12:17pm: The Knicks have officially confirmed Gibson’s new 10-day contract with the team (Twitter link).
10:17am: Just over three weeks after he was waived by the Knicks, veteran big man Taj Gibson has agreed to return to Tom Thibodeau‘s club. Gibson will sign a 10-day contract with New York, agent Mark Bartelstein tells Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link).
A Thibodeau favorite who played for the Knicks from 2019-22, Gibson signed a non-guaranteed, minimum-salary contract with the team on December 15 and appeared in 10 games, averaging 1.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in 9.7 minutes per night.
Initially expected to merely provide some frontcourt depth and locker room leadership, the 38-year-old saw more playing time than anticipated due to injuries to centers Mitchell Robinson and Jericho Sims. However, when Sims got healthy and the Knicks traded for Precious Achiuwa, Gibson once again found himself pushed down the depth chart and was waived on January 7, just before his full-season salary could become guaranteed.
The Knicks have held that 15th roster spot open in recent weeks and once again have a need for frontcourt depth following Julius Randle‘s shoulder injury. Gibson likely won’t immediately step into New York’s rotation, but he’s a veteran whom the coaching staff trusts and can turn to if needed.
Assuming his deal is finalized today, Gibson will be under contract through next Thursday, February 8. He’ll earn a $183,704 salary over the course of his 10-day deal, while New York will carry a $116,075 cap hit.
As long as Thibs is in the league, Taj will forever be in the NBA.
So no power forwards without a job?
Wenyen Gabriel is the only one who doesn’t abjectly suck, so… not really?
Bazley, Roby, Gay and Warren
Can’t score, Can’t defend, Old, Can’t anything.
Roby would be okay to play backup minutes at PF. Warren can still do something and deserves one more chance. Gabriel is a scrub. He was before the Lakers and is only a energy guy. He does deserve another chance though.
I’ll sit on the bench for 10 days for 180,000$
When Knicks dropped Taj contract to make roster spot for the OG trade I read that Thibs/Knicks planning to offer Taj a coaching job next season.
Can you suit up if you’re a coach? Back in the day, yes. Today? NBA CBA has as many rules as the federal tax code.
Since most coaches wear sweats now anyway, I could see Taj on the bench with a breakaway uniform on, ready to sub in.
Plus it’s amazing that Taj is very effective when he gets minutes. Brooklyn’s finest!
I’d like to get more scoring at TD. Also like to see Achiuwa step up.
Wat up Taj …
And he did step up
Good move. That 15th slot needed to be filled (with two guys out indefinitely). 10 days gets them thru the deadline. If nothing happens there, they can do another 10 day, and/or try to get someone in the buyout market.
Welcome back. That move was predictable. Keep Taj on payroll moving forward player/coach.
Would love someone to come to NY on the buyout market. They can’t get great free agents. Are they now finally a great place for players to come now?
Players only care about winning and playing time/roles. If you can offer those, they’ll come.
Can’t get great free agents? When you lose 65 games, you’re not going to be attractive to max FAs or anyone else. Since 2020, when we became functional, there haven’t been any max FAs actually available, and it might be many years before there is another one. Still, this NYK team was built in free agency, as 4 of our starters were signed outright as UFAs (Randle, Brunson, Hartenstein, DiVo). That’s rare today. I doubt the rest of the top 4 in the East have 4 combined.