Blake Griffin isn’t Knicks’ cup of tea right now.
While being bought out by the Pistons, The Post has learned that the Knicks will pass on the former All-Star dunkmaster.
That says a lot about where they are now. Julius Randle, who is in charge of the minutes at power forward, was called on Thursday by coach Tom Thibodeau, an ‘All-NBA Player’.
And there is no desire whatsoever to mislead team chairman Leon Rose’s lottery choice, Obi Toppin, and stunt his growth. In addition, Kevin Knox is waiting in the wings. However, that doesn’t mean Rose won’t be investigating to improve the roster’s talent level by the March 25 trading deadline to support a playoff push.
Rose, who wasn’t in his usual Garden seat on Thursday when the Knicks faced the Pistons in the final game before the All-Star Break, has a lot to weigh in as he carries a bundle of assets.
Rose plays with house money while the Knicks get off to a shocking start 19-18 and are in fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
Thibodeau has created a unit with excellent chemistry and camaraderie. Several players have spoken about how ‘close’ the team has become.
Not sure if he wants to seduce fate, Rose wants to mess with the dressing room atmosphere after seamlessly adding Derrick Rose to a trade on Super Bowl Sunday.
The Post reported on Feb. 11 that the Knicks were monitoring the availability of superstar Bradley Beal and former All-Star Victor Oladipo. The Wizards are on the rise and Beal has shown dedication to the team, so there’s no chance they’ll make him available this season. And there’s never been one legitimate report that the Bulls are open to moving Zach LaVine, their first All-Star who won’t be a free agent until 2022.
However, Oladipo remains in the game for the Knicks as the Rockets must trade him on deadline while falling into obscurity. Oladipo will become a free agent in 2021 and reportedly wants to sign with the Heat. That would make Oladipo a rental property as the Knicks look to increase their bid to break a seven-year playoff drought.
Knicks general manager Scott Perry, while with the Magic, wrote Oladipo second overall in 2013, and he was a supporter of a potential transaction. But Perry is no longer the main decision maker. He hasn’t been in the Garden for the past five games, scouting the end of the G-League’s bubble season.
Oladipo, who has recovered from knee surgery, recently missed four games in a row with a foot problem and has been struggling to shoot lately. But he has an average of 20 points and his percentage of 3 points is 36.2 percent. However, some scouts are still concerned about his physical condition.
If swingman RJ Barrett continues to advance as a consistent offensive force, the Knicks might consider Oladipo less necessary to brighten up the score in the backcourt.
According to a source who has been in contact with Knicks Brass, the franchise is still unsure whether the team has a surefire starting point guard.
As electrical rookie Immanuel Quickley has been, they still think he could be a sixth-man stud or start out as an off-the-ball guard in the right lineup. He is not seen as an elite playmaker.
That’s why the Knicks have always kept an eye on Hornets point guard Terry Rozier and young Pelicans playmaker Lonzo Ball (who would probably be more of a summer deal).
The Knicks are still in a holding pattern in terms of adding a traditional center to the roster. Starter Mitchell Robinson will be out with a broken hand until the end of March and Taj Gibson is out indefinitely with a badly sprained ankle.
The Knicks would have to cut off a player – likely in the Austin Rivers doghouse, who fell out of favor with the addition of Rose and failed to adapt to his new role as a cheerleader.
Nerlens Noel did a great job holding the central fort, topped off by his performance against the Pistons on Thursday: 12 points, 5-for-5 from the field, 11 rebounds, four steals, two blocks.
However, Noel has bad knees and less minutes would be better for his longevity. The Post has reported that the Knicks have “analyzed” whether former All-Star center Andre Drummond would be a good chemistry fit for Randle.
The Post has also learned that the Knicks have had internal discussions about their former center, Kyle O’Quinn, a resident of Queens. O’Quinn played sparingly for the 76ers last season, but was passed into free agency in November. O’Quinn signed with a team in Turkey, Fenerbahce, in January, making 21 of the 26 shots in seven games.