Memphis shooting guard Luke Kennard and Detroit point guard Dennis Schröder are among the targets the Knicks could pursue in free agency, according to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. Those are probably the best-case scenarios for New York given its limited resources, and there should be league-wide demand for both players, so the team may have to consider other options.
As Edwards explains, assuming they pick up Ariel Hukporti‘s $1.96MM option and decline a $3.5MM option on P.J. Tucker, the Knicks will have 10 players under contract with a total payroll of $196.3MM, which is already above the first apron and a little more than $10MM away from the second apron.
That leaves New York with the $5.7MM taxpayer mid-level exception and minimum-salary contracts to fill out the roster, possibly along with second-round pick Mohamed Diawara.
Other free agents Edwards mentions as MLE possibilities are Cleveland guard Ty Jerome, Phoenix guard Tyus Jones and former Orlando guard Gary Harris. He adds that Knicks free agents Landry Shamet and Delon Wright could return on minimum salaries and points to Charlotte guard Seth Curry and Indiana center Thomas Bryant as other potential minimum-salary additions.
There’s more from New York:
- The Knicks haven’t decided if Diawara, a 20-year-old French power forward, will be with the team next season or if he’ll be stashed overseas, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. A league source tells Bondy that the Frenchman is expected to play in the Las Vegas Summer League next month. Diawara didn’t put up great numbers in France this season, but Bondy notes that the Knicks are intrigued by his athleticism and his 7’4″ wingspan. Bondy also hears that New York attempted to trade up for the top pick in the second round to grab St. Joseph’s forward Rasheer Fleming, who went to Phoenix instead.
- Pelicans associate head coach James Borrego‘s interview for the Knicks’ coaching vacancy will take place this weekend, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Twitter link). He’ll be the fourth candidate to interview, joining Taylor Jenkins, Mike Brown and Micah Nori.
- Andy Miller, an NBA agent who represents several members of the Mavericks‘ coaching staff, recently criticized the Knicks for their unusual approach to their coaching search, which included asking permission to interview five head coaches who are already under contract, per Adam Zagoria of NJ.com. “I don’t really know where Jason Kidd is in his process with the Knicks,” Miller said on Sirius XM Radio, “because I don’t really know what the process is with the Knicks. … I don’t even know if the Knicks know what their process is.”
“I don’t really know where Jason Kidd is in his process with the Knicks,” Miller said on Sirius XM Radio, “because I don’t really know what the process is with the Knicks. … I don’t even know if the Knicks know what their process is.”
Sorry, Andy Miller, but the Knicks are not really obligated to clue you in to their process or how they’re going about this.
Right. Him saying “I don’t even know if the Knicks know what their process is” is silly. Why would a coaching agent be privvy to what they’re deciding? Their process has been the same since they fired Thibs: take your time, leave no stone unturned, and make the right hire. Leon Rose does not leak.
If a media person asked any of us about the Knicks coaching search process, if we were being truthful, we’d have to say we don’t know anything about their process or where it is, or what they’re doing.
Why can’t Andy Miller say the same thing?
jump shot:
But what you’re saying is not what he said. He finished up with he’s not even sure if the Knicks know their own process, which he can’t possibly know. It’s a snarky remark on his part.
Spencer Dinwiddie could be an option for the Knicks too, and perhaps the one I like the most, personally.
And they better bring back Hukporti, and get him some minutes. He needs to develop his offensive game a little and cut down on the fouls, but the dude can be a menace on the defensive end .
Yeah, and be a potential Mitchell Robinson replacement for the future.
Market Value (not real value)
Nickeil Alexander-Walke 4-year $80 mm
Luke Kennard – 2-year $24 mm
one of the best shooters of all time. I don’t know why he is afraid of shooting.
Gary Trent – 2-year $20 mm
Quentin Grimes – 4-year $70 mm
Ty Jerome. – 3-year $46 mm
can shoot and handle the ball
The Knicks Staff had high expectations far from Reality and a lot of Fans still have. Nobody will sign for half of his market value if he has Other options.
If he hast not, he might be overrated.
They can only hope some good player ends up in a Situation where alle he can get is the taxpayers midlevel
IMO I would love if Grimes came back to NY and Knicks sign Schroeder. He’s better than Payne.
From I can tell over the years, the NYK so-called “approach” (asking for permission to speak with currently employed coaches) is NOT that unusual.
What is unusual is a team’s FO letting the world know they’re doing it. Here they’ve done that almost in real time. This by a FO that has given the media nothing for 4+ years. IDK what it means, but it’s such a departure from their previous practices on such things that one has to think there is a reason.
I think we should go after Dennis Schröder. He might not be the best PG but he was definitely annoying, hit timely buckets, and provided enough rest for Cade when needed which is exactly what need a back up PG to do. For back up C,I think we should call PHO and trade for Nick Richards. He provides a lot of what Mitch brings to the table. Our starting lineup should be. Mitch KAT OG Mikal JB. Leave Josh on the bench. Hire a coach who will play 10-12 deep and we should be good.
I love Hart and he should have been the 6th man, but I guess Thibs didn’t trust Precious in the starting lineup. I still wish TJ Warren was given a chance over PJ Tucker last spring. Knicks desperately needed more offense against Pacers