Trier injury buys time for Knicks to plan next move
The conversion of Allonzo Trier’s contract will be delayed as the Knicks guard will miss at least the next three games with a hamstring strain.
Trier is currently on a twoway NBA and G-League deal, but is fast approaching the limit of 45 days with the NBA team before that contract needs to be ripped up. Now the calendar stops until he returns.
That’s important because the Knicks will need to get rid of a guaranteed contract to keep Trier. Their preference is to work out a trade, and waiting until Dec. 15 opens up the possibilities. That’s the date when players who signed as free agents in the summer are eligible for trades.
If the Knicks can’t work out a deal to open up a roster spot, they’ll release either Luke Kornet (1 year, $1.6 million contract) or Ron Baker (1 year, $4.5 million).
Regardless, the Knicks will keep Trier.
“I think it’s clear the kid has earned his way,” David Fizdale said.
Trier, who was signed as an undrafted free agent, injured his hamstring before Sunday’s game against the Hornets. He did not practice Tuesday.
With Trier and Trey Burke (sprained knee) out, Frank Ntilikina is definitively back in the rotation. Fizdale said the Frenchman earned it with consecutive impressive performances off the bench, including Sunday’s game when he dropped a career-high 18 points on French Heritage Night.
Like Emmanuel Mudiay and Damyean Dotson before him, Ntilikina responded well to being pulled from the rotation. He had logged three consecutive DNPs prior.
Fizdale said it’s all part of his performance-based system to frequently bench and reintegrate players.
“That’s just how I think you should coach. I just think a lot of times as a coach in this league it’s hard sometimes because you don’t have the power to do it. I’ve been empowered by (team president) Steve Mills and (GM) Scott Perry to coach this team and to hold them to a higher standard. It gives me a lot of freedom to do these type of things.
“As a group, it gives me credibility. They know that everyone will be held to a high standard.”
LEE VOLUNTEERS FOR G-LEAGUE STINT
Courtney Lee, the oldest and longest-tenured player on the roster, volunteered for a G-League stint after struggling to return from his lengthy neck injury.
He will play with the Westchester Knicks tonight in Lakeland, Fla., and return to the NBA Knicks in time for Thursday’s game in Charlotte.
Lee, 33, missed all of preseason and the first 24 games of the regular season because of a strained neck. He has been rusty and logged just 16 total minutes in the last two games.
“That was his decision to go to the G-League. I was like, ‘What a pro,’” Fizdale said. “The fact he came to us and said, ‘I’m hurting the guys, I have no legs and I have no rhythm. If it’s OK, can I go to the G League and play some minutes?’”
Lee has two years and $25 million remaining on his contract and the Knicks are trying to trade him by the deadline to free up cap space to sign a max free agent.
FRANKIE GOES TO CHINA?
Ntilikina doesn’t know yet whether he’ll go to China in the summer to play for France in the FIBA World Cup.
Last summer he decided to forego the World Cup qualifiers to train in New York, and said Tuesday the determination will be based on how his body feels after the NBA season.