East Notes: Sixers, Tyrese Maxey, Knicks, Hornets

“Whatever he has to do, he’s nowhere near it,” Rivers said, via Pompey. “So I would say he’s out at least, I don’t know, for at least a couple more weeks.”

• Point guard Shake Milton and guard Jaden Springer may become trade candidates if the Sixers look to get below the tax threshold, per Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report.

Knicks

Improvements on defense are largely responsible for the Knicks’ five-game winning streak, according to Fred Katz of The Athletic.

Guard Immanuel Quickley seemed to agree.

“We all gotta talk, especially against shooters. Just try to make them do something else that they don’t want to do,” Quickley said, via Peter Botte of the New York Post. “We try to make it tough for everybody. Just try to make it a tough shot every time down. That’s all you can really ask. There are a lot of great players in this league that make tough shots. You just try to make it as tough for them as you can each and every play.”

• Point guard Derrick Rose has been at the center of trade rumors lately, but said his preference is to stay with the Knicks, per Zach Braziller of the New York Post. “I like winning,” Rose said.

Hornets

• In case you missed, coach Steve Clifford ripped the Hornets’ effort on defense, saying they’ve just been trying to outscore opponents, and that “never works.” We have the full post here.
• With a return to even the play-in tournament considered a long shot, some around the league think it may not be a bad idea for the Hornets to tank in an effort to enter the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes — and dream of pairing Wembanyama with LaMelo Ball. The Hornets have not yet reached that point, though, sources said.