The Knicks improved their chances of defending their NBA title by keeping most of the roster together this summer, Peter Sblendorio of The New York Daily News writes in a subscriber-only story. Free agents Landry Shamet, Jose Alvarado and Jordan Clarkson all agreed to return, giving New York 10 of the 11 players who averaged the most minutes per game for the team last season.
The only major loss was backup center Mitchell Robinson, who signed with Boston after owner James Dolan admitted a reluctance to spend into the second apron. Robinson was replaced by veteran big man Andre Drummond, who took notice of the roster continuity at training camp.
“This is the first time I’m the only new guy to a team, so it feels kind of weird. Like, an outcast trying to fit in,” Drummond said. “But the guys are very welcoming. They made me feel very welcome to be here.”
Sblendorio notes that Shamet, Alvarado and Clarkson could likely have landed larger contracts on the open market, as well as bigger roles with other teams. However, they all wanted to be part of trying to bring another championship to New York, even if it doesn’t involve guaranteed playing time.
“We want to win for each other,” Shamet said*. “We’re willing to take on different roles and know that we’ve got each other’s back. If Jose’s got it going and my minutes are shortened, awesome, and vice versa. I’ve been … a broken record about it, but you don’t see that. From a backup guard position, that’s very rare, where no ego or ulterior motives get involved. That’s something special that you want to be a part of.”*
There’s more on the Knicks:
The team is ready to accept the target that comes with being the reigning champions, coach Mike Brown said in a question-and-answer session with Steve Serby of The New York Post. Brown gained some perspective on defending a title while serving as an assistant with Golden State. “Everybody likes to play the Knicks anyway, especially in MSG, and now it’s just an added carrot to the whole deal.,” he said. “We have a mature group, and that’s one of the main things that gives me — I don’t know if hope is the right word — but gives me hope that we’re going to take this or embrace this process like no other. I truly believe that the maturity of the group is going to help when it comes to all of it, not just being The Hunted, but handling being patted on the back all year, and media scrutiny that we’re going to be under and pressures of the other things that we’re going to be under. I think that’s what’s going to help a ton.”
Brown admits it wasn’t easy to part with veteran swingman Bruce Brown, who was waived on Saturday to bring the roster down to 14 players, per Jared Schwartz of The New York Post. “Bruce, he’s a winner,” coach Brown said. “He shows a level of toughness and versatility — not just defensively, he can guard one through four, but even offensively, he can initiate the offense.”
Fred Katz of The Athletic looks back at a brief players-only meeting following the Game 3 loss to Atlanta in the first round of the playoffs that set the stage for the Knicks’ championship run.