NBA Notes: Knicks, Mike Brown, Celtics, Anfernee Simons, Hawks

Knicks

New Knicks coach Mike Brown didn’t blink when asked about the weight of sky-high expectations in New York. In fact, he welcomed them.

“Nobody has any bigger expectations than I do,” Brown said during his introductory press conference this week, per ESPN’s Chris Herring. “This is the Knicks and Madison Square Garden. It’s iconic. … I love and embrace the expectations that come along with it.”

Brown replaces Tom Thibodeau on a team that’s clearly operating in championship-or-bust mode. A lack of depth was viewed as a reason the Knicks were unable to reach the Finals. And Brown believes the front office has done its part this offseason to address it.

He praised team president Leon Rose for adding veterans Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele in free agency.

“Jordan, the things that he can do, especially offensively — he’s a veteran guy, I know he’s hungry to win,” Brown said, via Zach Braziller of the New York Post. “He can score at all three levels. He’s also a better playmaker than he’s given credit for.”

As for Yabusele, who returns to the NBA after a strong run overseas, Brown touted his versatility.

“His size, his versatility,” Brown said, “he can play the four, the five, maybe some three, who knows?”

Celtics

Don’t pencil Anfernee Simons into Boston’s rotation just yet. Though the Celtics recently acquired the high-scoring guard in a swap with the Trail Blazers for Jrue Holiday, they might not be done dealing.

“I have talked to other teams who have said the Celtics are actively trying to trade Anfernee Simons,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on The Hoop Collective podcast.

The move from Holiday’s $32.4 million salary to Simons’ $27.7 million figure helps Boston get under the second tax apron, but sources say the Celtics may be aiming for a bigger financial reset — possibly even ducking the tax altogether in what some around the league are calling a “gap year.”

Simons is entering the final year of his deal. Any team looking to trade for him would need to send back roughly $19.2 million in salary to meet matching rules. For the Celtics, it could be a chance to reshape their roster and luxury tax outlook simultaneously.

Hawks

The Hawks are filling out their roster with a cost-conscious move, signing 2024 second-round pick Nikola Djurisic to a three-year, rookie-minimum deal, per HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto. The first year of the contract is fully guaranteed.

The 6-foot-8 wing spent last season with the College Park Skyhawks, Atlanta’s G League affiliate, averaging 10.5 points, 3.5 assists, and 3.1 rebounds in 32 games. Turnovers and shooting efficiency were issues — he made just 37.9% of his shots and shot 17.8% from deep — but the organization is clearly banking on continued development.

Atlanta had been sitting at 12 players on standard deals, and given limited flexibility under the luxury tax, adding a low-cost option like Djurisic makes sense. As Hawks.com’s Kevin Chouinard noted, minimum-salary contracts for rookies carry less cap impact than those for veterans, offering the team a bit more room to operate.