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Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks is guarded by Shake Milton #18, formerly of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Atlanta Falcons star Trae Young‘s father was shocked to learn that New York Knicks acquire Shake Milton after the veteran guard cleared waivers.
“What the fuck? Seriously, how many good players do [Knicks] need? This is a GREAT signing. Shake Milton knows how to hoop…he’s [a] perfect role [player] for what many teams need [the NBA]”posted Ray Young, Trae’s father, on X, formerly Twitter.
The Knicks are adding Milton to bolster their bench depth amid the rash of injuries in their rotation. He will fill the remaining spot on the open roster.
Milton was on the Knicks’ radar even before they traded for Alec Burks and Bojan Bogdanovic, according to SNY’s Ian Begley.
“While monitoring Alec Burks, Bojan Bogdanovic and DET, NYK checked in with MIN on Shake Milton before the trade deadline,” Begley reported on after the signing of Milton widely publicized.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski was the first to announce Milton’s planned signing with the Knicks.
Trae Young gained notoriety for being the modern-day man Villain of the garden after leading the Hawks to a first-round series victory in 2021 en route to an Eastern Conference Finals appearance.
Young and the Hawks have regressed since then while the Knicks have gradually improved with the arrival of Jalen Brunsonwhich led to the second round of last season’s playoffs.
The addition of Shake Milton
Milton agreed to a contract buyout with the Detroit Pistons after playing in just four games since they acquired him from the Minnesota Timberwolves on Feb. 7 as part of the Monte Morris package. He averaged 6.8 points and 1.5 assists while shooting 42.3% from the field and 33.3% from the 3-point line for the Pistons.
Milton will join a reeling Knicks team, which has lost eight of its last 11 games.
He is ready to provide backcourt depth for the Knicks behind Brunson. Currently, the Knicks have replaced Miles McBride and Alec Burks as Brunson’s replacement following the departure of last season’s 6th Man of the Year finalist, Immanuel Quickley, as part of the OG Anunoby trade.
Milton, a former MSU player who played under former Knicks coach Larry Brown, signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the Timberwolves last summer as he looked to play a bigger role than he previously had with the Philadelphia 76ers last season. He was designated to play the role of backup to Mike Conley.
But Milton only played an average of 12.9 minutes, producing 4.7 points and 1.3 assists off the bench for the Timberwolves, a far cry from his 8.4 points and 3.2 assists average career goals in 20.6 minutes with the 76ers.
Euroleague champion regrets playing for the Knicks
Former Knicks player Mario Hezonja regretted joining the Knicks in 2018 after spending his first three seasons with the Orlando Magic.
Hezonja, who just won the Euroleague title last year, revealed this in an interview with Croatian release Jutarnji List on February 28.
“Everything is fine, but I made a big mistake choosing the Knicks,” Hezonja said. “I was 24, and it was a retirement, this signing where you go at the end of your career, and not with a lot of energy and desire that I had.”
Things didn’t work out as Hezonja joined a Knicks team that slumped to the league’s worst record (17-65) in his lone season with them.
“Everything I did, I tried to do it perfectly, but there was this label,” Hezonja said. “[Moving to] the Knicks were the wrong decision. The story when I came there was that I was practically a future All-Star, not that I wouldn’t play. [at all]. And I’m happy, ultimately, to be back in Europe.
Alder Almo is a basketball reporter who covers the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors for Heavy. He has over 15 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is originally from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. Learn more about Alder Almo
