Kevin Knox has been taken out of the New York Knicks’ rotation by coach Tom Thibodeau.
New York Knicks third-year forward Kevin Knox is no longer in the team’s rotation. Coach Tom Thibodeau announced the decision during a media call, and Marc Berman of the New York Post reported it.
Thibodeau noted that Knox would only be out of the rotation “for now.”
Tom Thibodeau says Kevin Knox out of rotation for now with team fully healthy.
— Marc Berman (@NYPost_Berman) February 1, 2021
The Knicks drafted Knox ninth overall out of Kentucky in 2018, passing on talents like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Michael Porter Jr. After putting up inconsistent numbers his first two seasons, Knox was thriving as a bench shooter this year. In 20 games, he was shooting 39.1% from three.
But now that Reggie Bullock, Austin Rivers, and Alec Burks are all healthy, there really isn’t much room for Knox anymore. His being a weak defender also doesn’t help matters, and a recent dip in minutes was the writing on the wall. After averaging 18.2 minutes for the season, Knox only averaged 11.3 per contest in the Knicks’ last three games.
JB’s Take
The good news is thanks to his improvements behind the three-point arc, there is room in the NBA for Kevin Knox. The confidence he’s shown from long range this year is stronger than it was his first two years in the league. He doesn’t hesitate with his long-range shooting anymore and is just a more complete player.
And other teams clearly see something in Knox, who’s still just 21 years old. Ian Begley of SNY reported two years ago that the New Orleans Pelicans were “gathering intel” on the former Wildcat. However, Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News later added the team was “not high” on Knox after all.
Even so, the new Kevin Knox should absolutely draw some interest in trade talks, especially with the March deadline looming. Hopefully, a deal can materialize soon so he can get back on the court.
