The Knicks Just got SCAMMED...

The New York Knicks just got absolutely scammed, and this now changes everything going in to this next season for a team that is one of the favorites to win the NBA Finals for one reason, that showed why the Thunder and the Pacers got there. And now the Knicks front office has to scramble to make some serious changes to their plans that were effectively set in stone going into the 2025-26 season. We're going to break down exactly what happened and why there are multiple layers here that are absolutely screwing the Knicks over in so many ways that people have failed to think about thus far. And we're going to discuss all the fallout that is going to happen because of this absolutely boneheaded decision. We're going to jump right into this guys, but real quick, if you're part of that 57% that's not subscribed to Knicks Digest, make sure to subscribe so you don't miss a single New York Knicks update all season long. I told you guys, any big news with the Knicks happens, there will be a video out in at the very latest 30 minutes after, but usually it'll only take 20 minutes. It might not even take that long this time guys, but look, I'm going to be honest, the Knicks just got completely scammed by this man right here. As in a shocking turn of events that nobody saw coming. Malcolm Brogdon, one of the players who the Knicks were most excited to get, one of the guys who rounded out this Knicks bench perfectly, just decided, you know what, screw the Knicks, screw the fact that they believed in me and have been trying to acquire me for two years, I don't care, I really don't whatsoever. I'm going to screw the Knicks over in a way that nobody saw coming, because nine years into my career, as Shams just revealed, it's just in. After nine NBA seasons, New York Knicks guard Malcolm Brogdon has decided to retire from basketball, he tells ESPN. Brogdon became the 2017 Rookie of the Year and the 2023 Sixth Man of the Year. Yeah, you read that right. Two years ago, after being drafted 36th overall in 2016, Malcolm Brogdon was set to make the regular season roster, but had been contemplating retirement and informed the Knicks officials on Wednesday of his decision. A man who last year, in 23 minutes per game, put up 12.7 points, four rebounds and four assists per game, being that second floor general the Knicks were looking for the entire offseason and all of last year as well, just up and left. He shot 43% from the field and 40% on corner threes. He was the perfect fit for this team, but he didn't care, as he announced today, I officially begin my transition out of my basketball career. I have proudly given my mind, body and spirit to the game over the last few decades. With the many sacrifices that it took to get here, I have received many awards. I am deeply grateful to have arrived to this point on my own terms and now be able to finally reap the benefits of my career with my family and friends. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart to all who have had a place in my journey. What a benefit you're not getting, Malcolm. You're not getting healthcare for life. You know, you could have had that chance. They always talk about how NBA players and all athletes, it's tough to manage your money. Malcolm Brogdon's a smart guy. Don't get me wrong. He's always shown that he's a level-headed person, except for right now. One year, one season away on a great team, his best chance to win the NBA finals towards the end of his career. If he knew he wanted to retire, he could have spent a year with the Knicks, gotten free healthcare for the rest of his life from the NBA. Instead, nope. Oh, but Chris, he's a millionaire. He'll be fine healthcare wise. Do you know how Malcolm Brogdon manages his money? I sure don't. But I know that he just made a very dumb decision regarding his future. What if something is to happen? God forbid. I really, really don't want anything bad to happen to Malcolm Brogdon. But what if something did? He doesn't have healthcare. Now he has to pay for it instead of getting it paid for by the NBA. Why? How dumb could you possibly be to make that decision? This isn't Canada. There's no free healthcare. That's not how this works here in America. Malcolm Brogdon foregone that decision, foregone playing for a Knicks team where he was going to be the backup point guard for no reason outside of it's my own terms. I don't care if it's your own terms. You made a terrible decision. I know, I know I'm crashing out over Malcolm Brogdon. I don't care because now the entire Knicks have to just pivot. First of all, there goes our backup point guard, Jalen Brunson, get ready for 40 minutes per game in the playoffs because you thought Tim played guys a lot? So does Mike Brown. The Kings had the second lowest minutes per game from their bench last year, guys, and it wasn't because Doug Christie ran his starters into the ground. Not that. So, now that we know that, do we really think Jalen Brunson's not going to lead the NBA in playoff minutes per game next year, barring that he's healthy? Do we? Because Mike Brown plays his guards a lot. A lot. Do we really think that Jalen Brunson's not going to? Because I do. Because the Knicks, do they have another floor general? No, they don't, in fact. They have Deuce McBride, who's a good combo guard. They have Jordan Clarkson, who's a good combo guard. They have Tyler Kolick, who can't shoot a basketball or, you know, play any sort of defense, at least thus far in his career. His shooting numbers have not been good enough to play. His defense has not been good enough to warrant bad shooting numbers. You can't put a guy who's only right now, the only efficient marks of his career has been his playmaking. And he's been an excellent playmaker. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of Tyler Kolick. But at the same time, is he ready to play for a contender? I don't think so. I really don't. So, now, also speaking of Kolick, he gets to stay, meaning the Knicks, they still have to free up a roster spot. For Pacom, or well, for, um, for, I'm so mad I'm forgetting Landry Shaman and Garrison Matthews' names. For those two, one of them can still make the roster, just like when there was three of them. So the Knicks would still have to make a trade, and now since they lost a point guard, hey Pacom, get ready to learn other team, buddy! Because it's not going to be Malcolm Brogdon now. The Knicks front office will pivot in a completely different direction, trying to bring back Landry Shaman alongside Garrison Matthews. And on top of that, understandably so, trying to look for another playmaking point guard on the team. Well, the good news is there's Russell, never mind, because Russell Westbrook today signed with the Sacramento Kings. Ooh, one day short if only Malcolm Brogdon told us yesterday, so we could have done something about it. Nope, now Russell Westbrook joins a team that has absolutely no shooting, that employs DeMar DeRozan and Sabonis in his starting lineup. So now, when Keegan Murray's not healthy, when Zach Levine's not hitting his shots, who in the hell is, where is Russell going to go with the ball? What's he going to pull threes? That's not going to work. So right now, the Knicks could have added Westbrook, had a sick five out of them, but no, Malcolm Brogdon one day too late for us. Hours late for us. The Knicks could have put the 25th hour call to us, say don't go to Sacramento, join the Knicks, we're trying to win a championship, Malcolm Brogdon's retiring, we need you, hangs up the phone, Russell Westbrook's in New York right now. But no, the Knicks didn't do that. It's really, really frustrating, because now the Knicks, the team that, for the record, has the fourth best odds to win the NBA Finals, are getting absolutely clowned by fans of teams who are probably garbage compared to the Knicks. That's kind of weird, if he played one more year, he gets free healthcare. That's absolutely correct, Lester Griffin. We dodged a bullet, says a Lakers fan. Oh, the Lakers, they're definitely going to do something with LeBron and his ass injury. Now, you could tell he never really loved basketball. He just played it because he was good and made millions. Maybe that's the case, but why wouldn't you do that, why wouldn't you suck it up for one more year for free healthcare? Guy decided he'd rather retire than play for the Knicks. Nobody's trying to play for that franchise, the franchise that, again, fourth in odds to win the NBA Finals, but nobody cares, apparently. Well, Twitter's full of casuals, we know that. But still, I wouldn't want to play with Brunson either, who's ringless, well, that's owned by sports, so whatever. Apparently, Brunson's now on ring counts, that's interesting. But, look, guys, I'm really, really, really, really, and Guy just doesn't like when I use this word, I'm really pissed off about this. I'm really, really pissed off about this, because frankly, it just doesn't make any sense to me. Now the Knicks can look at the free agent market at the 25th hour and decide, hey, are there any good point guards for us to add? Malik Beasley's not coming to the Knicks, he's probably going back to Detroit or somewhere like that. Corey Joseph isn't good enough. Alec Burks, maybe you run it back with him. Patty Mills, I sure hope not. Monte Morris, I'm not really enticed by. Damian Lee's not a point guard. Taylon Horton-Tucker's not good. Brandon Boston Jr. is not helping the Knicks win a title. Jeff Dotwin's not doing much, he's bounced around for a reason. Markel Fultz is one of the best options all of a sudden. If Alfred Payton signs with the Knicks, I'm going to spear myself out my window. Jalen Hood-Shafina is not probably going to add much. Who does that leave? Ben Simmons. Oh, wait, he declined to deal with the Knicks. So now the Knicks are going to be employing a complete set of a few different guards because they don't have a backup floor general for Jalen Brunson. So this has been absolutely botched right now because Malcolm Brogdon's an idiot. Now, the Knicks will be adding Garrison Matthews and likely Landry Schammett to the team as well. Matthews put up 7.5 points per game last year, two rebounds, one assist, shot 39% from three, including 58% on the corner three and 40% from the field. Matthews is an elite three-point shooter. He's going to be an excellent addition to this team. And so is Landry Schammett who put up 6 points, one rebound, 46% from the field, 40% from three, 47% on corner threes. The Knicks get to add two elite shooters. That's excellent. I'm super happy about that because I love both these guys. But now Jordan Clarkson is going to be their backup point guard. Clarkson is score first and that's fine. So is Jalen Brunson. And I have said before, Jordan Clarkson can handle the ball. He can be a main ball handler. But still, having Clarkson and Brogdon, two sixth men of the year while also having Deuce McBride, was so beautiful to watch. But now Jordan Clarkson has a huge role. The Knicks has to be great on his playmaking and also continue to ball out, putting up 16 points per game, four assists last year with the Jazz, shooting 41% from the field and 36% from three. His role got a lot bigger and it just changed a whole lot. Now look, maybe I was overreacting a little bit saying that Tyler Colick can't shoot the ball. But historically, through the G League and through the NBA, he hasn't shot the ball well yet. And that concerns me because if he can't shoot the ball well and if he can't play defense well, but the Knicks are going to keep him because they need guard depth, it means you trade Pacome Dottier to get both Matthews and Schammett onto this team. That's an issue because Pacome is the best young talent that this team has. That is where the problem lies. Tyler Colick is 24 years old, not going to get minutes with the Knicks as his value just continues to depreciate. The Knicks now are likely going to be looking throughout the trade market all season long, trying to find a point guard to add to this roster who could be a floor general. That is now their top priority and that's assuming that Mitchell Robinson stays healthy. The Knicks got worse today. There's no doubt about it because Malcolm Brogdon was a lock for the team. I know he was slow, but he was still a good playmaker and still a good player to have around the team, but now Malcolm Brogdon is retired from basketball and we will probably end up seeing him play another basketball game again at some point in like two years probably. Brogdon, I'm very mad you did this. I don't think you're watching this. I'm very upset that you went out there and did this, though I have enjoyed watching you play over the last nine years. I wish you nothing but the best in retirement and all the happiness in the world. You did it. You lived a great life. You had a great career. You decided to not get NBA healthcare for playing one year of the contending team where even if you were getting wear and tear, you could have sat on the bench for a while because the Knicks were stacked up, but guess not. Look, it's your life. Do what you want with it. I'm happy that you found your happiness outside of basketball. It's a super important thing out of people. Congratulations on a great career. The Knicks have to go out and make some serious changes now. This is really, really upsetting news. Have a great day. Like this video. Subscribe. Turn on post notifications. Go Knicks.