Knicks Pick Up Derrick Rose in Surprise Trade

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Phil Jackson didn’t waste any time securing the first big trade of the NBA off-season by acquiring former MVP Derrick Rose from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Jose Calderon, Robin Lopez and Jerian Grant.

According to league sources, the Bulls will also send guard Justin Holiday and a 2017 second round pick to the Knicks.

The 27 year old Rose has been plagued by severe knee injuries since his 2010 MVP season. He underwent surgery for an ACL tear on his left knee in 2012. In 2013, Rose suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee that required season-ending surgery. Last season, he averaged 16 points (42% FG) and 5 assists over 66 games.

I won’t act like I’m absolutely thrilled by this move, but I’m not mad at it either. Since the season ended, the Knicks front office has made it clear they want to contend over tanking. New coach Jeff Hornacek also made it clear that we needed an upgrade over Calderon at point guard.

So the options were to overpay Mike Conley to a max contract, or pay less but gamble more with a combustible character in Rajon Rondo. In Rose, we get a player that will be motivated in a contract year. Should Rose fail, he’s off the books next year and we have max money available to go after a franchise player like Russell Westbrook.

Make no mistake, it’s still a question mark if Rose stays healthy. And I’m sad we had to give up one of last season’s best contributors (Robin Lopez) and a promising young talent (Grant) to make this happen.

For now, does this look like a competent Big Three to you?

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Melo and Ninja Turtles Team Up for Comic Book

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Carmelo Anthony is expanding his partnership with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle brand with the release of a limited edition comic book. You can find participating stores at http://www.comicshoplocator.com. Melo and the turtles previously linked up for an exclusive Macy’s clothing line.

Any chance one of the Turtles can run point guard for us next season?

[Video] Hornacek Wants More Shooters Around Melo and Porzingis

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Having missed the playoffs three straight years, new Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek has much to address this off-season. In a quick interview with the New York Knicks YouTube page, he revealed that his primary concern is adding capable shooters around frontcourt stars Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis.

Our starting backcourt shot a respectable percentage from three this season (Afflalo 38%, Calderon 41%), but the big problem was neither could consistently get their own shot and put the ball on the floor (Afflalo’s brief flashes of competency aside).

Sounds like Hornacek is like us in hoping Phil can put together a free agency miracle.

[Video] Fat Joe Names Anthony Mason as Knicks Player from B.I.G.’s “I Got a Story to Tell”

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A Hip-Hop mystery has finally been solved. From the moment The Notorious B.I.G.’s posthumous Life After Death hit stores in March 1997, fans have been vexed by the anonymous Knicks player that was robbed and cuckolded by his woman on the narrative classic “I Got a Story to Tell.” A few years back on ESPN’s Highly Questionable, former Knick John Starks confirmed the story was based in truth but declined to name the “victim.” Today, Fat Joe reveals the name as none other than Knicks enforcer Anthony Mason.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Mase, he was one of the toughest players in the 90s and built like a tank. For some, it’s hard to imagine him getting played like this, but someone having the drop of you with a gun is a great equalizer. Another thing to keep in mind, as Joe mentions, is rappers embellish everything to the extreme. What could have been Biggie running out the back door could easily morph into the more entertaining cheating turned stickup fiasco.

Whatever happened, credit to Biggie for displaying his greatness and turning it into a classic and at times humorous song (a basketball game getting rained out???). We’re left to imagine if Biggie would have kept Mase’s name a secret had he lived.

After checking out the below video, check out this earlier piece that goes in-depth on Fat Joe other story about Roy Jones.

https://youtu.be/nQc5caT4hts

[Video] No Contest: Warriors Hand Knicks Season-Worst Loss 121-85

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Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

We knew it was going to get ugly. The question was how ugly. The Warriors are on a roll and the Knicks were the latest victim last night at Oracle Arena, getting burned for 18 threes (eight from Steph Curry) in a season worst blowout loss of 121-85.

OVER AFTER THE 1ST: The Knicks couldn’t take advantage of a slow start by the defending champs and found themselves down 31-19 after 12 minutes. Curry hit 4/6 from downtown and had 16 points, and New York’s failure to close out on threes lead to four of five trips late in quarter resulting in Golden State treys. After that barrage, the Knicks would get no close than 14 points the rest of the way.

NO CONFIDENCE: When the Warriors came to MSG in January, the game was seen as a litmus test for our team’s ceiling. New York played hard until Golden State’s talent took over. Last night, you got the impression the Knicks never felt they could compete. They went down by 16 at halftime, and were ran out the gym in the third being outscored 35-18. Even backup center Marreese Speights got in on the fun to the fun sinking three shots from downtown.

Carmelo Anthony, who had 18 points (53%), 6 rebounds and 6 assists, could only marvel at how badly his team was outclassed.

It’s unbelievable, the way that they play. The lineups that they mess around with out there, Their record, 61-6, we’re witnessing, kind of, history here. It’s hard to give them a pat on the back when you just got your (tail) whipped.

BRIGHT SPOTS: Since this game got out of reach very quickly, Melo got to rest that knee with only 29 minutes of play. Langston Galloway (14 points) and Jerian Grant (8 points) showed confident jumpers in extensive garbage time, which bodes well for their continued development. In Grant’s case, it took a Calderon knee sprain to get him extensive playing time.

SICK KP DELIVERS WORST PERFORMANCE: Kristaps Porzingis is coming off the flu and it showed. He had just 2 points (1-11) and looked completely lethargic. We’re still looking for KP to have his first really good game under Rambis.

 
https://youtu.be/7tXQ1LywheA

 

[Video] Calderon Buzzer Beater Steals Show in Final Kobe-Melo Duel

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The Knicks blew a 16-point second half lead but relied on late heroics from Carmelo Anthoy and Jose Calderon to pull out a 90-87 win at Staples Center.

The game came down to a broken play with the scored knotted at 87. After nearly two violations (inbounds and backcourt) and Melo not getting free, Calderon was left to make something happen.

He did by getting free behind the arc for his only three-pointer of the night.

The Knicks looked like they were going to pack it in when the Lakers went up by five with less than four minutes remaining. But Melo lifted them with seven straight points (12 in fourth) to get the Knicks back in it. Kobe Bryant, who was nursing a sore right shoulder, made three key jumpers in the final minutes to set up the thrilling finish.

The Knicks will need all the confidence they can from this game as next up are the defending champion Golden State Warriors.

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https://youtu.be/_QlWTqojZO4

Tony Wroten to Sign 2 Year Deal with Knicks

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Free agent guard Tony Wroten is finalizing a multi-year contract to join the Knicks for the next two seasons.

Wroten was released by the Sixers in December after struggling to return from a torn right ACL in January 2015. The 22 year old lead Philadelphia in scoring last season with 17 points per game. This year, he averaged 8.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 18.0 minutes, last playing in December.

At 6’6, the Knicks are hoping Wroten can strengthen their struggling backcourt with his defense and penetration ability.

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This is a good signing. Since the second year of the deal is reportedly not guaranteed, the rest of this season is essentially a tryout to see if Wroten can mesh with our group. While Wroten does not solve our PG problems, he has playmaking ability and can be a scoring threat instead of the predictable iso dumps to Melo when the shot clock is running down. Defense is where I’m really hoping he can be serviceable as we’ve been getting cooked by athletic PGs all year.

For the last few months, Wroten has been leaving cryptic messages on social media about possibly joining New York. Now he has his chance to show and prove.

 

[Video] Watch Arron Afflalo Break Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s Ankles

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What got into Arron Afflalo tonight? AA produced a 7/7 first half for 15 points and finished the game with 20 as Knicks beat the Pistons 102-89. Afflalo’s most memorable play came in the first quarter with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope being victim of an ankle-breaking crossover. It was only right that the basketball gods rewarded Afflalo with a friendly rim bounce.

Check out the link below for more angles.

 

Knicks Fans Showcase – TDK Clothings’ Dope NYK Customs

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Saying it’s been a tough season for our Knicks is a gross understatement. But moments like this have provide a little joy. This awesome sweatshirt arrived today courtesy of TKD Clothing, who’ve made two Knicks-themed shirts that have been in huge demand. The first is a tribute to the 90’s squad named “Bully Ball.” The other is the “God First…” sweatshirt you see above.

Unfortunately, both are sold out. But stay tuned to the TKD Clothing website and IG page for news on their next clothing run. Also make sure to subscribe to their affiliated Knicks Discussion FB page and IG.

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Melo Addresses Rumors of Cavs Trade: “I’m not going anywhere.”

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This weekend was abuzz with trade rumors after a story broke that Knicks, Cavs and Celtics were in preliminary talks about a trade that would send Carmelo Anthony to Cleveland, Kevin Love to Boston, and high draft picks to New York.

The crux of the piece is that Anthony, who is aging and suffering from recurring soreness on his surgically repaired left knee, would want to join forces with his close friend LeBron James in hopes of winning an NBA title. Another theorized trade includes Anthony going to the Clippers, where he would also be teaming with a close friend in Chris Paul.

There’s only one problem — Melo loves New York and has no desire to leave. Much like two summers ago when everyone claimed his best shot to win a title was going to Chicago, now the rumblings from media and some fans is the Knicks need to go into rebuild mode. Last night, Melo emphasized his commitment to the Knicks and doubled down this morning in an appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio:

There’s always some trade shit going, I don’t pay attention to those rumors. I’m not going anywhere.

So there you have it. Melo is staying, just as Knicks President Phil Jackson said going into All-Star weekend. The irony is Melo has been the one elite player in five years that’s wanted to play and win in New York. And here we have some fans and media that want to run him out of town and start over. Have you forgotten the Dark Ages that were the early to mid 2000s already?