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Knicks Notes: Randle, DiVincenzo, Backup Centers, Kolek

October 13th, 2024 at 11:58am CST by Arthur Hill

It has only been 11 days since the trade that sent Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota was finalized, but they’ll return to Madison Square Garden this evening when the Knicks host the Timberwolves, writes Steve Popper of Newsday. While Randle isn’t expected to play as he continues to rehabilitate his right shoulder following surgery, fans will have a chance to welcome back DiVincenzo, who had a major role in last season’s success.

“Both him and Julius contributed so much to the organization, to the team,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “So there’s great appreciation for them and what they did. So it’s part of our league and we certainly wish them well. I’ve got great respect for them. I know their teammates do. I know the organization does. I think our fans do as well. They were a big part of the winning.”

For most of the summer, it looked like Mikal Bridges was going to be the Knicks’ major offseason acquisition, adding another versatile forward to a roster that seemed ready to compete for an NBA title. That changed in late September when the opportunity arose to acquire Karl-Anthony Towns from Minnesota.

“I think the whole thing was quick and kind of unusual,” Josh Hart said. “A trade three days before training camp started, so that was already kind of weird because that weekend you’re kind of gearing up for training camp that upcoming Monday. So that was unusual and then obviously we’ve got to play them on Sunday. It’s a little unusual, but the NBA’s a crazy business.”

There’s more from New York City:

Since camp opened, the Knicks have been more focused on blocking outside distractions than talking about competing for a championship, according to Zach Braziller of The New York Post. “As much as we want to jump back into Game of 7 [of the Eastern Conference semifinals] last year and proceed to where we went, we have to start the journey all over,” Jalen Brunson said. “… Regardless of what people say, whether it’s positive or negative, we have to have mental toughness and just worry about what’s going on inside of this building, inside this organization.”
Thibodeau won’t have a regular backup for Towns when the season opens, Braziller adds. Jericho Sims, Ariel Hukporti and Precious Achiuwa may all see time in that role, and OG Anunoby could be used as a center in small-ball lineups. “Jericho’s athleticism is very different from most,” Thibodeau said. “Ariel is a young guy coming in, there’s a defensive component to him already. But he has to learn the offensive part of the game, and that’s coming. But both are very good.”
Second-round pick Tyler Kolek is averaging 13 points, three assists and two steals through his first two preseason games and he may be in contention for playing time as the season wears on, Braziller states in a separate story. “I’m still figuring it out, finding my pace,” Kolek said. “Maybe in practice I haven’t been as aggressive looking at the basket. So it’s been kind of intentional in these games to get those looks because then it opens up everything else with my passing.”

Knicks Notes: Kessler, Bridges, Roster, Rotation, Hart

October 7th, 2024 at 7:55am CST by Luke Adams

Before reaching a deal with Minnesota to acquire Karl-Anthony Towns, the Knicks made “multiple” runs at Jazz center Walker Kessler, league sources tell NBA reporter Marc Stein (Substack link).

According to Stein, the belief is that Utah sought at least two first-round picks in a deal for Kessler, who was repeatedly linked to New York earlier in the offseason. The Knicks theoretically could have met that price, but it would have cost them their last two remaining tradable first-rounders (the Pistons’ and Wizards’ protected picks). They also could have offered one or more pick swaps.

It’s unclear if the Jazz didn’t like the first-rounders the Knicks had left to trade (both could turn into second-round picks if they continue to fall in their protected range) or if New York opted against meeting Utah’s asking price.

Either way, the Knicks ended up pivoting to a bigger deal for Towns. That blockbuster involved a couple key rotation players in Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, but allowed the Knicks to keep one of their remaining tradable first-rounders — they still have the Wizards’ top-10 protected 2025 pick after sending Detroit’s first-rounder to the Timberwolves.

Here’s more on the Knicks:

Within the same Substack article, Stein confirms that Knicks forward Mikal Bridges plans to wait until after the 2024/25 season to work on a contract extension with his new team. ESPN’s Bobby Marks recently reported that Bridges would likely postpone extension talks because he can’t sign for more than $61MM over two years at this time due to extend-and-trade rules. During the 2025 offseason, he could get up to approximately $156MM over four years.
James L. Edwards III of The Athletic takes a closer look at what the Knicks’ opening night roster and fall rotation might look like, predicting that Landry Shamet and Ariel Hukporti will earn the final two spots on the “15-man” roster, which only actually has room for 14 players due to hard cap limitations. With Mitchell Robinson expected to be sidelined until at least December, Edwards anticipates that Miles McBride, Shamet, Precious Achiuwa, and Jericho Sims will be the top reserves behind the starters, with Cameron Payne as the 10th man.
As an aside, it’s worth noting that while teams are generally required to carry at least 14 players on standard contracts during the regular season, the Knicks don’t necessarily have to reach that threshold by opening night. Clubs can carry just 12 or 13 players for up to 14 days at a time and for as many as 28 total days during the season. So New York could wait until two weeks into the season to promote Hukporti (or Kevin McCullar) to a standard contract.
Knicks forward Josh Hart saw increased responsibilities on offense during the 2024 postseason due to a series of injuries affecting the roster, but with Bridges and Towns in the mix, he’s prepared to take a step back on that end of the court and let the club’s more accomplished scorers shine, as Stefan Bondy of The New York Post writes. “At the end of the day, my job isn’t to go out there and score 20. It’s not to go out there and force things offensively and try to make things happen,” Hart said. “My job is to rebound, defend at a high level, offensively kind of be a connector, get into the lane and find guys for open shots, get the rebound, push the pace and get us easy transition buckets. … At the end of the day, I don’t think any team’s won without several people sacrificing. If that’s me sacrificing points, I will gladly do that.”

Knicks Notes: Shamet, Aller, Towns, Hukporti

October 5th, 2024 at 7:41pm CST by Arthur Hill

After joining the Knicks on a non-guaranteed contract last month, Landry Shamet appears to have the inside track on a roster spot, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. The veteran guard has impressed coach Tom Thibodeau in training camp and may become a valuable member of the bench squad.

“I don’t make the final decision on that, but I’m basing it on what (Shamet’s) done on the floor. He’s really done well,” Thibodeau said. “The second unit, as I said, I’m anxious to see him as well because I’ve seen what they’ve done in practice and they’ve really done well together as a unit. So I want to see that in a game situation. But he’s done a really good job. He has really good chemistry with (Cameron Payne), and then when you put Deuce (Miles McBride) into that, they’re very fast. You can play with a lot of speed.”

Thibodeau also mentioned Precious Achiuwa and Jericho Sims as members of the second unit, and that group will likely get most of the rotation minutes off the bench.

Bondy points out that New York has two roster openings to fill, but can only afford one veteran because of apron restrictions. The other vacancy will go to one of the team’s two-way players, either Ariel Hukporti or Kevin McCullar.

There’s more on the Knicks:

Team capologist Brock Aller was the unsung hero of the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, Bondy adds in the same piece. Aller is being recognized throughout the league for his intricate maneuvering to make the Towns deal work under cap restrictions, as well as the trades that brought in Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby. “Brock has been terrific,” Thibodeau said. “It’s been great execution of a plan. It’s five years in the making. It’s accumulating the draft capital and looking at the opportunities and going step by step and figuring out the things you can do.”
Towns and Bridges are both expected to be on the court when the Knicks open the preseason Sunday night in Charlotte, according to Steve Popper of Newsday. Thibodeau plans to use all his regulars in the first game to give them a chance to get used to playing together. “I think for all of us just playing with each other these training camp days is important to the camaraderie and continuity,” Towns said. “Every single day I see ourselves making better and better plays so we’re doing a good job right now.”
In a mailbag column, Ian Begley of SNY tabs Hukporti as the two-way player most likely to be converted to a standard contract because he provides depth at center.

Knicks Notes: Sims, Hypothetical Trades, Bridges

September 24th, 2024 at 10:44pm CST by Dana Gauruder

With Mitchell Robinson sidelined for the start of the regular season, Jericho Sims will likely be in the Knicks’ rotation unless they make a trade. Sims is taking steps to earn Tom Thibodeau‘s trust and another NBA contract, according to Stefan Bondy of the New York Post.

Sims has been at the Knicks training facility since mid-August under the tutelage of assistant coach Mark Bryant, who specializes in developing frontcourt talent, Bondy writes.

Sims, who will be a free agent after the season, had a healthy and productive offseason after rehabbing the last two summers from surgeries to his thumb and shoulder. The 2021 second-round pick appeared in 45 games, including 11 starts, last season.

We have more on the Knicks:

After naming Pistons’ Isaiah Stewart as a potential trade target to fortify the middle. James Edwards III of The Athletic explores three hypothetical trades the Knicks could make, including one that sees the Knicks acquire Stewart and two future second-round picks from Detroit for Robinson, Miles McBride, and the 2025 first-round pick the Pistons already owe them. Edwards also considers what potential trade packages for Utah’s Walker Kessler and Charlotte’s Nick Richards might look like.
Mikal Bridges is surprised he’s been part of two blockbuster deals in the last two years. “I would’ve thought I was the last person to be traded all the time,” Bridges told Spencer Davies of RG.org. “It kinda started when I was in Phoenix. I thought I probably never was gonna leave Phoenix. Being the type of player I am, I feel like I’m kinda in a glue role usually a team would trade for or would trade to give up [a lot]. But once that starts, once you get traded once, now it’s like it’s gonna be continuous. But hopefully, things go great [in New York] and I don’t gotta keep moving teams.”
What does the Knicks’ roster look like heading into camp? Get the details here.

Knicks Notes: Shamet, Randle, Backup Center, Trade Targets

September 14th, 2024 at 1:34pm CST by Rory Maher

Veteran guard Landry Shamet has agreed to a one-year deal with the Knicks. The opportunity to be in a “winning environment” was a key factor in his decision to sign with New York, sources tell Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter link).

According to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (Twitter link), Shamet had two other teams vying for his services. The 27-year-old is expected to make New York’s regular season roster, Bondy adds, which suggests Shamet may have received at least a partially guaranteed contract.

If Bondy’s reporting is accurate, Shamet would be the 15th and final player on the Knicks’ standard roster, with 14 players already on guaranteed contracts. Trades could change that number, but that’s where the roster currently stands.

Both Begley and Bondy point out that Shamet played with Mikal Bridges in Phoenix. The Knicks acquired Bridges this summer in a blockbuster trade with Brooklyn.

Here’s more on the Knicks:

In a mailbag for SNY, Begley states that All-Star power forward Julius Randle is willing to take on “any role” he’s assigned this season “if it leads to winning.” Asked about the possibility of Randle playing some center in 2024/25, Begley said he isn’t sure if that will happen, but he does think a smaller lineup (Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo or Josh Hart, Bridges, OG Anunoby and Randle) would be very difficult for opposing defenses to stop.
Randle will earn $28.9MM this season and could hit free agency next summer if he declines his $30.9MM player option for ’25/26. He’s also eligible for a veteran extension. According to Begley, Randle wants to remain with the Knicks, but there hasn’t been any traction on an extension before training camp, and that seems unlikely to change before the season begins.
In the same story, Begley addresses the Knicks’ backup center situation, with Precious Achiuwa and Jericho Sims likely behind Mitchell Robinson on the depth chart. Given Robinson’s lengthy injury history (he was limited to 31 games last season and is coming off ankle surgery), the position looks a little shaky. Begley lists Nick Richards, Walker Kessler and Robert Williams as potential trade targets to monitor, and says the Knicks discussed a deal with the Hawks involving Clint Capela this offseason.

Knicks To Guarantee Jericho Sims’ Full Salary

August 16th, 2024 at 7:33pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Knicks center Jericho Sims will have his $2,092,344 salary fully guaranteed for the upcoming season, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports (Twitter link).

Friday represented the deadline for the Knicks to decide whether to fully guarantee the contract. Sims, who had a partial guarantee of $1,302,359, would have had to be waived today if New York wanted to avoid being on the hook for the rest of his salary.

Sims, a 2021 second-round pick, has appeared in 138 games during his first three NBA seasons, including 32 starts. Last season, he saw action in 45 regular-season games, including 11 starts. He averaged 2.0 points and 3.3 rebounds in 13.0 minutes per contest.

Sims projects as the Knicks’ third-string center behind starter Mitchell Robinson and primary backup Precious Achiuwa. The team lost Isaiah Hartenstein to Oklahoma City in free agency.

Sims should come into training camp in better shape than the past two years. He underwent thumb surgery two summers ago, followed by shoulder surgery last offseason.

Knicks Notes: Randle, Sims, Bryant, Okeke

August 1st, 2024 at 2:13pm CST by Rory Maher

Knicks All-Star forward Julius Randle becomes eligible on Saturday for an extension that could be worth up to $181.5MM over four years (if he declines his $30.9MM player option for 2025/26). According to Fred Katz of The Athletic, Randle will likely need to take a discount if he’s interested in long-term security.

As Katz details, New York doesn’t want to waste the financial flexibility gained by Jalen Brunson‘s recent extension. That means offering Randle a starting salary of $40.5MM in ’25/26 on a new extension probably isn’t feasible. However, if Randle picks up his ’25/26 option and then extends off that figure for ’26/27, the Knicks would be in great shape from a cap perspective going forward.

Randle could be incentivized to agree to that deal structure because not many teams project to have cap room in 2025 when he could hit free agency, Katz writes. And nearly all of those clubs are rebuilding, making signing a player who would turn 31 before the ’25/26 season begins an odd fit.

Even if an agreement isn’t reached and Randle decides to test free agency next year, Katz says the Knicks have no interest in trading the former Kentucky standout, especially if it would make them worse, since they’re trying to win a championship as soon as possible. Perhaps that could change if Randle becomes unhappy with extension talks, but there’s nothing to suggest that will happen and the Knicks value what he brings to the table and would prefer to keep him, per Katz.

Here’s more on the Knicks:

Backup center Jericho Sims has been fully healthy this summer for the first time in the past few offseasons, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. According to Bondy’s source, Sims had previously undisclosed thumb surgery two summers ago, followed by shoulder surgery last offseason. Sims, whose minimum-salary deal becomes fully guaranteed on August 16, has been working to sharpen and expand his offensive game the past few months, Bondy adds.
According to Bondy, the Knicks plan to spend part of their training camp this fall at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. The team also spent about a week training in the same location last year, Bondy notes.
In a subscriber-only story for The Post, Bondy spoke to former NBA head coach P.J. Carlesimo to get a better idea of what new assistant coach Mark Bryant will bring to the Knicks. Carlesimo coached the former longtime NBA player when he was in college at Seton Hall.
Chuma Okeke‘s new contract with the Knicks features Exhibit 10 language, Bondy reports (via Twitter). That means Okeke’s deal covers one year for the veteran’s minimum and is fully non-guaranteed. If he’s released before the season begins, Okeke would be eligible for a bonus worth up to $77.5K if agrees to join the Knicks’ NBA G League affiliate in Westchester for at least 60 days.

FA/Trade Rumors: Okoro, Pistons, Lakers, Lopez, Grant, Knicks

June 30th, 2024 at 3:41pm CST by Luke Adams

The Pistons are a rival suitor to keep an eye on for Cavaliers free agent forward Isaac Okoro, reports Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscriber link).

As Fedor explains, Okoro’s former coach J.B. Bickerstaff is being hired as the Pistons’ new head coach, and the rebuilding squad could afford to be more patient than Cleveland in developing the wing into more of a two-way threat. Additionally, Fedor cites Okoro’s “toughness, competitiveness, tenacity and defense-first credo” as important traits that would help Bickerstaff instill the kind of culture he wants in Detroit.

Okoro received a qualifying offer from the Cavaliers, making him a restricted free agent and giving Cleveland the ability to match any offer sheet he receives. Still, the Pistons will have a significant amount of cap room this summer and could make life hard on the capped-out Cavs with an aggressive offer sheet.

Here are a few more rumors from around the NBA:

The Lakers have been exploring potential trade scenarios involving D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, and Rui Hachimura, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, who hears from sources that Bucks center Brook Lopez is among L.A.’s potential targets. Meanwhile, Anthony F. Irwin of LakersDaily.com has heard the Lakers have had conversations with the Trail Blazers about forward Jerami Grant.
It was no coincidence that the Knicks signed Miles McBride to a contract extension on December 30, allowing him to become trade-eligible on June 30 following a six-month waiting period, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. However, that move was more about giving them team flexibility and was made prior to McBride’ breakout. Although New York needs to add salary to its Mikal Bridges trade with Brooklyn to avoid a hard cap at the first tax apron, the club has “virtually no interest” in moving McBride as part of that deal, says Ian Begley of SNY.tv.
The Knicks have had some discussions about trades involving big man Jericho Sims, according to Begley. Sims’ minimum-salary team option was picked up before Saturday’s deadline, so he’s on an expiring deal entering 2024/25.

Knicks Didn’t Extend Qualifying Offer To Precious Achiuwa

June 29th, 2024 at 5:04pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Knicks opted not to extend a $6.3MM qualifying offer to Precious Achiuwa, league sources tell Fred Katz of The Athletic (Twitter link). The decision means the 24-year-old big man will be unrestricted when he enters free agency on Sunday.

New York hasn’t ruled out re-signing Achiuwa, Katz adds, but the team didn’t want to risk the possibility of having him quickly accept the QO, which would have affected its hard cap situation as it tries to work out the details of the trade to acquire Mikal Bridges from Brooklyn.

The Knicks acquired Achiuwa in late December as part of the OG Anunoby deal. He wound up playing a significant role amid long-term injuries to Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson and others. Achiuwa appeared in 49 games after the trade, making 18 starts and averaging 7.6 points and 7.2 rebounds in 24.2 minutes per night.

The Knicks have picked up their $2MM team option on Jericho Sims for next season, a source tells Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (Twitter link). The backup center still only has a $651K partial guarantee on his $2.09MM salary, with trigger dates in July and August. Sims, who has spent the past three seasons with New York, will be an unrestricted free agent next summer.

The team has declined DaQuan Jeffries‘ $2.5MM option, Katz tweets. Jeffries, who saw action in 17 games, will become an unrestricted free agent on Sunday.

The Knicks extended a qualifying offer to two-way forward Jacob Toppin, making him a restricted free agent, Katz tweets. However, two-way players Duane Washington Jr. and Charlie Brown Jr. did not receive QOs (Twitter links).

Knicks Notes: Randle, Offseason Storylines, Report Card, Rose, More

May 25th, 2024 at 8:15am CST by Tristan Tucker

At the center of the Knicks‘ offseason plans is the complicated future of forward Julius Randle. On one hand, the talented forward made his third All-Star appearance in the last four seasons and helped power New York to one of the best months in franchise history during a 12-2 January. On the other, he suffered an injury at the end of January and didn’t play a single second the rest of the season as New York pushed Indiana to seven games in the conference semifinals.

As the New York Post’s Stefan Bondy writes, it isn’t impossible to come up with a theoretical trade package in the Knicks’ well-publicized pursuit of another star that precludes Randle. However, both Bondy and The Athletic’s Fred Katz note that including Randle in such talks could be New York’s best way to adding star power.

The Knicks aren’t trying to trade Randle, at least not yet, according to Katz. However, his eligibility for an extension (which begins Aug. 3) complicates factors. If the Knicks decide to go the route of maintaining continuity, Randle can sign for as much as $181.5MM across four years. Thankfully for the Knicks, Randle’s extension eligibility beginning in early August works in their favor, Katz explains — August is late enough in the offseason to recognize the team’s potential (or lack thereof) to acquire another star in 2024, but it’s also early enough to keep him available by the time the Feb. 2025 trade deadline rolls around, as players are ineligible to be traded for six months after extension.

With an expensive roster on the horizon, the Knicks have soul searching to do this offseason, Katz writes. If they feel they’re contenders in August, they’ll likely lock everyone up. If they don’t, it will accelerate the timeline of any difficult decision, assuming those decisions aren’t made even earlier this upcoming offseason.

We have more Knicks notes:

The Knicks also have a decision to make on forward Bojan Bogdanovic, who was acquired via trade at the 2024 deadline but saw his production drop upon his arrival in New York. Bogdanovic, who ended the season injured, has only $2MM guaranteed if he’s released by June 28. If he isn’t, his guarantee increases to $19MM. As Katz writes in the same piece, what New York does with Bogdanovic could be telling for the rest of the offseason. If they keep him past June 28, it could signal a trade for a star, as his mid-sized salary would be useful for matching purposes. Katz speculates the Knicks could look to try and come to an agreement with Bogdanovic and postpone his trigger date until July.
Other offseason storylines outside of OG Anunoby and Isaiah Hartenstein‘s futures include whether the Knicks should move their Nos. 24 and 25 picks in the 2024 draft and the futures of free agents Alec Burks and Precious Achiuwa. Regarding the latter point, Katz writes Burks could command more than the minimum in unrestricted free agency, which would make it difficult to justify keeping a player who had an inconsistent second tenure with the team but who caught fire to end the year. As for Achiuwa, his restricted free agency gives New York more options, such as a potential sign-and-trade to another team.
Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart had the best seasons of any Knicks players, according to Bondy in his end-of-season report card (subscriber link). Brunson’s stardom and Hart’s role as the do-it-all glue guy earned them the top spots. Jericho Sims, who didn’t play consistent minutes even after New York’s roster was banged up, earned Bondy’s lowest grade. However, Bondy reports that opposing teams have expressed interest in trading for the 25-year-old big if he becomes available.
Knicks president Leon Rose declined to hold an end-of-season press conference, according to Katz (Twitter link). Katz points out that no Knicks official has spoken to media on the record since 2021 and Rose hasn’t done an individual press conference since taking over in 2020.
After seven straight seasons of failing to reach 40 wins from 2013-20, the Knicks are a respectable and strong team in the East’s hierarchy. Howard Beck of The Ringer takes a look back at how Rose helped morph the Knicks into what they are today and how it began with not trading for Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, whose arrival might have inhibited Brunson’s ability to break out on this scale.