Keith Smart and Knicks point guard Dennis Smith Jr. have been summer shooting pals for six weeks, in three cities, for countless hours. And it started in a chair.
The Knicks assistant coach warned Smith the process would be “tedious.” It’s been all of that — and the alliance may turn so successful, the shape of the Knicks’ season could change.
https://nypost.com/2019/07/21/knicks-shot-doctor-is-trying-to-save-dennis-smith-jr/
Nick Hauselman started a YouTube scouting channel eight years ago called “BBallBreakdown,” in which he uses analytics and dissects technique to determine future NBA potential of college players.
The Post asked Hauselman to get down and dirty on Barrett’s Vegas showing, and he reviewed film on all 125 of his possessions.
There was good and bad, and Hauselman can’t be confident the Knicks have an All-Star in their midst, forecasting a potentially average rookie year.
“I think he can be a solid contributor for a long time,’’ Hauselman said. “I don’t know if we’ll see it this year. He’s not the savior that will add 10 wins.’’
Barrett shot 24% from beyond the 3-point line, but Hauselman thinks that will increase as a rookie.
Enlarge ImageNick Hauselman
Nick Hauselman
“His 3-point shot is OK,’’ Hauselman said. “When he hops, he looked definitely smoother than when he does the 1-2 step.’’
https://nypost.com/2019/07/19/rj-barretts-knicks-summer-league-breakdown-hes-not-the-savior/
Oregon power forward Kenneth Wooten, the 6-foot-9 leaper who impressed during the Las Vegas Summer League, has agreed to terms on an Exhibit 10 contract to attend Knicks training camp and fight for a roster spot, The Post has learned.
The Exhibit 10 deal guarantees Wooten $50,000 as long as he plays 45 days with the Westchester Knicks, should he be cut from the Knicks’ 15-man roster. The high flyer went undrafted and committed to the Knicks’ summer league team in Las Vegas, where he posted 10 blocks in four outings, playing 52 minutes.
His agent, Mitchell Butler, who played at UCLA and with three NBA teams, told The Post he considers Wooten “a top 5 athlete coming in with running, jumping and how quick his feet move.”
Butler believes Knicks brass sees him as having a future with the big club.
“He’s freakish,’’ Butler said.
https://nypost.com/2019/07/20/kenny-wooten-getting-another-big-knicks-chance/
The group of players for this is not long. Proven NBA players like Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson assumed most of the playing time, which limited the opportunities for others, but they can still reach out to a few options.
It starts with Tyler Cavanaugh, a former Utah Jazz player, who played in all five summer league games. He averaged 10 points in just 15 minutes and shot 52 percent. The Knicks do not have any more two-way spots left, so the 25 year old can seek other opportunities, but he sticks out as the next player to lock up for training camp.
Amir Hinton went undrafted as Division II’s leading scorer in 2018-19. With only 4.3 points per game in the summer league, it was difficult for him to stand out; but for someone who displayed nearly 30 points per contest in his final collegiate season, the Knicks can at least see what they have.
VJ King also went undrafted in June, after spending three disappointing seasons with Louisville. He was once a five-star recruit but never lived up to the hype. To try tapping into that potential, New York can give him a look on an Exhibit 10 deal.
https://dailyknicks.com/2019/07/21/new-york-knicks-summer-league-roster-can-hint-next-exhibit-10-deals/
star is a bold leap--- there are like 15 stars in the nba.
he would be potentially a starting caliber guard on a playoff team with an improved shot.
i like the gamble on him talent wise
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would be a star. One of the most athletic guys in the NBA, he gets to the rim fairly well even though defenders don't have to respect his shot. If they need to play him closer, he will blow by most but the best defenders.
star is a bold leap--- there are like 15 stars in the nba.
he would be potentially a starting caliber guard on a playoff team with an improved shot.
i like the gamble on him talent wise
Depends on your definition of star. I view there being 8-10 superstars in the NBA but a larger contingent of stars but like I said, it heavily depends on one's own definition.
I'd be shocked if the starting front court isn't Morris/Randle/Mitch.
This made me think: When people are still growing, there is literally a period of time where their brains haven't caught up with the length of their limbs. That's the awkward adolescent phase when teens are clumsy. If Frank is still growing, I wonder if it's going to take a little time for his coordination to fully catch up with his body.
In any event, he hasn't got a lot of time. If he comes into camp and shows he's elevated his game, can get to the rim, can distribute, has a 3-point shot that other teams have to respect, can stay reasonably healthy, then he can either make the team or be traded. If he shows up with no offense, he's going to be discarded. He's going to have to earn further investment by the Knicks in his development.
I worry more about how Barrett will be used. If he's strictly a spot-up shooter playing off of Dennis Smith, it's gonna be ugly. He strength is making reads in the pick and roll and getting downhill to the rim. They need to give him chances to do that while he works on his perimeter game.
Overall, it seems like he fills up the box score and takes basketball very seriously, so I'm expecting good things.
-He said Durant was considering the Clippers with Kawhi and that was his 2nd choice.
-Top choice was with Kyrie and they had been planning it for 6 months.
- Deandre Jordan played a major role in connecting KD with Brooklyn. Didn't elaborate anything else.
Nothing news shattering here but interesting info. Not a great look for the Knicks to have Deandre Jordan on the roster and have him steer Durant to Brooklyn...
No choice really. Between his knee and groin issues he couldn’t take the stairs.
I'm a little concerned w/ Fiz since basically no one improved all that much in a year. But even so it's way too early for to judge many of them or him...tho he's certainly on the clock
-He said Durant was considering the Clippers with Kawhi and that was his 2nd choice.
-Top choice was with Kyrie and they had been planning it for 6 months.
- Deandre Jordan played a major role in connecting KD with Brooklyn. Didn't elaborate anything else.
Nothing news shattering here but interesting info. Not a great look for the Knicks to have Deandre Jordan on the roster and have him steer Durant to Brooklyn...
Was it Deandre Jordan steering KD or following him?
I'm a little concerned w/ Fiz since basically no one improved all that much in a year. But even so it's way too early for to judge many of them or him...tho he's certainly on the clock
Oh to be clear, I'm not knocking the Knicks as much as I'm suggesting he must look really bad in practice and their internal "feel" isn't great. That's scary. My point on Fizdale was more... players like DSJ (talented but haven't performed) are generally the bread and butter of a coach trying to "win" with lesser talent and Fiz seemed down on Frank so quickly it's scary.
Send him to G League and tell him if he wants to come back, put up 15-20 shots and 3-5 3's a game.
As I said b4, IMO he may not quite be on the hot seat for 2019 (save a REAL shit yr), but he is certainly on the clock now
And if we're here a yr from now having to dig up support vs just agreeing on obvious, legit improvement from some of KK, MR, RJ, Iggy, Dot and others...that would be quite damning on the coach
That's how they are paying him. The Spurs for years always had players take discounts. Now it is Duncan's chance to collect the money he gave up. Everybody always said that it wouldn't surprise them to see Duncan have a job in the organization somewhere after he's done playing.
The moves he's practicing below are the ones every player here would hone in junior high, it should be second nature by now.
Maybe he just played a total brand of ball in France growing up. Anyways, here's hoping that he gets some PT to show his stuff next year.
Frankie - ( New Window )