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LAS VEGAS – Ironically, with all of the Knicks’ biggest names on hand at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center on Sunday for their Summer League opener, the neon exit came from their unannounced 58th pick from the runner-up. tower.
Texas big man Jericho Sims, the rookie who signed a two-part deal earlier today, was perfect – literally – and topped their other three draft picks.
Sims, the 6-foot-10 high-stealer who started center against Toronto, was electrified as he made his six shots for 12 points and collected eight rebounds. The 22-year-old lit up the crowd with a late alley-oop dunk on an Immanuel Quickley lob.
It was Quickley’s highlight. Otherwise, Quickley (5 of 17) led a Knicks brickfest in their opener, losing 89-79 to Toronto.
The Knicks only shot 37%. The Sims, all inside, shot 100% – a classic defensive specialist and an attacking rim runner.
Sims’ two-way contract means he can play a maximum of 50 NBA games. If that’s what it is, however, the Sims’ two-way contract with the G League could be severed at some point in the season.
“That’s what they had planned for me,” Sims said of his contract. “Right now. I can do something else, but [rim-runner] that’s what they want me to do now. ”
That’s sort of the role the Knicks would want their 2020 lottery pick, power forward Obi Toppin, who started slowly on Sunday, missing his first four shots but recovering. He finished with 24 points of 10 of 21 shots but was only 2 of 10 of 3.
“Jericho, man, does he jump really high,” Toppin said. “Jericho is a sponge and loves to learn and improve. He’s going to be a very good player. ”
The scout report had Sims as a defensive specialist, but he was active and productive on the offensive end, running the ground and hitting inside with poise.
At the end of the first half he scored as a trailer on the quick break with a float in the lane – a Mitchell Robinson shooting center almost never tries. The value of The Sims will increase if the Knicks decide to trade Robinson before he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2022.
“I was happy,” Sims said. “But it’s more about what we do as a team.”
Early in the second half, Sims rebounded and started a quick break on his own, showing some skill in handling the ball. But the pick-and-roll alley-oop with Quickley with three minutes remaining was the highlight of the game.
“I knew something like this was going to happen,” Sims said. “They can’t keep us both.
Sims is a man of few words, but he’s already acknowledged his surprise at dropping to 58 – the penultimate draft pick.
“I was told anything could happen, but I was told 25 to 40,” Sims said. “Then … ”
It was amazing that the Knicks came out of the draft with potentially four rookies. It was speculated that the Knicks might well trade the 58th pick after snatching Quentin Grimes, Miles McBride and Rokas Jokubaitis.
But trading such a deep choice is difficult because the return may have too many protections. And it became evident when the Sims moved up to 58.
“I can’t wait to gain as much experience as possible,” Sims said. “Whether it’s in the G-League right now or in the main roster. ”
Whether Sims actually plays with Westchester remains to be seen, but he’s not currently on the NBA’s 15-player roster.
“Jericho has the tools that can help us through the year,” said Knicks Summer League coach Dice Yoshimoto. “He spent a lot of time in the gym, did a great job at training camp.
As for the Knicks’ other three draft picks in 2021, the first round Grimes, selected 25th, scored on his first touch – a 3-point right wing – but finished with just nine points. Second-round pick McBride also added nine points.
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