Jordan Clarkson’s minutes have been one of the Knicks’ stranger storylines, but the explanation may be simpler than it looks: Mike Brown is playing the long game.
Clarkson has appeared in nine of New York’s first 10 games, and even with the Knicks dropping half of those, he never finished a game with a negative plus-minus. That kind of production usually buys a little more runway. Instead, he was stuck on the bench Wednesday in a game against Cleveland the Knicks could have used him in.
Still, Brown is not the kind of coach who lets one night dictate the whole season. He isn’t Tom Thibodeau, he’s not Mickey Callaway, and he could never, would never, be George Steinbrenner. That difference matters here, because Brown’s approach seems rooted in patience, evaluation and the larger picture rather than the urge to squeeze every possible win out of November.
The contrast with Thibodeau is part of the point. If Thibodeau were sick with the flu and someone bet him he’d be better by morning, he’d spend the night outdoors wearing a crown of ice cubes.
The man had to win everything. Which masks a deeper truth: the man had to compete at everything.
Brown’s competitive edge is real, but it doesn’t overwhelm his judgment. He didn’t arrive in New York promising one thing and then reveal the opposite the first time things got messy. He understands that coaching means deciding when to chase a single game and when to learn something that might matter much more later.
That’s where Mohamed Diawara’s 11 non-productive minutes against the Cavs come in. Brown chose to test another player instead of turning to Clarkson, even if it may have cost New York in the moment. The idea is simple enough: gathering information now can help later, and the season is still long.
That willingness to separate the urgent from the important is part of why Brown is viewed as a special coach. It also helps explain why he’s comfortable bouncing Clarkson in and out of the rotation, and why Clarkson appears to be fine with it.
When the roster is healthy, Clarkson has become something of a Josh Hart-Jose Alvarado hybrid. He’s one of the Knicks’ best offensive rebounders and one of the few players on the roster who brings real full-court pressure to opposing guards. The problem is that “healthy” is doing a lot of work there.
His value is in how many different jobs he can handle. If Brunson needs to spend more time off the ball, Clarkson can take on enough creation to make that possible.
If Landry Shamet and Deuce McBride aren’t giving New York the usual point production, Clarkson can supply offense off the bench. If Tyler Kolek is in over his head, Clarkson has seen enough to steady things.
He’s averaged 20 points and five assists a game off the bench, which gives the Knicks a lot of flexibility.
That flexibility also matters if the front office starts looking at trades. The most logical move would be sending out a guard to get a big, and Clarkson’s ability to fit almost anywhere makes that easier to stomach no matter who gets moved.
McBride, who keeps doing the things he does well, is almost certainly headed for free agency in the summer, and after losing Mitchell Robinson for nothing, the Knicks may not want to lose someone else without getting something back. Kolek’s strong play could make him attractive in a deal for a young big man, and Milwaukee would be a particularly natural fit for him because of his college ties in Wisconsin.
Even the less likely trade ideas circle back to Clarkson. Mikal Bridges probably isn’t going anywhere, especially since his play this season doesn’t seem like the kind that would make another team chase him.
Still, he’s the only Knicks starter who is at least a longshot to be moved, unlike Brunson or Towns. And if Mo Diawara were dealt, that would still affect the guard rotation, since he and Hart are the guards best suited to playing bigger than their size and skill sets suggest.
Between injuries at home and possible suspensions and draft forfeitures elsewhere, the Knicks’ trade picture could still shift before the February deadline. But standing pat is a lot easier when you already have the trophy. It’s easier still when Jordan Clarkson is around to patch the holes.
In Other News...
Knicks Are Taking Another Intriguing Swing Fans Will Want To Watch
Rob Dillingham is headed toward another stop in his young pro career, and it could give Knicks fans a closer look at one of the more intriguing guards from the 2024 draft. The eighth pick is expected to join the Westchester Knicks, pending the NBA waiver process, after spending the stretch since late September unsigned. Toronto reportedly looked at bringing him in on a two-way deal before going in another direction, a reminder that teams around the league still see some upside even if his early path has been uneven.
For New York, the move adds another name worth monitoring in the organizations development pipeline. Westchester has become a useful landing spot for players trying to rebuild momentum, and Dillingham arrives with the kind of talent that can make a G League stint more than just a placeholder. The next step will depend on the waiver process, but the broader picture is clear enough: the Knicks are taking a low-risk swing on a player whose long-term appeal still has plenty of believers. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Could Benefit From A Bucks Problem No One Saw Coming
Milwaukees offseason suddenly has a cloud hanging over it, and for the Knicks, that kind of uncertainty can create opportunity. The Bucks are reportedly under investigation for cap circumvention tied to Gary Trent Jr., with league insiders expecting a guilty finding that could cost them future draft picks. If that happens, the ripple effect could be bigger than any single punishment, especially if Milwaukee is pushed into a more cautious posture with its roster.
For New York, the appeal is obvious: a team that may need to reset could put useful frontcourt pieces on the market, and names like Jericho Sims and Kelel Ware would fit the kind of depth the Knicks are always hunting for. The question is what it would take to get involved, with Tyler Kolek or Miles McBride among the kinds of players New York could dangle if the Bucks decide to listen. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Face A Risky Siakam Problem They Can't Feed
Pascal Siakam has already given the Knicks a fresh scouting headache, following up a 29-point night in Dallas with 28 against Washington while hitting all 12 of his free throws in the latter game. With Indiana next on the schedule, New York is looking at a Pacers attack that can punish overreactions, especially with Tyrese Haliburtons injury status still part of the backdrop and Andrew Nembhard capable of keeping the ball moving if defenses get too eager.
For the Knicks, the temptation is to crowd Siakam early and try to take the game out of his hands before he settles in. But the safer path may be more measured, because Indianas passing can turn a hard trap into an open look in a hurry. New York has to decide whether to live with Siakam working one-on-one or risk helping too much and opening the door for the rest of the Pacers to capitalize. [Read more 🡒]