Appearing on “The Hoop Genius” podcast, former Knicks general manager Scott Perry suggested that New York didn’t view now-Cavaliers All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell as being quite good enough to be worth surrendering all of the team’s most valuable trade assets, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. Perry explained the front office’s thinking at the time.
“Obviously we made a push to trade for him,” Perry said (hat tip to Bondy for the transcription). “But it was going to be done within reason. He was a good player but he needed more around him to win. Because if he was that singular force, Utah probably would’ve been in the conference finals if he were that singular force. … But he wasn’t that singular force. That’s not a criticism against him. That’s just an evaluation that you must make.”
“[Mitchell’s] an excellent basketball player,” Perry acknowledged. “Multi-year All-Star. Tremendous young man. New York kid… But you got to ask yourself, if the other team you’re trading with is wanting to take two-thirds or three-quarters of all your young talent, and all of your draft capital, is what’s left behind going to good enough for you to win rather than hold on to what you have and be a little patient?”
There’s more out of New York:
- Newly-signed Knicks swingman Donte DiVincenzo is getting comfortable with his new comrades, writes Peter Botte of The New York Post. “I think in a weird way, it’s the third team in two seasons, if you will,” DiVincenzo said. “But this team, coaching staff, front office, everybody’s done a great job of making me feel like I’ve been on the team for a long time.” DiVincenzo was traded by the Bucks to the Kings midway through the 2021/22 season, and then signed with the Warriors for 2022/23 on a one-year deal. Through his first three games with New York, the shooting guard is averaging 7.0 PPG on .381/.308/.500 shooting splits, along with 3.0 RPG, 1.0 APG and 1.0 SPG.
- The Knicks opted to not rest anybody on the second night of an early-season back-to-back, writes Botte in a separate piece. New York fell 96-87 to the Pelicans on Saturday, in a turnover-heavy, inefficient shooting affair. “Less than 24 hours and a time change is kind of weird. Especially for the beginning of the season, but of course a little bit of fatigue today, but that’s not really any excuse at the end of the day,” small forward RJ Barrett said. “When we come out here, we gotta give our best effort and play our best game.”
- Former Knicks lottery pick Obi Toppin, who was traded to the Pacers in exchange for two second-round draft picks this summer, spoke to Bondy about his time in New York and his exit from the franchise. “It’s nothing personal,” Toppin said. “It’s just the business side of things. Obviously I was upset at times but you got to get past that.”
Gotta agree with Perry on Mitchell. I know a lot of Knicks fans were unhappy when the team didn’t land him, but I also believed that while he would make the Knicks better, he’s not the guy to push the team to a Championship, and likely not even an NBA Finals. He’s a super talent obviously, but he’s not a great fit next to Brunson, and he’s not the closer a team needs to win a game 7 in the playoffs.
If the Knicks are going to give up that much of the farm for a guy, it’s either got to be for a true superstar like an Embiid, or it’s got to at least be at a position that the club desperately needs (3 and D star wing – OG, Mikal, etc.).
Completely agree with you, however I am not personally sold on Embiid being that superstar either.
RJ is better than OG. And Nets are never trading Bridges. Embiid will never be traded to NY. Patience is the right way to go now. This is the 4th year for this coach and GM. Imo this will be the year they make that move.
Can any die hard Knick fan like myself tell me why Grimes is in the starting lineup. This so called future Klay Thompson is giving us nothing.He looks passive and he ain’t even hitting open catch and shoot shots. This is our enept coach new Elfrid Peyton. Put IQ in the starting lineup asap. This enept stubborn coach will be fired if we get off to a slow start I guereentee.
Grimes is no Elf.
I didn’t say he is Elf Payton I meant our enept coach will probably stix with him forever like he did Elf while they both give us nothing. Time for Leon Rose to get us another bonefish star. I would trade for Zach Levine or Karl Anthony Towns. This team has too many one trick poney players like Mitch Rob who can defend but is a liability on offense like Josh Hart who can’t shoot. A back court of Jalen Brunson and Zach lavine would be lethal. And we need a Center or Foward that can score not just off put backs and dunks and not a turn over machine like Randle. Another player I would trade for is Sakiam or OG Anuaby. Get Randle the hell off this team and get this stubborn enept coach as far away from this team with his predictable iso heavy offense.
The Knicks should’ve traded for him, they say the same things about every star
Perry was in NY for some of its worse seasons. Responsible for Fizdale. But I do agree with him. That Jazz wanted too much. Personally I’m with the school of thought. That DM and Jalen were not a good mix. Perry was a brown-noser for Dolan. As most are to the emperor.
One reason, big reason Rase and Thibs have had success. Is Dolan has stayed away. His meddling is a big reason for Knicks failures.
Grimes and Randle both have not looked good. Yet we have one win and should have beat Celtics. Played bad against Pelicans.
Thing that stands out to me so far. Is the stagnant Knick offense. There is no motion. Everything is run off iso ball.
40.4 FG%, 37% (3PT), 67% FT
Only two teams have attempted more threes than Knicks. I’m not a big fan of three ball. I believe in good looks. When you run a good offense. The three is always there. It’s early so I will wait to critique.
Randle’s shot isn’t falling but he’s rebounding and piling up assists. Embiid isn’t coming and that’s fine because we’d trade too many assets for him and he can’t stay healthy. Why isn’t anyone questioning the fact that Randle is the only forward on the roster? According to the depth chart, the backup power forward is Josh Hart. If Randle is lost for a significant amount of time, it’s back to the lottery.