Getty Tom Thibodeau of the New York Knicks.
Even though Cam Reddish’s removal from the New York Knicks’ regular rotation has fueled speculation that his time in the Big Apple may be coming to an end, the team should consider rekindling its relationship with the former lottery pick, according to one writer.
Reddish should be reincorporated into the lineup with Obi Toppin expected to miss several weeks with a non-displaced fracture in his right fibula, The Athletic’s Fred Katz said in a December 9 interview with Knicks Film School.
“From a basketball perspective that easily makes the most sense,” Katz wrote. “I think you can play him as a small-ball four, you could play with a bunch of wings, you can play really fast with the second unit. I think that totally is what would make the most sense.”
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Head coach Tom Thibodeau had committed on December 6 to a “nine-man rotation” that put Reddish on the outside looking in, even though he averaged 16.5 points on 53.5% shooting, 2.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals in his most recent four games as starter.
Knicks May Have Several Suitors for Reddish
Katz acknowledged during the interview that the relationship between Toppin, 24, and the Knicks is “uncomfortable” And the estrangement might continue until the two sides eventually part ways.
“Remember, he wanted to leave Atlanta and get traded for a bigger role,” SNY’s Ian Begley said on December 7, “and now his role is nonexistent. I would assume that’s going to lead to some discussion about his future not with this Knicks team.”
Begley said several front offices have reached out inquiring about Reddish.
“Teams that have expressed interest in Reddish in the past since the trade to New York have included the Lakers, the Heat and the Bucks,” he said.
From earlier: we talked Cam Reddish, Tom Thibodeau, Leon Rose’s loyalty to Thibs & more in this week’s Mailbag. Thanks to
@KNYT_Hoops, @AndrewA59778512, @BostonKnick, @yer_donnie & @Kennethschiumo for the questions! Full show here: t.co/FSKhjgCAEZ
Reddish has proved inconsistent, but his size (6-foot-7 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan), raw two-way skills and age make him appealing potential trade candidate.
Atkinson Front-Runner to Be Next Knicks Coach
After three seasons at the helm for the Knicks, it appears that Thibodeau’s days in the Big Apple may be numbered given the Knicks’ missing last year’s playoffs and their disappointing 13-13 record this season. According to a November story by The Athletic’s Zach Harper, his seat on the sidelines has grown incredibly hot.
Though in all likelihood a coaching shakeup is not going to take place during the regular season, the two parties could opt to part ways in the summer. One NBA executive recently told Heavy Sports’ Sean Deveney that current Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson could be the front-runner to serve as Thibodeau’s successor.
“They liked Atkinson a lot when they went through the process last time [in 2020], so I’d expect him to be at the top of the list,” the executive told Deveney.
Kenny Atkinson had a reputation for player development.
Known best as a skilled developmental coach, Atkinson could be a fit for the Knicks’ abundance of youth and raw talent, serving as a much-needed culture-shifting presence after Thibodeau’s win-now, veteran-oriented coaching style.
Atkinson, 55, has built a reputation as being a player-friendly coach capable of bringing out the most in a team’s talent. Two noteworthy examples: D’Angelo Russell’s rise from draft bust to 2019 All-Star and New York’s own Linsanity.