The Knicks are expected to have an open selection spot with injured power forward / center John Henson’s 10-day contract expiring on Thursday. According to an NBA source, the Knicks do not intend to give him a second ten-day pact.
Norvel Pelle, the center of the third string, came into action on Wednesday when starter Nerlens Noel was scratched at the last minute with an ankle sprain that sealed Henson’s fate.
Henson injured his calf on the second day of his contract while training with several Knicks players. The 30-year NBA veteran never got into a game, but raised $ 119,000 from his 10-day pact to rehabilitate his calf. Henson didn’t make the two-game road trip to New Orleans and Dallas.
In the meantime, Pelle had a strong defensive game on Wednesday in the victory of the Knicks against the Pelicans. Pelle, playing with a dislocated finger sustained during his Detroit debut, played 13 minutes, blocking a shot from Zion Williamson and scoring two inner baskets. More importantly, he was a plus-19.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau didn’t know much about Pelle when they initially signed him earlier this month, saying the “scouts” liked him. But he has been impressed. Pelle has his second 10-day contract with the expectation that he will finish the season with the Knicks.
“Norvel was great,” said Thibodeau. ‘He has done a lot of extra work. He’s still finding his way, the system learns. But its length, bulkhead blocking, edge protection is huge for us. “
Thibodeau looked to both Pelle and Henson as “insurance” for Noel and Taj Gibson backup center. Center Mitchell Robinson, who didn’t make the two-game road trip to New Orleans-Dallas, is expected to end the season with a broken foot.
“These guys have done a great job all year round,” said Thibodeau. “When Mitch left, Nerlens was ready, got in, did a great job. Taj came in and gave us great backup minutes. All you know about Taj is you can start it, you can take it off the couch, you can have it situational, it’s the same every day. Always ready, always team first. “
Whether the Knicks will use their final roster spot is unclear and they may decide to continue with the Noel, Gibson and Pelle trio.
One forward that the Knicks have considered is Kenneth Faried, the rugged rebounder and former Denver Nugget. Faried, 31, who recently played in China, is from Newark. But the knock on Faried is that he’s still a bad shooter.