Michael Beasley accepts reduced role with Tim Hardaway Jr. back
Tim Hardaway Jr. of the Knicks reacts after a three-point basket against the Raptors at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 22, 2017. Credit: Jim McIsaac
MINNEAPOLIS — Michael Beasley has carried the Knicks offensively in many games recently, but he said he’s not surprised that his playing time could be dramatically cut as Tim Hardaway Jr. returns from injury.
“Honestly, no,” said Beasley, the No. 2 pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. “I’m used to it at this point. Just doing what the team needs, doing what the team asks. If they don’t ask for anything, I guess I don’t do anything.”
Going from being a major contributor to a forgotten man is nothing new for Beasley, who is playing for his fourth team in the last four years. Beasley, who played in 19 of the 20 games Hardaway missed before he returned Friday night against the Timberwolves, averaged 16.6 points in 23.1 minutes in that span and led the Knicks in scoring eight times. When Hardaway was healthy, Beasley averaged 14.4 minutes per game and was benched six times.
Hardaway came off the bench Friday night and scored 16 points in 25 minutes in the Knicks’ 118-108 loss. Beasley had 13 points in 16 minutes in a reserve role.
Coach Jeff Hornacek said that when Hardaway is playing his normal minutes, he might call on Beasley when the Knicks need more scoring and Lance Thomas when they need more defense.
Beasley just shrugged it off. “I’m used to dramatic change. I’m used to ups and downs,” he said. “If anything happens to where I don’t play anymore, I can’t cry about it. Just got to look forward to tomorrow, get my work in, keep my conditioning up.”
Beasley said it took a while for him to accept this situation. “At this point, God has granted me the serenity,” he said. “I’m OK with what doesn’t happen. I can control what I can and go from there.”
Source: Trey on the way
Trey Burke will join the Knicks at some point, a league source said. He gives the Knicks something they don’t have — a guard who can get in the paint. The Knicks will have to clear a roster spot to sign the G League guard and former lottery pick. Ramon Sessions, a candidate to be traded or cut, was inactive Friday.
Foul mood
Hornacek thought Kristaps Porzingis should have gotten a couple of foul calls late in Wednesday night’s double-overtime loss to Chicago. “One of them he got hit in the face, the other one right on the bicep when he shot,” Hornacek said. “You can’t blame a guy for missing a shot when that happens.”
In the NBA’s Last Two Minute Report, the league said Kris Dunn should have been called for a foul for hitting Porzingis’ arm on a shot with 44.4 seconds left in the second overtime.
Big Rambis fan
Beasley didn’t look back too fondly on his two years with the Timberwolves. They went 32-132, but Beasley was happy he met and played for Kurt Rambis, who helped bring him to the Knicks.
“One of my favorite people,” Beasley said of the Knicks’ associate head coach. “Loved playing for him. Great guy, great coach. I thought he should have been given at least another year to get that young group together. But the NBA happens that way.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
