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Not all Kentucky merchandise took off for the Knicks.
As rookie goaltenders Immanuel Quickley and Julius Randle soar, their former Wildcat colleague forward Kevin Knox hit rock bottom on Sunday in the Knicks’ 129-115 loss to the Clippers when he received his first DNP of the season.
The handwriting was on the wall, as Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau scaled down Knox’s role when swingman Alec Burks and rookie power forward Obi Toppin returned from long-term injuries. Knox had only played eight minutes in each of the last two games, scoreless while attempting a single basket.
Their 2018 lottery pick started the season off on a high, showing off a 3-point shooting range and earning congratulations from Thibodeau.
“Obviously, they’re not prioritizing its development – like last year,” said an NBA scout.
Less than two weeks ago, Knox led the NBA with a 3-point corner shot percentage, but he stopped shooting. Knox is only averaging 6.1 points, with 39.1% and 39.1% from 3 points. Knox’s effective field goal percentage, which gives 3-point marks extra weight, is 50.5% healthy – higher than Quickley and RJ Barrett.
Nonetheless, Thibodeau sees the bigger picture, and has fallen in love with the courage of winger Reggie Bullock and even the tenacity of Toppin, who doesn’t shoot well (40.8%, 26.1% of 3). When Toppin was away, Knox played a lot of minutes up front.
It’s worth noting that Knicks president Leon Rose is more invested in Toppin than Knox, who was selected ninth overall by Knicks general manager Scott Perry and former president Steve Mills.
A person familiar with the thinking of the coaching staff said Thibodeau still felt Bullock, Toppin and Burks provide “more energy” than Knox has recently, although no data exists to support this. One of Knox’s problems coming out of Kentucky was low engine, but he had competed harder this season.
Thibodeau recently praised Knox’s picking selection – feeling last season he had launched many misguided attempts. For his part, Knox recently said he needs to attack the rim more and not just rely on the 3s.
The NBA scout said the Knicks’ slow pace Thibodeau prefers doesn’t suit Knox as well as a faster offense. Indeed, the 6-8 Knox excels at running the ground.
The Knox shooting had fallen before Sunday’s DNP. He was only 4 of 17 in the previous seven games.
On Sunday, Thibodeau was likely worried about Knox’s clashes against elite Clippers forwards Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, as well as rugged Marcus Morris. However, without Knox, the Knicks lost 129 points, the worst of the season.
Barrett, whom the Knicks are trying to make more of a small forward, fought but failed to contain Leonard (28 points).
The future of Knox, who is still only 21, looks bleak. If the DNP continues, it wouldn’t be a shock if the Knicks sent him to the G League bubble in Orlando for reps – as they did with Dennis Smith Jr.
Knox still has business value, and The Post reported that Oklahoma City was interested in him when the Knicks were considering a trade with Chris Paul.
On Andrew Yang’s podcast last week, NBA draft expert Kevin O’Connor sensed that Knox could gain the upper hand with another team if the Knicks grew impatient with his slow development.
“(He was) a raw prospect coming out of the project, was going to be a project,” O’Connor said. “And he’s still believed. Another guy who doesn’t seem ready to play. What a shame it is the third year. Look at the Knicks’ offense and the difference a quality wing scorer would make on this team. Having someone like a developed Kevin Knox would make this team totally different when it comes to throwing them forward. In the end, his shot didn’t come together the way it should – neither his handling of the ball nor his decision-making.
The Knicks have exercised Knox’s fourth-year option, which will net him $ 5.8 million next season.
“He looks like one of those guys that wouldn’t shock me if his second team or third team ended up being an NBA grade player,” said O’Connor, who works for The Ringer. “That’s the interesting thing with the Knicks with guys like Knox. They’re probably more valuable for the Knicks as a player to trade for someone who can play right away and contribute something. The people I talk to in the league, he’s seen as someone who can be successful.
The Knicks have officially assigned Smith Jr., Ignas Brazdeikis and Jared Harper to the G League bubble in Orlando, which begins in mid-February. The season will last about four weeks.
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