SNY’s Ian Begley will be responding to Knicks questions from readers. Here’s the latest…
Thanks for the question, Jay. Id like to start here with my answer: in our video Mailbag earlier this week, I took a question from @EvanWecksell (4:51 mark) about Cam Payne. I said I thought Payne would get significant minutes next season. Turns out that, based on current rotation projections, I was wrong. Before we get to that, I just want to touch on my answer in the Mailbag. I thought Payne would get rotation minutes off the Knick bench because I knew they had interest in Tyus Jones. Jones would obviously get significant minutes with the Knicks if hed signed here. So I assumed that the Knicks had a similar plan for Payne. That assumption was wrong.
This is where things stand with the projected rotation coming out of Summer League: Rookie Tyler Kolek is currently the backup point guard, ahead of Payne, per people familiar with the matter. The Knicks were thrilled to get Payne last week. (He signed for a veterans minimum deal). At the moment, he is viewed as the third lead guard behind Kolek, who had a very strong Summer League.
Will Kolek be in Tom Thibodeaus rotation? I dont know the answer to that question. You can certainly pencil in Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart and the Knicks yet-to-be-named backup center into Thibodeaus rotation. Based on current projections after the Payne signing, Miles McBride is in the Knicks regular rotation. So to play Kolek, Thibodeau would need to expand his rotation to ten players.
To be clear: the above is based on where things stand coming out of Summer League. This can obviously change based on player performance during training camp/preseason.
On the backup center spot, the Knicks have remained in regular contact with free agent Precious Achiuwa. Achiuwa has drawn interest from opposing teams, including some contenders.
Its reasonable to assume they would prefer to do it before the season. They have been talking to teams about potential options. I assume they will continue to have those conversations this offseason. Waiting until the trade deadline (or December 15, when most players who signed as free agents in the 2024 offseason can be moved), isnt ideal. But the Knicks, by and large, have been prudent under team president Leon Rose.
Yes. I do think the current roster would lead to Thibodeau being more open to playing with a smaller lineup. But I also think the Knicks remain interested in adding a traditional backup center.
Given how much money Steve Ballmer has committed to the Clippers, I assume they will try and sign Zubac long-term.