MIAMI — When the formal part of the Knicks’ morning shootaround ended at FTX Arena on Tuesday, coach Tom Thibodeau huddled on the sidelines with rehabbing Derrick Rose for a 10-minute conversation.
It was a sign Rose’s ankle is getting closer, a sign how much Thibodeau still loves his former Bulls point guard, a sign that when he does make his return, the starting job could be his. You just have to read between the lines.
Kemba Walker was to start for the fourth time in five games Wednesday aganst the Heat, after his latest return from a tweaked knee during pregame warm-ups on New Year’s Eve.
Even if Walker survives the Feb. 10 trade deadline, all signs point to Walker’s status being tenuous, that he’s holding down the fort for Rose’s return. Even the Bronx native and three-time All-Star will admit nothing is stable.
“I feel good — feeling good at the moment,’’ said Walker, wearing a thick knee pad on his left knee. “It’s tough, especially for me. I’m a competitor. I love to play basketball, want to be on the court as much as I can. This is something I’ve been dealing with for a few years now. Trying to look out for myself. I want to be able to play for some more years down the line. I’ve got to take it day by day.’’
Day by day, it is. It was in late November when Thibodeau pulled the plug on Walker after 20 games and banished him to the 15th man to start Alec Burks. Walker did not play for nine straight games before a slate of COVID-19 absences relaunched him Dec. 18 in Boston. He’s had his moments — just not enough.
One NBA scout said Walker just doesn’t impact the game enough like he did in Charlotte.
Asked if Walker is entrenched as starting point guard, Thibodeau said, “Yeah, it’s how he’s feeling. As long as he’s managing the knee now, we’ll see how it goes. He feels good. So that’s a good sign.
“It’s the reality of [Walker’s health]. We do have good depth. I like the way Alec has played. Unfortunately Rose being out for a time has hurt us, too.’’
Thibodeau talked glowingly of Rose on Wednesday and picked his brain about Miami.
“Seeing where he is,’’ Thibodeau said. “Things that he sees, how he’s feeling. He’s a student of the game. He’s played against [Miami] a lot. I want to make sure he’s engaged in everything we’re doing. I want him to stay sharp mentally, physically and emotionally. That’s why I want him with the team.’’
Rose is on his first road trip since his Dec. 24 ankle surgery when the Knicks announced he’d be out at least two months.
Thibodeau said Rose just started a “next phase” of his rehab, increasing from stationary shooting to jump shots, though the coach cautioned, “not like a normal jump shot, but he’s doing more.
“He’s moving around a little bit more,’’ Thibodeau said. “He’s in the next phase of what he can do. He hasn’t been part of practice yet. Eventually he’ll get to the point of doing the non-contact part of practice. The final step is the contact part of practice, and we’ll go from there.
“I don’t want to put a specific date on it. When he’s ready, he’s ready. But he’s moving along according to plans.’’
That Rose will be in the mix straight out of the All-Star break seems a given, but the push to have him sooner is on. The Knicks won 69 percent of their games when he played last season.
“Veteran leadership, the way he plays makes everyone a lot better,’’ Thibodeau said. “The numbers bear it out if you look at the impact he had on everyone when he got here — the winning and individual performances of the guys he played with is sky high.”
In a loss to Cleveland on Monday, Walker was benched for the fourth quarter. He and Julius Randle playing together is still a work in progress. The Knicks are 0-3 with Walker in the lineup since his Jan. 18 return.
Randle likes to be the point forward and often bring the ball up court. Walker said he played off the ball at times in Charlotte with Nicolas Batum.
Thibodeau said he doesn’t mind it because Walker is “very good off a pass instead of a live dribble.’’
“I think they figured it out pretty good,’’ Thibodeau said. “They do have a good balance.’’
Walker stressed patience.
“This is my first year with the team,’’ Walker said. “I’ve been in and out of the lineup. Other guys have been in and out of the lineup. Rome wasn’t built in a day they say, right? Everything takes time, man. Our relationship is building. Our chemistry is building as a team. I do think we are all building together. It takes time, man.’’
After returning for two games, Nerlens Noel was out again with knee soreness. He’s played just 20 games this season after missing all of the preseason.
With the Knicks’ down 23 points, newcomer Cam Reddish, who did not play (coach’s decision) in Cleveland, came in for garbage time with 9:50 left and promptly threw a lob for Toppin over his head and out of bounds but later swished a 3-pointer.
Reddish finished with six points — 2 of 6 from the field.