The New York Knicks guard is approaching the red alert level with Immanuel Quickley (sore ankle) joining Elfrid Payton (hamstring) and Derrick Rose (health and safety protocols) on the side, entering Thursday’s game against the Orlando Magic visitor.
Injury Report, by #Knicks:
Outside – Elfrid Payton (right hamstring strain); Immanuel Quickley (pain in the left ankle); Austin Rivers (personal reasons); Mitchell Robinson (surgery on the right) and Derrick Rose (health and safety protocols). https://t.co/gW73qMnPmA
– alder almo (@alderalmo) March 18, 2021
The Knicks are left with Frank Ntilikina and two-way player Jared Harper as the sole shipowners. New York coach Tom Thibodeau only broke the emergency window and held out his hand to Harper when the situation started. But against Magic, which also doesn’t have its two main shipowners, Thibodeau can survive with Ntilikina as a starter. RJ Barrett and striker Julius Randle will help create plays. Alec Burks will once again be the Knicks’ part-time off-bank guard.
But this band-aid solution will not make the Knicks overcome the obstacle in their attempt to break the tie.
John Hollinger, the former vice president of basketball operations for the Memphis Grizzlies and now a frontline insider at The Athletic, suggested two deals that could help the Knicks immediately and prepare them for the future.
Troubleshooting Knicks PG
In a conversation about a negotiating deadline with beat writer William Guillory of The Athletic New Orleans Pelicans, Hollinger launched a wild commercial scenario that would take Lonzo Ball to New York.
Hollinger’s commercial proposal:
Knicks will acquire
- Lonzo Ball
- JJ Redick
- Jaxson Hayes
Pelicans will acquire
- Mitchell Robinson
- Elfrid Payton
- Austin Rivers
- Ignas Brazdeikis
- Dallas 2021 first round pick
- lightly protected 2021 Knicks choice of the first round
Hollinger noted that it is an extra payment, but it is the only way the Pelicans will be tempted to part ways with Ball, who came back after a slow start this season.
Ball comes from a career record of 17 assists and 11 points in the Pelican’s one-point loss to the Portland Trail Blazers the other night. His kick, which has been the perceived weakness of his game, is going well this year. He is a reliable three-point shooter with 39 percent in 7.7 attempts this season. Most importantly, he is shooting 47 percent of his corner 3s, according to Cleaning the Glass.
This exchange, according to Hollinger, will help push the Knicks’ playoff with Ball and Redick. It would also be easier for the Knicks to retain Ball’s off-season services, as they could match any offer he could get on the market.
It should be noted that the Mavericks have now entered the Western Conference playoff scene after a slow start. They have already won seven of the last 10 games. If the Mavericks continue their growth trend, the choice of the first round of 2021 that they owe to the Knicks in the Kristaps Porzingis trade will fall out of the lottery.
Firepower help
The other deal that Hollinger proposed in his column today is for Victor Oladipo, of the Houston Rockets.
Hollinger’s commercial proposal:
Knicks will acquire
- Victor Oladipo
- Sterling Brown
Rockets will acquire
- Frank Ntilikina
- Kevin knox
- Detroit’s second round pick for 2021
- Choice of the 2021 second round in Minnesota
- $ 5.2 million in cash
Hollinger noted that Oladipo’s Bird Rights would give the Knicks some leeway in building the squad next season, as they could maintain it without using the maximum space.
Oladipo comes from his best game in the Houston uniform against his former coach Nate McMillan and the growing Atlanta Hawks. Oladipo played as an All-Star in the 109-117 defeat last Tuesday, leading the Rockets with 34 points, the best of the season, in 13 of 20 shots, including 4 of 6 of 3. He also gave five assists and caught three rebounds in 41 minutes.
Before the game, McMillan provided clues as to why he believes Oladipo will soon be able to return to the elite level he once was.
“I was with him last season,” said McMillan. “I know what he did to commit to getting his body back as close as it was before the injury. He invested to make sure he had everything he needed, like coaches and doctors, and worked hard to get to that point. ”
Oladipo proved that McMillan was right on the court that night.
Now, it is up to the Knicks if they believe that Oladipo can consistently return to that level under Thibodeau.
If so, profiting from the choice of Mavericks, as Hollinger suggested, can solve the problem.
Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo