If they want to keep Landry Shamet and Malcolm Brogdon on their regular season roster, the Knicks will have to make a cost-cutting trade due to the team’s proximity to its second-apron hard cap. Both players are currently signed to non-guaranteed training camp contracts.
Assuming they’re both healthy, Ian Begley of SNY.tv thinks the two veterans will make the final roster.
While Miles McBride has been floated as a potential trade candidate, in part because the Knicks would likely receive positive for him, Begley reiterates that he would be surprised if the 25-year-old gets dealt.
Due to his “production, age and contract,” McBride is coveted by multiple rival teams, according to Begley. However, people familiar with the matter tell Begley the Knicks also highly value McBride and have — to this point — shut down trade talks regarding the 6’2″ guard.
Second-year wing Pacome Dadiet appears to be more likely to be moved, as the Knicks have reportedly discussed him with rival clubs. The 20-year-old got a surprise start during New York’s preseason opener due to a minor hand injury to OG Anunoby.
But Dadiet didn’t play very well on Thursday, and head coach Mike Brown suggested ahead of Saturday’s contest that the French guard/forward may not be in the rotation going forward.
“In terms of Pac in the rotation, I wouldn’t take into account too much that Pac started in the last game,” Brown said, per Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (Twitter link).
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- As expected, Anunoby was back in the starting lineup on Saturday, tweets Bondy. Mitchell Robinson got his second straight starting nod at center, while Josh Hart — who told reporters last week that he’ll likely have to wear a splint on his right ring finger this season after aggravating an issue which required surgery in July — was ruled out due to back spasms.
- After being traded to New York last October, Karl-Anthony Towns feels more comfortable as a Knick entering his second year with the organization, he tells Steve Popper of Newsday (subscriber link). The five-time All-Star isn’t sure which frontcourt position he’ll log the most minutes at this season, but he’s willing to do whatever is asked of him. “I think for me, I’ve got a lot of experience playing both (power forward and center) now,” Towns said. “I’m still figuring all this out now for this year’s team. … I think it’s going to be a little more, feeling more seamless. Usually, you walk into a game, you know you’ll be the five today. You walk into a game, you know you’ll be the four today. I think for me, it’s going to be more of like I could be five for four minutes and then be four for two minutes, then go back to the five. So I think that’s going to be a little different for me, where I’m going to be so fluid on what my position is. I’m working on just making sure I’m ready for whatever the case may be with us, what I’m learning about our team and the way we want to play.”
- Brown continues to experiment with different bench rotations during preseason, according to Bondy (Twitter link). Brown said Brogdon would receive first-half minutes on Saturday, while Garrison Mathews — another NBA veteran vying for a roster spot — will get first-half minutes in New York’s third preseason game next Thursday. Shamet received those minutes on Thursday.