Never really in Tom Thibodeau’s plans since his arrival at new York in 2020, Obi Toppin was transferred this summer to Indiana by the Knicks. Because they did not plan to extend it, the New York leaders therefore evacuated it so as not to lose it without compensation next summer, recovering in the affair two future second rounds of Draft.
Except that the former Dayton was not replaced position for position this summer, since the management of the Knicks preferred to strengthen its rotation of external positions by recruiting Donte DiVincenzo, as at home in New York.
Josh Hart, the Swiss Army knife
In short: Julius Randle’s understudy this season will not be a natural power forward, and that is undoubtedly Josh Hart which by default will stick to it. And obviously with pleasure, listening to it.
“ My role is the one the team needs “, he actually replied this Tuesday, first day of training camp. “ Take last year, I sometimes ran the ball, sometimes played as a screen setter. Same in defense, I defend the position that suits everyone. So it doesn’t matter. It depends on the needs of the team. »
Then the Swiss army knife of the Knicks recalled that he had already taken on this status of “small” position 4, last year in Portland, and that he was therefore already comfortable with this role of facilitator in the painting when he works as a screen installer. Especially since he remains a very good rebounder for his size: 6.2 shots per game in his career.
RJ Barrett also volunteers
“ I was essentially one of the two power forwards on the team. But it’s a bit of a sign of the times, with the increasing importance of the ‘small ball’, two-player screens, all that », he adds. “ So it doesn’t bother me. In any case, I like to unlock situations on the ‘short-roll’. »
He was also questioned on this subject at the Knicks’ “media day” on Monday, RJ Barrett explained that this possibility had not yet been presented to him, but that he was in any case ready to pursue it, for the needs of the team.
“ I don’t know anything about this yet. But yes, if it comes to fruition, I am comfortable with this role “, assures the Canadian winger. “ I will happily adapt, but I think the appearance of the matches will decide all that. »
| Shots | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Bp | Int | Ct | Party | Pts |
| Julius Randle | 77 | 35.6 | 45.9 | 34.3 | 75.7 | 1.8 | 8.1 | 10.0 | 4.1 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 3.0 | 25.1 |
| Jalen Brunson | 68 | 35.0 | 49.1 | 41.6 | 82.9 | 0.6 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 6.2 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 2.2 | 24.0 |
| Rj Barrett | 73 | 33.9 | 43.4 | 31.0 | 74.0 | 0.8 | 4.2 | 5.0 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 2.5 | 19.6 |
| Immanuel Quickley | 81 | 28.9 | 44.8 | 37.0 | 81.9 | 0.7 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 3.4 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 2.0 | 14.9 |
| Quentin Grimes | 71 | 29.9 | 46.8 | 38.6 | 79.6 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 2.5 | 11.3 |
| Josh Hart | 25 | 30.0 | 58.6 | 51.9 | 78.9 | 1.9 | 5.2 | 7.0 | 3.6 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 10.2 |
| Cam Reddish | 20 | 21.9 | 44.9 | 30.4 | 87.9 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 8.4 |
| Obi Toppin | 67 | 15.7 | 44.6 | 34.4 | 80.9 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 7.4 |
| Mitchell Robinson | 59 | 27.0 | 67.1 | 0.0 | 48.4 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 9.4 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 7.4 |
| Evan Fournier | 27 | 17.0 | 33.7 | 30.7 | 85.7 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 6.1 |
| Derrick Rose | 27 | 12.5 | 38.4 | 30.2 | 91.7 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 5.6 |
| Isaiah Hartenstein | 82 | 19.8 | 53.5 | 21.6 | 67.6 | 2.5 | 4.0 | 6.5 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 2.6 | 5.0 |
| Miles McBride | 64 | 11.9 | 35.8 | 29.9 | 66.7 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 3.5 |
| Jericho Sims | 52 | 15.6 | 77.6 | 0.0 | 75.0 | 1.9 | 2.8 | 4.7 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 3.4 |
| Svi Mykhailiuk | 13 | 3.1 | 50.0 | 60.0 | 60.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.6 |
| Trevor Keels | 3 | 2.7 | 25.0 | 25.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| Ryan Arcidiacono | 11 | 2.4 | 20.0 | 33.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
