The Dallas Mavericks tried to trade up in the 2020 NBA draft in order to select Tyrese Haliburton, sources tell Tim MacMahon of ESPN.

Dallas offered Jalen Brunson and the 18th and 31st picks, but couldn't find a taker before the Sacramento Kings sued the No. 12 selection on Haliburton.

Haliburton has become one of the NBA's better young guards and is now playing for former Dallas coach Rick Carlisle. 

The New York Knicks, who have been connected to Brunson, stayed put at No. 8 and selected Obi Toppin.

At least two members of the New York Knicks' front office recommended that the team fire Tom Thibodeau at the All-Star break following a 3-13 stretch that dropped their season record to 25-34 at the time.

Those lobbying for a change thought Thibodeau had "lost the team."

According to a source, Leon Rose was adamantly opposed to the move and that allowed Thibodeau to remain in the job. 

The Knicks had a 12-11 record after the break and is expected to be back next season.

Rose’s top advisors are executive VP William Wesley, GM Scott Perry, chief of strategy Brock Aller, assistant GMs Frank Zanin and Walter Perrin and personnel director Makhtar N’diaye. 

Rose called Thibodeau “one of the best coaches in the NBA” who “prepares our team better than anybody. I feel that he’s done a good job under the circumstances.”

The New York Knicks have been eliminated from postseason contention and will take advantage to rest some banged up players down the stretch. With Julius Randle hurting, it looks like the Knicks will shut him down for the rest of the season.

Randle has been battling a sore quad for a couple of weeks now. With New York having nothing to play for, Tom Thibodeau said Randle is "most likely out of the rest of the way".

After an All-Star season last year, Randle struggled to find the same momentum this campaign. He dropped to just 41% shooting overall and 31% from behind the arc, after hitting 46% and 41% last season. Randle's counting stats all fell off this season, as well.