Knicks President Leon Rose hasn’t been doing much right lately and crapped in free agency last summer. But his 2020 and 2021 drafts could be his salvation.
Amid the wreckage of the 2021-22 season, Rose has held onto the positive results of his two promising draft classes. It’s all he has.
Rose underscored the draft success during his edited interview, which aired Sunday on James Dolan’s MSG Network, noting the plethora of draft picks that lie ahead.
“This [young] The boys got an opportunity and took it,” Rose said. “And for us, that’s very exciting.”
Rose noted that nine players on the list are 24 years or younger and that the Knicks have 13 draft picks in the next three drafts, including four first-rounders.
Rose gets another try at making a lottery selection on June 23rd. The Knicks are seeded 12th in the May 17 lottery with a 7.2 percent chance of jumping into the top four.
Rose goes into the lottery knowing that Obi Toppin doesn’t look like a broke anymore, while 2020 first-round mate Immanuel Quickley (25th) has shown flashes of being a potential starting point guard.
Obi ToppinAP
Meanwhile, Rose’s rookie class was showing potential with Quentin Grimes (25th), Miles McBride (36th) and Jericho Sims (58th).
“Our young players all started this year and have played well at different times,” said coach Tom Thibodeau. “But we know we have to take a big step this summer. So we need everyone to be in there and make a commitment.”
After Julius Randle finished it off with his sore quadriceps in the last five games, Toppin had an exhilarating finish. As a starter at Power Forward, Toppin endured a career high-scoring binge, starting with two 20-point games before finishing with 35 and 42 points in the last two games. Most importantly, Toppin shot 46 percent from 3-point range in those five games, despite a small sample size.
Rose said Toppin “took it to another level,” adding Quickley as a point guard “showed some signs.”
“Great, just his all-around game,” Thibodeau said of Toppin. “It’s nice to see because behind the scenes I see how hard he works. And it is the result of the work he has put in.”
Quickley also finished in style, sporting sunglasses after his two triple-double performances in the last week. The connection Quickley and Toppin have off the pitch translates to the pitch. The two often drive to games together and hang out on Christmas and Super Bowl Sunday.
Jericho SimsAP
Thibodeau said the duo had “great chemistry.” But overall what he likes best is that both the 2020 and 2021 draft classes have impeccable work ethics.
“You saw the commitment from the summer early on,” said Thibodeau. “You could see how competitive they were. The three things you look for the most are talent/skills, but also toughness and basketball IQ and competitiveness. These kinds of young people are always improving and getting better. I love the way these guys work.”
Toppin has finally opened Thibodeu’s eyes as he has become a smarter player and exudes an enthusiasm that enlivens his teammates.
Although the Knicks passed Tyrese Haliburton, Tyrese Maxey, Saddiq Bey and Cole Anthony when they took over Toppin in 8th place, it hardly looks like an outrageous selection now.
When asked if Toppin was ready for a bigger role next season, Thibodeau said: “If a player goes in and plays well, he will play more. It is really that easy.”
Leon RoseGetty Images
Optimism about Grimes, Sims and McBride is also evident, and they will each reappear in three weeks for volunteering and for July’s Summer League.
Thibodeau pushed for the drafting of Grimes, who is the type of fighter and 3-point shooter the coach craves. While Grimes was fading after the All-Star hiatus from a knee injury, Sims emerged as a rotation player — likely on orders from the front office, who needed to see what he had with Mitchell Robinson’s uncertain free-agent future.
Rose was impressed with how Sims stacked up against starting centers and believes McBride, a defensive first-point guard, performed well in the modest minutes he got.
“We’re not in the playoffs,” Rose said. “That was our goal. We wanted to take a step. But I feel like the team has shown some momentum and good signs since the All-Star break.”