The Knicks have signed rookie guard Tyler Kolek to a four-year, $9.06MM contract, a league source tells Fred Katz of The Athletic (Twitter link).
The transaction was completed using the second-round pick exception. Kolek will earn the maximum possible salary over the first three years, which are guaranteed, per Katz. The fourth year is a team option.
New York acquired the rights to Kolek, the 34th overall pick in last month’s draft, by trading three future second-rounders to Portland.
A 23-year-old point guard, Kolek had an impressive senior season for Marquette in 2023/24, averaging 15.3 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 7.7 APG and 1.2 SPG on .496/.388/.851 shooting in 31 games (33.0 MPG).
Kolek a great get for the Knicks, ready to play off the bench now…
Good. He was a given for a standard contract. That’s 12. A bunch of housekeeping today, but they still need a big and its slim pickin’s.
Need to make that trade for Kessler or Richards
They’re fine. But they’re both career backups, so the cost can’t be a FRP.
Same was said about Mitch and Hartenstein yrs ago. Kessler has already proven he can start. Too expensive for us. Richards can help. Thibs can help him. I wouldn’t mind him.
I wouldn’t mind seeing them trade for Kessler to keep the defensive presence going in the middle. Especially if Robinson goes down.
Yeah, I like Kessler, and think he would be a perfect backup center, that can potentially play more if Mitch keeps getting hurt. Thibs would bring out the best in him.
Kolek is a great pick in 2nd rd. A true PG with big IQ. An 86% FT shooter. Means he’s a shooter, can score. I’m still thinking McBride may be gone as part of Bridges trade.
Considering all the talk about a weak draft. Knicks have 4 players who all can be NBA rotation pieces one day. Suns were fools to pass on Kolek.
I guess McBride stays now. Great news.
Kolek right now is more a pure PG. But I still believe Miles can improve there.
link to si.com
Gotta love what the Knicks are doing. On top of the alterations to the Mikal trade to get out of the first apron cap, every addition addresses a need and/or fits the culture Rose and company have been cultivating since their arrival:
Mikal Bridges, Dadiet (upside), Kolek (backup playmaking PG), McCullars Jr. (defense first intangible guy), Hukporti (rebounding/defensive C depth), even Bates-Diop has a fit on this team and was drafted by Minny when Thibs was there.
Still more work to be done, need a reserve big man though I assume they work something out with Precious and maybe swing a trade, but hard not to be excited about the prospect of adding Mikal and Randle to a team that nearly got to the ECF while barely being able to put 5 healthy players on the floor at once.
Well said …. it’s been a long time for Knick fans. Future is now and it’s bright.