Taj Gibson talked to several teams in free agency and some offered more money than the Knicks, but he preferred to stay in New York with coach Tom Thibodeau, writes Owen O’Brien of Newsday. Gibson re-signed for $10.1MM over two years with a team option on the second season.
“It was real frustrating, but it was a good frustrating,” Gibson said of the free agency experience. “But at the same time, I knew I made the right decision. Money doesn’t move me, I just wanted to be a Knick.”
Keeping Gibson was part of a busy offseason for New York, which added Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier in addition to re-signing several key parts of last season’s 41-31 team. Gibson said the Knicks look “really stacked” and he’s looking forward to resuming his role as one of their veteran leaders.
“They know I’m always willing and ready to play, but right now I’m just happy to be the vet on the team,” he said. “The guy that comes in and works out hard every day — but always capable — and I’m having a good time being with these young guys every day and just trying to build a culture.”
There’s more from New York:
- Free agent guard J.J. Redick, who is rumored to have interest in joining the Knicks or Nets, doesn’t expect to be with a team when training camps open next month, relays Jenna Lemoncelli of The New York Post. Redick, who prefers to play close to his family in Brooklyn, talked about the situation on his “Old Man and the Three” podcast. “We’ll make a decision on next season — what team, what city, etc. — probably sometime in the next two or three months,” Redick said. “… But, you know, I would say, pretty much definitively, like, I won’t be in a training camp to start the season. That’s not gonna happen.”
- Now that Julius Randle has a four-year extension in place, he wants to do everything he can to build a championship team, including serving as a recruiter in free agency, per Marc Berman of The New York Post. The Knicks had more than $50MM in cap space this summer, but didn’t land any top-tier free agents, spending most of that money to keep their own players. “I told them if they need me to help, I’ll definitely get involved,” Randle said. “At the end of the day, winning is all that matters. My biggest goal is to win a championship here in New York. Whatever I can help to make that happen, to bring a championship to the city, they need me to help and get a player, I’m confident we’re doing that for sure.”
- Randle paid close attention to the Summer League team and said Thibodeau loves the work ethic displayed by rookies Miles McBride, Quentin Grimes and Jericho Sims, Berman adds. “When I saw those guys, man, they’re competitive and they’re skilled,” Randle said. “Those guys sound like they’re going to get in and add to our core guys.”
What a Joke this man is …..
“per Marc Berman of The New York Post. The Knicks had more than $50MM in cap space this summer, but didn’t land any top-tier free agents, spending most of that money to keep their own players.”
Top tier FA. Who was that I like to know. As far as I’m concerned. We got two of top FA in Fournier and Walker. We were the 4th seed in a yr we were suppose to win 23 gms. We resigned 3 of our key bench players. And had a good draft.
CP3, Kawhi, Lowry & Conley.
It’s OK to be excited and acknowledge reality at the same time. You don’t need one of the top free agents to win.
Knicks fans are as bad as laker and warriors fans.
38 yr old Chris wasn’t a FA. He didn’t take his player option. So he could sign a new contract. Was never on the market. Why would Knicks want a 38 yr old PG. Walker stats are better than Chris. Kawhi wasn’t a FA. He declined his PO to resign with Clippers. Never on the market. Lowry is 35 yrs old again why do we need and old guard. Walker stats are better than Lowry. Conley really you need an answer for that. Learn the game and what FA means and player option yrs mean. Again a wannabee. Go bee somewhere else. All I posted was reality. All truth. Haven’t even predicted anything. The post was about a writer who doesn’t understand signings like you don’t.
Yet they were all still free agents.
I mean, it’s kind of a technicality for CP3 and Kawhi because they weren’t going anywhere. And Lowry and Conley didn’t make sense for them, either.
So yeah, sure. On paper, the Knicks ‘missed’ on the big FAs. But I’m not sure I’d go as far as Berman is in dinging the Knicks for it. In prior years, them missing on big FAs is a legitimate gripe. But this year? Not so much.
But in prior yrs there was no team to come to. So how can you miss. Before that we had no cap. Look Knicks were mess since Melo. Cause they gave up whole team for him. Just Berman always uses the negative notation. When talking about the Knicks. Hence “No top tier FA” even though we had 50 mill. But no mention of Fournier or Walker. Two great pickups for this team.
Wow, Kemba is better than CP3. By that logic Hassan Whiteside was better than Gobert two years ago, cuz he had better stats. Facepalm
Knicks are stacked?)) Brought back the same team that lost in the first round, added injured Kemba and Fournier. How are they better than Bucks, Nets, Hawks, Heat?
Knicks did finish ahead of the Heat last year so it depends on how much of an upgrade you think Lowry is. For the Hawks, they did win the series (I think Knicks took 3 of 4 in regular season) but both teams have a solid young core. You did forget the Sixers who finished ahead of both teams by quite a lot. Still, a betting man should pick the Knicks for the 6 seed.
One team I could see sliding is the Nets if they have alot of injuries again.
If anyone slides in the east it will be the Sixers.
Wow you still here. How exactly does Chris get to Knicks. Why would we pay him til he’s your age. I said I’m good with what we had. Don’t make up BS to try and sound like you are actually saying something. BurnOut and Madam both are not even on subject. Knicks are rebuilding. You probably missed that since you don’t read. We don’t want old guards. Try and actually say something that’s real if you want a response.
Dude these clowns don’t care about facts. They just want to vent. All I said a writer doesn’t know what he’s talking about. And gave facts.
Knicks are a better team that last yrs 4th seed. Imo their top 10 is as good as anyone. So no one scares me. Still I know we will fight for top 4. Cause Hawks, Heat, Celtics all better too. Vegas has us at 42 wins. In a 82gm season, I see 45-48. I just see progress from last yr. So a 4-5th seed in 82 gms next yr in East. Is big time progress.
Knicks are not stacked, but they’re also definitely not ‘the same team that lost in the first round’. Swapped out one of the worst starting PGs in the league (Payton) for Walker and swapped out Bullock for Fournier. On top of that, added some nice young players in the draft, and will have a full season of Derrick Rose.
Knicks without Rose: 17-20
Knicks with Rose: 24-11
Again, not stacked, but you’re hating if you think they haven’t improved.
Not just hating. Which really doesn’t bother me. But when you don’t know facts. You should probably stay quite.
Xburnerx : they didnt brought back the same team.fournier is underated. He is a good signing.healthy kemba is an allstar player.and i believe rj barret will be a better player.and he will play at his natural post at 3…and for the fa, paul and kawhi are fa, but everybody knew they were not in the market.
After two decades of negativity around the franchise minus a brief reprieve in Melo’s early years, it’s so nice to finally have guys excited to be a Knick and a front office/coach who know what they’re doing. After suffering through the 2000’s and 2010’s, it’s so refreshing to be closer to the 90’s than anytime since. I don’t even care if they win a Chip, it’s just nice to have a team I can feel good about again.
Amen ….
Thats bcoz they hiring thib.i knew he will succses with knick.i really² love thib. Garpax suck.they fired him and replaced him with hoiberg.
Randle: “At the end of the day, winning is all that matters.” Kind of easy to say AFTER signing his substantial extension.
Gibson offered more than 10 million? I would like to see those contracts, wasn’t he out of the league? He is a good player off the bench but seems like the Knicks overpaid almost everyone they signed from last season.
What Randle says ———
“When I saw those guys, man, they’re competitive and they’re skilled,” Randle said. “Those guys sound like they’re going to get in and add to our core guys.”
I wanted J Johnson who went to Hawks. He would of replaced Bullock. But I like our picks. They are more seasoned rookie players. Who are skilled and can help us next yr. With depth. Grimes gets a tighter handle he could be next Murray. I really believe that. Sims was a great find. Thibs will mold him into solid big. McBride can be a starter one day. He has the vision. Just needs to learn to manage a game better. He will be excellent 2way player. So I agree with Randle 100%. If these Rooks show up. It gives us options on trades. And assets to go after a major talent. Young vet Star. Knicks are only getting better. That’s how you rebuild.
“In Thibs We Trust”