After a season of euphoria last year, the New York Knicks have returned to a state of dysfunction. Julius Randle has cooled off, the Kemba Walker signing has been a dud, and now there are reports of a disconnect between the head coach and front office.
According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, the Cam Reddish trade that the Knicks recently pulled off was not a move that Tom Thibodeau supported. Despite widespread praise for the acquisition, Thibs has been reluctant to give him minutes in his notoriously tight rotation.
Since suiting up and playing five minutes in his Knicks debut against the Clippers — when point guard Kemba Walker took a rest day — Reddish has either not played or been a fourth-quarter filler in a blowout.
He has been activated for seven games but has not played in four of them entering Monday’s game in Utah. He has made no impact because Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau won’t find a spot in his tight rotation for the former Duke star.
Word around the league is when Knicks president Leon Rose moved to strike a deal with Atlanta on Jan. 15, the head coach wasn’t all-in on the move.
“From my understanding, Thibs didn’t want him and they did it anyway,’’ said an NBA source who has been in contact with Knicks brass.
That would seem an interesting tidbit considering the trade deadline is Thursday and team brass, according to a source, has looked to clear out a player to open space for Reddish.
Thibs, who won Coach of The Year in 2021, was given a lot of credit for the team’s surge last season — when they finished fourth in the East and made their first playoff appearance in years.
With over half of the 2021-22 campaign in the books now, those days seem like a distant memory now.
The Knicks are 12th in the East with a 24-29 record and are struggling to find the spark they carried last season.
As for Cam Reddish, it’s clear he still has something to prove before he sees some real playing time. But the internal strife on his value is a growing concern for fans, who dread a return to the old ways.
