The Knicks have waived Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Darion Atkins and DaJuan Summers, Travis Trice and Wesley Saunders, the team announced (Twitter link). The moves take the Knicks to 14 players, one below the regular season roster limit. All had $75K partial guarantees except for Trice, who was assured of $50K, and Summers, whose salary is non-guaranteed. The release of Antetokounmpo, a brother of Bucks utilityman Giannis Antetokounmpo, means New York forfeits its draft rights to the player it took 51st overall last season.
Antetokounmpo, 23, doesn’t appear interested in rejoining the Knicks D-League affiliate, the team he played for last season. He averaged 13.9 points in 33.0 minutes per game in the D-League last year but went scoreless in about 13 minutes of preseason action spread over three games this month.
Atkins also failed to register a point over seven total minutes of preseason playing time. The 23-year-old went undrafted out of Virginia this year.
Summers, 27, was the 35th overall pick in 2009 but hasn’t appeared in an NBA regular season game since the 2012/13 season. The power forward averaged 2.5 PPG in 5.8 MPG across four preseason contests with the Knicks this month.
Trice went undrafted out of Michigan State this year. The 22-year-old point guard had four points, two assists and a turnover in about 14 total minutes of playing time over the course of two preseason games.
Saunders, from Harvard, was yet another prospect passed over in this year’s draft who landed with the Knicks. The 22-year-old small forward managed two points in about seven minutes of preseason action spread across a pair of games.
The Knicks have 13 fully guaranteed deals, but Langston Galloway, with his sizable $440K partial guarantee, seems safely ensconced in the 14th spot. New York is reportedly one of a handful of teams with interest in the recently waived Jimmer Fredette.
Either ya got it or you don’t.
Thanasis didn’t.
Giannis does.
Any reason why the cut thanasis?
Because he wasn’t good, and they’d rather have someone like Jimmer
Lance Thomas over any of those guys is a travesty
Jimmer Fredette hmm. I think its worth a try
Thannasis never delevoped his offensive game. He’ll go overseas for a few seasons and come back a better player for it.
I’m surprised Thanasis was cut even though they had a roster spot open. Though I doubt he would have played at all even if he did make the team. Already have Melo, Early, and Thomas in front of him.
Thanasis is a fun player to watch, but I think they have another move up their sleeves, which I HOPE is signing JIMMER FREDETTE, nothing but net!
Knicks should try and keep Trice and Saunders on their D-League Team. Trice especially would be a good point guard for them if Calderan falters down the road. Not sure why they did not play Trice more during the early part of preseason to develop him. From the little I saw of him, he ran the team well and can shoot..
Knicks made big mistakes when they did not sign Alexi Sved and Maurice Ndour. Could have used these guys. Sved could penetrate and get to the basket and also pass the ball and Ndour played good defense on the perimeter and inside the paint.. Typical Knicks, they kep missing on good talent. Lance Thomas showed nothing so far this preseason and when and where will they find time for Amundson? Yet they gave Thomas and Amundson good contracts. Sad!!!!
As of now, the way the Knicks want to play, Frank the Tank looks like he would have been a better pick than Porzingis. They need to let Porzingis be Porzingis and play to his strength… i.e shoot the ball from three point, pass out of the high and low post and run plays for him. He is deferring too much to Anthony and others and looks to have lost his swagger and confidence. They are trying to make him into a defensive center.
With a bad start, Fisher will not be there. He will be gone sooner than later. Jackson knows he now need an experienced coach. I expect Fisher gone by February 2016… They need an experienced coach like Tom Thibadeau.
Uuhh..Langston is definitely safely ensconced…
Bring Jimmer home to NY! I think he’d fit the triangle very well.
The Knicks will not make it ,and I am a knick fan ,P.k is the wrong pick ,good luck to this sorry a.. team ,I hope fan don’t buy those expensive tickets
how can you prove something if you’re never given playing time? Thenasis could of been that “Rodman” type player the Bulls had but Knicks couldn’t see that..
Leaving one spot open is interesting. Knicks need small forward. Cleanthony Early not there yet. Melo only Small Forward and he’s better at the 4.