The Knicks are leaning into an old habit in Westchester: finding creative ways to keep useful talent in-house and make the G-League affiliate work for the big club.
On Friday, Westchester sent away its second-round selection in the G-League Draft to the Austin Spurs and got the player rights to Elfrid Payton in return. For Knicks fans, Payton is a familiar name.
He appeared in 108 games for New York across the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, starting 99 of them. Not every memory of his time under Tom Thibodeau is going to be warm, but the 32-year-old brings a level of experience that should matter in Westchester.
That’s the point of this move. Payton’s value isn’t about scoring punch as much as it is about steering an offense and giving younger players a steadier hand around them. The Knicks have assembled a Westchester group with plenty of upside, but also plenty of guys who can use structure.
New York also waived Kevin McCullar Jr. on Friday to sign Dalton Knecht to a two-way contract, a quick return to the organization for the Kansas product and 2024 Knicks second round draft pick. Knecht, the No. 17 overall pick from that 2024 draft, is a sharpshooting wing who had trouble making a consistent impact for the Los Angeles Lakers early in his career.
Westchester also brought back Dink Pate after his unsuccessful run at the NCAA level with Providence College. Pate is an enticing athlete with three years of G-League experience, but his 3-point shooting and ability to generate reliable offense remain issues.
Jaden Akins adds another layer. He made the G-League’s version of an All-Star Game last season with the Motor City Cruise and is a capable scoring guard, but he still needs help getting the team into its offense.
That’s where Payton fits. He gives Westchester a veteran floor general who can set things up for the group’s young talent and put them in better positions to succeed. For a front office that has repeatedly used unusual methods to improve the organization, this is another example of Leon Rose’s group trying to gain an edge wherever it can.
In Other News...
Knicks Learned A Tough Lesson In Mitchell Robinsons First Reunion
The trip to Boston carried a little extra weight for the Knicks, who arrived fresh off their NBA championship celebration and the pregame presentation of rings before facing the Celtics. It was also Mitchell Robinsons first reunion with his old team, this time in a Boston starting role after his Knicks years, adding another layer to a matchup that already had plenty of emotion around it.
Robinson did his part with four points, four rebounds and a block as the Celtics came away with a 107-103 win, a reminder that the margin for error shrinks quickly in a building like that. For the Knicks, it was the kind of night that can still sting even in the middle of a celebration, because the familiar faces and the familiar venue made the loss feel a little more personal. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Just Exposed A Knicks Problem Fans Know Too Well
The Knicks opened their season with back-to-back losses to the 76ers and Celtics, and the early concern is less about one bad night than a familiar pattern. Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby have each had solid moments, but the offense has been undone at times by careless turnovers and a general lack of urgency that has made it hard to settle into a rhythm.
Mikal Bridges quiet start has only added to the unease, because New York needs more from him if the attack is going to keep pace with top Eastern Conference teams. Early-season slippage can be corrected, but the Knicks already look like a club trying to solve the same problem fans have seen before: enough talent to compete, not enough consistent sharpness to turn that into wins. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Face A Tough McBride Decision They May Not Avoid
The Knicks roster picture keeps circling back to the same problem: the frontcourt needs more help, and the financial math does not leave much room to go shopping without sending out a useful piece. With the team still looking for a better answer at backup center, the discussion has turned to the sort of move that hurts in the short term but may be unavoidable if the right big becomes available.
Miles McBride has emerged as the likeliest name to watch because he is the one trade-eligible non-starter on the roster with real standalone value. That makes him both a valuable asset and a difficult decision, since dealing him would address one need while creating another, and the Knicks have to weigh whether strengthening the center rotation is worth parting with one of their more dependable guards. [Read more 🡒]