Nathan Knight Appreciation Thread – (Waived Dec. 12, 2023)

[Hal14]

Some additional thoughts..

1) This might just be a case where Knight is 2-way eligible and Gabriel was not - they like the flexibility of having Knight on a 2-way which allows you to pay him less $ and keep a roster spot open, not commit a standard roster spot to a guy who's probably not gonna play much (if at all) during meaningful mins. So why not cut Gabriel and add the guy who is similar in size, similar in ability to Gabriel but has the flexibility of being 2-way eligible.

Plus, the ability to add another 2-way guy presented itself when Scrubb tore his ACL.

And it also would have been a different story if Gabriel REALLY impressed in camp/preseason games. Going into camp, I think they genuinely were giving Queta and Gabriel a shot to beat Kornet for that 3rd big spot (even though Kornet entered camp as the frontrunner). Queta played well enough to get mins over Gabriel in preseason and even (for the most part) outplayed Kornet in preseason..Gabriel meanwhile showed some flashes in preseason but didn't do anything to make a case over Queta or Kornet. Which made it an easier decision to let him go.

Also, Knight seems to show more potential as a shooter than Gabriel..and is physically bigger/stronger than Gabriel too.

2) Not sure if this played into the thinking of our front office/coaching staff (maybe but probably not) but perhaps they just don't want another season where we have a guy who suffered a season-ending injury before the season started and have that guy sitting on our bench all season long during games, hanging around in the locker room all season, walking around the facilities, on the plane, in the team hotel, etc. having that energy might drag everyone else down, because that guy might be just moping around sad, and all the other guys (who are healthy) all see him everyday and feel bad for him and it drags them down. Idk, maybe it's nothing but I kind of got this weird vibe last season seeing Gallo there on the bench, around the huddle during timeouts and stuff. Always looked sad, never was really cheering the team on, didn't smile much. And we had this guy (not even a star player, just a role player who was probably not gonna contribute anything to a contender anyways since he was 34 and just tore his ACL for the 2nd time) just hanging around the team but can't play for the whole season and it's not like he had been with the team for years and years and had already played lots of games for us, and had years of building on court and off court chemistry with out guys. The fact that he was brand new to the team probably added to the awkwardness of the situation with having him hang around.

So idk, maybe that was part of the reason why we waived Scrubb. Why have this guy who's never played for us before, not a star player - not even a role player - just a 2-way guy who's never even done anything in the league, just tore his ACL, out for the season - why keep him? Why keep him around the team all season and run the risk that he might be moping around, might bring the good vibes down a bit..

3) A wolves fan said: "Knight always looked good when given a chance! Sadly, he wasn't given that chance often enough, so I'm glad to see this signing"

[hickfromfrenchlick]

Weird, but good, movie.

This guy has never been on my radar, but his flaws must be huge because his highlights are wowza

[Dogen]

1) This might just be a case where Knight is 2-way eligible and Gabriel was not - they like the flexibility of having Knight on a 2-way which allows you to pay him less $ and keep a roster spot open, not commit a standard roster spot to a guy who's probably not gonna play much (if at all) during meaningful mins. So why not cut Gabriel and at the guy who is similar in size, similar in ability to Gabriel but has the flexibility of being 2-way eligible.

Plus, the ability to add another. 2-way guy presented itself when Scrubb tore his ACL.

And it also would have been a different story if Gabriel REALLY impressed in camp/preseason games. Going into camp, I think they genuinely were giving Queta and Gabriel a shot to beat Kornet for that 3rd big spot (even though Kornet entered camp as the frontrunner). Queta played well enough to get mins over Gabriel in preseason and even (for the most part) outplayed Kornet in preseason..Gabriel meanwhile showed some flashes in preseason but didn't do anything to make a case over Queta or Kornet. Which made it an easier decision to let him go.

Also, Knight seems to show more potential as a shooter than Gabriel..and is physically bigger/stronger than Gabriel too.

This seems like an accurate assessment from what we know. One thing we know in particular: The whole world loves Neemy. So, if Queta is ahead of Gabriel on the depth chart, bringing him up (down?) to the Celtics while Gabriel warms the bench next to him would be sort of odd, as Gabriel gets passed by for a 2-Way guy.

And then there is the team need issue. Gabriel may be an overall better player than Knight, but he looks more like a 3/4 than a 4/5 from the limited minutes I saw in PS. Knight is more of a banger, and the 3pt potential is there for him as well.

With Scrubb out, it does change things, like you say, Gabriel can not take that 3rd 2-Way.

The team is pretty darn stacked, maybe best to keep that last spot open for future possible vet. Having Davison, Queta, and Knight available on 2-Way is quite good indeed.

If Queta plays his way into that 15th spot, then maybe Kylor Kelley gets the third 2-Way? Not saying he's NBA level, but he sure looks like he'd be a fun highlight reel guy for certain games when the outcome is decided in the 4th Q.

[zoyathedestroya]

Watch on YouTube

[Cuban Pete]

Presumptuous title. He's superior to Kornet and Queta.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[ParticleMan]

Knight looks fairly polished offensively and can legit shoot the 3. Less of a rebounder, shotblocker, or defensive presence than Gabriel. But the thing is we have energy bigs in Kornet and Queta. Gabriel was yet another. Knight brings a different skillset, like a poor man's Porzingis. If he impresses I could see him getting some spot starts when KP sits.

[shackles10]

It’s been a long time since I saw anyone call Kornet an energy big. Think we found Luke’s burner account…

[Joshyjess]

Many are saying that Knight can be at best the fourth big (assuming Queto takes the 3rd spot, and he beats out Kornet), but don't forget, on nights that Al rests (like back-to-backs), the fourth big suddenly becomes the 3rd big. So if he does play well, he should get some time on those back-to-back games, as well as garbage time (hopefully we'll see a lot of that this year - in a good way)!

[31to6]

just realized he's a LEFTY which means +100 bonus points, get on the hype train now!

[165bows]

It’s been a long time since I saw anyone call Kornet an energy big. Think we found Luke’s burner account…

Can’t believe people are getting accused of being Luke Kornet and it’s not me.

[Hal14]

Many are saying that Knight can be at best the fourth big (assuming Queto takes the 3rd spot, and he beats out Kornet), but don't forget, on nights that Al rests (like back-to-backs), the fourth big suddenly becomes the 3rd big. So if he does play well, he should get some time on those back-to-back games, as well as garbage time (hopefully we'll see a lot of that this year - in a good way)!

Seems like you're jumping the gun with a lot of assumptions.

-I wouldn't assume that Queta beats out Kornet for that 3rd big spot
-Even if Queta does beat out Kornet for the 3rd big spot, I wouldn't assume Knight beats out Kornet for the 4th big spot
-Even if both Queta and Knight beat out Kornet (possible but seems like quite a leap) we could just play 2 bigs (instead of 3) during those games where Al sits out on 2nd night of back to backs. Like, it could be Porzingis playing 32 mins at the 5 and then Queta (or Kornet) playing the other 16 mins. Then all of the mins at the 4 that game could come from Tatum, Brissett, Stevens, etc.

Just saying, the path to playing time for Knight that you describe could certainly happen. But let's not get too ahead of ourselves here - seems like a lot of things that would all need to break right in order for that to happen.

Either way, he seems like a decent frontcourt depth piece.

[shackles10]

It’s been a long time since I saw anyone call Kornet an energy big. Think we found Luke’s burner account…

Can’t believe people are getting accused of being Luke Kornet and it’s not me.

Anytime Luke is referred to as an "energy big" it makes me wonder. I think the only other explanation is his mother called him that out of love.

[Joshyjess]

Many are saying that Knight can be at best the fourth big (assuming Queto takes the 3rd spot, and he beats out Kornet), but don't forget, on nights that Al rests (like back-to-backs), the fourth big suddenly becomes the 3rd big. So if he does play well, he should get some time on those back-to-back games, as well as garbage time (hopefully we'll see a lot of that this year - in a good way)!

Seems like you're jumping the gun with a lot of assumptions.

-I wouldn't assume that Queta beats out Kornet for that 3rd big spot
-Even if Queta does beat out Kornet for the 3rd big spot, I wouldn't assume Knight beats out Kornet for the 4th big spot
-Even if both Queta and Knight beat out Kornet (possible but seems like quite a leap) we could just play 2 bigs (instead of 3) during those games where Al sits out on 2nd night of back to backs. Like, it could be Porzingis playing 32 mins at the 5 and then Queta (or Kornet) playing the other 16 mins. Then all of the mins at the 4 that game could come from Tatum, Brissett, Stevens, etc.

Just saying, the path to playing time for Knight that you describe could certainly happen. But let's not get too ahead of ourselves here - seems like a lot of things that would all need to break right in order for that to happen.

Either way, he seems like a decent frontcourt depth piece.

I'm just kind of responding to what quite a few others seem to be saying (About Knight being the 4th big on the team). Personally I think Joe actually prefers Kornet over all the other bigs, and that we will see more of him than the other guys. However, IF both Queta and Knight do pass Kornet on the usage chart, than I think we will see more of Knight on those nights that Horford is off (thus the 4th to 3rd comment). I suppose the same logic could actually be applied to Queta if Kornet keeps the 3rd spot and that we'll see more of him on those Horford no-show nights (unless Knight actually passes Queta in the ranking, in which case.....)

[shackles10]

just realized he's a LEFTY which means +100 bonus points, get on the hype train now!

Lefties Unite!!!

[Smart2Nesmith43]

It’s been a long time since I saw anyone call Kornet an energy big. Think we found Luke’s burner account…

Can’t believe people are getting accused of being Luke Kornet and it’s not me.

Let it rest Brad. We already know who you are. Btw, your Kornet love doesn't help to hide your identity

[shackles10]

It’s been a long time since I saw anyone call Kornet an energy big. Think we found Luke’s burner account…

Can’t believe people are getting accused of being Luke Kornet and it’s not me.

Let it rest Brad. We already know who you are. Btw, your Kornet love doesn't help to hide your identity

Has anyone every seen 165bows and Brad in the same place?

[ParticleMan]

It’s been a long time since I saw anyone call Kornet an energy big. Think we found Luke’s burner account…

Can’t believe people are getting accused of being Luke Kornet and it’s not me.

Anytime Luke is referred to as an "energy big" it makes me wonder. I think the only other explanation is his mother called him that out of love.

i was trying to be kind. i mean what the hell else does he bring out there? certainly not scoring or rebounding.

[shackles10]

Can’t believe people are getting accused of being Luke Kornet and it’s not me.

Anytime Luke is referred to as an "energy big" it makes me wonder. I think the only other explanation is his mother called him that out of love.

i was trying to be kind. i mean what the hell else does he bring out there? certainly not scoring or rebounding.

Humor. Apparently he's hilarious on the break as well.

[31to6]

Can’t believe people are getting accused of being Luke Kornet and it’s not me.

Anytime Luke is referred to as an "energy big" it makes me wonder. I think the only other explanation is his mother called him that out of love.

i was trying to be kind. i mean what the hell else does he bring out there? certainly not scoring or rebounding.

l e n g t h

back to Nathan Knight, I hope he emerges as the greatest Knight in NBA history. Who would he have to surpass? Going quickly from memory:
Negele, Brevin, Travis
what other Knights have played in the NBA, and who is the current GOATKnight? (I've got Brevin)

[shackles10]

Brevin has to be the greatest NBA Knight right? Unless you count Grant professing himself to be the Dark (Dork) Knight the last couple seasons...