The Knicks have waived forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas, the team announced via Twitter. The Lithuanian forward was barely used this season, seeing just two minutes of action in one game.
New York had to make a move by 4pm Central to open a roster spot for center Joakim Noah, whose 20-game PED suspension ended last night. With 15 other players under contract, the organization decided to unload Kuzminskas and the $3,025,035 in guaranteed money he will make this season.
“The respect this franchise has for Mindaugas cannot be overstated,” Knicks GM Scott Perry said in a statement released by the team. “His professionalism and work ethic were greatly appreciated by his teammates, coaches and the entire staff. This decision was extremely tough for us. We wish him nothing but the best moving on with his playing career.”
Kuzminskas appeared to have a promising future in New York after averaging 6.3 points in 68 games as a rookie last season, but lost an important advocate in the front office when Phil Jackson was fired as team president over the summer.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks notes that last year’s standings will be used for waiver claims through the end of November (Twitter link). A team must be able to absorb Kuzminskas’ salary through cap space, a trade exception or a disabled player exception in order to file a claim.
Cmon Milwaukee put in a claim for him.
how does the waiver claim work in the NBA, if a team claims Kuz, they take his contract and all the money that is owed to him? if so, why dont the knicks for instance put like sessions, Beasley also and hope someone claims them???
No one would claim them.
Boston should claim him
They could only do so through their DPE I think, unless there’s a trade exception from the Morris-Bradley trade, because that would be about 3. I wouldn’t cut into the DPE for him, but I’m all for picking him up if he passes through waivers.
Wow!!! How do you not get at least a 2nd rounder in a trade for Kuz?
Because everyone knew he’d be cut anyway
Timberwolves, he was discussed in the rose-Rubio trade
A bad and confusing choice, unless they were accommodating him. No team can claim him unless they have 3 mm or so in cap space (I’m not sure an exception can be used). Beasley and Sessions could have been claimed by anyone.
A team must be able to absorb Kuzminskas’ salary through cap space, a trade exception or a disabled player exception in order to file a claim.
The Lakers could use him.