New York Knicks: Three early takeaways from 2019 NBA Summer League

Through two summer league games for the New York Knicks, what has stood out?

The scheduled summer league games are already halfway over for the New York Knicks. With an 0-2 record, they have two more matchups to play before the tournament starts to close out July’s basketball slate.

Both games have featured highs and lows for the summer Knicks — some meaningful and others not. These games do not count towards an official record for the regular season but is more of a proving ground for the game’s youngest players.

Nonetheless, there are takeaways for the organization’s newest players. Not for the second-year talents on the roster, who are not new to the summer league circuit.

Which parts of these two games have stood out the most for the Knicks? Let’s take a look:

3. Kenny Wooten is playing into a training camp spot

The spotlight — and deservedly so — has focused on the draft picks, Mitchell Robinson, Kevin Knox and Allonzo Trier. They are the faces with expectations as the future of the New York Knicks. Each move of theirs is highlighted, pinpointed and analyzed. That leaves more space for the under-the-radar players at summer league to quietly stand out.

When the summer league roster was created, Kenny Wooten was just another name in a pack of other undrafted free agents. However, through two games and spotty playing time for anyone not mentioned and Kadeem Allen, the Oregon product has found success.

Offensive numbers will not stand out, but Wooten’s work at the other end, where the Knicks have struggled mightily in recent seasons. He has a combined nine rebounds and four blocks in 29 minutes, along with a drawn charge that will not appear on the box score.

The little things like that will make Wooten shine. It may not parlay into a roster spot this fall, but a job with the G League’s Westchester team.

This is not Wooten’s first flashes, either. In college, he averaged 2.4 blocks per game. The rebound and points totals never exploded, and it might make him an NBA reserve, but one that can last for more than one or two years, before drifting elsewhere.