The New York Knicks are anticipated to be lively forward of the Feb. 8 NBA commerce deadline in quest of the ultimate piece they want for a playoff run.
Among the many gamers New York is desirous about is Toronto Raptors swingman Bruce Brown, whose state of affairs is being monitored by a number of groups across the Affiliation.
The 2023 NBA champion was acquired from the Indiana Pacers final week as a part of the Pascal Siakam commerce, elevating hypothesis as as to if Toronto will flip him on the deadline because it continues to rebuild.
The Knicks tried to signal Brown in free company final summer time however could not match the two-year, $45 million deal he inked with the Pacers. Nonetheless, whereas the Knicks and Brown could not attain an settlement, it seems his resolution to signal with Indiana was purely monetary somewhat than an absence of curiosity in New York.
Earlier than Toronto’s 126-100 loss to New York on Saturday, Brown instructed reporters that he believes he is “the kind of participant” Knicks HC Tom Thibodeau admires and would match seamlessly into his system.
“I’m a canine,” Brown mentioned by way of the New York Submit’s Jared Schwartz. “I play extraordinarily exhausting on each ends of the ground. I can do nearly no matter [Thibodeau] wants me to do.”
“I play extraordinarily exhausting,” Brown added. “I might suppose [I’m] the kind of participant that he likes.”
Brown has lengthy been a Thibodeau fan and shared Saturday that he thought the 66-year-old would draft him in 2018. Thibodeau, the coach and president of the Minnesota Timberwolves on the time, opted to draft capturing guard Josh Okogie whereas Brown slid to the second spherical. Regardless of being snubbed then, Brown says there’s been “nothing however respect for” Thibodeau since.
“Each time we play Thibs, I’m going as much as him and shake his hand, simply due to what he’s finished,” Brown mentioned. “Nothing however respect for Thibs.”
Whereas Brown did not make an incredible impression in his potential audition for the Knicks (eight factors on 3-of-8 capturing with three rebounds), he is nonetheless “squarely on New York’s radar,” per SNY’s Ian Begley. Since OG Anunoby made his Knicks debut on Jan. 1, the staff is 9-2, boasting one of the best defensive score within the NBA (105.1), however the transfer left an enormous gap on the bench that have to be crammed quickly.
There isn’t any denying that Brown suits the mildew of Thibodeau’s model and that his 12 factors per recreation can be a welcome addition to New York’s bench. Nonetheless, he is an identical kind of participant as Knicks ahead Josh Hart when it comes to dimension and capabilities (albeit barely extra environment friendly), so Brown won’t be essentially the most ultimate goal given how New York’s roster is constructed.
Even so, if the Knicks have been so as to add somebody who can function a lead ball handler for the second unit along with buying and selling for Brown, they might set up themselves as true contenders within the Jap Convention.
