[ad_1]
Although he became a free agent when the Knicks declined his $ 8 million option, Elfrid Payton was convinced he would return to New York, writes Marc Berman of the New York Post. Speaking to reporters today via a Zoom call, Payton said he never seriously considered another team.
“From the start we always intended that I would come back, so I wasn’t really worried I guess, ‘‘ he said.
Payton was part of a maligned trio of point guards, with Frank Ntilikina and Dennis Smith Jr., who shared the time at the post last season. After listening to offseason speculation that the team will find a replacement through the draft or free agency, Payton believes the three will enter the season with something to prove.
“I have the impression that we have been counted”, he said. “So go ahead, compete and show what we can do. It’s definitely something that we want to use as motivation, as if we don’t have enough already. But it’s definitely something we talked about in the locker room, even during those brief days we’ve been together.
There are more new Knicks to pass on:
- Smith is eagerly awaiting a fresh start after a difficult 2019/20 season that began with the death of his stepmother, Berman adds in the same post. Injury and bad play limited him to just 34 games and 15.8 minutes per night. “I would simply say understand that nothing happens to you, that it happens to you”, Smith said. “And I had to go through a lot of different things mentally – not even physically – mentally, I had to go through a lot of different things to figure this out. But freshwater never made (qualified) sailors, so I’m taking it all in stride, and I’m going to keep improving. ”
- Mitchell robinson may be the center of the team of the future, but it will have to compete with the addition of free agent Nerlens Noel for the starting point, according to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. Regardless of how the playtime changes, Noel expects to take on a role of teacher. “I just want to advise him in any way I can,” he said. “Whatever position we play throughout the season, it will play for itself. I want to be a big brother to him and give him a lot of advice throughout the season.
- Lottery choice Obi toppin already impresses his teammates with his athletic gifts, writes Ian Begley of SNY.TV. The rookie forward set franchise records in agility, conditioning and track and field exercises.
[ad_2]
Source link