Anthony Randolph was the big name coming from the Warriors in the David Lee sign-and-trade. But he hasn’t played big enough to merit a start tomorrow in Hartford against the Celtics.
The Knicks will sit power forward Amar’e Stoudemire for precautionary reasons, and the lineup shuffle will have Randolph still on the bench, trying to cling to a rotation spot.
With the Knicks playing back-to-back games this weekend, finishing on Sunday at home versus Washington, the medical staff is being overly protective of Stoudemire, who next week celebrates his five-year anniversary since having microfracture left knee surgery.
Stoudemire said yesterday he’s “in the best shape of his career.”
The power-forward fill-in would figure to be Randolph, the high-flying, 21-year-old key asset supposed to make Knicks fan forget fan favorite Lee, who is averaging 15 points and 10 boards during preseason for Golden State. But after Wednesday’s terrible outing versus the Celtics, Randolph is invoking memories of Kenny “Sky” Walker, the No. 5 overall draft pick in 1986 who had a disappointing career with the Knicks.
Coach Mike D’Antoni said Timofey Mozgov would start again at center, Wilson Chandler will move to power forward and either Roger Mason or rookie Landry Fields will start at shooting guard.
D’Antoni said there will be no politics regarding minutes. If Randolph doesn’t produce, he will fade from the rotation. The Knicks also got back in the Lee trade Kelenna Azubuike, who hasn’t been cleared to practice, and Ronny Turiaf, whose offensive game is so unreliable, he’s losing his bid to start at center.
“He doesn’t have a real big name,” D’Antoni said of Randolph. “He’s got big potential, but he hasn’t done a whole lot.
“This is a project,” D’Antoni said. “It’s not something that might happen tomorrow. It might be something that happens in one month, two months, one year, two years. He’s 21 years old. You can’t lose sight of that. I’m sure he wants it to be tomorrow. We want it to be tomorrow.”
Randolph had nine points on Wednesday, but shot just 2 of 6 and had five turnovers. His mistakes in the final three minutes against Boston cost the Knicks the game. He blew an easy dunk, threw away a crosscourt pass and mishandled a bounce pass.
“It was just one of those nights. It happens,” Randolph said. “But there are things I can fix. That’s the good thing.”
D’Antoni said he thinks the world of Randolph’s raw talent.
“He should be a stat magnet,” he said. “He should go on the floor, and have three blocks, five rebounds, get to the line three times and have two dunks and come out and only played five minutes.”
So imagine the disappointment when Randolph played eight minutes in the first half Wednesday, didn’t score, get to the free throw line, block a shot or have an assist.
D’Antoni, who heads into the final year of his contract after this season, needs to win now and is not going to wait on Randolph to develop.
“I still have to grow as a player,” Randolph said. “Over time, if I keep working hard, I think I can. He has to make decisions. If I fit into that, great. If I don’t, I got to make sure I do fit into it.”
Stoudemire, on the other, has been everything the Knicks have asked. His 30-point outing in 28 minutes against Boston was impressive, and it’s not inconceivable he can compete for the scoring title, because LeBron James and Dwyane Wade will be splitting touches.
“I think the main goal is W’s,” Stoudemire said. “That’s most important. If I need to put up career numbers to make it happen, that’s what I’m going to try to do. But it’s about winning. I want everyone to have a career year. I’ve always been a great scorer. Defensively is where the challenge is.”
The Knicks still are treating Stoudemire like he’s a plate of glass ready to shatter because they don’t want to overburden him in preseason. He also could sit out practice after back-to-back games.
“We’re paying him a lot of money,” D’Antoni said. “He’s had injuries. We don’t want to be crazy about it. And play him back to back when you don’t have to.”