Player Grades: Austin Rivers, who found redemption on the Denver Nuggets

Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports It’s safe to say that this season went nothing as planned for Austin Rivers. Rivers inked a three-year deal with the New York Knicks in November, was out of the rotation by mid-February, traded to Oklahoma City in March and unemployed days after.

“I sat there for like a month and a half waiting for the phone to ring,” Rivers said following an emotional Game 3 victory over Portland in first round of the playoffs. Once Denver did call, Rivers knew he had to make the most of it. “It helps me play with a different type of chip on my shoulder with a different type of hunger because I promised myself I would never be back in that situation ever again, and I won’t be,” he…