The NBA is in the midst of some issues when it comes to positive COVID-19 tests. Players are being added to the league’s health and safety protocols at a rapid pace. Thus far, the Chicago Bulls are the only team to have games postponed, as they reached 10 players sidelined earlier this week.
But, they are far from the only team facing issues. Some of the teams that they have faced off against in the last two to three weeks are now battling positive Covid cases as well. One of those teams happens to be the New York Knicks.
New York lost RJ Barrett and Obi Toppin to the league’s health and safety protocols last weekend. Quentin Grimes, after his breakout performance stepping into the lineup because of their absences, landed in protocols himself.
With three players sidelined, Kevin Knox received an opportunity to play. He was excellent in two games and then was placed in protocols as well.
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Immanuel Quickley, who said that he was taking precautions so seriously that he was showering with a mask on, set a career-high with seven 3-pointers against the Houston Rockets and was placed in protocols today.
With five players in the health and safety protocols, the Knicks have enough players sidelined that they are eligible to use the hardship waiver to sign players to fill out their depth chart. The Bulls, Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers have all recently used the waiver to overcome players in the league’s health and safety protocols.
In addition to the players in protocols, the Knicks could be without Derrick Rose, who sat out the second half of the game against the Rockets with ankle soreness. If he is unable to play, the Knicks would be left dangerously thin in the backcourt.
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Thursday night’s hero, Miles ‘Deuce’ McBride and Alec Burks would be the two options to handle the starting point guard job. With the team so shorthanded, could this be when we see Kemba Walker re-enter the rotation? Don’t count on it.
Fred Katz, who covers the New York Knicks for The Athletic, said that it is safe to assume Walker will not be called upon to play against the Celtics on Saturday night.
Given how shorthanded the Knicks are, if Kemba Walker cannot get minutes on Saturday, it is very likely that we have seen him on the court playing for his hometown team for the last time. Katz is likely correct, as Tom Thibodeau had no hesitation going to McBride in a pinch on Thursday.
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McBride responded with a historic game for the Knicks, scoring 15 points with nine assists and zero turnovers in 36 minutes.
To hammer home just how far down the depth chart that Walker is, McBride played every second of the second half. Even without another point guard able to play, Thibodeau did not call Walker’s number.
Unless something drastic changes between now and tip-off against the Celtics, it is fair to assume Kemba Walker will remain glued to the bench despite the team’s lack of eligible players.
