SNY’s Ian Begley will be responding to Knicks questions from readers. Here’s the latest…
What are the chances that Ariel Hukporti gets to be the backup center over Jericho Sims? Thibs has liked the way he has played during the preseason we know Coach Thibodeau is not the type of guy that likes to play rookies. – @__Justin99
I can’t put a percentage on it but Hukporti has made a strong case for himself in the preseason. He played significant minutes against Charlotte last week and in the preseason opener against Washington. He moved well on offense in both games, played with high energy and looked like someone who is comfortable on an NBA court.
Still, I think it’s fair to assume that Tom Thibodeau goes with Sims ahead of Hukporti because of Sims’ experience.
But Thibodeau has been pleased with Hukporti’s play in the preseason.
“I thought he gave us great minutes,” the coach said after a game last week.
We’ll find out on Tuesday if Hukporti is in Thibodeau’s rotation.
At the very least, it seems like the Knicks may have found another player late in the NBA Draft. They took him with the 58th pick last June.
“I am taking it slowly, step by step,” Hukporti said earlier this week. “….Definitely learning a lot from KAT [Karl-Anthony Towns] as well…. It’s my first time really playing in America, living in America, getting used to the coach [Thibodeau] and getting used to the game. I am trying to take everything step by step and not rushing anything.”
Hukporti had spent the previous three seasons playing in Australia with the NBL’s Next Stars program.
As a prospect, the 7-foot- and 245 pound center showed in Australia that he could rebound well, move well for his size and defend the rim. If it weren’t for an Achilles tear in 2022, Hukporti would probably have been drafted sooner.
The injury sidelined Hukporti for the entire 2022-23 season. The 22-year-old made a full recovery and returned to the court last season, maintaining the athleticism he had before the injury. Before his NBL stint, Hukporti played in the top Lithuanian league, LKL, for Nevezis Kedainiai.
Bobby Gonzalez, former Seton Hall head coach and Detroit Pistons scout, coached Hukporti in Lithuania.
“He has a chance to be very good in the league,” Gonzalez says. “He’s big, has great strength, moves well and works hard.”
Gonzalez worked with Hukporti because he has a longtime relationship with Hukporti’s agent, Thaddeus Foucher. Hukporti’s athleticism and ability to play above the rim impressed Gonzalez, a New York native.
“Obviously because I’m a New Yorker and root for the Knicks I couldn’t be more excited to see him here and follow his progress,” Gonzalez said. “I think the Knicks got another good player in the draft.”
Hukporti is on a two-way contract but I expect the Knicks to convert his contract to a standard deal. With Hukporti on a standard contract, the Knicks would have 13 players on traditional deals.
The Knicks could choose to start the season with fewer than 13 players on standard deals. But as ESPN Front Office Insider Bobby Marks notes, the Knicks are not allowed to have fewer than 14 players on a roster for more than 28 days during the regular season. They also cannot have fewer than 14 players for 14 consecutive days in the regular season.
So even if the Knicks start the season with Hukporti on a two-way contract, I’d expect them to convert him within the first two weeks of the regular season.
Will he eventually play ahead of Sims? I think Sims gets the initial rotation spot but if it doesn’t work well, Hukporti will be right there for Thibodeau.
QUICK HITTERS
What do you think of the Atlantic Division? – @Knickanator_
Before I get to that, I loved the video @Knickanator_. Thanks! Here’s my take:
Boston is probably the team in best position to repeat since Golden State. If Kristaps Porzingis stays healthy and Al Horford maintains the level he played at last season, Boston will win a lot of games in the regular season. If history is any indication, we know the Knicks will go hard after every win in the regular season. So maybe they’ll have a chance to catch Boston in the regular season if the Celtics choose to rest their top players periodically this year.
Philadelphia’s season obviously hinges on the health of Joel Embiid and Paul George. If Philly has a healthy and energized Embiid in the postseason, they should be a very tough out. That’s why, to me, Andre Drummond is such an important player for Philadelphia. With Drummond, the Sixers can still compete when Embiid is off the floor or out of the lineup. (The Knicks were among the teams with interest in Drummond in the offseason.)
Toronto is compelling because of the ex-Knicks (Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett). Quickley should thrive with an expanded role in Toronto. Maybe he makes life easier for Scottie Barnes. But if we assume every team is relatively healthy, I think the Raptors are, at best, a play-in team in the Eastern Conference. That brings us to the Nets….
What is interesting about the Nets outside of us rooting for losses for the tank? – @jerseyguy_95
I understand the sentiment, @jerseyguy_95. It’s logical to expect the Nets to “Waive the White Flagg” or become a “Disgrace for Ace.” Still, it will be interesting to watch Cam Thomas, who is extension eligible this summer. One way or another, Brooklyn will have a decision to make on his future. Also, the Nets and GM Sean Marks are invested in Jordi Hernandez’s success. Success for the first-year coach won’t be measured in wins and losses. But if he can lay the groundwork for a franchise-wide culture of accountability and high standards, it should pay future dividends for the Nets. So his coaching is certainly worth watching.
Additionally, I think Jalen Wilson is going to have a strong season for Brooklyn. By the end of the year, I think we’ll see him as another strong draft choice by Marks and the Nets.
Where do the Knicks stand with Pacome Dadiet? Watching the suns play Dunn kinda bothers me it feels like a repeat of 2022 with Jalen Duren and Jalen Williams Thibs can’t just keep sitting young guys for 1 year contract guys. – @bmorelikestate
First off, State, I like your tweets/Knicks takes, man. I appreciate your passion. You wrote this before Dadiet’s 16-point preseason debut against Charlotte. And it became even more relevant after that game because of Landry Shamet’s injury. Ultimately, I assume Dadiet won’t be part of the Knick rotation this season. I say that because the Knicks are trying to win a title and I assume that they would prefer to have a veteran in the rotation instead of a 19-year-old rookie. But Dadiet has looked very comfortable on the floor in preseason. If nothing else, he looks like someone who can be part of an NBA rotation in the near future.
With Shamet likely injured and out for a while, what will they do with his spot on the bench? – @MikeRee60259113
They waived Shamet but I think they will have the roster spot available for him if/when he gets back on the court. Doing this allows the team to maintain flexibility if Shamet doesn’t make it all the way back. It also allows them to save some money. He’s still being evaluated but there is early optimism that he can avoid surgery.
Do you think Tyler Kolek has a chance to make the rotation? Cam Payne has played pretty well in preseason. What’s the latest on who the backup guard will be? – @DylanBackerESM
Coming out of Summer League, Kolek was penciled in ahead of Payne in the depth chart. But neither player was projected to be in Tom Thibodeau’s rotation. That changed after the Karl-Anthony Towns trade. With Josh Hart in the starting lineup and Donte DiVincenzo in Minnesota, there was a void in the bench unit. So the Knicks elevated Payne, a veteran with playoff experience. Given that, my best guess is that Payne starts the season as the backup point guard. With Shamet’s injury, maybe Kolek gets elevated to the second unit?
Will TJ Warren make the final roster after Shamet’s injury? – @knicksaremid
With the Shamet situation up in the air, the Knicks didn’t have cap space under the second apron for T.J. Warren. Warren had support among some Knicks coaches and front office members to make the regular-season roster. He is going to join the Knicks’ G League team in Westchester, SNY has learned, as he’ll likely be in the mix to rejoin the club during the season.
What did you think of Brunson/Divincenzo? – @HeathbarzWhat
A: What’s up Heath? I think this is water under the bridge for both parties. Rick Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo have had a close relationship for a while. Emotions were high on both sides but I think they have put it behind them.
What Knicks move/news of the last 5 years had you the most excited to report on? – @TMontana4810
It’s a great question. My first reaction is to say “the Knicks’ next move.” But I don’t think that’s the answer you are looking for, lol.
Some of my favorites are actually moves that didn’t happen. I enjoyed reporting on Leon Rose deciding to keep Tom Thibodeau as head coach during the 2022 All Star Break even though he had the latitude to fire him. The same thing happened early in the 2022-23 season. Rose’s decision-making – and loyalty – has obviously paid off in a big way for New York. The other one that comes to mind is the Donovan Mitchell trade talks. There were so many moving parts and there was so much at stake. Again, Rose and the Knicks took a cautious approach. It left the club open to criticism and second-guessing. But based on how things have played out, it seems to like the right decision.