BBarrett tt and d new-look Knicks open at Spurs
Mystery of Knicks campaign starts to unfold tonight in San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO — Afte r a modest summer overhaul and an uneven 1-3 preseason, the Knicks flew into town following Tuesday’s practice, but nobody really knows where this franchise is going.
“They’re more a puzzle than having pieces to a puzzle right now,’’ one NBA personnel man said.
Some league personnel think the Knicks did the next-best thing after being shut out of signing stars, keeping flexibility in signing a flock of role players to one-year deals.
For now, the Knicks are still 0-0 as the season opener arrives Wednesday night at AT&T Center against a Spurs team that has made the pl ayoffs 22 s t ra i ght years, but is still smarting from the Knicks’ summertime heist of Marcus Morris.
“Excited,’’ Knicks coach David Fizdale sai d. “I actually don’t mind starting on the road. I think it’s good for us to have to bunker in and connect with each other and go out and play a really good basketball team. The arena is going to be loud. I’ve been there during the Finals a couple of times [with Miami].’’
The Knicks, who have missed the playoffs six straight years, received a blow with starting center Mitchell Robinson spraining his right ankle at Monday’s practice and being listed as questionable.
If Robinson is out, sources confirmed an SNY report about the possibility of the Knicks starting Allonzo Trier as a replacement. It’s unclear if RJ Barrett and Trier would then share the backcourt and go without a traditional point guard. That would be a huge morale crusher on the Knicks’ three point guards and an indictment of the front office, but a source said the organization is disappointed in Dennis Smith Jr.’s preseason.
However, indications are Fizdale may choose from among Smith, Elfrid Payton and Frank Ntilikina. If the Knicks insert Trier into the starting lineup, they can also move Barrett to small forward, Morris to power forward and Julius Randle to center to keep backup pivot Bobby Portis with the second unit.
Either way, it stands to be an epic night for Barrett, the No. 3 pick in the draft who makes his regular-season NBA debut after a rocking preseason.
“I told him to have fun,’’ Fizdale said. “You’ve been waiting your whole life for this. Go out there and be OK with messing up. Do it out of aggression and playing hard.’’
Barrett acknowledged the regular season will have a higher level of “tension’’ than the preseason, when he excelled.
“I’m sure it’s loud out there,’’ Barrett said. “They have a great history — multiple championships. It will definitely be a great atmosphere.”
Much has been made of the Knicks going into the 50th anniversary season of their first NBA title without a star. The Spurs boast two standouts in LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan.
The Spurs thought they’d be adding Morris to that mix, but he broke a verbal agreement on a two-year, $20 million deal to take $15 million from the Knicks. The extra painful part of it for San Antonio is the Spurs traded young sharpshooter Davis Bertans to make room for Morris’ contract.
Morris said he “smiled’’ wh e n he learned the Knicks were opening the season in San Antonio. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has called the incident “unprofessional’’ and multitude of agents were surprised at the Knicks’ actions.
“I’m happy Marcus Morris is a Knick,’’ Fizdale said. “No one wants it to go down the way it went down. That wasn’t an easy decision for Marcus to change his mind. If I was on the other side of it, I’d be upset as well. It’s just natural. But I’m excited Marcus is part of our family.’’
On pa per, t he Knicks have a deep roster, but what it al l amounts to is a mystery.
“It ’s really exciting,’’ Randle said. “It’s going to be a fun year. We have to enjoy ourselves. It’s not going to be perfect, but Fiz has been drilling the hell out of us every day.’’
After the Spurs, the Knicks have a rough back-to-back against Eastern Conference playoff teams, the Nets in Brooklyn and their home opener against the Celtics. In fact, five of their first six opponents are against clubs that made the playoffs last season.
“Let’s go,’ ’ Fizdale said. “I don’t think there are any easy stretches in this league. All of these teams can beat you. We’re going to embrace the challenge.’’