NEW YORK, October 23, 2014– New York Knickerbockers President Phil Jackson announced today that the team has signed center Jordan Vandenberg.
Vandenberg, 7-1, 245-pounds, an undrafted free agent out of North Carolina State University, averaged 2.0 points and 4.0 rebounds over 9.9 minutes in two games with New York’s entry at the 2014 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, NV. The Melbourne, Australia-native played five seasons (2009-14) with the Wolfpack after being granted a medical redshirt during his junior season. He averaged 4.6 points, on 68-percent shooting, with 4.7 rebounds and 1.41 blocks over 22.1 minutes in 32 games (all starts) his senior season.
nixluva@ 10/23/2014 9:34 PM
Phil is more active than I expected this preseason. The MBenga signing and now Vandenberg. It makes my suspicious about what's up. What does it mean. Is it just for the last few days of preseason or a possible trade?
nixluva@ 10/23/2014 9:38 PM
OK this could explain it.
The Knicks have to cut their roster down to 15 soon, but can hold up to 20 men until then. They currently have 19, and with 15 of those guaranteed, it's obvious who they're going to cut.
A catch: New D-League rules permit teams to protect four players cut from the training camp roster. The Knicks must have decided they don't want all four of the guys they're about to waive in Westchester (with the odd man out probably being D.J. Mbenga, who is 33 and would be disappointed with the meager taco selection in White Plains), so they figured they might as well add someone they *do* want to keep in the program and snaggle his rights for the sake of the W-Knicks.
So, welcome, Jordan Vandenberg. You were pretty underwhelming on the Knicks' Summer League team. But you're a Knick now, and Once A Knick Always A Knick, even if you get cut two days after you sign.
CrushAlot@ 10/23/2014 9:57 PM
Love that the Knicks are taking the d league very seriously. Vandenberg is a very athletic 7 footer that is raw. Perfect for the d league.
F500ONE@ 10/23/2014 9:59 PM
So they sign Fisher's buddy
Only to cut him for an unknown
Why not sign-invite unknown to camp
So maybe he could have practiced more and-or played in a game
RonRon@ 10/23/2014 10:09 PM
Hoping it was the other Jordan, not "Air"
but
Backnaski
CrushAlot@ 10/23/2014 10:12 PM
F500ONE wrote:So they sign Fisher's buddy
Only to cut him for an unknown
Why not sign-invite unknown to camp
So maybe he could have practiced more and-or played in a game
DJ played for Phil, knows the triangle and is a good guy.
nixluva@ 10/23/2014 10:22 PM
CrushAlot wrote:
F500ONE wrote:So they sign Fisher's buddy
Only to cut him for an unknown
Why not sign-invite unknown to camp
So maybe he could have practiced more and-or played in a game
DJ played for Phil, knows the triangle and is a good guy.
As for Vandenberg perhaps he thought he had a better option and it fell thru. It's hard to say why he wasn't signed earlier but it's up to that player and his manager as to whether they accept an offer. Could be they had the offer but wanted to explore all other options first.
callmened@ 10/23/2014 10:23 PM
(shrugs shoulders)
ok...cute move. lol Phil is being active with d-league players...great. lol
CrushAlot@ 10/23/2014 10:29 PM
callmened wrote:(shrugs shoulders)
ok...cute move. lol Phil is being active with d-league players...great. lol
Look at what the Rockets have done with their d league team. Sometimes its te little things. Nothing wrong with a top down approach.
gunsnewing@ 10/23/2014 10:37 PM
Luc Longely's distant cousin
BigDaddyG@ 10/23/2014 10:39 PM
gunsnewing wrote:Luc Longely's distant cousin
Yeah, I don't know who started the rumor about Phil's mom infatuation with seven- foot white stiffs.
EnySpree@ 10/23/2014 10:44 PM
CrushAlot wrote:
F500ONE wrote:So they sign Fisher's buddy
Only to cut him for an unknown
Why not sign-invite unknown to camp
So maybe he could have practiced more and-or played in a game
DJ played for Phil, knows the triangle and is a good guy.
yeah DJ probably was in new York with his family and Phil put him on the payroll....come hangout with the guys, workout and make some money on the side. Sounds good to me
nixluva@ 10/23/2014 10:55 PM
WOuldn't be a complete thread without a scouting video
gunsnewing@ 10/23/2014 10:58 PM
The guy is a beast in that video. He never misses. Future allstar!
Tell us how this guy is going to flourish in the triangle come on Nix!
Whitted is Houston's buddy not a triangle guy. I wonder how that plays out. It appears the k icks are finally taking thed l seriously. Too bad they don't have a triangle guy.
EnySpree@ 10/24/2014 12:12 AM
gunsnewing wrote:The guy is a beast in that video. He never misses. Future allstar!
Tell us how this guy is going to flourish in the triangle come on Nix!
guy looks like kevin McHale in that video lol
nixluva@ 10/24/2014 3:01 AM
It's just interesting to see the kinds of players Phil is bringing in for a possible future team. It's just nice to see the team sort of developing a farm system. I can guarantee he's not gonna stock the DL team with selfish guys. Finding useful players outside of the draft and who bring the kinds of skills and mentality Phil demands is a big deal. We may not always see what he sees but I think there needs to be a bit more respect given to Phil's approach. At least he has a real sense of purpose and a blueprint for what teams need, unlike many of our past Prez/GM's. I wouldn't be so quick to laugh off his prospects nor what he will have in store for their development.
callmened@ 10/24/2014 5:49 AM
nixluva wrote:It's just interesting to see the kinds of players Phil is bringing in for a possible future team. It's just nice to see the team sort of developing a farm system. I can guarantee he's not gonna stock the DL team with selfish guys. Finding useful players outside of the draft and who bring the kinds of skills and mentality Phil demands is a big deal. We may not always see what he sees but I think there needs to be a bit more respect given to Phil's approach. At least he has a real sense of purpose and a blueprint for what teams need, unlike many of our past Prez/GM's. I wouldn't be so quick to laugh off his prospects nor what he will have in store for their development.
while i refuse to jump for joy with signing Vandenberg, i do agree with the above sentiment. i like that phil is developing a farm system
Finestrg@ 10/24/2014 8:26 AM
callmened wrote:
nixluva wrote:It's just interesting to see the kinds of players Phil is bringing in for a possible future team. It's just nice to see the team sort of developing a farm system. I can guarantee he's not gonna stock the DL team with selfish guys. Finding useful players outside of the draft and who bring the kinds of skills and mentality Phil demands is a big deal. We may not always see what he sees but I think there needs to be a bit more respect given to Phil's approach. At least he has a real sense of purpose and a blueprint for what teams need, unlike many of our past Prez/GM's. I wouldn't be so quick to laugh off his prospects nor what he will have in store for their development.
while i refuse to jump for joy with signing Vandenberg, i do agree with the above sentiment. i like that phil is developing a farm system
Not that familiar with Vandenberg... I see that the Wizards released C Daniel Orton on the 16th. And Crush just pointed out that C Hassan Whiteside was just released by Memphis. These two bigs I am familiar with...Up to me, these are the 2 centers I'd target for my DL team. Briggs mentioned PG Deonte Burton the other day, another promising young player that was released earlier this preseason by Sac. I like that kid a lot too -- strong/athletic PG. I'd love to see all 3 of these guys on the Westchester roster.
