- The Knicks‘ signing of Jalen Brunson means Julius Randle will have to adjust to an off-the-ball role, notes Zach Braziller of The New York Post. Randle has been one of the team’s primary playmakers over the past three seasons, but Braziller expects him to see fewer isolation plays and more post-ups and spot-up shots.
Even though his pursuit of Donovan Mitchell fell through, Knicks president Leon Rose said on Friday in a television interview that he’s “thrilled” with the roster heading into training camp, relays Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News. Bondy points out that Rose made his comments to MSG Network, which is owned by Knicks owner James Dolan. Under Dolan’s direction, the team has been boycotting outside media apart from sessions that are mandated by the league.
“We went through that process (of trying to trade for Mitchell) and at the end of the day we made a decision to stay put,” Rose said. “And we’re thrilled with where we are. Taking a look at the summer, we feel great about what transpired.”
Rose emphasized “internal stability” that was created by re-signing Mitchell Robinson, giving RJ Barrett a four-year, $107MM extension that carries the largest yearly salary in team history and retaining the team’s 11 first-round picks over the next seven years. Rose also touted the free agency addition of Jalen Brunson, who is being counted on to solve a long-standing problem at point guard.
“He fills one of the biggest voids that we have. The starting point guard,” Rose said. “That is such an important role on our team. We needed that person that was going stabilize us.”
There’s more from New York:
- Even though he got his extension, Barrett was treated poorly by the Knicks this summer, Bondy contends in a separate story. Barrett had to listen to weeks of rumors that he was headed to Utah as part of the package for Mitchell, and Bondy called the eventual extension announcement “sloppy” because it was tweeted by the team shortly after news broke that Mitchell was headed to Cleveland. The Knicks also didn’t have a press conference to celebrate Barrett’s extension because of Dolan’s media blackout.
- Coach Tom Thibodeau may start to feel some heat if the Knicks get off to a bad start, Bondy adds. Thibodeau was criticized last year for not trusting his young players, and he may become an easy scapegoat for management.
- Zach Braziller of The New York Post (subscription required) grades the Knicks’ offseason moves, giving high marks to the addition of Brunson (B+) and the signing of backup center Isaiah Hartenstein (A-). He was less enthusiastic about the decision to hang onto draft assets instead of cashing them in for Mitchell (C+) and cites the risks of giving $60MM over four years to Robinson considering his injury history (C-).
- The Knicks‘ training camp roster is likely set after some recent adjustments, Zach Braziller of the New York Post writes. New York waived M.J. Walker and Quinton Rose (Exhibit 10 deals) on Friday, signing Nuni Omot and Garrison Brooks in their place. The team also signed veterans Svi Mykhailiuk, Ryan Arcidiacono and DaQuan Jeffries. It has 20 players under contract, including two-way players Feron Hunt and Trevor Keels.
The Knicks have officially added former Baylor forward Nuni Omot to their training camp roster, the team announced today in a press release. New York now has a full 20-man roster.
Omot, who went undrafted in 2018, has bounced around since then, playing for teams in North Macedonia, the Netherlands, Turkey, Poland, Germany, Puerto Rico, and the G League. Last season, he averaged 15.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG, and 2.3 APG in 27 games (20.1 MPG) for Leones de Ponce in Puerto Rico.
While the Knicks only have 13 players on fully guaranteed contracts and could have a regular season roster spot or two up for grabs, they likely view Omot as a player who will eventually suit up for their G League affiliate, the Westchester Knicks.
Assuming Omot signed an Exhibit 10 deal, which is likely, he’ll be eligible for a bonus worth up to $50K if he spends at least 60 days with Westchester after being waived by the NBA club.
SEPTEMBER 23: Nearly three months after his agreement was first reported, Brooks has officially signed his Exhibit 10 contract with the Knicks, the team confirmed today in a press release.
Having made a couple cuts earlier today, New York now has 19 players officially under contract.
JUNE 24: Garrison Brooks, an undrafted rookie, is signing an Exhibit 10 contract with the Knicks, reports Andrew Slater of Pro Insight (via Twitter).
Brooks, who turns 23 next week, used his extra season of college eligibility to transfer to Mississippi State last season after four years with North Carolina. In 34 games (30.3 MPG) in his final season, he averaged 10.4 PPG and 6.6 RPG on .458/.342/.692 shooting.
Brooks’ best college season statistically came back in 2019/20 for the Tar Heels, when he averaged 16.8 PPG, 8.5 RPG and 2.0 APG in 32 games (34.9 MPG). He earned a spot on the All-ACC Second Team and was named the league’s Most Improved Player for his efforts.
On an Exhibit 10 contract, the Knicks could convert Brooks to a two-way contract or give him a bonus of up to $50K if he becomes an affiliate player for the Westchester Knicks, their G League team.
The Knicks have waived M.J. Walker and Quinton Rose, who were both signed earlier this week, the team announced (via Twitter).
The 24-year-old Walker played for New York’s G League affiliate in Westchester last season and made a brief NBA appearance with the Suns under the hardship exception. Rose, 24, also played for Westchester and was with the Knicks during the Las Vegas Summer League.
The expectation is that both players will return to the Knicks’ G League team in 2022/23 — having signed Exhibit 10 contracts, they’ll be in line for bonuses worth up to $50K if they spend at least 60 days with Westchester.
The moves leave New York with two openings on its offseason roster heading into the start of training camp next week.
The Knicks filled the final spot on their preseason roster by signing free agent shooting guard M.J. Walker, the team announced (via Twitter).
Walker, 24, saw limited playing time in two games last season after joining the Suns in December on a 10-day contract via the hardship exception. He spent most of the season as an affiliate player with the G League’s Westchester Knicks, averaging 10.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 26 games.
Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but Walker signed an Exhibit 10 contract with New York last summer after going undrafted out of Florida State. He appears likely to wind up with Westchester for another season.
Earlier tonight, the Knicks announced the signing of former Temple guard Quinton Rose.
Second-year guard Quentin Grimes could replace Evan Fournier in the Knicks‘ starting lineup, according to Ian Begley of SNY.tv. When New York signed Jalen Brunson this summer, there were concerns that he and Fournier might not provide enough defense as a backcourt combination.
Begley states that starting Grimes as the shooting guard and having Fournier come off the bench was among several scenarios discussed by Knicks management this summer. Another option the team considered is moving RJ Barrett into the backcourt and giving Cam Reddish a chance to start at small forward.
Although Fournier would be an expensive reserve, Begley doesn’t believe New York should try to trade him. Begley notes that the Knicks need all the shooters they can get, which is why they signed Svi Mykhailiuk earlier this week.
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- Members of the Knicks‘ coaching staff believe Obi Toppin could see an increased role, Begley adds in the same piece. Toppin showed progress during his second NBA season and could become a starter if New York finds a taker for Julius Randle.
- Despite some speculation to the contrary, Jay King of the Athletic hears that the Celtics don’t plan to reach out to a veteran big man to help replace Robert Williams (Twitter link). Sources tell King that the roster spot that formerly belonged to Bruno Caboclo will likely go to another young center or power forward. Williams will undergo arthroscopic surgery and is projected to miss four to six weeks.
- Surgeries for both Williams and Danilo Gallinari have been scheduled for Thursday, tweets Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens called Williams’ injury “short term.”
- T.J. Warren could be the Nets‘ leading scorer off the bench if he can overcome the foot problems that have plagued him for the past two seasons, Alex Schiffer of The Athletic writes in an overview of Brooklyn’s roster. Warren averaged 19.8 points per game and shot 40.3% from three-point range during his last healthy season. Schiffer believes the team is strong everywhere but center, and he points to Dwight Howard as a potential low-cost addition who could provide experience in the middle.
Free agent guard Quinton Rose has signed with the Knicks, the team announced (via Twitter).
Rose played for New York’s G League affiliate in Westchester last season, averaging 7.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 31 games. He also appeared in three games for the Knicks’ entry in the Las Vegas Summer League.
The 24-year-old went undrafted out of Temple in 2020 and was briefly with the Kings that year on an Exhibit 10 contract. He spent four seasons in college and was twice named to the All-AAC’s Second Team.
Terms of the deal weren’t released, but it’s likely a non-guaranteed training camp contract that carries another Exhibit 10 clause. The signing brings the Knicks to 19 players, one short of the limit, with the start of training camp less than a week away.
- Ryan Arcidiacono’s contract with the Knicks is a standard, non-guaranteed minimum for one year, and doesn’t include an Exhibit 10 clause, Fred Katz of The Athletic tweets. The Knicks signed the 28-year-old guard on Saturday. He appeared in 10 games with the Knicks last season.