Kuzminskas waved as Noah suspension ends
Mindaugas Kuzminskas, the 6-foot-9, second-year forward became the odd man out Sunday, when the Knicks waived him to make room for the return of Joakim Noah from his suspension for using a banned supplement.
In a statement on Twitter, Kuzminskas said “one of the most beautiful chapters in my life is over.
“Too soon? I don’t know. But I believe that everything in your life happens for a reason.
“... While I may not have left the mark I would have liked to on the team, I hope the fans, club and all the players will remember me as a good teammate, a reliable friend and a good person.”
Kuzminskas was a rotation regular last season, when he averaged 6.3 points and became a fan favorite as an undrafted free agent. But this season, he played in only one game, at Orlando, where he made a 1:51 garbage-time cameo.
According to a source, the Lakers, Bulls and Hawks are expected to have interest in Kuzminskas if he clears waivers.
Noah was suspended 20 games for violating the league’s anti-drug policy. He served the final 12 games of the ban this season. Asked if Noah would play Monday against the Cavaliers, coach Jeff Hornacek on Sunday simply said, “We have to see” before meeting with general manager Scott Perry.
No one is betting against the Cavs in the East, despite their slow start.
“I think they’re getting it together now. Early in the season, you never know how things [will go],” Hornacek said. “They added some new guys too. They probably had to put new things in, and LeBron missed most of training camp with his ankle.
“They’re a team that’s going to be one of the best teams in the league. It’s going to be a heck of a challenge for us tomorrow night.”
Especially as they owe the Knicks one. The Cavs lost at home to the Knicks 114-95 on Oct. 29.
Porzingis insisted his right elbow, injured earlier and banged again Saturday during the rout of the Kings, is fine.
“I don’t really feel anything on my shot. And in any situation it just swells up a little bit and then the swelling [goes down] and I’m good again,” said Porzingis, who wore a sleeve practicing Sunday but claimed he feels “nothing” during workouts.