The Knicks’ $104 million problem isn’t the impact on Jalen Brunson’s point guard. he’s fine
Whether the Knicks are rushing back toward relevance or facing another season of despair depends on two familiar faces, Julius Randle and Julius Randle. RJ BarrettThe duo led the Knicks to a 41-31 record in 2020-21. The season rests on them, not Branson.
Training camp begins Monday as the Knicks embark on their 50th anniversary season from their last championship in 1973.
Knicks president Leon Rose can also pray that Derrick Rose, who turns 34 on October 4, will turn back the clock.
In a taped in-house network interview, Leon Rose said his 2011 MVP dwindled to his “rookie playing weight” and intentionally strutted around the Tarrytown facility shirtless. .
Barrett, Randle and Derrick Rose will hold their first press conference on Monday since the 2021-22 season ended. Knicks manager Tom Thibodeau likely won’t air his first thoughts since the season finale on April 10 until after Tuesday’s first practice.
The Knicks refer to Monday as “Content Day” rather than “Media Day”, which is likely related to owner James Dolan’s involvement in the new war on “media.”
It’s unclear what made the 67-year-old Dolan so furious, except that he’s grown old and surly and fantasizes himself like a rebel who barred coverage from press conferences.
Instead, this new anti-media policy just makes the franchise look afraid. Leon Rose has been avoiding the media for over a year.
The NBA understands Knicks play by rules that other North American sports teams don’t follow. For now, Commissioner Adam Silver is investigating Knicks for alleged Branson tampering, but he has no power to act on King Cable, who led Knicks through the drought’s worst section of the championship.
Rose was totally Polyana during a chat on MSG Network, even when dealing with Donovan Mitchell’s trade talks going awry.
Rose offered many young Knicks players, including Barrett, Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley, but did not sacrifice the three or four unprotected first-round picks Utah requested. I didn’t.
“We went through that process there,” Rose said. “Finally, we made the decision to stay where we are and we are excited about where we are.
The Knicks’ brass only feels better if Randle is the pandemic 2020-21 version of him. And they will only feel justified if fan-favorite Barrett makes the leap with his three-point shooting percentage, defense, playmaking, and free-throw shooting. yeah, that’s a lot.
Randle just completed a two-week training session with Dallas guru Tyler Relf. Rose said Randall is “in phenomenal shape and in a great space.”
“He’s so excited to get started,” Rose said. “Did he have some rough patches last year? We’ll all learn from them. He’s ready to go.”
Randle has shown he’s ready to embrace the fan whims that racked his brain last season. The Knicks were willing to trade Randle to make way for 2020 lottery pick Toppin.
Can Randle evoke the 3-point shooting touch, leadership and altruism that have characterized the 2020-21 season?
“It’s been a surprise year for the Knicks, too,” said one NBA general manager. “There was a thibodeau effect that got him through his career season. When Thibs took the job, I had no idea he and his Randle would make a good match. But he’s a hothead and a tough guy.” I played as the persona of
Randle also shot 41.1% from three-point range. In the rest of the full season, Randle never topped 34.4%. 5 times, number 30 is less than 30% out of 3 shots.
“If you look at his career, the season two years ago was clearly an outlier,” GM said. “What happened this past year is the norm for his career, the reason the Lakers pushed him and New Orleans didn’t let him go.” [in 2019]”
With Mitchell traded to Cleveland, the Knicks will have to rely on the core of Branson-Randall-Barrett unless Rose succeeds in the monster trade he doesn’t want to make.
Devin Booker, a former client of Rose’s who works at the run-down Sands, or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Oklahoma City, should one day be prime targets.
With Barrett and Randle emerging as winners, the Knicks could be in contention for the top six spots in the playoffs this season, and it looks like a beloved 2020-21 version.
Unless Barrett and Randle improve significantly, Rose’s ability to execute Mitchell-type future deals may not be possible.
Nonetheless, the Knicks could stick with that trio forever, as Barrett-Randall-Branson takes home $76 million in 2023-24.
After covering the Knicks for 23 straight seasons featuring 227 Knicks players and 14 head coaches, this is the last shot and last call. Evolve away from The Post and head for the Palm Trees of Paradise.
After 50 years of a parade-free season, hopefully the Knicks can reach paradise too.
