You ask, we answer. The Post is answering readers’ questions about New York’s biggest professional sports teams and getting our tick writers to answer them in a series of regularly published postal envelopes. In today’s episode: the Knicks.
Will the Knicks chase Christian Wood in free agency? – Yaron Rahmani
It’s hard to imagine that the Pistons, after making this solid breakthrough forward, will easily let go of the 6-foot and 10-foot wood. The free abbreviated agency won’t start for another four months – after the October 15th draft.
Wood, extracted from UNLV in 2015, became a steal for Detroit after the attacker worked anonymously in the NBA for four previous teams. Excellent work by Pistons boss Ed Stefanski, the former Nets executive who has just added OKC’s extraordinary executive Troy Weaver to his staff.
The Knicks like Wood – as SNY reported for the first time – and it is well above his COVID-19 diagnosis. Wood was a team mate of Julius Randle in New Orleans for a short time during the 2018-19 season. In nine games, Wood averaged 16.9 points.
Sure, Wood has played for the terrible Pistons this season, but the 24-year-old striker has averaged 13.1 points and 6.3 rebounds in 62 games (Detroit is not part of the NBA restart).
Over the course of a stretch, a talent assessor thought that Wood was playing at an All-Star level. But another manager of the group warned: “It was with five teams – it’s not a dunk.”
The Knicks are looking for a power forward that can fire from the mid-range and the 3-point line with the likely departure of Bobby Portis. Wood shot 56.7 percent from the field – and 38.6 percent from 3.
Wood made $ 1.6 million this season. Even with the major cut in the wage cap, Wood could earn five, six times that of next season.
However, beware: the information provided by the UNLV in 2015 was not stellar, according to sources.
That’s why the Knicks, one of the few clubs with room for caps, may be reluctant to defend their 2021 cap in the long run.
Send your questions about the Knicks to be answered in an incoming postal envelope
As an NBA reporter, you think Kyrie Irving is right [about not restarting] season? Clearly he won’t play anyway because he’s injured, [and he] he speaks like a player who gets $ 30 million a year, not a younger player who needs a paycheck. – Luke Hubbard
Joining a free agency, The Post reported that the Knicks were concerned about signing Irving as their lone free agent, but would do so as a magnet for Kevin Durant. The Knicks had no problems with Irving on the pitch, but after doing due diligence during his stay in Boston, the brass was worried about his leadership skills.
The nets are discovering the downside of Irving, whose inaugural season has been ruined by shoulder problems. Now the optics are trying to ruin the entrance of the Networks by restarting 22 teams after learning that he would not be able to join them in Orlando as a cheerleader.
It is one thing if Irving, vice president of the players’ association, pressures players not to go because of health risks. Players will be asked for Black Lives Matter during official press conferences and their responses will be broadcast around the world (which is not flat). I’m with Commissioner Adam Silver. The games will only send stronger messages.
Irving’s position seemed wrong, particularly when he is still remodeling. Forget that the Nets had a better record when Irving didn’t play. GM Sean Marks should worry about Irving’s ability to lead the group next season. Kevin Durant is too kind to be the dominant leader in the locker room. So Irving will have to come forward as commander.
Let’s be honest now if Leon Rose [does an] overtime, in which season could we choose to be competitive to win a championship? – Florian Chabasse
This is a good question for the press conference that Beginner President Knicks answers. Rose hasn’t spoken to the media yet since he was hired on March 2. I know Rose really wants to break the drought of the seven-year playoffs in 2020-21 – which is why she brought her former veteran clients – Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony and Tom Thibodeau – to her radar. Thibodeau triggered the drought of the Timberwolves 14-year playoffs in 2017-18. Breaking the drought of Knicks’ 47-year-old title is another affair, but Rose doesn’t seem like the patient type.
Will RJ Barrett play more forward next season after the team designed a PG with one of its first rounds? – Bill Josephson
At 6-foot-7, Barrett loses his lead against shorter shooting guards, but has that versatility for being a 3 man. It all depends on whether Kevin Knox emerges because the Knicks ended their season without a small legitimate advantage. Maurice Harkless, a free agent who may be returning in these tight times, is better as a backup.
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