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3 ways Knicks could have handled the Cam Reddish situation better

By Zachary Bachar

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 10: Cam Reddish #21 of the New York Knicks warms up before the game against the Golden State Warriorsat Chase Center on February 10, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 10: Cam Reddish #21 of the New York Knicks warms up before the game against the Golden State Warriorsat Chase Center on February 10, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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The New York Knicks will likely be making multiple trades over the upcoming weeks as they look to get out of a recent rough patch after starting the season off strong.

One of these upcoming moves will almost certainly be trading forward Cam Reddish, as the 23-year-old has been a healthy scratch since early December.

It seems shocking to many that New York’s front office has given up on Reddish so quickly, having only played 35 games as a Knick since he was acquired from the Atlanta Hawks for a protected first-round pick last season.

It’s worth examining how things fell apart, and how they might have handled it differently.

How the Knicks could have maximized Cam Reddish’s potential

3: Guaranteeing him a rotation spot right away

Head coach Tom Thibodeau’s rotations in the second half of last season were truly mystifying for several reasons. The most prominent being Immanuel Quickley, who never got a chance to start at point guard even after the Knicks were eliminated from playoff contention. Veteran forward Alec Burks, who is no longer on the team, ended up starting 23 games at point guard to close out the season instead.

However, Reddish was also buried in Thibodeau’s rotation immediately upon his arrival in New York. He fought for minutes with Quentin Grimes and Evan Fournier before ultimately suffering a shoulder injury that ended his season.

He averaged just 14.3 minutes after the trade, over nine minutes per game less than what he was averaging in Atlanta when he asked to be moved.

It’s often difficult for players to find their scoring rhythm when switching teams midseason, but it’s especially tough when given sporadic minutes on a new team.

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