Knicks part ways with president Steve Mills (Per Woj)
“I am shocked. I thought this guy’s name was etched in stone with the New York Knicks and I’m pretty surprised that this would happen right before the trade deadline, a week before All-Star weekend. But it’s time for a change for the Knicks” – Pippen
“I’m not shocked at all. If you’re going to make a change, make it before the trade deadline because Mills was trying to save his job and not the Knicks. Two different things. I’m moving with whoever I want to save the Knicks” – MacMullan
Panel:
First Half
Monologue: Oh Knicks, Knicks, Knicks
Woj on the Knicks future:
Where do Knicks go from here?
“They’re going to continue to struggle for the next year and a half. They’ll be playing catch up for the next three years. It may be a while before they can find a superstar. They talk about the mecca of basketball, but not a lot of free agents are running to play in the mecca of basketball city and if they are, they’re playing for the Brooklyn Nets” – Pippen
“Everything that Jim Dolan said turned out to be true for the Nets, not his own franchise” – MacMullan
“None of this makes sense, except when you say…’But it’s coming from Jim Dolan'” – Nichols
OTD in 2000 – Kobe Bryant on the breakaway and going all the way for the two-handed dunk on the Jazz!
Are we getting closer and closer to postionless basketball?
“We are there and I hope next year, the All-Star selection will be postionless too so Jimmy Butler gets in as a starter. Jaren Jackson Jr. is my favorite player” – MacMullan
Think Mike Beasley is somewhere smiling?
Nichols:
Who would you take in a 30-foot 3-pt contest?
Trae:
Dame:
Jackie and Scottie: Damian Lillard
Why is Ben Simmons giving Jimmy Butler the Ben Simmons treatment?
“Usually Jimmy invents beefs out of nothing, but this is a real one” – MacMullan
Was DeRozan’s whole night a Kobe tribute?
“I see some Kobe in DeMar’s game. A lot of similarity” – Pippen
“He’s like the poster boy for why the midrange game can still exist in the NBA. Kobe was known for that” – MacMullan
Woj: Wolves eyeing D’Angelo Russell in potential 4-team trade
“We do know that Karl-Anthony Towns wants D’Angelo Russell, they’re friends, I can picture the pick-and-roll right now. This team needs something. The free fall that the Timberwolves are in is stunning to me” – MacMullan
“I would like to see Russell and hopefully Towns be able to pick it up. Towns is a player that’s kind of underachieved a little bit. Him and Wiggins hasn’t put it together this season” – Pippen
KAT on All-Star snub: “I’ve been disrespected…It’s nothing new”
“I don’t think that he’s being disrespected. There’s a message that’s being sent to him that he has to lift his team up. It’s not about your individual numbers to becoming an All-Star. Your peers, your coaches, those are the people that have to get the respect for you to be an All-Star and I don’t think he’s quite earned that yet” – Pippen
“This is angry Karl. I really believe that if KAT hadn’t gotten hurt that there might have been a different outcome. I don’t think it’s disrespect” – MacMullan
“I don’t think there’s any question that he is among the top 25 players in the NBA” – Nichols
Seven big trades ESPN Insiders want to see (E+)
Second Half
Cool with young Grizzlies calling out Iguodala?
Here’s the breakdown:
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) February 4, 2020
🤷🏽♂️🤫 pic.twitter.com/lmhLZP1Pqn
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) February 4, 2020
JA Morant clarified the above tweet by saying (Referring to Steph): “Still a fan, but I ain’t scared of him”
“I’m okay with it in two ways: I’m okay with what the young kids are saying, what I’m not okay with is that Andre never came or showed up or pay his respect to these younger players. These players look up to him. You’re hearing frustration on their part that they didn’t have a chance to pick his brain” – Pippen
“On the other side of the fence, I understand Andre’s situation is that he’s a veteran player. He’s dealt with injuries. This is a blessing in disguise for him” – Pippen
“Nobody knew Memphis was going to be this good. What’s interesting was that Morant would come back with the KD thing” – MacMullan
“JA Morant is not afraid of anyone” – Nichols
Think Masai Ujiri could save the Knicks?
MacMullan:
“I think it’s worth it. But a lot of drawback has been because of ownership. Until they get that right, they’re not going to get the top players in the game” – Pippen
“I think you have to double the salary to get Masai Ujiri to New York. Masai does like the spotlight” – Nichols
Ben Simmons on Sixers: “We were soft” | Reaction to Ben Simmons saying Sixers were “soft” vs the Heat (Lost by 31 points)?
Discussion:
OTD in 2009 – Kobe Bryant with the insane reverse layup on the Raptors!
Expectations for Giannis vs Zion?
“It’s going to be size against strength. Both of these players are going to win their rights on the offensive end because they’re so dominant. The future of these two players is going to be great” Pippen
“If I’m New Orleans, I’m not asking Zion to guard Giannis all night long” – MacMullan
“This really has the ingredients of a fun rivalry for a very long time” – Nichols
Have Knicks finally hit rock bottom?
“I would have to say yes. They’re already at the bottom. Time to pour some water in and let something rise” – Pippen
“It’s not because they do have cap space. If you get the wrong guy in there, then it’s rock bottom” – MacMullan
“I think James Dolan is responsible for a lot of this. He has so much control over what’s going on” – Nichols
