The New York Knicks are getting ready to open the NBA preseason and the team could have Arron Afflalo out, while rookie Kristaps Porzingis may be in the starting lineup for Derek Fisher. Carmelo Anthony was asked about the potential of asking for a trade if the Knicks struggle again and the star was unequivocal about his opinion, saying "hell no" to that option.
The Knicks are opening up the preseason against the Brazilian club Bauru and the team is coming into the season with expectations of improvement. The roster is more talented than last year around Carmelo Anthony and the team is hoping that Anthony can stay healthy after having knee surgery last season. Arron Afflalo is not quite 100 percent healthy, as Ian Begley at ESPN New York reports that Afflalo may miss the preseason opener.
Begley reports that Afflalo has missed four practices in a row and he is dealing with a hamstring injury. The Knicks may want to be cautious with Afflalo, as hamstring injuries can often linger for basketball players. Begley also reports that Derek Fisher is "unsure" if Kristaps Porzingis will end up in the starting lineup for the game. The report has Robin Lopez, Carmelo Anthony and Jose Calderon as the definite starters as of Tuesday afternoon.
The team likely will play both Porzingis and Grant in the preseason to see how those two rookies adjust to the NBA game. According to the Wall Street Journal, Fisher said that he has no "qualms" with starting two rookies and that he will "give spot(s) to most-deserving player(s)."
Leading up to the start of the preseason, Anthony was asked by Begley about the trade rumors that came up this summer and whether he would ask for a trade if the Knicks are not a good team again. Anthony was emphatic in his answer and said "no, hell no" to the idea of asking for a trade this season. Anthony said that the rumors cane be "overwhelming" and that the thought has not "even come across" his mind "at this point."
The Knicks had a very tough season last year while winning 17 games, but there have been a number of changes since last season ended. The team didn't attract any major free agents like LaMarcus Aldridge or Greg Monroe, but they added solid names in Afflalo, Lopez and Kevin Seraphin along with Derrick Williams and Sasha Vujacic. The team is also very excited about both Grant and Porzingis as rookies and how they can contribute this season.
Check here for more on the Knicks, Afflalo, Porzingis and the trade question to Carmelo Anthony.
