NBA Rumors: Cam Reddish hasn't played since voicing his displeasure over Tom Thibodeau's use of him
Cam Reddish and New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau are known to have a few issues. However, according to a recent report by Ian Begley, some comments by Reddish about Thibodeau's methods have resulted in the forward sitting out for so long.
Knicks guard Cam Reddish has been in the middle of a few trade rumors this season. After leaving the Atlanta Hawks last season to join the Knicks, the youngster was expected to become a valuable asset for New York.
Unfortunately, this wasn't the case.
Reddish found himself riding the bench for a number of games and hardly played last season. To add to this, the forward also struggled to display his full potential when he received time to play on the court.
Amidst these issues, there were rumors of discord between Thibodeau and Reddish. Some rumors even suggested that Thibodeau was angling for a different player in the trade and was dissatisfied with getting Reddish. However, this was never confirmed.
Regardless, the forward found himself missing out on a lot of opportunities to showcase his talent. But this season painted a different picture, as he received many more minutes. Unfortunately, this came to a grinding halt as well.
As things stand, Reddish only played a total of 20 games this season. Since his showing against the Dallas Mavericks, the forward has been a virtual no-show. However, as per Ian Begley, there is a reason for this.
Begley mentioned this in his report about Reddish's situation in New York. He wrote:
"Once Grimes returned to the regular rotation, Reddish’s minutes and role decreased. He was out of the rotation by Dec. 4. That night, the Knicks beat the Cavs. It was the start of a season-altering eight-game winning streak."
"At one point before that Dec. 4 game, Reddish expressed displeasure to a Knick assistant coach about the way Thibodeau was using him, per people familiar with the matter. Reddish has not played since he expressed that displeasure."
Earlier in the season Cam Reddish ‘expressed displeasure’ to a Knick assistant coach about the way Tom Thibodeau was using him, per @IanBegley
Reddish has not played since. https://t.co/3bX1npTivX
Quentin Grimes' return to the rotation has certainly impacted New York's overall functionality. With the team performing better, it is fair to see why Reddish has seen fewer minutes.
While Thibodeau continues to respond by saying that his decision to bench Reddish is merely a coach's judgment, there appears to be something more in the mix.
What is to become of Cam Reddish?
Cam Reddish is undoubtedly having a tough time with the New York Knicks. As a promising young player, Reddish has a lot to offer to several teams as a wing defender and scorer. Unfortunately, his situation is a bit tricky.
As mentioned earlier, Cam Reddish has been a target on the trade front for a while now. With teams such as the LA Lakers displaying an interest in him earlier in the season, there are some opportunities for Reddish to head out of New York.
However, there are some obstacles in facilitating a trade for him.
Since teams are aware that the Knicks have plans to trade Reddish, no team is actively pursuing him with intent. Begley mentioned this and added that there is no incentive to pursue Reddish due to New York's intentions being documented.
Read: NBA Trade Rumors: Cam Reddish interesting Miami Heat team personnel