2:59pm: The Pistons have officially signed Knox, the team confirmed today in a press release (Twitter link).
11:50am: The Pistons have reached an agreement to bring back free agent forward Kevin Knox on a one-year deal, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
The ninth overall pick in the 2018 draft, Knox spent his first three-and-a-half NBA seasons in New York but has bounced around since then, spending time with Atlanta, Detroit, and Portland from 2022-23.
He signed a two-year, $6MM contract with the Pistons during the 2022 offseason and appeared in 42 games last season for the club before being traded to the Trail Blazers in the four-team deadline deal that sent James Wiseman to Detroit.
Knox averaged 6.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in 15.1 minutes per game across 63 total appearances for the Pistons and Blazers in 2022/23, then had his $3MM team option for ’23/24 turned down by Portland in June.
The Blazers re-signed him, but Knox’s contract was non-guaranteed and he didn’t make the regular season roster. He reported to the Rip City Remix – Portland’s G League affiliate – last week for training camp.
Rather than opening the season in the NBAGL, however, Knox is being promoted back to the NBA, where he’ll fill the 15th spot on the Pistons’ roster. As we noted a few days ago when we examined the open roster spots around the NBA, Detroit was one of the few teams with an open 15-man spot and no luxury tax concerns, so we expected that opening to be filled sooner rather than later.
Knox will provide some depth for a club whose roster has been plagued by injuries this fall. Bojan Bogdanovic (calf), Alec Burks (forearm), Joe Harris (shoulder), Jaden Ivey (illness), Isaiah Livers (ankle), and Monte Morris (quad) are all currently on the shelf, while Jalen Duren (ankle) has been in and out of the lineup.
Beyond the fact that it’s a one-year deal, the details of Knox’s agreement with the Pistons have yet to be reported. A non-guaranteed minimum-salary contract is most likely, but we’ll have to wait for confirmation on that.
I like it. Good for him. Now trade Wiseman to Memphis, Spurs or Washington. Trade Bagley to Indiana for Theis and picks, or Bagley to Memphis. Detroit Need another SG prospect to start with Ivey off the bench. You can trade Bojan and Hayes for the SG. Look at young PFs to sign. I Todd?
It’s fair to question someone sanity after liking a Kevin Knox signing… But because of having Knox, trading away even rotation players is beyond me… And on the top of it you’re campaigning for an Isaiah Todd signing, which is ridiculous… Todd is just afwul.
So perhas you’re just kidding at all
You can’t trade James Wiseman. He makes around 10 million a year and he has zero value right now. He’s playing behind the starting center, the backup center, the starting power forward, and the backup power forward. He’s fifth on the Big Man chain for a team that won’t make the playoffs in Detroit.
After the knox signing, we’re going all the way
Eventually in the playoffs, yes. They’re definitely headed in the right direction. Good young pieces and doing it the right way. It’s just a matter of time.
The Spurs should make a offer to Detroit for Wiseman, Monte Morris and Hayes. Trade Doug McDermott, Devonte Graham and Bassey with 1st and a 2ñd
That’s exactly why they SHOULD trade him!
and it’s why we can’t trade him. he is completely useless. no other team in the league wants him.
@Luke – thanks for the humor. Needed that today.
He’s very reliable when it comes to da jokes.
But not you
I am here for you
You all love to hate. You cannot be happy for Knox getting the last roster spot? I am not a fan of him but he deserves another chance but let’s bark like seals with our flappers these top stars get more money. Ooooh wow nice courts, elementary School kids chucking up shots with no defense or dribbling. Go Silver ar ar ar ar (barking like a seal)
Thanks for the clarificafion, I thought you were a pirate
Wouldn’t that be like Arrrrr