We are back with another KFTV Stock Exchange, and things are heating up! This will cover March 1st to the 15th.
Welcome to the KFTV Stock Exchange! Young players in today’s NBA market are volatile. Like cryptocurrencies, they can be sky-high one day and crash back into reality the next. In this environment, it’s best not to be swept up by emotion and to remain focused on long-term trends. So read on for advice on wisely investing your time, energy, and money in the current NBA season.
Julius Randle
Within eight days, Julius Randle had his highest high and lowest low of the year. Randle has shown consistency throughout the entire season, setting the game’s tone with his bully ball and shooting touch. However, in the fourth quarter, he impacts the game less. Despite his All-Star status, he lacks one quality that most stars have: a clutch gene.
Randle dashed this criticism to bits with his miraculous performance against the Miami Heat. He dropped 43 points, with 8 field goals from beyond the arc, including a miraculous Hail Mary three that doused the Heat to ash. With this game, even the most ardent of Randle critics acquiesced their stance.
But I have to emphasize the Hail Mary part of that play. Jimmy Butler locked Randle down, causing him to stumble and bumble all over the court before Julius somehow gained control and heaved up the shot. The play was completely broken. Perhaps the only reason Randle hit the three was that he didn’t have time to think and psych himself out.
If he missed that shot, I’m confident that frustrated fans would unironically suggest that he be traded or that Tom Thibodeau is incompetent and can’t draw up end-of-game plays. I say this not to nitpick the fanbase, but to point out that these individual plays can distract from the longer-term trends and that one single moment can make or break narratives—just ask Leon “Rocky” Edwards.
Randle can be clutch, but he still has much to prove, especially during the playoffs. Can he get big buckets when the lights are the brightest in crunch time? Or will he feel the pressure and crumble?
With the recent injury of Jalen Brunson, Randle shouldered the offensive load, and we saw him falter. And during that three-game losing streak, he scored 19.3 points on horrible efficiency. In one particular loss, against the Los Angeles Clippers, Julius suffered a complete mental breakdown because he shot poorly, and the referees weren’t giving him any calls. That moment led to an eruption, causing the entire team to try to calm him down.
Randle swatted away Fournier like a stale baguette, drenched an assistant coach in angry spittle, and even Tom Thibodeau clung onto him for dear life (and his win percentage). This debacle completely crushed the morale of the team. Their one-point lead evaporated immediately at the start of the fourth quarter, placing the loss squarely on Randle’s shoulders. But to Randle’s credit, he bounced back against the Los Angeles Lakers and lifted the team to victory.
As frustrating as it is to see, I think the absence of Brunson was a good thing. Randle needed reps with pressure to be conditioned for it during the postseason. We’ve noticed that he can adapt to stress, and he needed a lot of practice to prepare mentally for the postseason.
Randle’s stock can get no higher until Money Time. When Money Time arrives, it can either crash again or soar to new heights that even the earliest investors couldn’t have dreamed of.
KFTV Stock Status: Steady Until Money Time
Immanuel Quickley
Like a Kodak camera, Immanuel Quickley is the gift that just keeps on giving. With each passing week, his ceiling rises higher and higher.
We saw Quickley’s stock hit an all-time high against the Boston Celtics, where he dropped 38 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals, and only 1 turnover. Quickley also plays with a free spirit and fun-loving energy. He busted out new dance moves and celebrations for each of his baskets. I can taste the tears of Celtics fans, and they are saltier than the Dead Sea.
Quickley was riding high after this performance but was humbled in the next games against the Charlotte Hornets and Sacramento Kings. The latter was an uncharacteristically horrible game, where he shot 1 for 11 from three and didn’t attempt one of his patented floaters. Despite this, Quickley still managed a +3 when he was on the floor—an indication of his multi-faceted impact.
People who invested stock in Immanuel Quickley’s game can rest on their laurels, have a drink, and watch their bank account grow because this dude is a game-changer on so many ends. Considering his knack for timely buckets and benthic level of pressure adaptation, I foresee more jumps in value during the postseason.
KFTV Stock Status: Kodak Quick
Mitchell Robinson
Mitchell Robinson and I were born on the same day of the same year. For us, and any other April Fool’s Day babies, we know there is a certain energy to being born on this day. Mitch is a jokester at heart. He is hilarious and drops meme-worthy soundbites effortlessly (we need to see a return of Mitch’s Block Party!).
The life of a jokester isn’t all laughs and giggles, as Pagliacci the clown would attest to. Unfortunately, the type of introspection that lends jokes their weight can also lead to a spiral of negative thought patterns. We saw this with Mitch’s recent Instagram post, where he lamented his “cardio-only” role.
Being a public figure, this opened him up to a lot of criticism. Especially from Chandler Parsons, who wrote that Mitch is “a bad teammate” who doesn’t get the ball because “he has zero game” and “can’t go and score.” Harsh words from Parsons, a bonafide expert on not scoring based on his tenure with the Grizzlies.
Mitch has game. He passed Wilt Chamberlain for the highest field goal percentage in an entire season. In addition, we have seen him post up and put the ball on the floor this year, something he never did prior.
Mitch chalked up his frustrations to various stressors that culminated in a perfect storm, resulting in him using social media to release some tension. He had a string of bad matchups, including an uncharacteristic game where he hit 2 of 8 field goals. So his poor play led to Isaiah Hartenstein getting the bulk of big-man minutes. On top of that, he wrote that he is struggling with the stress of a baby on the way and other familial issues.
Here is the most important part of what Mitch wrote: “Y’all wanna say I’m being selfish or petty… [even though] I give up my body for this [game]. Y’all say I’m injury prone, all my injuries came from [playing hard] on the defensive end.”
This is something Mitch doesn’t get enough credit for. How many times does he hit the deck during a game? How hard does he sprint the floor to get back on defense? Mitch is the type of player to bring one hundred percent effort every second he is on the floor.
Social media can amplify the toxic voices of a fanbase, and people are way too comfortable saying horrible things as if there isn’t another human being on the other end. I can only imagine how stressed Mitch feels. Heck, I get stressed out when I am low on hearts in Ocarina of Time and hear that horrible beeping noise. Let’s hope this public therapy session helped release, not increase, stress for Mitch.
KFTV Stock Status: Blessed not Stressed
Breaking News! Cam Hive doused with insecticide, now completely still! Surviving members have migrated to the McBride Hive!
I want to be fair to Cam, so what I am about to say is strictly speaking at the current moment. I hope he finds success in his career.
If there is any indication that Cam Reddish is not a winning player and that moving on from his was for the best, it was his performance against the team that traded him. His former team that benched him due to “politics” and not for basketball reasons had their decision validated as he dropped a measly two points and a -27 plus/minus. Cam came out with all the fire and passion of a new Drake album. There is no comparison between Cam and Josh Hart. Hart helps win, but Cam does not.
So, I ask this with all my heart. Please stop mentioning Cam. I don’t want to see any stat lines, highlights, or sound bites. I only want to think of Cam twice a year. Move on.
In stark contrast to Cam is Miles McBride. In an earlier Stock Exchange, I wrote that a consistent three-point shot is vital to McBride becoming a valuable bench piece (groundbreaking analysis, I know). Whereas McBride shot like a worse Elfrid Payton, in March so far, McBride is shooting like Ray Allen. A clean 50 percent from three and a robust 54.5 percent overall. This scoring boost is also on top of the excellent defense he brings.
Investors saw a significant increase in McBride’s stock, but is it enough for Tom Thibodeau to extend to a ten-man rotation? Of course, one would hope Thibs would do this to give his stars some rest, but we know he would never do that.
(While Thibs is a good coach, his decision to keep his starters in garbage time is asinine.)
So, for now, it is best to remain cautious about McBride’s stock. If he gets the playing time, he will continue his strong play. Despite his success, I doubt Thibs will expand his rotation, leaving McBride to wait on the bench. But we know when his number is called, he will be happy and prepared to jump in and make an impact… unlike another certain player.
KFTV Stock Status: Elevated
RJ Barrett
True to history, RJ Barrett is slowly but surely regaining his rhythm. First, we saw him struggle early in the season. Then, after a month or two, he found a rhythm and played the best ball of his career, only to be derailed by an unfortunate injury.
RJ struggled since that injury, but amid his struggles, he had stretches of excellence that changed the game’s momentum. Stretches where he put all his tools—his vision, scoring, and defense—-together.
RJ had a strong first half of March, scoring 22 points on splits of .456/.227/.696. These aren’t the best efficiency numbers, but RJ is better at timely scoring than consistent scoring. He may brick threes and whiff lay-ups, but he is more reliable when it matters.
Of concern is his three-point shot. Sometimes, shots simply don’t fall, but RJ’s misses are not close. They brick hard and loud. Also of concern is his right hand, which might as well be tied behind his back.
Some fans like to say that RJ Barrett doesn’t excel at any particular skill, that he is a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. This isn’t true. He is elite at getting to the rim, and for March, he is shooting 67.5 percent in that area.
However, there is a caveat to his driving ability. Over the last three seasons, RJ has led the league in getting his shots blocked 265 times. The second on that list is Ja Morant, at 239.
A positive is RJ’s midrange game. From three feet from the rim to the perimeter, he is shooting 50.1 percent—almost more than half of what he was shooting from that range the month prior. RJ is also solid from the post, and he’s taken some lessons from Jalen Brunson.
RJ takes time to establish a rhythm, but once he does, he plays like the third option we need. Barrett’s slow starts have been the same pattern throughout his career; I expect Barrett to finish the season with the best play. And once he does, let’s see how many people want to trade him then.
KFTV Stock Status: Heating Up (Again)
Josh Hart
I’m still not convinced about Josh Hart’s three-point shooting numbers. He is still hesitant to shoot, and his form is awkward, as he tends to lean back after the apex of his jump shot. But at 46.7 percent in the first half of March, he’s been on the mark. Moreover, his anomalous shooting numbers increased his season average from around 30 percent to 36.5 percent, higher than his career average of 34.9 percent.
Now, Hart has always been a solid shooter, but shooting is a small part of his repertoire. On the season, he averages only 2.2 attempts per game. For the most part, Hart excels as a rebounder, transition scorer, defender, and all-around hustler; fifty-fifty balls are sixty-forty balls when Hart is on the floor.
Hart scores most of his points in the paint, converting on 73.2 percent of shots, which is good because he has almost no midrange game. This is why, if he has a cold streak from three, I foresee some trouble for the Knicks in the playoffs as opposing defenses could give him a Tony Allen treatment.
The Knicks are 22nd in the leauge in three-point percentage as a team, and the big three of Randle, Barrett, and Brunson all thrive in or near the paint. Opposing defenses could prioritize Hart’s drives and give him space from three, leaving a packed paint and no shooting to alleviate that pressue.
Based on the percentages, leaving Hart open would play into the Knick’s hands. But his hesitance to shoot is what leaves me skeptical. I don’t know, it’s also a bit of a gut feeling. I cringe at optimism like a vampire from sunlight.
As for now, he is a star in his role, and his acquisition has elevated this team.
KFTV Stock Status: Star Role Player
Isaiah Hartenstein
Hartenstein had some interesting comments regarding his tenure with the Knicks. He stated that his role with the Knicks differs from what he thought it would be, causing a need for “adjustment.” And while things started poorly, his play has improved as the season went on. Though Hartenstein’s role has changed, his focus is on helping the team win, which he certainly has.
We finally are seeing more of his passing, with a season-high 1.9 assists per game in March (including a sizzling no-look dime to Obi Toppin). We’ve also seen him put the ball on the floor more and not rely on his go-to (and hard-to-watch) floater. Speaking of hard to watch, his three-pointer has me covering my eyes, but as a last resort, it’s much better than most big men in the league.
At 19.3 minutes per game, Hartenstein personifies, “less is more.” His stats of 0.5 blocks, 0.6 steals, 2.9 points, and 6.6 rebounds may not jump out as great, but his contributions come at timely moments. Keep in mind that he is working as a defensive anchor, and many of the positives he brings don’t show up on the box score.
Hartenstein also said, “The fans are great, especially when you’re doing good, but they’re also gonna tell you when you suck. I think that’s a good thing, though. I think it keeps you motivated and you know you’ll hear the truth from them, and so I’ve been liking it.”
This quote goes along with what he said earlier in the season, that he had disappointed the fans. Logically, we can assume the more irate fans unloaded on him.
Right now, he is hearing more cheers than jeers.
KFTV Stock Status: Steady Increase
Overall Team
You can’t get too high or too low with this team. Julius Randle hits a game-winning three, then a few games later, he loses his cool and ruins the game. Quickley destroys the hearts of the Boston crowd and then follows it up by shooting like he has beer goggles on. The team beats the best team in the league, then loses to the fourth worst.
This team is still an enigma. They are just as liable to win a playoff series as they are to get swept. That said, the highs are higher than the lows are low. April draws near, and as the great rapper Guru said, “everyone must meet their moment of truth.” Are they an elite team with true championship potential, or just a mid team in disguise?
March has been a bumpy ride for those strapped into James Dolan’s Wild Ride. Keep some Tums in one hand and a barf bag in the other, because the ride has only just gotten started.
KFTV Stock Status: Low Elite
Stay tuned to KnicksFanTV.com for the latest Knicks news, rumors, and recaps throughout the NBA season. And in case you missed it, check out CP’ on The Putback with Ian Begley and Julito McCullum!
