Stephen A. Smith is a New York Times Bestselling Author, Executive Producer, host of ESPN's First Take, and co-host of NBA Countdown.
Stephen A. Smith was furious about the New York Knicks firing Tom Thibodeau after five seasons, especially following a 51-win season and a deep playoff run to the Eastern Conference Finals. Smith argued that Thibodeau was unfairly scapegoated and that the Knicks' front office should be held accountable for roster decisions that may have compromised the team's success.
Breakdown of His Reaction
- Shock & Outrage – Smith was stunned by the firing, questioning why Thibodeau was let go after leading the Knicks to their best playoff run in decades.
- Criticism of Leon Rose – He blasted Rose for avoiding the media and failing to justify the decision publicly.
- Roster Decisions – Smith pointed out that the Knicks' front office made questionable trades, including giving up five first-round picks for Mikal Bridges, which may have hindered the team.
- Potential Coaching Replacements – He suggested Mike Malone, Jay Wright, Rick Brunson, Mark Jackson, and Jeff Van Gundy as possible successors.
- Future of the Knicks – Smith expressed concerns about the Knicks' ability to compete next season, given their limited draft assets and salary cap constraints.
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Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
What Tom timde fired?
Speaker 2 (00:03):
What the.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
What's up? Everybody?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Welcome to the latest edition of The Steven Asmith Show,
coming at you as I love to do at the
very least three times a week over the digital airwaves
of YouTube, and of course iHeartRadio is always I like
to take a moment to thank my subscribers and followers
and listeners following me on iHeartRadio courtesy millions of download
show that you've been doing that over the last few months.
So thank you so much. As it pertains to YouTube
the digital airwaves, we've now eclipsed one point two three
(00:40):
million subscribers. Can't thank y'all for the love and support enough.
Keep it coming and I'm gonna keep on coming. To
continue to like and follow the show, just click the
bell and get notified for all of our newest content
and YouTube. Shall be the latest member of the Steven
Axsmith Show family. And why you're doing that. Make sure
to pick up a copy of my New York Times
best selling book, Straight Shooter, a Memoir of second Chances
and First Takes, now in paperback. Just go straight the
Book dot com to get yourself a copy. Once again,
(01:02):
that straighten you to the book dot com to get
yourself a copy. This is a special edition of The
Steven A.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Smith Show.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
And the reason why there is a special edition is
because the New York Knicks. All Right, the New York
Knicks have decided that after five years, it was time
to fire coach Tom Thibodeaux. Tom Thibodeaux today was relieved
of his duties just a couple of days after the
New York Knicks were unceremoniously removed from the NBA Playoffs
(01:32):
courtesy of the Indiana Pacers, who beat them in six
games to head to the NBA Finals. While Tom Thibodeau
is without a job, this is a man that goted
the New York Knicks to fifty one wins this season,
a top three seed in the Eastern Conference. He's also somebody,
ladies and gentlemen. I've been very very critical, Love. I
(01:52):
have been very very critical, Love from the standpoint that
I wish the man used this bench more. I remember
that Kenny Smith I said before I'll say it again,
it was the line of the year when Kenny Smith said,
Kenny Smith the TNT said quote, Tom Thibodeau wouldn't want
to play nine dudes in a baseball game. That is
(02:14):
absolutely true. So your run starters into the ground. You know,
you don't utilize your bench. You don't work diligently enough
on the bench to make sure that you got deep
enough cats to you got a deep enough bench to
utilize Allah Indiana and ok see participants in this upcoming
NBA Finals who go nine to ten, sometimes eleven deep.
(02:35):
That ain't Tom Thibodeaux, and I understand that. But it's
just something that it's just not a good feeling to
watch this man get you to within two games of
a birth to the NBA Finals and he's gone. But
Leon Rose, the president of the basketball operations for the
New York Knick, stays, you're the one that elected to
(02:56):
portray five first round picks for unprotected to the Brooklyn
Nets for Mi cal Bridges. There's something that's just wrong
with that picture. Mi cal Bridges is a damn good player.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
MIKEL.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Bridges is mister reliable, can give you seventeen to nineteen
again a game. He's gonna play seventy five to eighty
two games a regular season for you, mister iron man.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
He's very reliable, very.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Dependable, a damn good player, a damn good defensive player,
but there's nothing about him that's elite. He's never been
an All Star, and you give up five first round
picks for him for unprotected.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
That is what Tom Thibodeau did. That's sorry.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
That's what the New York Knicks did. That is what
Leon Rose did. But Tom Thibodau's out of a job. See,
at some point in time, it's about being fair. It's
about being fair. If Tyd lew is out there, I'm
good with it. If Eric spos is out there, I'm
good with it. Mike Malone might be available for the job.
He is available for the job. I don't know if
(04:02):
the Nickson is gonna hire him. Former head coach for
the Denver Nuggets who won a championship a couple of
years ago. I got that part because Tom thimbdo never
coached in the NBA finals as a head coach where
Michael Malone won one.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
I got that part. Jay Wright out.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Of Villanova to Tom National Champion, who coached Brunton, who
coached Michel Bridges, who coached Josh Hart when they were
in college at Villanova.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
I'm hearing his name. Don't know how much truth there
is to.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
That I personally think Rick Brunson, the father of Jalen Brunson,
former standout player at Temple University, an assistant coach on
the bench with Tom Thibodeaux, who has the post of
the players.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
I don't mind that at all. But that's the subject.
That's something we.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Could get into in the days and the weeks down
the road. Right now, the issue is Tom Thibodeau. What
the hell is he out of a job.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Again? He's not flawless again.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
There have been times where I've been critical of Tom Thibodeaux,
no doubt, but for him to guid the Knicks as
deep as they did, for him to up in Boston,
and I want to hear about injury to Jason Tatum,
because Jason Tatum went down with about a couple of
minutes left in Game three and the Knicks were about
(05:22):
to go up three war and he was healthy when
the Knicks beat beat Boston games one and two in
Boston of the Eastern Conference semi final series. So I'm
looking at all of that and I'm saying, Yo, we
got to call it.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Like it is.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
We gotta call it like you see it. Look at
the roster of the new York Knicks. Tom Thibodeau is
a defensive minded coach. Is it possible? Is it plausible?
Does it make sense, ladies and gentlemen, for us to
look at Leon Rose in the New York Knicks and say, yo,
you kind of compromise him because it's a defensive minded coach,
and that you kept Hartenstein and a Julius Randall and
(05:57):
a Dante te Vincenzo.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
And your picks. You could have got this far.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
And you'd be in a better position to go out
there and let's say, get a yachts after the compou.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
But the likelihood of that happening is slim now.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
And it's just something about it that don't feel right,
that don't seem right. Sean Serania of ESPN reported that
the Knicks thought it was just time to move in
a different direction.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
I spoke to sources within the New York next day,
like it's time, Stephen A is time time for what? Time?
Speaker 2 (06:38):
For what?
Speaker 1 (06:40):
I mean?
Speaker 2 (06:41):
I'm truly, truly, truly at a loss. Do you remember
back in March when Michel Bridges at Tom Tebau had
a disagreement. Twelve hours after Michel Bridges said publicly that
he talked privately to his coach, Tom Thibodaux about the
(07:01):
starters playing too much minutes and a bench not enough.
The NBA's league leader, En Minutes capped a forty one
minute overtime performance with a buzzer beating game winning three,
five hours after Thibodeau publicly stated that he and Bridges
never had a private discussion about the starters playing too
many minutes and the bench too few. The coach put
the ball in the hands of Bridges over and over
down the stretch to seal the win.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
It didn't the gate the fact that Bridges still complained.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
So I remember that, I remember that, I'm looking at that,
and then I'm saying to myself, Okay, I'm also.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Looking at this.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Tims in five seasons as the coach. This was the
Knicks statements as an organization. Our organization is singularly focused
on winning a championship for our fans. Team president Leon
Rode said, we can't thank Tom enough for pouring his
hardest soul into each and every day of being the
New York Nicks head coach. Ultimately, we made the decision
we feel it's best for our organization moving forward. Ain't
that some weak ass shit of a statement. You can't
(08:00):
tell anybody why this is the problem with the New
York Knicks, because the fans are still gonna come to
the garden. My dumb ass is still gonna come to
the garden. Other people go still gonna come to the garden.
Were gonna pack to the rafters. We gonna come there
and support the team no matter what the hell they do,
because they never have.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
To answer for anything.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
You would think you letting a coach like Tom Thibodeaux go,
you stand before the media and answer some damn questions.
Not Leon Rose, a man that I've known for decades
that I have profound, respectful, that I think, for the
most part, has done a hell of a job.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
But there's a.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Couple of moves he's done that I disagree with that
I think one could argue you easily compromise the success
of Tom Thibodeaux. You've never seen a Tom Thibodau team
play defense the way this six clean play defense this year.
We all knew they weren't up to snuff defensively. We
got articles coming out in the Athletic about Carl Anthony
Towns and how some of the teammates thought that he
(08:54):
wasn't all bought in. You see his side twenty one feet,
you see his suspect knees and legs. You think he's
gonna run up and down the court every single play
defensively when he knows you need his offensive Twenty four.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
And thirteen a night. That wasn't Tom Thiberdau's decision. That
was TIBs, that was Leon Rose.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
I'm sorry the Vintenzo and Randall listen, I'm not I
like these moves.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
I even like mckel bridges being on the team.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
I didn't know it was five first round picks for
them at the time, But these are the kind of
things that we gotta live with. You would think that,
having lived with it, if you're gonna make a decision
like this, you stand before the public and you tell
them why. And I think the only way that you
skid over that and let that go is if tyd
(09:44):
Lud's sides apart from Los Angeles Clippers, or you got
a Mike Malone or Jay Wright coming in to play,
and I don't know that they'll do a better job
than TIBs, but they both can coach. And if you
had this planned all along and that was just successive,
then his self explos planatory. But if there's some coaching
search and you don't know definitively who you want or
(10:04):
who you're gonna bring on board, when you made this
move to let TIBs go, it looks like Tims got screwed.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
New York Knicks can tell you it's time, it's time,
it's time.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
And I know somebody is intense and as intensely focused
as TIBs.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
Can wear on players.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
I just think that when the man just took you
the game six of the Eastern Conference Finals, when the
team wasn't what it was last year in terms of
grit because of the moves you made as the executive
of the team, firing coach, firing the coach is just bordering.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
On escapegoat status. But that's just me.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
I'm just looking at the Knicks right now, and my
question to myself is where do they go from here?
That's how I'm looking at it. I'm just looking at
things going on right now, wondering what the Knicks are
and what they're gonna look like.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
This offseason. They were fifty one and thirty one.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
They did the number one three, they were the number
three season East, the conference first back to back fifty
win seasons in thirty years. That's Tips advanced to the
conference finals for the first Thompsons two thousand lost back
then to the Pacers, by the way, in six games
as well. I'm sorry this one. In six games they
did went to conference finals. This fine, okay. Free agents,
The only ones they got is precious at chew with
(11:29):
Cameron Payne, Lon Wright, Landry Shammit, don't get me started
with Shaman who decided to hit back to back three's.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
When the game didn't matter in Game six Saturday night.
Don't get me started with that. I live that ago.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
The only draft assets in June is the number fifty
overall pick from the Memphis Grizzlies. The trade with Brooklyn
last June left New York with only one tradable first
in the next seven years, and the next seven years,
the Knicks only have one tradable first round pick, top
eight protected first from the Wizards in twenty twenty.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
The Knicks are.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Allowed to swap first round picks in twenty twenty six,
twenty thirty, and twenty thirty two, and have seven second
round picks available.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
That's what this is.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
And just to remind you, the Knicks acquired Bridges and
the second rounder for the Brooklyn Nets for Bogdanovitch, five
first round picks, four and protected, one first round pick
swap and one second round pick swap. Damn you would
have thought luc Or Kevin Durant was coming. No, all
of that was for Michal Bridges, who, by the way,
is good but needs to improve and live up to
(12:31):
the status that he was traded for. By the way,
last June, the Knicks traded the twenty sixth overall pick
in the twenty twenty four NBA Draft to Oklahoma City
in exchange for five second round picks. That's how they
got the five second round picks. All right, now, I
remember to call Anthony Towns trade. They're acquired Julius Randall,
(12:51):
Dante DiVincenzo in the top thirteen. The Knicks acquired call
Anthony Towns from the t Woolves, Tom Allstar, Julius Randall,
Dante DiVincenzo, and a top thirteen protected first round pick
from the Pistons. Just a little nuggets of notes for
that one, ladies and gentlemen, The pick was top thirteen
protected in twenty twenty five top eleven and twenty twenty six,
(13:13):
top nine and twenty twenty seven, and we'll convert to
a second round pick if not conveyed by then. Potential,
albeit unlikely trade targets are Giannis and Kevin Durant. The
Knicks likely trade chips include Karl Anthony Towns with his
huge remaining contract, Michel Bridges due for a contract extension,
Miles McBride, Tony Kollik, and a top eight protected first
(13:37):
from the Wizards in twenty twenty six. Those are the
assets that the New York Knicks have available to them
because they gave an Anobe two hundred and twelve million.
You know you ain't moving Brunton and Josh Hart is
too inexpensive to let go of in today's market.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
And there you have it. So I'm just looking at it.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
Carl Anthony town fifty three point one million next year,
fifty seven point one million the first season after sixty
one million player option in twenty twenty seven, twenty twenty eight,
Nick sizeable contracts, col Anthony Timeser.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
Just gave it to you.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Og n Anobi thirty nine point six million in two
you know, player option in twenty twenty eight. Mckail bridge
is a twenty four point nine million unrestricted free agent
next year. Josh Hart nineteen and a half million team
option twenty twenty seven, Mitchell Robson twelve point nine million
hunhre restricted free agent after next season. Duce McBride four
point three million under restricted free agent as a twenty
(14:30):
twenty seven.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
That's what we're looking at. That's what we're talking about.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
New York Knicks entered the offseason with two hundred million
in salary and four roster spots available. Did three point
eight million over the first apron and eight million below
the second. They'll get three and a half million the
financial relief of the team option the PJ Tuckers decline,
which will be New York has until June twenty ninth
of exercise Tucker's option, and a two million option of
last year's second round pick.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
This is what we're looking at. It's not bad.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
New York needs to be in the playoffs next year,
But where are you going after that? You think they're
gonna better than Cleveland. You think they're not gonna You
think they're suddenly gonna be better than the Indiana Pacers.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
You think the Orlando Magic is just gonna fade into
the twilight.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
You think the Detroit Pistons are going anywhere? They didn't
have Jayden Ivy and Isaiah Stewart. Nick's got their work
cut out for them, Ladies and gentlemen, Oh yes they do.
I feel bad for Tom Thibodeaux.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
Again.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
I've been critical of him, wanting him to utilize this bench,
which he did. Is the season wane because he had
no choice and his stubbornness may have gotten the better
of him and his voice and they just may have
needed a new voice. All of that's fine, But if
you're Leon Rose, you don't get to just hide behind
some weak ass, meaningless statement. You gotta answer questions. It's
(15:57):
not like you deserve to be fired or anything. We
all know you did a damn good job overall as
the new president of basketball operations for the New York Knicks.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Over these last few years, you've.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
Resurrected this franchise. You've made them interesting and compelling. You've
battled and you've fought, and you've gone deep into the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Nobody's calling for you to be fired or anything like that.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Always saying Leon Rosey is how the hell you're gonna
give that week ass statement and you don't address the
media and let them know. Look, man, we try to
win the championship. We got to go in a different direction.
There are things that we should have done differently. We
deserve to hear that. We deserve to hear how Leon
Rose is feeling about this roster. How does he feel
about giving up so many assets for mikel Bridges? Why
(16:38):
specifically did he do it even though we all know
why because Jalen Brunston wanted them too, Because Jaylen Brunton
could have signed a deal a year later and got
over one hundred and twenty million more dollars, but.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
He didn't do it.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
We got that part, but it'd be nice to hear
call Anthony Towns and the health, his knees, his feet,
what's up.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Their home.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
I'm not losing sleep over this. I lost sleep Saturday
night when they got sent home from the playoffs, and
and it's going to the finals. I'm not gonna lose
sleep over them changing their coach. I just would like
to know why, from the person I deem most responsible
for all of this, in Leon Rose, why.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
He made this decision? That's it?
Speaker 2 (17:26):
And then we move on from there. Got to get
on out of here. Just wanted to sound off about
this New York Knick stray of firing. I'm sorry of
Tom Thibodeaux. I don't like it. I think it's kind
of messed up. I don't think a lot of people
saw this coming. There's no question that Tom Thibodeau would
(17:48):
have went home unemployed if they had lost to Boston
early in.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
The Easton Conference semifinals.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
If they are getting taken out of four or five games,
Tom Thibdeau would not have a job as the New
York Knicks. But the minute he won that series, everybody
and their mother was assuming, Yo, he'll be back, especially
since the challenges that the New York Knicks faced, particularly
on the defensive side of the ball, was primarily because
of the decisions made by Leon Rose, not Tom Thibodeaux.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
But that's me.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
We'll talk about it in the days, weeks and months
to come.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
I'll keep my eye on who the next head coach
of the New York Knicks is going to be.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
I got four names that I want to be prime
candidates for this job. Mike Malone and Jay Wright are
given professionally collegiately with what they did in Denver and
Villa and at Villanova respectfully and respectively. I got that
part Rick Brunson, Jalen Brunton's daddy, an assistant coach on
(18:50):
that bench. He can't leave that bench. He has to
be on that bench. I've watched this guy have the
pulse of these players. He has to be there. And
if he got elevated to the head coach job of
the New York it would have bothered me one bit.
And this shouldn't bothered y'all. That would be one. That
would be three and last, but not least, Mark Jackson.
(19:10):
Mark Jackson, remember that guy that essentially was black Ball,
that did a hell of a job coaching the Golden
State Warriors are basically prepping Steph and Clay the Splash
Brothers along with Draymond for Steve Kurz arrived. Remember that
that dude. Why can't he get a look? Why can't
he get a head coach a job with what he
knows about the game? And if not him, are you
(19:33):
all ready for this one? This is a fifth one,
a last one that I'll throw out there for everybody
to hear. How about the lead assistant for the Los
Angeles Clippers by the name of mister Jeff Van Gundy.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
Bringing him back.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
I know he didn't leave under the greatest of terms
for the Knickson back decades ago, but damn it, he's
a hell of a coach.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
Personally speaking.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
I would be a support of Mark Jackson being the
head coach, but if Jeff Van Gundy came back, I
would be a support of Mark Jackson being an assistant.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
Then that's it.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
That's where I'm coming from. I want that man back
on the coaching sidelines in the NBA. Nobody as productive
as Mark Jackson should be ostracized from a support like this.
I would love to see him back, and I'm gonna
keep saying it. That's all I'm gonna say. I gotta
get on out of here. I hope y'all appreciate me
(20:22):
sounding off. I had to let my feelings be known.
Y'all see me on first take tomorrow. You'll see me here,
You'll see me, lord knows on what sports in or
any other platform because of this firing. I got a
lot to say about it, of course, and everybody's gonna
want to hear from me. So that's the situation. I
just want to make sure y'all hear from me first.
I gotta get on out of here, Stephen. They signing
off until next time. Everybody peace and left. Take care
(20:43):
of me. God bless her,
What Tom timde fired?
Speaker 2 (00:03):
What the.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
What's up? Everybody?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Welcome to the latest edition of The Steven Asmith Show,
coming at you as I love to do at the
very least three times a week over the digital airwaves
of YouTube, and of course iHeartRadio is always I like
to take a moment to thank my subscribers and followers
and listeners following me on iHeartRadio courtesy millions of download
show that you've been doing that over the last few months.
So thank you so much. As it pertains to YouTube
the digital airwaves, we've now eclipsed one point two three
(00:40):
million subscribers. Can't thank y'all for the love and support enough.
Keep it coming and I'm gonna keep on coming. To
continue to like and follow the show, just click the
bell and get notified for all of our newest content
and YouTube. Shall be the latest member of the Steven
Axsmith Show family. And why you're doing that. Make sure
to pick up a copy of my New York Times
best selling book, Straight Shooter, a Memoir of second Chances
and First Takes, now in paperback. Just go straight the
Book dot com to get yourself a copy. Once again,
(01:02):
that straighten you to the book dot com to get
yourself a copy. This is a special edition of The
Steven A.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Smith Show.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
And the reason why there is a special edition is
because the New York Knicks. All Right, the New York
Knicks have decided that after five years, it was time
to fire coach Tom Thibodeaux. Tom Thibodeaux today was relieved
of his duties just a couple of days after the
New York Knicks were unceremoniously removed from the NBA Playoffs
(01:32):
courtesy of the Indiana Pacers, who beat them in six
games to head to the NBA Finals. While Tom Thibodeau
is without a job, this is a man that goted
the New York Knicks to fifty one wins this season,
a top three seed in the Eastern Conference. He's also somebody,
ladies and gentlemen. I've been very very critical, Love. I
(01:52):
have been very very critical, Love from the standpoint that
I wish the man used this bench more. I remember
that Kenny Smith I said before I'll say it again,
it was the line of the year when Kenny Smith said,
Kenny Smith the TNT said quote, Tom Thibodeau wouldn't want
to play nine dudes in a baseball game. That is
(02:14):
absolutely true. So your run starters into the ground. You know,
you don't utilize your bench. You don't work diligently enough
on the bench to make sure that you got deep
enough cats to you got a deep enough bench to
utilize Allah Indiana and ok see participants in this upcoming
NBA Finals who go nine to ten, sometimes eleven deep.
(02:35):
That ain't Tom Thibodeaux, and I understand that. But it's
just something that it's just not a good feeling to
watch this man get you to within two games of
a birth to the NBA Finals and he's gone. But
Leon Rose, the president of the basketball operations for the
New York Knick, stays, you're the one that elected to
(02:56):
portray five first round picks for unprotected to the Brooklyn
Nets for Mi cal Bridges. There's something that's just wrong
with that picture. Mi cal Bridges is a damn good player.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
MIKEL.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Bridges is mister reliable, can give you seventeen to nineteen
again a game. He's gonna play seventy five to eighty
two games a regular season for you, mister iron man.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
He's very reliable, very.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Dependable, a damn good player, a damn good defensive player,
but there's nothing about him that's elite. He's never been
an All Star, and you give up five first round
picks for him for unprotected.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
That is what Tom Thibodeau did. That's sorry.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
That's what the New York Knicks did. That is what
Leon Rose did. But Tom Thibodau's out of a job. See,
at some point in time, it's about being fair. It's
about being fair. If Tyd lew is out there, I'm
good with it. If Eric spos is out there, I'm
good with it. Mike Malone might be available for the job.
He is available for the job. I don't know if
(04:02):
the Nickson is gonna hire him. Former head coach for
the Denver Nuggets who won a championship a couple of
years ago. I got that part because Tom thimbdo never
coached in the NBA finals as a head coach where
Michael Malone won one.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
I got that part. Jay Wright out.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Of Villanova to Tom National Champion, who coached Brunton, who
coached Michel Bridges, who coached Josh Hart when they were
in college at Villanova.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
I'm hearing his name. Don't know how much truth there
is to.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
That I personally think Rick Brunson, the father of Jalen Brunson,
former standout player at Temple University, an assistant coach on
the bench with Tom Thibodeaux, who has the post of
the players.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
I don't mind that at all. But that's the subject.
That's something we.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Could get into in the days and the weeks down
the road. Right now, the issue is Tom Thibodeau. What
the hell is he out of a job.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Again? He's not flawless again.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
There have been times where I've been critical of Tom Thibodeaux,
no doubt, but for him to guid the Knicks as
deep as they did, for him to up in Boston,
and I want to hear about injury to Jason Tatum,
because Jason Tatum went down with about a couple of
minutes left in Game three and the Knicks were about
(05:22):
to go up three war and he was healthy when
the Knicks beat beat Boston games one and two in
Boston of the Eastern Conference semi final series. So I'm
looking at all of that and I'm saying, Yo, we
got to call it.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Like it is.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
We gotta call it like you see it. Look at
the roster of the new York Knicks. Tom Thibodeau is
a defensive minded coach. Is it possible? Is it plausible?
Does it make sense, ladies and gentlemen, for us to
look at Leon Rose in the New York Knicks and say, yo,
you kind of compromise him because it's a defensive minded coach,
and that you kept Hartenstein and a Julius Randall and
(05:57):
a Dante te Vincenzo.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
And your picks. You could have got this far.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
And you'd be in a better position to go out
there and let's say, get a yachts after the compou.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
But the likelihood of that happening is slim now.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
And it's just something about it that don't feel right,
that don't seem right. Sean Serania of ESPN reported that
the Knicks thought it was just time to move in
a different direction.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
I spoke to sources within the New York next day,
like it's time, Stephen A is time time for what? Time?
Speaker 2 (06:38):
For what?
Speaker 1 (06:40):
I mean?
Speaker 2 (06:41):
I'm truly, truly, truly at a loss. Do you remember
back in March when Michel Bridges at Tom Tebau had
a disagreement. Twelve hours after Michel Bridges said publicly that
he talked privately to his coach, Tom Thibodaux about the
(07:01):
starters playing too much minutes and a bench not enough.
The NBA's league leader, En Minutes capped a forty one
minute overtime performance with a buzzer beating game winning three,
five hours after Thibodeau publicly stated that he and Bridges
never had a private discussion about the starters playing too
many minutes and the bench too few. The coach put
the ball in the hands of Bridges over and over
down the stretch to seal the win.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
It didn't the gate the fact that Bridges still complained.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
So I remember that, I remember that, I'm looking at that,
and then I'm saying to myself, Okay, I'm also.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Looking at this.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Tims in five seasons as the coach. This was the
Knicks statements as an organization. Our organization is singularly focused
on winning a championship for our fans. Team president Leon
Rode said, we can't thank Tom enough for pouring his
hardest soul into each and every day of being the
New York Nicks head coach. Ultimately, we made the decision
we feel it's best for our organization moving forward. Ain't
that some weak ass shit of a statement. You can't
(08:00):
tell anybody why this is the problem with the New
York Knicks, because the fans are still gonna come to
the garden. My dumb ass is still gonna come to
the garden. Other people go still gonna come to the garden.
Were gonna pack to the rafters. We gonna come there
and support the team no matter what the hell they do,
because they never have.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
To answer for anything.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
You would think you letting a coach like Tom Thibodeaux go,
you stand before the media and answer some damn questions.
Not Leon Rose, a man that I've known for decades
that I have profound, respectful, that I think, for the
most part, has done a hell of a job.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
But there's a.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Couple of moves he's done that I disagree with that
I think one could argue you easily compromise the success
of Tom Thibodeaux. You've never seen a Tom Thibodau team
play defense the way this six clean play defense this year.
We all knew they weren't up to snuff defensively. We
got articles coming out in the Athletic about Carl Anthony
Towns and how some of the teammates thought that he
(08:54):
wasn't all bought in. You see his side twenty one feet,
you see his suspect knees and legs. You think he's
gonna run up and down the court every single play
defensively when he knows you need his offensive Twenty four.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
And thirteen a night. That wasn't Tom Thiberdau's decision. That
was TIBs, that was Leon Rose.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
I'm sorry the Vintenzo and Randall listen, I'm not I
like these moves.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
I even like mckel bridges being on the team.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
I didn't know it was five first round picks for
them at the time, But these are the kind of
things that we gotta live with. You would think that,
having lived with it, if you're gonna make a decision
like this, you stand before the public and you tell
them why. And I think the only way that you
skid over that and let that go is if tyd
(09:44):
Lud's sides apart from Los Angeles Clippers, or you got
a Mike Malone or Jay Wright coming in to play,
and I don't know that they'll do a better job
than TIBs, but they both can coach. And if you
had this planned all along and that was just successive,
then his self explos planatory. But if there's some coaching
search and you don't know definitively who you want or
(10:04):
who you're gonna bring on board, when you made this
move to let TIBs go, it looks like Tims got screwed.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
New York Knicks can tell you it's time, it's time,
it's time.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
And I know somebody is intense and as intensely focused
as TIBs.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
Can wear on players.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
I just think that when the man just took you
the game six of the Eastern Conference Finals, when the
team wasn't what it was last year in terms of
grit because of the moves you made as the executive
of the team, firing coach, firing the coach is just bordering.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
On escapegoat status. But that's just me.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
I'm just looking at the Knicks right now, and my
question to myself is where do they go from here?
That's how I'm looking at it. I'm just looking at
things going on right now, wondering what the Knicks are
and what they're gonna look like.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
This offseason. They were fifty one and thirty one.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
They did the number one three, they were the number
three season East, the conference first back to back fifty
win seasons in thirty years. That's Tips advanced to the
conference finals for the first Thompsons two thousand lost back
then to the Pacers, by the way, in six games
as well. I'm sorry this one. In six games they
did went to conference finals. This fine, okay. Free agents,
The only ones they got is precious at chew with
(11:29):
Cameron Payne, Lon Wright, Landry Shammit, don't get me started
with Shaman who decided to hit back to back three's.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
When the game didn't matter in Game six Saturday night.
Don't get me started with that. I live that ago.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
The only draft assets in June is the number fifty
overall pick from the Memphis Grizzlies. The trade with Brooklyn
last June left New York with only one tradable first
in the next seven years, and the next seven years,
the Knicks only have one tradable first round pick, top
eight protected first from the Wizards in twenty twenty.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
The Knicks are.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Allowed to swap first round picks in twenty twenty six,
twenty thirty, and twenty thirty two, and have seven second
round picks available.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
That's what this is.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
And just to remind you, the Knicks acquired Bridges and
the second rounder for the Brooklyn Nets for Bogdanovitch, five
first round picks, four and protected, one first round pick
swap and one second round pick swap. Damn you would
have thought luc Or Kevin Durant was coming. No, all
of that was for Michal Bridges, who, by the way,
is good but needs to improve and live up to
(12:31):
the status that he was traded for. By the way,
last June, the Knicks traded the twenty sixth overall pick
in the twenty twenty four NBA Draft to Oklahoma City
in exchange for five second round picks. That's how they
got the five second round picks. All right, now, I
remember to call Anthony Towns trade. They're acquired Julius Randall,
(12:51):
Dante DiVincenzo in the top thirteen. The Knicks acquired call
Anthony Towns from the t Woolves, Tom Allstar, Julius Randall,
Dante DiVincenzo, and a top thirteen protected first round pick
from the Pistons. Just a little nuggets of notes for
that one, ladies and gentlemen, The pick was top thirteen
protected in twenty twenty five top eleven and twenty twenty six,
(13:13):
top nine and twenty twenty seven, and we'll convert to
a second round pick if not conveyed by then. Potential,
albeit unlikely trade targets are Giannis and Kevin Durant. The
Knicks likely trade chips include Karl Anthony Towns with his
huge remaining contract, Michel Bridges due for a contract extension,
Miles McBride, Tony Kollik, and a top eight protected first
(13:37):
from the Wizards in twenty twenty six. Those are the
assets that the New York Knicks have available to them
because they gave an Anobe two hundred and twelve million.
You know you ain't moving Brunton and Josh Hart is
too inexpensive to let go of in today's market.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
And there you have it. So I'm just looking at it.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
Carl Anthony town fifty three point one million next year,
fifty seven point one million the first season after sixty
one million player option in twenty twenty seven, twenty twenty eight,
Nick sizeable contracts, col Anthony Timeser.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
Just gave it to you.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Og n Anobi thirty nine point six million in two
you know, player option in twenty twenty eight. Mckail bridge
is a twenty four point nine million unrestricted free agent
next year. Josh Hart nineteen and a half million team
option twenty twenty seven, Mitchell Robson twelve point nine million
hunhre restricted free agent after next season. Duce McBride four
point three million under restricted free agent as a twenty
(14:30):
twenty seven.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
That's what we're looking at. That's what we're talking about.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
New York Knicks entered the offseason with two hundred million
in salary and four roster spots available. Did three point
eight million over the first apron and eight million below
the second. They'll get three and a half million the
financial relief of the team option the PJ Tuckers decline,
which will be New York has until June twenty ninth
of exercise Tucker's option, and a two million option of
last year's second round pick.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
This is what we're looking at. It's not bad.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
New York needs to be in the playoffs next year,
But where are you going after that? You think they're
gonna better than Cleveland. You think they're not gonna You
think they're suddenly gonna be better than the Indiana Pacers.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
You think the Orlando Magic is just gonna fade into
the twilight.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
You think the Detroit Pistons are going anywhere? They didn't
have Jayden Ivy and Isaiah Stewart. Nick's got their work
cut out for them, Ladies and gentlemen, Oh yes they do.
I feel bad for Tom Thibodeaux.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
Again.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
I've been critical of him, wanting him to utilize this bench,
which he did. Is the season wane because he had
no choice and his stubbornness may have gotten the better
of him and his voice and they just may have
needed a new voice. All of that's fine, But if
you're Leon Rose, you don't get to just hide behind
some weak ass, meaningless statement. You gotta answer questions. It's
(15:57):
not like you deserve to be fired or anything. We
all know you did a damn good job overall as
the new president of basketball operations for the New York Knicks.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Over these last few years, you've.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
Resurrected this franchise. You've made them interesting and compelling. You've
battled and you've fought, and you've gone deep into the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Nobody's calling for you to be fired or anything like that.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Always saying Leon Rosey is how the hell you're gonna
give that week ass statement and you don't address the
media and let them know. Look, man, we try to
win the championship. We got to go in a different direction.
There are things that we should have done differently. We
deserve to hear that. We deserve to hear how Leon
Rose is feeling about this roster. How does he feel
about giving up so many assets for mikel Bridges? Why
(16:38):
specifically did he do it even though we all know
why because Jalen Brunston wanted them too, Because Jaylen Brunton
could have signed a deal a year later and got
over one hundred and twenty million more dollars, but.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
He didn't do it.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
We got that part, but it'd be nice to hear
call Anthony Towns and the health, his knees, his feet,
what's up.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Their home.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
I'm not losing sleep over this. I lost sleep Saturday
night when they got sent home from the playoffs, and
and it's going to the finals. I'm not gonna lose
sleep over them changing their coach. I just would like
to know why, from the person I deem most responsible
for all of this, in Leon Rose, why.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
He made this decision? That's it?
Speaker 2 (17:26):
And then we move on from there. Got to get
on out of here. Just wanted to sound off about
this New York Knick stray of firing. I'm sorry of
Tom Thibodeaux. I don't like it. I think it's kind
of messed up. I don't think a lot of people
saw this coming. There's no question that Tom Thibodeau would
(17:48):
have went home unemployed if they had lost to Boston
early in.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
The Easton Conference semifinals.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
If they are getting taken out of four or five games,
Tom Thibdeau would not have a job as the New
York Knicks. But the minute he won that series, everybody
and their mother was assuming, Yo, he'll be back, especially
since the challenges that the New York Knicks faced, particularly
on the defensive side of the ball, was primarily because
of the decisions made by Leon Rose, not Tom Thibodeaux.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
But that's me.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
We'll talk about it in the days, weeks and months
to come.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
I'll keep my eye on who the next head coach
of the New York Knicks is going to be.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
I got four names that I want to be prime
candidates for this job. Mike Malone and Jay Wright are
given professionally collegiately with what they did in Denver and
Villa and at Villanova respectfully and respectively. I got that
part Rick Brunson, Jalen Brunton's daddy, an assistant coach on
(18:50):
that bench. He can't leave that bench. He has to
be on that bench. I've watched this guy have the
pulse of these players. He has to be there. And
if he got elevated to the head coach job of
the New York it would have bothered me one bit.
And this shouldn't bothered y'all. That would be one. That
would be three and last, but not least, Mark Jackson.
(19:10):
Mark Jackson, remember that guy that essentially was black Ball,
that did a hell of a job coaching the Golden
State Warriors are basically prepping Steph and Clay the Splash
Brothers along with Draymond for Steve Kurz arrived. Remember that
that dude. Why can't he get a look? Why can't
he get a head coach a job with what he
knows about the game? And if not him, are you
(19:33):
all ready for this one? This is a fifth one,
a last one that I'll throw out there for everybody
to hear. How about the lead assistant for the Los
Angeles Clippers by the name of mister Jeff Van Gundy.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
Bringing him back.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
I know he didn't leave under the greatest of terms
for the Knickson back decades ago, but damn it, he's
a hell of a coach.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
Personally speaking.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
I would be a support of Mark Jackson being the
head coach, but if Jeff Van Gundy came back, I
would be a support of Mark Jackson being an assistant.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
Then that's it.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
That's where I'm coming from. I want that man back
on the coaching sidelines in the NBA. Nobody as productive
as Mark Jackson should be ostracized from a support like this.
I would love to see him back, and I'm gonna
keep saying it. That's all I'm gonna say. I gotta
get on out of here. I hope y'all appreciate me
(20:22):
sounding off. I had to let my feelings be known.
Y'all see me on first take tomorrow. You'll see me here,
You'll see me, lord knows on what sports in or
any other platform because of this firing. I got a
lot to say about it, of course, and everybody's gonna
want to hear from me. So that's the situation. I
just want to make sure y'all hear from me first.
I gotta get on out of here, Stephen. They signing
off until next time. Everybody peace and left. Take care
(20:43):
of me. God bless her,
Host
Stephen A. Smith
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