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New York Knicks: Don’t Call Up Thanasis Antetokounmpo

By Dave Martinson

Jan 17, 2014; New York, NY, USA; A general view during the game between the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Clippers during the second half at Madison Square Garden. The Los Angeles Clippers won 109-94. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 17, 2014; New York, NY, USA; A general view during the game between the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Clippers during the second half at Madison Square Garden. The Los Angeles Clippers won 109-94. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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In addition to ending an eventful era in New York, the buyout of Amar’e Stoudemire‘s contract has opened up a roster spot for the Knicks. With Carmelo Anthony‘s season-ending surgery on the horizon and the New York Knicks at the bottom of the lowly Eastern Conference, the Knicks have nothing to play for this season.

The rest of the season will be committed to playing the younger players on the team as the Knicks evaluate players to keep for 2016. Therefore, the Knicks should call up Thanasis Antetokounmpo and get him NBA experience, right? The answer is undoubtedly no.

Thanasis a.k.a. the “Greek Freak 2.0,” the older brother of Milwaukee Bucks rising star and 2015 Dunk Contest participant Giannis Antetokounmpo, has excelled this season for the Westchester Knicks, the New York Knicks’ D-League affiliate. Thanasis, a 6′ 7” small forward, was selected by Knicks with the 51st overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.

He has impressed by averaging 12.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.41 blocks, and 1.34 steals over 30.2 minutes per game. His defensive stats,  raw athleticism, and recent scoring surge (averaging 28 points/game in three February games) has left fans eager for his chance to prove himself at the NBA level.

The Knicks should resist the urge to call up Thanasis and keep him in Westchester for the remainder of the season.

The Knicks already have enough young players on the team to evaluate for the second half of the year without Antetokounmpo in the mix . Langston Galloway and Tim Hardaway Jr. are both under contract for next season and expected to shoulder the offensive load as starters for the remainder of the season with Melo on the mend.

Cole Aldrich and his enigmatic hook shot will see minutes at center with Amar’e gone and more if Andrea Bargnani is ever moved. Shane Larkin has seen steady rotation minutes at point guard and will see his playing time increase if Jose Calderon or Pablo Prigioni are traded as previously rumored.

Rookies Cleanthony Early and Travis Wear are struggling to see the floor in favor of veterans Lance Thomas and Louis Amundson.

There simply is not enough room on the roster, even in a lost year, for the Knicks to evaluate the young talent already rostered. The departure of Amar’e and impending shutdown of Melo should open up minutes for Early and Wear. However, adding Thanasis would further clog the rotation even if he is ready to compete.

The Knicks are better served with letting Thansis continue to develop his offensive game in the D-League for the remainder of the year. This will allow the Knicks to keep Thanasis a year longer if they delay signing him until after the season concludes. It appears that the Knicks are prepared to take this route which is the best move for the future of both parties.

In the meantime Knicks fans should worry about the other players on the roster and try and figure out who the keepers are. We know Thanasis will be with the Knicks in 2016. Hopefully, so will a few of these dunks.

Next: 50 Greatest NBA Players Without a Championship

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