Ian Begley, SNY.tv | Twitter |
In addition to Dennis Smith Jr. and Marcus Morris, some teams have interest in trading for Knicks forward Bobby Portis, per sources familiar with the matter.
Portis signed a two-year $31 million deal with the Knicks over the summer, but the second year is a team option. So a contending team looking for front-line depth could view Portis as, essentially, an expiring contract.
The 24-year-old enters Tuesday's game against the Lakers 10.1 points and 5.7 rebounds in 21 minutes per game for the Knicks. Portis is shooting 44 percent from the field (38 percent from beyond the arc). With the Knicks at 10-26 and uncertainty surrounding the future of the front office, it's unclear if the club will look to players like Portis for future assets or seek players who can help this year's team.
Morris is one of the most valuable veterans on the trade market at the moment. He's shooting 43 percent from beyond the arc and on a one-year deal. The Philadelphia 76ers are reportedly keeping an eye on Morris. Opposing execs expect both Los Angeles teams to monitor the market for Morris as well.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are among the teams who have interest in Smith Jr. Smith Jr. has missed the past four games due to injury. He is questionable for the Lakers game. The point guard has had an uneven season in Year Two with the Knicks. He was obtained by New York in the Kristaps Porzingis trade.
Knox not worried
Kevin Knox is playing 10 fewer minutes than last season and hasn't been able to play through mistakes as freely this season as last season. On Sunday, he played just six minutes against the Clippers. The wing says he's not concerned about his playing time of late.
"No I stay locked in. The people in my circle always tell me to stay locked in. Don't get too down," he said. "They know I've got a lot of work to do. I know myself that I've got a lot to do. There's nothing I'm going to sulk or cry about on the bench, the end of the bench. Go on twitter or Instagram ranting about it. I stay locked in. and support my teammates. Come to practice every day, push the guys, try to get better, learn from the vets. So I always stay positive no matter what I'm going through during the season or in life, I always try to stay positive."
Randle feels more efficient lately
Julius Randle has improved his field goal percentage - particularly from beyond the arc - over the past few weeks. That coincides with a players-only meeting called by Morris and Mike Miller taking over for ex-Knicks head coach David Fizdale. Here's what Randle says he's seeing from defenses lately.
"They're still loading up. I think I'm just catching the ball in areas where I can play to my strengths. Try to be more efficient. Just get to my spots," he said. "The longer I have the ball or the more I'm going to dribble, the more they're going to load up and all eyes are going to be on me. I'm just trying to be more efficient. Coach Miller has done a great job putting me in different spots, moving me around the court. And just trying to have extreme confidence in everything."