Right now, Blake Griffin isn’t the Knicks ’cup of tea.
As the Pistons buy him, The Post has learned that the Knicks will pass on to the former master of the stars.
That says a lot about where they are now. Julius Randle, who rules the minutes for the striker, was called up Thursday by coach Tom Thibodeau, an “NBA Player.”
And there is no desire to put Obi Toppin, president of the team, the selection of the lottery of the president of the team, and slow down its growth. Also, Kevin Knox is waiting for the bands. That’s not to say, though, that Rose isn’t exploring improving the roster’s talent level before the March 25 deadline to help boost the playoffs.
Rose, who was not in her usual garden seat as the Knicks faced the Pistons in the final game before the All-Star Break, has a lot to weigh as she carries a pack of assets.
Rose is playing with money from home, as the Knicks start a shocking 19-18 and rank fifth in the Eastern Conference.
Thibodeau has created a unit with excellent chemistry and camaraderie. Several players have talked about how the team has become “very united”.
Rose isn’t sure she wants to tempt fate and get wrapped up in the locker 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 growing and Beal has expressed devotion to the team, so there’s no chance they’ll make him available this season. And there has never been any legitimate report that the Bulls were open to moving Zach LaVine, their first All-Star who will not be a free agent until 2022.
Oladipo, however, remains in play for the Knicks, as the Rockets are expected to change him to the deadline as they slide into oblivion. Oladipo will be a free agent in 2021 and apparently wants to sign with the Heat. That would turn Oladipo into a hire, as the Knicks try to increase their bid to get a seven-year playoff drought.
Knicks CEO Scott Perry, while with the Magic, drafted Oladipo as runner-up in 2013 and has been a supporter of a potential trade. But Perry is no longer ultimately responsible for decision-making. He hasn’t been in the garden the last five games, exploring the end of the G-League’s bubble season.
Oladipo, who has recovered from knee surgery, recently lost four games in a row with foot problems and had difficulty throwing late. But it averages 20 points and its 3-point percentage is 36.2 percent. Some explorers, however, are still concerned about their physical condition.
If swinger RJ Barrett continues to progress as a constant offensive force, the Knicks could see Oladipo as less necessary to favor the backcourt score.
According to a source who has been in contact with Knicks Brass, the franchise is still unsure if the team has an infallible starting point.
As electric as debutant Immanuel Quickley has been, they still think he could be a sixth man or start as a guard off the ball in the right lineup. He is not seen as an elite game creator.
That’s why the Knicks have always had an eye on Hornets pointer Terry Rozier, and young pelican producer Lonzo Ball (which would probably be more than a summer deal).
The Knicks still have a retention pattern when it comes to adding a traditional center to the roster. The start Mitchell Robinson will come out until maybe the end of March with a broken hand and Taj Gibson comes out indefinitely with a severe ankle sprain.
The Knicks should cut a player, probably Austin Rivers, who fell into disfavor with the addition of Rose and has not adjusted to her new role as cheerleader.
Nerlens Noel has been fantastic holding up the central fort, limited by his performance against the Pistons on Thursday: 12 points, 5 for 5 from the field, 11 rebounds, four steals, two blocks.
Noel has bad knees, though, and fewer minutes would be better for his longevity. The Post has reported that the Knicks have “analyzed” whether former star center Andre Drummond would be a good chemical fit with Randle.
The Post has also learned that the Knicks have had internal conversations about their former center, Kyle O’Quinn, a Queens native. O’Quinn played moderately last season for the 76ers, but went through free agency in November. O’Quinn signed with a team in Turkey, Fenerbahce, in January and has made 21 of 26 shots in seven games.