Boxing
While coach Tom Thibodeau was clearly concerned that there could be a postponement of the team’s preseason clunker on Wednesday, Julius Randle seemed more confident that the team could flip a switch when games start counting down the week next.
“Now it’s time to go,” Randle said after scoring 20 points in a 131-106 loss to the Wizards at the Garden. “The real thing is here. Obviously we don’t like the way we finished this preseason and we’re going to have to make progress and move forward in the coming days.
“But we will. We’ve been in situations where we had to move him forward before. We don’t want to rely on that, but we understand that we need to have a sense of urgency and so we’re going to take these steps.
That urgency was certainly missing against the Wizards. Jalen Brunson, playing extended minutes for the first time since his disappointing stint in the FIBA World Cup, was particularly bad after committing five turnovers.
“Horrible,” Brunson said. “I have to be better.”
Brunson also committed a rare technical foul after expressing his displeasure over an offensive foul, although the point guard said it was because of an innocuous gesture directed at the referee.
“I didn’t think it was an offensive foul. But that’s nothing I said. I think I just clapped and it’s automatic technology,” Brunson said. “That’s it.”
Immanuel Quickley is “a little upset,” according to Thibodeau, and did not play in the preseason finale.
Thibodeau rejected the idea that the backup goaltender is sitting because he is negotiating a contract extension.
“No no. As far as Quick goes, I would never question that,” Thibodeau said. “If Quick can go, he goes. So come get treatment, which he will do two or three times a year. day. And get ready.
Thibodeau did not specify what Quickley’s injury was and the 24-year-old declined to discuss it in the locker room except to confirm that his absence is not related to contract negotiations.
The deadline to sign an extension is Monday at 5 p.m.
If he doesn’t, Quickley will become a restricted free agent next summer, meaning the Knicks will be able to match any offer made to him.
Asked if he was concerned about Quickley’s injury for the regular season opener on Oct. 25, Thibodeau said, “I’m taking it day by day.” I hope he will be better tomorrow.
The Knicks cut Isaiah Roby and Jaylen Martin, two players who were competing for final spots.
Roby, in particular, was among the top candidates after receiving a $400,000 salary for his signing at the end of last season.
But he was disappointing during Summer League and Thibodeau never mentioned the 25-year-old as an option for backup minutes.
Roby played in two preseason games and averaged eight points in 13.6 minutes.
Martin, 19, is an undrafted rookie from Overtime Elite who had agreed to a two-way deal with the Knicks. He only played three minutes in the preseason and, counting Summer League, didn’t show he was ready for the NBA.
Martin’s departure frees up another two-way spot, and Jacob Toppin, the brother of former Knick Obi Toppin, is a candidate to fill it.
The Knicks have two or three full-time spots to fill, depending on whether they want to sign 14 or 15 players in the regular season.
Ryan Arcidiacono is a leading candidate, followed closely by DaQuan Jeffries.
It’s also worth noting that Thibodeau is a fan of Duane Washington Jr., another player on a non-guaranteed contract.
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