Rokas Jokubaitis, who played for the Knicks during Summer League, is in “advanced talks” with Maccabi Tel Aviv, according to Alessandro Maggi of Sportando.
The Lithuanian point guard has spent the past three years with Barcelona, where he averaged 5.3 points and 2.8 assists per game last season. Barcelona recently declined to exercise an option on his contract, making him a free agent.
Jokubaitis appeared in five games for New York in Las Vegas, averaging 9.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.2 steals in 19.1 minutes per night. He shot 57.1% from the field, 50% from three-point range and 71.4% from the foul line as the Knicks posted a 3-2 Summer League record.
The 23-year-old was selected by Oklahoma City with the 34th pick in 2021 and was traded to New York on draft night. The Knicks will retain his NBA draft rights no matter where he plays this season.
Jokubaitis is also a member of the Lithuanian national team, which lost to Puerto Rico in the finals of a pre-Olympic qualifier earlier this month.
If he signs with Maccabi Tel Aviv, Jokubaitis will join former NBA guard Jordan Loyd, who played 12 games for Toronto during the 2018/19 season. According to Maggi, the team is also hoping to sign Daryl Macon, who had brief NBA stops with Dallas and Miami.
If Rokas has no desire to play in NY, then trade him instead of Duece.
The Knicks are the ones who don’t want to sign him.
Do they have the same value?
Draft and stash, dude.
Makes no sense to trade Roku unless he’s forcing the issue, which he apparently isn’t. Who trades a draft and stash under any other circumstances? He won’t have the kind of trade value to even make it tempting. He also can’t be used to take back matching salary.
McBride is almost certainly not being traded. He’s a core rotation piece under the most team friendly contract. NYK are looking to add a rotation piece, not deduct one, or break even on it.
@DXC all the rumors saying to get a backup center the Knicks will have to include Duece. I want him to stay also. Precious still waiting on you Sir. Let’s go the clock is ticking.
I haven’t heard any credible rumor about the NYK dealing McBride. The opposite. Plus, he’s worth more than any backup C, which are generally dime a dozen assets. If you heard different, then you have.
I would like Precious to resign with the NYK. But I don’t know what else they might have going on.
Logic. I love to see it. Everything you said makes perfect sense. Guys be more like DXC.