Knicks News: Ex-Celtic Could Bring Jalen Brunson’s ‘Gift’ to Fruition as Walker Kessler Pursuit Crashes Out

The New York Knicks had a solid offseason, scoring Mikal Bridges and re-signing OG Anunoby. But they also lost Isaiah Hartenstein, who bagged a three-year, $87 million deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder, despite Jalen Brunson’s pitch to keep him.

Even though the Knicks tried to snag Walker Kessler, it seems like they’ve hit a wall. “The Jazz are difficult to trade with. They have very high asks,” according to Brian Windhorst. But all hope isn’t lost. Robert Williams III of the Portland Blazers could be the trade the Knicks are eyeing. Windhorst points out, “after the Blazers drafted Donovan Clingan and Deandre Ayton who is probably not very tradable on their roster,” Williams might become a viable option.

With a career average of over 7 points and 6 rebounds per game, Robert Williams III could be just what the Knicks need to patch up their center spot. But they better move quickly to lock in the trade because other teams are probably eyeing the “Time Lord” too.

Speaking of the name “Time Lord,” let’s dive into the story behind Robert Williams III earning that nickname.

The “Time Lord” nickname for Robert Williams III blew up after he was drafted by the Celtics in 2018. Right out of the gate, Williams hit a rough patch: he overslept and missed his introductory media call, then blew his flight to Boston. Not exactly a stellar NBA debut, but Celtics fans—especially the ones on “Weird Celtics Twitter”—loved the drama and turned it into a memorable nickname that’s stuck with him.

Even though Robert Williams III didn’t snag the nickname “Time Lord” for his game, you might think he’d be bummed about it. But actually, it’s the opposite. “So when I got drafted, I missed a press conference over the phone,” Williams said. “And they start calling me Time Lord, like being late. But I got on the court playing and it was saying like, ‘Oh, he’s stopping time to go over there and block shots.’ So, I can’t hate on that, it was decent. I liked it. I’ve been rocking with Time Lord ever since.”

But despite the rough start, Williams made quite an impression by being considered for Defensive Player of the Year and Most Improved Player in 2022, and he earned a spot on the NBA All-Defensive Second Team that year. It’s clear he’s got that dog in him. Now the big question is: which team will be the one to unlock his full potential in the coming year? Could it be the Knicks? What’s your take on this?