For the first time this season, the Knicks are in position to sign a 15th man. New York has been limited by a restrictive hard cap since acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns in October and currently has $540,127 in wiggle room below that second-apron cap, as we detailed earlier this month. As of Friday, a rest-of-season minimum-salary contract for a veteran free agent would carry a cap hit of $539,876.
The Knicks added a crucial piece to their active roster ahead of Friday’s game, with center Mitchell Robinson cleared to play for the first time this season following ankle surgery. But they didn’t make a free agent addition on Friday and are still weighing their options for that 15th spot.
According to Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter link), center Moses Brown, forward T.J. Warren, and forward Chuma Okeke are among the players on the Knicks’ radar for their final roster opening.
Warren and Okeke have long been viewed as candidates to become New York’s 15th man — both players were in camp with the team in the fall and have spent the season playing for the Westchester Knicks. They’re also both thriving at the G League level. Warren has averaged 24.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game on .492/.359/.836 shooting in 30 outings for Westchester, while Okeke has put up 17.0 PPG and 8.4 RPG with a .457/.365/.706 shooting line.
Brown is technically under contract with Dallas right now, but his 10-day deal expires on Saturday night. Because the Mavericks have even stricter hard cap constraints than the Knicks, they can’t complete another signing until April 10, meaning they won’t be able to immediately re-sign Brown once his current contract is up.
That could open the door for the Knicks or another team to sign the veteran big man, who had 20 points and 11 rebounds in a start for the Mavs on Thursday. Although New York got Robinson back on Friday, the team traded away Jericho Sims at this month’s deadline and saw rookie center Ariel Hukporti go down with a knee injury earlier in the week, so its frontcourt depth has taken a bit of a hit.
It’s worth noting that 10-day signings are an option for the Knicks if they don’t want to commit to a rest-of-season deal with so much time still left in the season. A 10-day contract would carry a cap charge of $119,972 and would allow the club to audition players or temporarily address holes on the roster while retaining late-season flexibility.
As cap expert Yossi Gozlan notes (via Begley at SNY.tv), not signing anyone on Friday means the Knicks will have enough room under their hard cap to complete a second signing before the end of the regular season if they so choose.
New York currently has 14 players under contract, so a second signing would require the team to waive one of the players on its standard roster. But if the Knicks, for example, want to have both Warren and Okeke on their playoff roster, they could sign one of them on Saturday and the other on the final day of the season, cutting a little-used player such as Delon Wright at that time. The later they complete one signing, the earlier they could make a second roster move.
Is this the 3rd time in 2 days we have had an article about the Knicks 15th roster spot? I have been rooting for a Warren comeback for a few years now, unfortunately I don’t think its plausible now.
He’s coming bro …. With Hukporti out. We need Brown too. Its a good move.
aristotle ……. You are on Knicks radar.
You want to break this team up. Cause of money. A team who doesn’t even have a year in yet. Who you said OG and Bridges are overpaid. Learn the game please. Stop embarrassing yourself lol.
Bridges puts up 28 after your insight
OG wins the game and puts up 19 after your insight.
Seriously hoopsrumors …..
Why is it Knick haters know nothing about Knicks.
Well Knick just swept 2nd best team in West. And imo we are not contenders yet. aristotle find your pride. OG just threw it away …..,,,,,
And Mitch says KMA
You sound more and more like “The Fan”, if we hear from you that “C called Scoop thought you everything there is about bball”, we are calling Bridges to warn him about possible child abduction( if he doesn’t meets your criteria by the end of season)
*for those that don’t get it link to en.m.wikipedia.org
Im not Marty. Balling is a passion. Watch it, read it, Follow it, research it. You don’t see me on mlb, nfl, nhl. Of course mostly Knicks.
I don’t get posters who argue. Don’t have the time to research their argument. Then just lie to cover their argument. No adult should be doing that.
Those learn the hard way, I guess.
By the way — real adult of you bringing up families.
aristotle just wants havoc on other teams so that hed have a reason to push his ideas of those players going the Warriors way.
In all seriousness …. It was good to see Mitch playing. He gives Knicks a different look. Even his first gm back. Grizz had to adjust. So when he’s in gm shape. It will add a big piece. Huge win
UUUUuuuuuuuggggggggeee WIN tonight.
I get most don’t get a 2Way sport. But OG and 2WayBridges are just great. Basketball at its best.
Great win tonight, Al. Won’t silence the haters. Mitch had a team-high +11. If he stays healthy, they are contenders.
Only need 20 mins when he’s right. Don’t get why all haters come out for NY. These are blue collar guys man. They have earned all they got. Yeah it was a great game. Knicks bench stepped up. Grizz have best bench in NBA. Just another step forward.
Yeah, as a Grizz fan, I have to give y’all some credit for your defensive effort. Although part of that may have been our lackluster 3-point shooting effort.
But props either way, and definitely a well-played game
Lackluster 3-point shooting effort equals good defense by the NYN.
To some extent, but 4/31 is pretty egregious
Moses Brown and Warren
Okafor
Paging Ryan Arcidiaconno….He’s Tib’s guy.
Why can’t the Knicks release Ryan and Wright? IMO, if they did that, they will have room all 3 players. Warren, Brown, and Okeke
Ryan is on a two-way contract — none of Warren, Brown, or Okeke are two-way eligible.
Where is Archie playing? I thought Taj was heading back to New York also. Grimes having the game of his life. Should have stayed in New York with OB1. Basically gave away both for nothing. The New York Knicks bench desperately need them now.
Mitch is not a savior. His mins are a big addition. To a team that needs bench help. Especially the things he brings. 20-24 mins would be a great addition. Especially for playoffs. Thats all I said about Mitch.
1st gm played this year. Against 2nd best team in the West. Helped Knicks sweep Grizz this yr. In a tight, close, playoff atmosphere type game.
Mitch stats helped starters who play heavy mins. Something a poster doesn’t understand.Towns (31 mins), Bridges (33 mins), Hart (28mins). Bridges and Hart lead NBA in mins. Are you listening !!!!!
Mitch in (12 mins). 6 pts, 5 rebounds, 1 ast, a +11 highest on team. Just one game. Not yet in gm shape. Yet still showed his value. The value nons don’t get. This is what REAL bigs do.
TJ watch is ooooonnn .