CHARLESTON, S.C. — Comfortable.
It’s the label that has adopted Karl-Anthony Cities for years however was shot down by an individual who labored intently for years with the Knicks middle.
“Finesse participant? Sure. Comfortable participant? No,” the NBA supply instructed The Put up. “I believe it’s the entire thing that occurred with Jimmy Butler. In as we speak’s world, any person can write a script about you and that s–t by no means adjustments.”
Certainly, there’s an vital distinction.
Cities, maybe due to his affable persona and recreation being so perimeter-based, hasn’t shaken the popularity that was formed by Butler’s taunts from six years in the past — when the fiery ahead was upset about his contract state of affairs and focused Cities, his Timberwolves teammate who had simply signed a super-max extension.
The truth that Butler left the Timberwolves and went to a few convention finals with the Warmth turned an indictment on Cities, a type of validation, albeit misguided, of the mushy discuss.
However there’s a distinction between being mushy and being a stretch-the-floor 7-footer who works arduous however fouls an excessive amount of and isn’t a very good defender.
The latter is Cities. And it’s as much as Tom Thibodeau to make it work.
“Thibs ought to perceive this — you don’t commerce for an offensive participant so he turns into the perfect defensive participant,” the supply mentioned. “The child has been within the league for eight years, he’s what he’s. The easiest way he can contribute for you is to let him rating. He’s 20 and 10 each evening and he may give you a 30-point outburst repeatedly should you go to him. There’s no sense in bringing him in there and making an attempt to show him into Clint Capela or Rudy Gobert or Mitchell Robinson. He’s rather more like Joel Embiid with out the facility.”
Thibodeau ought to have a very good sense of Cities’ strengths after teaching the middle for two ½ years in Minnesota.
Of their greatest season collectively in 2017-18, the Timberwolves had been fourth within the NBA in offensive ranking and twenty fifth in defensive ranking — the other ratio of what you’d anticipate from a Thibodeau workforce, particularly again then.
In New York, Cities, who was absent from the primary day of coaching camp Tuesday as a result of the commerce wasn’t but finalized, is becoming a member of a roster missing in rim safety however with robust defensive wings in OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges.
That aspect of the ball has query marks — and the considerations had been solely enhanced by the Cities acquisition.
On offense, nevertheless, the ceiling with Cities is undeniably increased and highlighted by the potential of a Brunson-Cities pick-and-roll fiesta.
After experiencing being No. 2 on Minnesota due to the ascension of Anthony Edwards, Cities, who dealt properly with the demotion by most accounts, appears an ideal offensive match for a star level guard.
“It may be superb,” Brunson mentioned Tuesday in regards to the Knicks offense.
“To me, that needs to be a really dynamic duo as a result of Jalen is aware of how to pick a spot the place a man is best,” an NBA expertise evaluator mentioned. “And Karl may give you range in pick-and-roll. You may reap the benefits of the opposite workforce’s middle.
“You’ll be impressed with how versatile KAT’s scoring prowess is. He can rating on the rim, in the midst of the lane, within the midrange, or he’ll knock the s- -t out of 3-point photographs.”
The Timberwolves, it needs to be famous, didn’t a lot hand over on Cities as they surrendered to the luxurious tax.
Given its dire cap state of affairs, the group, which is in the midst of a contested possession change, felt compelled to shed wage.
Cities, together with his $220 million over 4 years remaining, was the apparent transfer.
The Knicks, in the meantime, had been aggressive of their pursuit of a middle this offseason and held discussions with a number of groups, per sources, earlier than agreeing to ship Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota.
It got here collectively after prolonged negotiations and remained unofficial as of Tuesday night — although nonetheless destined for completion — due to smaller items being moved round to match salaries.
“He’s going to be a fantastic piece as soon as he will get right here and we’ll go from there,” Brunson mentioned.
The place they go precisely will likely be depending on the play of a finesse middle, completely different from mushy.
