Les Knicks n’auraient pas abandonné le dossier Victor Oladipo
Au break du All-Star Game les Knicks pointent à une surprenante 5ème place à l’Est avec un bilan positif de 19 victoires et 18 défaites. Ils sont très bien partis pour retrouver enfin les playoffs, ce qui n’a plus été le cas depuis 2013.
Et avant la deadline des transferts fixée au 25 mars, ils devraient tenter de se renforcer pour aller chercher ce billet en playoffs et faire mieux qu’un simple premier tour. Selon le NY Post, parmi les joueurs qui les intéresseraient, il y aurait un certain Victor Oladipo.
L’intérêt pour ce dernier n’est pas nouveau, et la probabilité qu’il soit transféré par les Rockets d’ici la deadline est très élevée. Il est en fin de contrat et s’il n’est pas transféré d’ici-là il partira sans doute lors de l’intersaison, lui dont le Heat serait la destination numéro 1.
Dans le front office des Knicks, il y a un homme qui l’apprécie tout particulièrement, c’est le GM Scott Perry, qui l’a drafté en 2013 lorsqu’il était au Magic. S’il n’est plus le décideur numéro 1 de l’équipe puisque Leon Rose est désormais le président, Perry serait un fervent supporter d’un trade du Rocket.
S’il pourrait être une recrue très intéressante, c’est aussi le risque que cela se transforme en prêt de quelques mois si lors de l’intersaison il part.
Cette saison Oladipo est encore loin de son niveau All-Star et il y a toujours de gros doutes sur sa capacité à retrouver un jour son meilleur niveau après sa rupture du tendon quadricipital. Cette saison il tourne à 19.9 points, 4.9 rebonds, 4.7 passes et 1.4 interception, mais à des pourcentages horribles : 38.7% aux tirs et 31.3% à 3-pts.
A noter qu’ils auraient aussi un œil sur Bradley Beal et Zach LaVine, mais aux dernières nouvelles les deux ne sont pas disponibles pour un transfert.
De plus le NY Post précise que les Knicks ne seraient pas intéressés par Blake Griffin.
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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 surging and Beal has expressed devotion to the team, so there’s no chance they will make him available this season. And there never been a single legitimate report the Bulls are open to moving Zach LaVine, their first-time All-Star who won’t be a free agent until 2022.
Oladipo, however, remains in play for the Knicks as the Rockets are expected to trade him at the deadline as they slide into oblivion. Oladipo will be a free agent in 2021 and reportedly wants to sign with the Heat. That would make Oladipo a rental as the Knicks look to boost their bid to snap a seven-year playoff drought.
Knicks general manager Scott Perry, while with the Magic, drafted Oladipo second overall in 2013, and he has been a supporter of a potential trade. But Perry no longer is the top decision-maker. He has not been at the Garden the past five games, scouting the end of the G-League’s bubble season.
Oladipo, who has recovered from knee surgery, recently missed four straight games with a foot issue and has struggled shooting of late. But he’s averaging 20 points and his 3-point percentage is 36.2 percent. Some scouts, however, are still concerned about his physical state.
If swingman RJ Barrett continues to progress as a consistent offensive force, the Knicks could view Oladipo as less necessary to spruce up the backcourt scoring.
According to a source who has been in contact with Knicks brass, the franchise still is unsure if the team has a surefire starting point guard.
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As electric as rookie Immanuel Quickley has been, they still think he could be a sixth-man stud or start as an off-the-ball guard in the right alignment. He’s not viewed as a elite playmaker.
That is 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 transaction).
The Knicks still are in a holding pattern regarding adding a traditional center to the roster. Starter Mitchell Robinson will be out until perhaps late March with a broken hand and Taj Gibson is out indefinitely with a severely sprained ankle.
The Knicks would have to cut a player — likely in-the-doghouse Austin Rivers, who fell out of favor with Rose’s addition and hasn’t adjusted to his new role as cheerleader.
Nerlens Noel has been terrific holding down the center fort, capped 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, however, and fewer minutes would be better for his longevity. The Post has reported the Knicks have “analyzed’’ whether former All-Star center Andre Drummond would be a good chemistry fit with Randle.
The Post also has learned the Knicks have had internal talks about their former center, Kyle O’Quinn, a Queens native. O’Quinn played sparingly for the 76ers last season, but got passed over in free agency in November. O’Quinn signed up with a team in Turkey, Fenerbahce, in January and has made 21 of 26 shots in seven games. [star_list]
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