Thibodeau: No tanks
New head coach reiterates ‘nothing will be given to ‘anyone’ this year
“A player is not going to get minutes just to get minutes. You have to impact winning, you have to put the team first. There has to be sacrifices made. And that’s what we’re going to strive toward each and every day.”
NEW YORK — Nothing in Tom Thibodeau’s history suggests he’s a tanking coach.
Hereinforced that reputation Tuesday.
“Nothing will be given to anyone; you’re going to have to earnyourminutes,” Thibodeau said. “Those decisions on rotation will be based on performance and what gives the team the best chance of winning.
“Aplayer is not going to get minutes just to get minutes. You have to impact winning, youhavetoputtheteamfirst. There has to be sacrifices made. And that’s what we’re going to strive toward each and every day.”
David Fizdale made similar statements before his first Knicks training camp but soon adopted the position of tank commando. Bythethird month of his first season, Fizdale already conceded to giving young players more minutesfordevelopmentand to TimHardawayJr. because “[he’s earning] $18 million per year for two more years.”
Thibodeau, however, has always followed through on his win-now decrees, and he’s unlikely to bend even if the Knicks reside at the bottom of the standings.
In other words, contract status or draft position won’t influenceplaying time. That’s especially noteworthy at power forward, with draft pick Obi Toppin and veteran expiring contract Julius Randle vying for minutes.
Ona roster devoid of stars, most of Thibodeau’s starting lineup is up for grabs.
Mitchell Robinson has competition at center with Nerlens Noel, and the pointguard rotation is a mystery with five potential options.
“There’s a lot of different ways to develop, but also understanding the importance of winning and how important that is,” said Thibodeau, whoonlymissed the playoffs oncein seven full seasons as a head coach.
“Things are going to be earned. That’s the wayIthink wehave to approach it.”
Unfortunately for Thibodeau, winning will prove tough again following New York’s quiet free agency.
The Knicks spent only abouthalf of their $40million in cap space while signing one-year deals. It maintains flexibility for the 2021 class, but also leaves Thibodeau with a young roster that’s unlikely to break aseven-year playoff drought.
Thibodeau said he’s hopeful the patient approach will bear fruit in the future.
“I think youlookatthefour avenues (free agency, trade, draft, player development) and try to build your plan that way,” he said. “I thought we had a well-thought-out plan and we took advantage of some things we thought were good for us.
“But we wanted to be disciplined. And we were. There’ll be other opportunities moving forward, but we concentrate on the players we have here, concentrate on our improvement. And hopefully good things will happen.”
The Hawks were the only team that carried as much cap space as the Knicks into free agency, and they splurged on upgrades with Danilo Gallinari (three years, $61.5 million), Rajon Rondo (two years, $15 million) and Bogdan Bogdanovic (four years, $72 million). The Knicks’ mostexpensive signing wasAlecBurks(oneyear, $6 million).
A common theme to the Knicks’ roster construction wastheacquisition of players either from the University of Kentucky — which is closely associated to top Knicks executive William Wesley — or represented by CAA — where Wesley and team President Leon Rose served as agents before joining the Knicks.
Nine of the 12 players acquired by the Knicks since Rose took over are either CAA clients or former Kentucky players (or both). They have five Wildcats on the roster, whichismorethan any other NBA team. They have nine players represented by CAA, which is morethanhalf the roster and way above the percentage of overall NBA players repped by the power agency.
Thibodeau, however, rejected the idea the Knicks were favoring those players.
“I think it’s more coincidental,” Thibodeau said. “I think obviously theKentucky piece, they have one of the best programs in the country, whether we’re talking about a Kentucky or a Duke.”
— Tom Thibodeau, Knicks coach