It’s another edition of Knicks‘ Mailbag with SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley ready to answer your questions surrounding the Knicks. Let’s get started.
Is Ben Simmons a realistic option for the final Veteran spot? — @2lowtech
Ben Simmons is certainly a candidate for the Knicks’ final roster spot. As of earlier this week, New York continued to show strong interest in signing Simmons as teams in on Simmons await his decision.
He’s garnered interest from several teams around the league. The Knicks also have maintained interest in Landry Shamet for that final roster spot.
New York’s team salary cannot exceed the second apron ($207.8 million). They have enough money to sign a rookie free agent (it seems to me that Kevin McCullar is the best candidate for that spot) and a veteran to a minimum deal.
They would need to make a trade in order to add a third player on a traditional NBA deal. All of New York’s two-way spots are open as well.
Hey Ian, my questions are why is there a delay on the Knicks filling the remaining vet min contract spot? Is the team holding out in case other players may be released? Are they waiting for a player to except an offer, if one was indeed made? — @Btruetolife
Hey, what’s up, Brutus? I’m not sure of the reasons behind the timing here. I know people in the organization have interest in Simmons and other people in the organization have interest in Shamet. I can only assume that they are weighing their options internally with respect to positional need.
Hey Ian Begley, just wanted to know if new Knicks head coach Mike Brown will have somewhat of a say on who should get the final vet minimum roster spot. — @CarlSanddude32
Yes, new Knicks head coach Mike Brown will have a say in the final veteran signing here. The Knicks and Brown emphasized that there will be collaboration between the head coach and the front office. That means Brown will certainly have a voice when it comes to personnel matters. Tom Thibodeau also had influence on personnel moves during his tenure in New York. Thibodeau didn’t get every player he wanted, but his opinion was definitely taken into account ahead of personnel moves.
Have you heard any rumblings about Malcolm Brogdon? — @KnicksRants
This comes down to positional preference. Do the Knicks want a wing for that final spot or do they want a ball-handler? Unless they make a trade, they have to choose between one of those positions. Any team that is in the market for a ball-handler would have to at least be considering Malcolm Brodgon. A few years ago, the Knicks did not have strong interest in trading for Brodgon in the middle of the season. But this is a different team with different circumstances. I’m sure Brogdon will at least be under consideration until they figure things out with the final roster spot.
Has Diawara shown enough to earn a 2 way contact? — @2lowtech
I think he has. He had some really strong stretches in Summer League. A two-way deal would give Diawara a great opportunity to spend some time with the big club while getting game reps in Westchester.
Who are some assistant coaches that the Knicks could hire, now that James Borrego is staying in NOLA? — @JayKnicky
Hey Jay, the name that I know of at the moment is Brendan O’Connor from the Clippers. Sorry I don’t have anything new there. As noted last week, Pablo Prigioni decided to stay in Minnesota after talking to the Knicks. O’Connor has a strong defensive acumen and has worked for the Clippers under both Ty Lue and Doc Rivers. The Knicks will presumably continue to look for an assistant to help on offense even if they add O’Connor to help guide the defense.
In your own person opinion, do you think this front office has made any missteps either this offseason or over the past few years? — @wieder_jason
In my opinion? Absolutely. This front office has done really well. But even the best front offices make mistakes. The one I look at is Obi Toppin. Toppin never had a clear path to significant minutes because he was behind an All-NBA player in Julius Randle. The Knicks then traded Toppin for a minimal return and he developed into an important rotation player for the Eastern Conference champion Pacers. Again, all front offices make mistakes. But this Knicks front office, along with former head coach Thibodeau, has helped the team win consistently for the first time since the turn of the century. They have done very well in a big picture sense. The next big decision for the group is on Mikal Bridges’ extension. The Bridges trade was a big swing by the front office. Obviously, it’s too early to know if it was the right move.
Can you ball park a win total for Mike Brown’s first year as head coach? — @Knickanator_
Hmmm I’ll go with 49, Knickinator. I’ll go with that number based on the assumption that Brown plays his starters fewer minutes than they played last season. I’ll also go with that number based on the assumption that the Knicks and Brown endure some growing pains over the course of the regular season.
It’s another edition of Knicks‘ Mailbag with SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley ready to answer your questions surrounding the Knicks. Let’s get started.
Is Ben Simmons a realistic option for the final Veteran spot? — @2lowtech
Ben Simmons is certainly a candidate for the Knicks’ final roster spot. As of earlier this week, New York continued to show strong interest in signing Simmons as teams in on Simmons await his decision.
He’s garnered interest from several teams around the league. The Knicks also have maintained interest in Landry Shamet for that final roster spot.
New York’s team salary cannot exceed the second apron ($207.8 million). They have enough money to sign a rookie free agent (it seems to me that Kevin McCullar is the best candidate for that spot) and a veteran to a minimum deal.
They would need to make a trade in order to add a third player on a traditional NBA deal. All of New York’s two-way spots are open as well.
Hey Ian, my questions are why is there a delay on the Knicks filling the remaining vet min contract spot? Is the team holding out in case other players may be released? Are they waiting for a player to except an offer, if one was indeed made? — @Btruetolife
Hey, what’s up, Brutus? I’m not sure of the reasons behind the timing here. I know people in the organization have interest in Simmons and other people in the organization have interest in Shamet. I can only assume that they are weighing their options internally with respect to positional need.
Hey Ian Begley, just wanted to know if new Knicks head coach Mike Brown will have somewhat of a say on who should get the final vet minimum roster spot. — @CarlSanddude32
Yes, new Knicks head coach Mike Brown will have a say in the final veteran signing here. The Knicks and Brown emphasized that there will be collaboration between the head coach and the front office. That means Brown will certainly have a voice when it comes to personnel matters. Tom Thibodeau also had influence on personnel moves during his tenure in New York. Thibodeau didn’t get every player he wanted, but his opinion was definitely taken into account ahead of personnel moves.
Have you heard any rumblings about Malcolm Brogdon? — @KnicksRants
This comes down to positional preference. Do the Knicks want a wing for that final spot or do they want a ball-handler? Unless they make a trade, they have to choose between one of those positions. Any team that is in the market for a ball-handler would have to at least be considering Malcolm Brodgon. A few years ago, the Knicks did not have strong interest in trading for Brodgon in the middle of the season. But this is a different team with different circumstances. I’m sure Brogdon will at least be under consideration until they figure things out with the final roster spot.
Has Diawara shown enough to earn a 2 way contact? — @2lowtech
I think he has. He had some really strong stretches in Summer League. A two-way deal would give Diawara a great opportunity to spend some time with the big club while getting game reps in Westchester.
Who are some assistant coaches that the Knicks could hire, now that James Borrego is staying in NOLA? — @JayKnicky
Hey Jay, the name that I know of at the moment is Brendan O’Connor from the Clippers. Sorry I don’t have anything new there. As noted last week, Pablo Prigioni decided to stay in Minnesota after talking to the Knicks. O’Connor has a strong defensive acumen and has worked for the Clippers under both Ty Lue and Doc Rivers. The Knicks will presumably continue to look for an assistant to help on offense even if they add O’Connor to help guide the defense.
In your own person opinion, do you think this front office has made any missteps either this offseason or over the past few years? — @wieder_jason
In my opinion? Absolutely. This front office has done really well. But even the best front offices make mistakes. The one I look at is Obi Toppin. Toppin never had a clear path to significant minutes because he was behind an All-NBA player in Julius Randle. The Knicks then traded Toppin for a minimal return and he developed into an important rotation player for the Eastern Conference champion Pacers. Again, all front offices make mistakes. But this Knicks front office, along with former head coach Thibodeau, has helped the team win consistently for the first time since the turn of the century. They have done very well in a big picture sense. The next big decision for the group is on Mikal Bridges’ extension. The Bridges trade was a big swing by the front office. Obviously, it’s too early to know if it was the right move.
Can you ball park a win total for Mike Brown’s first year as head coach? — @Knickanator_
Hmmm I’ll go with 49, Knickinator. I’ll go with that number based on the assumption that Brown plays his starters fewer minutes than they played last season. I’ll also go with that number based on the assumption that the Knicks and Brown endure some growing pains over the course of the regular season.
