Category Archives: Patrick Ewing Jr.
“…The Knicks have yet to finalize the roster for the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, but one name that we did hear to be among the players expected to be there is Patrick Ewing, Jr.
The 6-6 forward was the final cut by the Knicks at the end of training camp and spent the season with Reno of the D-League. He injured his knee in March and did not finish the season. The hope is he will be ready to play in time for the first game, which is July 14 against Hasheem Thabeet and the Grizzlies…”
I’ve heard there is still some concern about the knee and let’s face it, Ewing’s athleticism is a huge part of his game. I was, and still am, a huge proponent of bringing in Ewing because it’s a great PR move and because the guy is a solid defender with offensive upside. But, should he prove healthy, play great over the summer and make the team, then where are the minutes?
I remember sitting in the second row at MSG, just days after a Patrick 
Ewing Jr. was waived. There was a lanky young man talking to Knicks officials and shaking hands with anyone who would have him. You don’t realize how young he is until you see the baggy clothes draped from his body.
Yep, it was Jr. in a sweat suit with his I-Pod earphones dangling just hanging around in the Garden.
To me that was a sure sign that Marbury was about to be waived and Jr. would resume his career in the same building as his dad.
Now, some 4 months later there are roster spots. The vacancies that weren’t available for the kid. Gone is Marbury and Anthony Roberson, who took the kid’s spot to begin with. Gone, too, is Malik Rose.
There is a vacancy for a project big man, and for a combo guard. Why not for the kid who just may be the easiest PR decision in the team’s history?
Of course we know Donnie Walsh doesn’t operate from a PR standpoint, but he knows good business.
So with his dad in town, a man who has to be unhappy about having his own door to MSG apparently shut in his face, I wonder if the relationship can be reconnected by Walsh again letting his son play here.
And I wonder if that will happen soon.
I mean can you imagine the two of them celebrating together on the Knicks bench in a few years?
Hold the phone according to Chris Sheridan…
“…The Knicks still have the playoff hunt to concern themselves with, not to mention the huge hole at the end of their roster that they tried to address by bringing in dunk star James “Flight” White, Quincy Douby, Demetris Nichols, Joe Crawford, Dontell Jefferson, Cheikh Samb and Othyus Jeffers for tryouts Monday afternoon.
The Knicks still want to have another look at Patrick Ewing Jr. before giving anyone a 10-day contract. Filling the roster spot is one pressing matter that might ordinarily require their full attention Tuesday…”
“…According to two sources, the Knicks plan to sign Senegalese 7-foot-1 free-agent center Cheikh Samb to a 10-day contract by week’s end.
Samb, a second-round pick from last year, was cut by the Clippers last week. He played in 16 games for the Clips.
The Knicks don’t have strong interest in Patrick Ewing Jr. right now because they are stocked at that position…”
They’ve always been stocked at that position, but it does make sense at this time to sign a big man. There’s really nothing to lose, and Samb could spend some time on the summer league squad if the Knicks choose to keep him as a relatively long-term situation.
I do have to say I’m upset about Jr. as I was always convinced that he’d be here. Looks like that may never happen.
Do they sign anyone with the second roster spot considering the have to save room for the first round pick? Or is it widely assumed that a roster spot will open up by then?
From where I sit, the Knicks the made out like bandits today.
Chris Wilcox, a former Terp like yours truly, for only Malik Rose and pocket lint may be the deal of the year. Imagine Chris Duhon getting to choose between Wilcox and David Lee (who we now officially know will be here long term) on a perfectly timed pick and roll? We know Wilcox is a finisher. By the way, kudos to those Gym Rats who had Wilcox pegged here; I thought it would be lateral for the Thunder to take Rose and I’m still shocked they did it.
My first thought after the Larry Hughes trade was that we gave up nothing, he’s a capable two guard and he expires before “the summer.” I also recall his effort against the Cavs a few years ago against Lebron in the playoffs. He was awesome, and it was the reason he got paid.
Then I got to thinking, “who’s a better player: Hughes or Jamal Crawford?” Interesting, but then I thought in this system I’d much rather have Hughes off the ball with pick and rolls than Jamal the dribbling machine. Crawford is a better shooter off the bounce, but I think an off the ball shooter has a better chance to get open looks than a dribbler; ask Raja Bell. Hughes is only a career 30% 3 point shooter, but he’s improved this year shooting 40-102. Again, you’d like your shooting guard to shoot like Allan Houston, but it is what it is for now. Plus he’s a longer and stronger defender so in the end, I take Hughes. So when you look at it Walsh was able to acquire Hughes, Wilcox and Al Harrington for Crawford and Z-Bo and not affect 2010.
I mean that’s pretty incredible.
As far as Nate, again, we’ve been saying for a good month now that Nate will not wear a Knick uniform next season and the heated talks with the Kings for Kenny Thomas proves that. He wants mega money and he wants to start and the player in his head doesn’t exist. He’s awesome, but infuriating at the same time. Stephen A. Smith, who did a nice job today as did all the fellows from ESPN, thinks Nate is a 10 million dollar player. In Nate’s mind, sure, but not in this economy. When a player gets that in his head it’s over; as is, it seems, Nate’s future in a Knick uniform past this season. I wouldn’t have been happy if we made the deal and didn’t get back a pick, which Donnie was really pushing for; but in the end to rid Jared Jeffries (we got size with Wilcox) that deal really needed to be considered.
So here we have a team that is primed for a playoff run, and I understand the skeptics who will question chemistry, but this will be a real test of the D’Antoni system. If Wilcox and Hughes can perform well this team can be a playoff team. But the great leverage that D’Antoni has, as we have seen with his benching of Harrington, is that he doesn’t need to motivate these guys because they are on borrowed time. They should play hard to get their next contract whether it be here or elsewhere. The coach doesn’t owe them anything and they owe themselves the chance to help MSG consistently rock night in and night out, especially in the spring. Is Hughes a “me” player, a term too loosely throw around these days? I really don’t know. Does a “me” player even exist in D’Antoni’s system? I mean, Al likes to chuck, but now he has other options in Hughes and Wilcox.
All in all a great day was had for Knick fans, we gave up one rotation player in Thomas and landed two. We unloaded Jerome James and we now have roster spots to add a player like Patrick Ewing Jr. I think that’s the move here based on the fact that the Knicks are now 10 deep and any signee won’t have much impact, Walsh would do well to hammer home more PR by signing the kid tomorrow. Maybe that’s why he kept himself out of the D-League dunk contest??
Loading ...Patrick Ewing Jr. was a big-name acquisition for the Bighorns of the D-League back in December, but he struggled with his shooting early.
Things are now starting to pick up for Ewing, with the former Georgetown Hoya averaging 17.9 points and shooting .520 (78-150) from the field in his last 12 games. This is a marked improvement for Ewing, who shot only .344 and averaged 10.5 points in his first six games as a Bighorn. He made his first start of the season on Saturday, scoring 21 points with seven rebounds and five assists in a win over Bakersfield.
TKB scouted Jr. in person a month or so ago, and his athleticism, as well as his IQ, stand out. As much as I think he’s still a part of the Knicks future, I’m starting to doubt it. But I will still hold out hope.
TKB is fortunate to have friends everywhere and we were fortunate to
have one of our foot soldiers, whose opinion we really trust, at the game last night in Iowa between the Iowa Energy and the Reno Big Horns. I asked him to specifically pay attention to Courtney Sims (Iowa) and Patrick Ewing Jr. (Reno) Finger point to RTN for the analysis.
“…Sims might have just had a bad night, but he was pretty disappointing. He is extremely slow getting up and down the floor. He sort of has an awkward gait and takes a long time to reach full speed. That said, he is very long and has good hands. This allows him to dominate the paint in the D-league, and probably accounts for his stats. As far as the NBA is concerned, I see him as backup center on a halfcourt team at best. I don’t think he has the footspeed to succeed in D’Antoni’s system. Maybe he could play a role like Brian Skinner did on Phoenix, but I wasn’t all that impressed. Again, I’m basing my analysis on only one game, so take it for what it is.
As far as Patrick is concerned, I was very impressed. This guy absolutely dominated the game, and not by scoring the ball. He was awesome defensively, getting blocks, steals, and boards at will. This was not surprising – he was a far superior athlete to anyone in the building.
What impressed me most was his passing. Reno would put him in the high post and run the offense through him. He consistently made good decisions and hit backdoor cutters with pinpoint bounce passes. You see a lot of great raw athletes come into the league and fail because they are offensive liabilities. The difference with Ewing Jr. is that he seems to have a really high basketball IQ. His post game also showed some promise. On one move, he caught the ball on the right block, fought off the double team, and finished with a fluid spin move and left-handed jump hook off the
glass from about 8 feet out. It was a pretty move, no question. He has really good footwork as a big man.
That said, he really has no J at all. Watching him in warmups was pretty ugly. He was probably about 30% on uncontested 15-18 footers. He eventually gave up and settled for putting on a dunk show for the crowd, which was fine by me. He pulled the Kobe dunk from the ’97 dunk contest – he elevated, did a 180 while passing the ball from his left to right hand behind his back, and finishing with right handed tomahawk. The whole building went crazy. He also did a statue-of-liberty semi-facial on a fastbreak during the game. His head was literally at rim level.
The verdict? Patrick Ewing Jr. should be on an NBA roster. He was clearly the best player on the floor throughout the night, and has a poise about him that can’t really be taught. Despite only joining the team last week, Patrick was leading the pre-game huddle and calling the shots on defense. My buddy, a die-hard Pistons fans, agreed that he needs to be in the league. However, until he develops at least a passable jumpshot, he probably wouldn’t see any minutes in a D’antoni system. He has good form, so there is some potential for improvement. But as of now, defenders can lag off him and neutralize him as an offensive threat.
I see his ceiling as a combination of what Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza give to the Lakers right now. A guy who comes off the bench, can give you a presence in the post, can handle the rock a little bit, make some plays for his teammates, but isn’t the best shooter in the world. He’s a guy that can really fill up a stat sheet, a lot like Odom and Ariza can.
For the Knicks, I think the first priority should be to sign a combo guard to alleviate the burden on Duhon and Robinson. But as soon as Marbury gets cut, then Ewing Jr. should be signed for the rest of the season. He’s worth developing…”
To me his ceiling is closer to Ariza than Odom but the combination part I get. Great insight. We’ll be covering more D League games as the season roles along.
Almost as annoying as mentioning Marbury, I feel, is the torment I put myself through in trying to
see Allan Houston back in a Knick uniform. With Mobley, according to Berman, contemplating retirement, the Knicks will be in desperate need for a shooter. Here’s what I know:
It’s still a longshot and he’s relatively healed from his quad strain. Enough so to be working out with the team. I saw him the other night working with Jeffries before the game. But I think Donnie Walsh looks at the D-League and does his due diligence.
In looking at the D Legue there are a few interesting names, and remember the Bucks snagged Ramon Sessions from there, so there are some diamonds. Remember that if a player is drafted or signed as FA to an NBA franchise, you have a three year contract but you are only allowed 2 years in the D League and then you can be signed by any team. If you are waived, you are fair game, which we discovered after referring to legal counsel Andrew Smith.
A guy they may took look at is Cedric Bozman, formerly of UCLA, who was one-time property of the Hawks but is not under contract. I have to look up his availability but he’s played well early and was waived by the Hawks in 2007. I also happen to like Brandon Heath, who was waived by the Lakers and who’s impressing early.
If the team is looking for PG help, Walker Russell formerly of Jacksonville State is averaging 13 points and over 8 assists but was never considered a good shooter at the NBA level. And of course, former Knick Frank Williams is always a possibility.
But for me, with the need for shotblocking help, Walsh should look to former Michigan standout Courtney Sims who is eating up the D league early averaging 8 blocks and 14 rebounds.
I still maintain that Ewing Jr. will return in early January when Marbury is cut loose.
Remember for more information on the D League check out Dan Reed’s Blog on NBA.com
Via the Orlando Sentinel:
“…Magic assistant coach Patrick Ewing, none too pleased that his old team — the New York Knicks — waived his son, is trying to help find Patrick Ewing Jr. his next team.
“We’re looking at Europe or the D-League right now for Junior. We’re trying to sort it out,” the elder Ewing said before the Magic’s game Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies.
A small forward, Ewing Jr. made a strong bid late in the preseason to make the club but was the last player cut. The Knicks kept former Florida Gators G Anthony Roberson instead.
“It ticked me off,” Ewing Sr. said…”
And rightfully so. I think the whole situation was mishandled. I believe Donnie Walsh felt that he could move Stephon Marbury, which he feverishly tried to during preseason, and when he was unsuccessful it forced Jr, out of the mix.
But let’s be honest, they gave the kid a good look, and the fans love him, so when that roster spot opens up, which could be soon with Marbury and the Knicks headed for a divorce, Ewing should come back without hesitation.
For those fans who want Ewing Jr. to come back, here’s “Come Back” by Pearl Jam.
“There must be an open door, for you to come back….”
So I guess I’m about to be shocked.
It appears, based on several reports, that Donnie Walsh has decided to keep Anthony Roberson at the expense of fan favorite Patrick Ewing Jr.
Clearly, this move makes little sense on the surface, based on the performances of the two, Roberson couldn’t hit a shot and barely played, but Walsh must feel a 6th guard makes more sense than cutting Jerome James or keeping the project in Ewing.
The other night MSG’s John Rothstein said on ESPN Radio that sources close to the team considered Ewing a Matt Barnes-type who may find his way into the rotation at some point during the year.
This may not be the last the team has seen of Ewing, there’s reason to believe that Walsh has an agreement with Jr. to return to the team as soon as a roster spot opens up, which will assuredly happen throughout the course of the year.
Ewing Jr.’s not sold on the idea of joining the Knicks D-League team…yet.
← Older posts“…There’s been talk of Ewing Jr. possibly playing for the Knicks’ D-League affiliate in Reno, Nevada. When he was asked about that, he said: “I really just have to look at my options first before I would sit here and commit to one scenario or another. If they decide not to keep me, then I’ll sit down with my agent, discuss what possible scenarios would be and we’ll go from there…”
