Blake Griffin is not the preference of the Knicks at the moment.
While he is being bought by the Pistons, The Post has learned that the Knicks will pass on the former All-Star master.
That says a lot about where they are now. Julius Randle, who is commanding the minutes in the power forward, was called on Thursday by coach Tom Thibodeau, an “All-NBA Player”.
And there is no desire to put the choice of team president Leon Rose’s lottery, Obi Toppin, on the pine tree and prevent its growth. In addition, Kevin Knox is waiting in the wings. This does not mean, however, that Rose will not explore upgrading the squad’s talent level until the March 25 negotiation deadline to help push the playoff.
Rose, who was not in her usual Garden seat on Thursday when the Knicks faced the Pistons in the final game before the All-Star Break, has a lot to weigh as it carries a lot of assets.
Rose is playing with the house money, as the Knicks got off to a shocking start of 19-18 and are in fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
Thibodeau created a unit with excellent chemistry and camaraderie. Several players talked about how “united” the team has become.
Rose is not sure if she wants to defy destiny and stir the vibe from the locker room after adding Derrick Rose to a Super Bowl Sunday exchange.
The Post reported on February 11 that the Knicks were monitoring the availability of superstar Bradley Beal and ex-All-Star Victor Oladipo. The Wizards are emerging and Beal has expressed devotion to the team, so there is no chance that they will make it available this season. And there has never been a single legitimate report that the Bulls are open to moving Zach LaVine, their first All-Star who will not be a free agent until 2022.
Oladipo, however, remains at stake for the Knicks, as the Rockets must change him in the deadline, as they fall by the wayside. Oladipo will be a free agent in 2021 and is supposed to want to sign with the Heat. This would make Oladipo a rental company, while the Knicks seek to increase their offer to break a seven-year playoff drought.
Knicks general manager Scott Perry, while with Magic, called Oladipo into second overall in 2013, and he has been a proponent of a potential trade. But Perry is no longer the main decision maker. He has not been to Garden for the past five games, watching the end of the G-League bubble season.
Oladipo, who has recovered from knee surgery, recently lost four consecutive games with a foot problem and has struggled to kick recently. But he has an average of 20 points and his percentage of 3 points is 36.2%. Some scouts, however, are still concerned about their physical condition.
If swingman RJ Barrett continues to progress as a consistent offensive force, the Knicks may see Oladipo as less needed to improve the defense zone’s score.
According to a source who is in contact with the Knicks’ bosses, the franchise is still unsure whether the team has an infallible starting point guard.
As electrifying as rookie Immanuel Quickley was, they still think he could be the sixth player or start as a guard off the ball in the correct alignment. He is not seen as an elite star.
That is why the Knicks have always kept an eye on Hornets playmaker Terry Rozier and Pelicans’ young playmaker Lonzo Ball (which would probably be another summer deal).
The Knicks are still in a waiting pattern when it comes to adding a traditional center to the list. Holder Mitchell Robinson will be out perhaps until the end of March with a broken hand and Taj Gibson is indefinitely suffering from a severe ankle sprain.
The Knicks would have to cut a player – probably Austin Rivers, who fell out of favor with the addition of Rose and did not adapt to his new role as a cheerleader.
Nerlens Noel has been amazing holding the center strong, culminating in his performance against the Pistons on Thursday: 12 points, 5 out of 5 on the field, 11 rebounds, four steals, two blocks.
Noel has knee problems, however, and fewer minutes would be better for his longevity. The Post reported that the Knicks “analyzed” whether former All-Star player Andre Drummond would be good chemistry for Randle.
The Post also learned that the Knicks had internal conversations about their former center, Kyle O’Quinn, a native of Queens. O’Quinn played moderately for the 76ers last season, but was passed over at the free agency in November. O’Quinn enlisted with a Turkish team, Fenerbahçe, in January and made 21 of 26 shots in seven games.