
### Player Interviews
During Media Day, player interviews often reveal personal goals and aspirations for the season. Key points to monitor include:
– **RJ Barrett’s Growth Mindset**: Barrett’s perspective on his development will be crucial.
– **Julius Randle’s Leadership**: Insights into how Randle aims to lead the team can set the tone for the season.
### Coach’s Vision
Thibodeau’s vision for the season will be paramount. Expect to hear about:
– **Team Goals**: What benchmarks does he set for this season?
– **Preseason Strategies**: Early game plans will be a focus for fans eager to see how the team will play.
## Media Day Must-Watch Videos
For a deeper understanding of the Knicks’ Media Day, check out the following videos:
– [Knicks Media Day Highlights](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qt70xMsvdM)
– [Player Interviews and Insights](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzpUWdoEByA)
– [Coaches’ Press Conference](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV9Sjpq6Xgc)
– [Fan Reactions and Expectations](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpVG9ypUKwI)
By examining these elements of the New York Knicks Media Day, fans can gain a comprehensive understanding of the team’s current landscape, key concerns, and the excitement that lies ahead for the upcoming season.
