Briefing: May 9
Durant scare. Trade for LeBron? And much more!
Good Morning,
Everyone breathe…
While many of us were sleeping, Kevin Durant put the fear of God into Knicks fans and the basketball world (minus Houston), alike, when it appeared he might have injured his Achilles in the Warriors win last night.
Luckily, it appears it is a calf injury, and not the Achilles.
Durant might no play in Game 6. Steve Kerr says, “He’s not going to play Game 6. We can all pretend and just say he’s doubtful. But he’s not playing Game 6.”
Put him in bubble wrap!
Durant could pick his star. As we hope for a healthy Durant, some executives believe, speculatively, the Knicks will allow Durant to pick his co-star if he comes to the Knicks, per Ian Begley.
Knicks like Kemba? Ian Begley reports that “some in the Knicks organization are high on fellow free agent point guard Kemba Walker, sources say. But that probably doesn't matter if Durant tells the Knicks that he'll sign with them, and that he wants to play with Irving.”
Hard to predict. Bay area reporter Marcus Thompson spoke with Marc Berman about his upcoming book on Durant. He tells Berman:
“If about a storybook ending and legacy, I don’t know winning a championship for the Nets is the same as the Knicks. You don’t make movies about winning it for the Nets. But he’s such a multi-faceted dude, we don’t know what he wants”
Kyrie Time
Knicks fans celebrated Kyrie Irving’s struggles to end the Celtics season. Irving shot a dismal 25-83 in the Celtics’ four straight losses to close the series vs Milwaukee.
Irving after the game: “For me, it's just moving on to the next thing, and just seeing where that ends up." [Sports Illustrated]
Puzzling behavior. Zach Lowe said on his latest podcast with Jackie MacMullan, “People are so puzzled around the league about what’s going on with Kyrie that there are opposing executives floating the theory that he is concocting the appearance of misery to give him reason to leave Boston.” MacMullan, who is clued in as anybody in Boston, says it’s very hard to predict what Kyrie will do, but doesn’t think he will end up teaming up with Durant.
Irving has long been linked to the Knicks: "Just being from Jersey and, obviously, envisioning myself as a free agent and ultimately taking a meeting and playing for (Knicks head coach David Fizdale) and a great young core that they have here.” [Ian Begley]
Irving told Celtics season ticket holders before the season, “If you guys will have me back, I plan to re-sign here.” Who would have thought it might be more of a question for the Celtics, than Kyrie.
Read this great article by Jared Weiss that sums up the situation in Boston.
Still a long way to go until July 1, but we are closer!
What else is going on?
Allan Houston will join Patrick Ewing at the NBA lottery. He will be the Knicks representative in the lottery room where the ping pong balls are actually drawn. I think bringing some of his 1999 Game 5 luck is helpful.
A documentary on Stephon Marbury premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival last month. The doc chronicles Marbury through extensive archival video and interviews with relatives and friends. Learn more here.
MSG denies sale rumors in earnings call. “In terms of Bill Simmons [rumor the Dolans are looking to sell], as we said a few times publicly, it’s 100% fake,” said MSG President Andrew Lustgarten.
What if the Lakers drama presented an opportunity to the Knicks?
by Jonathan Macri
Well I learned my lesson...WOW!
I'm usually pretty good about knowing when I say something on Twitter that's going to get me killed (see: any positive Emmanuel Mudiay reference) but I did not see this one coming.
Amidst yesterday's Lakers' Ty Lue/Kurt Rambis boondoggle, Twitter user @NYKNYG123 asked whether I would think about putting a package together for LeBron James if I were the Knicks. It struck a cord, simply because if I didn't know any better, I'd think they were trying to force LeBron's hand to demand a trade. If that were the case, it's not hard to see the Knicks being his destination of choice.
Of course, immediately after this I thought of all the reasons this would be a terrible idea (we'll get to them shortly), but I'd be lying if I said it didn't make me think for a second, which was the point of my tweet. So much for honesty!
In truth, the response of most people - various forms of "no, you idiot" - was heartwarming. How nice is it that we've come this far as a franchise that most of the fanbase would eschew the opportunity to get a still-very good version of James? It's partially out of spite, sure, but it's mostly because we feel like we have a better plan in place. It's a welcome change.
And on that note, the Top 10 Reasons NOT to trade for LeBron James:
10. He's old(er). James will turn 35 next season.
9. The milage on the tires is staggering. He's played more playoff minutes than anyone in history and is set to join the top ten in regular season minutes before Christmas, assuming he stays healthy. About that...
8. He's no longer invincible. Dude's an alien, but apparently aliens start aging at some point, and last season's injury that kept him out over a month seems like the first sign of that.
7. The drama. It follows him around like the bad BO from Jerry Seinfeld's car. This might not be the end of the world were it not for...
6. The New York media. Any crack will turn into a fissure in no time. Just a bad mix.
5. The cost (in assets). Even if he demands a trade to New York and threatens to play in China if his wish isn't granted, the Lakers are not going to give him away for free. That means, at a minimum, this year's draft pick, a future pick, and at least one young player. Even at a minuscule cost player-wise, this would be tough to swallow because of...
4. The cost (in dollars). James is set to make over $37 million next season. That takes up one of your max slots, and you've thinned out your team and asset base for the right to use that cap space on him. This seems like it would be an issue, except for the fact that...
3. We're not sure anyone even wants to play with him. KD already went on record and said the atmosphere surrounding LeBron's teams becomes toxic. Trading for Anthony Davis would wipe out whatever of the team's war chest is left after a James trade. Kyrie? Could happen...but if that's your best case scenario, is that really worth it? Especially when...
2. For the first time, the Knicks don't need to make the desperation play. At worst, things are set up for the team to grow organically through kids and development. Best case, we'd get a younger Durant and sidekick of his choice while maintaining all of our youth and picks. There's simply no reason to take the risk. This reason could easily top the list, which is awesome. But of course, something else takes the prize:
1. Screw him. He made his bed. Now that the sheets are soiled doesn't mean he can leave. Sweet dreams, King.
It’s A Hard Knicks Film School Life
PART 1: Who said crossing the streams was a bad idea? Jon and JB are joined by Craig and Barry from A Hard Knicks Life in Part 1 of a double episode. They engage in some brief Laker schadenfreude before discussing all the reasons they don't want LeBron traded to the Knicks. They then talk lottery luck and what getting Zion would mean for the team's perception going into July. [Listen]
PART 2: Craig (aka Axe) and Barry are joined by JB & Jonathan Macri from Knicks Film School for Part 2 of It’s a Hard Knicks Film School Life. Listen to Part 1 via the Knicks Film School Podcast feed. In Part 2, the guys discuss the upcoming lottery, respond to listener voicemails, and take part in a Knicks Lottery Meditation. [Listen]
What was Clyde up to on the 49th anniversary of the 1970 championship?
Walt "Clyde" Frazier joined Bill Pidto and Alan Hahn on MSG 150 from his island paradise in St. Croix.
What does he remember from 1970? “I was young, rich, and famous”
Remember when…
May 9, 1998: Patrick Ewing makes his first home appearance since injuring his wrist, leading the Knicks to an 83-76 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals to cut the series deficit to 2-1. Ewing scores a team high 19 points and the Knicks’ bench outscores the Pacers’ bench, 37-14.
May 9, 1993: Knicks open the Eastern Conference Semifinals with a 111-95 win over Charlotte at Madison Square Garden. Patrick Ewing scores 33 points and Charles Oakley adds 17 points and 10 rebounds.
May 9, 1984: Knicks guard Darrell Walker and Boston’s Danny Ainge ejected for fighting in the third quarter of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Boston Garden. New York went on to lose the game 121-99, putting them in a 3-2 hole in the series. 14 players, including Ainge and Walker were later fined by the NBA.
Lottery Night
I’m not sure if Slattery’s in Midtown will have one of these installed, but join us on Lottery Night to bring the Knicks luck and raise money for charity. The party begins at 7:30 PM EST in Midtown. 10% of drink sales and raffle money will go to local charity.
Thanks for reading, talk to you tomorrow!