Jeremy Tyler Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Knicks Sign Jeremy Tyler, Waive Chris Smith

December 31st, 2013 at 10:18am CST by Luke Adams

TUESDAY, 10:18am: The Knicks have officially signed Tyler and waived Smith, the team announced today (Twitter link).

MONDAY, 3:32pm: The Knicks have yet to officially announce any roster moves, but the team has reached a contract agreement with Tyler, tweets Begley. According to Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today (Twitter link), Tyler is expected to ink his deal tomorrow morning.

1:39pm: The Knicks have decided to release J.R. Smith‘s younger brother Chris Smith, according to Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com. The move will open up a roster spot, allowing the team to sign Jeremy Tyler. Marc Berman of the New York Post reports (via Twitter) that Tyler left the Erie BayHawks for New York yesterday, and that the details of his contract with the Knicks are being “hammered out.”

Begley and Berman had both reported earlier that Smith was a candidate to be waived as New York prepared to make room for Tyler. The move won’t save the team any money, since Smith’s non-guaranteed salary became fully guaranteed when he made the Knicks’ opening night roster. Cole Aldrich and Toure’ Murry are still on non-guaranteed deals, and could have been cut, but both players have received more minutes this season than the younger Smith, who just made his NBA debut last Wednesday. According to Begley, the team considered waiving Aldrich but ultimately decided to part ways with Smith instead.

The Knicks’ signing of Smith, and the subsequent decision to carry him on the regular season roster, raised eyebrows around the NBA, as we’ve detailed. Given the club’s limited flexibility to sign J.R. Smith to a lucrative long-term contract this summer, some rival agents viewed the two signings as a package deal, and one GM referred to Chris Smith as “maybe the worst player in the history of the Summer League,” according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.

Once the release of Smith becomes official, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the 26-year-old rejoin the Erie BayHawks, New York’s D-League affiliate.

Knicks Consider Adding Jeremy Tyler This Week

December 29th, 2013 at 8:55am CST by Chuck Myron

Knicks management has engaged in a “serious” discussion about signing Jeremy Tyler this week, when a four-day layoff in the schedule would allow the big man to get acclimated in practice, reports Marc Berman of the New York Post. The Knicks have long been expected to sign the 6’10” center at some point after waiving him during the preseason, when he was on the shelf with a stress fracture in his foot. The Knicks might also wait until January 6th, when 10-day contracts may be signed, to buy a little more time for Tyler’s foot to fully heal.

Tyler, a two-year NBA veteran, has been playing for the Knicks’ D-League affiliate, averaging 18.0 points and 10.2 rebounds in six games so far. He’s improved his efficiency over his past few outings, cutting his turnovers and raising his field goal percentage to 47.8%. The Knicks had reportedly been waiting to sign Tyler until they figured out what to do about potential trades for other players, but with owner James Dolan having told the team that no trades are forthcoming, perhaps that’s cleared the way for Tyler to come aboard. A conflicting report indicates that Knicks management is still working on trades in spite of what Dolan said, so it’s not clear if the notion of signing Tyler is still tied to trade discussions.

The Knicks would have to clear a roster spot before adding Tyler. Toure’ Murry and Cole Aldrich are on non-guaranteed contracts and have played sparingly, though Murry’s longest outing of the season came last night, and cutting Aldrich to make room for Tyler would do nothing to supplement the team’s frontcourt depth. Chris Smith‘s contract is fully guaranteed for the rookie minimum salary, but he’s played just two minutes so far this season, making him a candidate to go, Berman writes.

Signing Tyler this week would mean his contract would become fully guaranteed if the team doesn’t waive him on or before January 7th. Waiting until January 6th to sign him to a 10-day contract would mean the Knicks wouldn’t have to decide whether to pay him for the rest of the season until January 26th, since Tyler could sign a pair of 10-day deals, so such a maneuver would give the Knicks more flexibility, as Berman explains.

Knicks Still Expected To Re-Sign Jeremy Tyler

December 16th, 2013 at 5:50pm CST by Luke Adams

Tyson Chandler may make his long-awaited return on Wednesday night in Milwaukee, but Chandler isn’t the only big man expected to don a Knicks uniform again soon. New York will also likely re-add Jeremy Tyler, who is playing for the team’s D-League affiliate in Erie, reports Marc Berman of the New York Post. However, according to Berman, the team has put that signing on hold until its trade situation clears up.

Tyler, 22, was in camp with the Knicks but sustained a stress fracture and was subsequently waived so he didn’t take up a regular season roster spot. Nonetheless, New York made sure to acquire his D-League rights for the Erie Bayhawks, and are said to be “closely monitoring” his progress with the club. So far, Tyler has appeared in three games, and while his averages (17.0 PPG, 6.3 RPG) are solid, he hasn’t been overly efficient (.413 FG%, 4.3 TO).

In order to sign Tyler, the Knicks would have to clear a roster spot, either by making a trade or releasing a player. The team has been connected to Kyle Lowry, and would likely send out more players than it received in any deal for the Raptors’ point guard, which could create an opening for Tyler. Otherwise, the club would likely have to release Toure’ Murry, Cole Aldrich, or Chris Smith to sign Tyler. Murry and Aldrich are on non-guaranteed contracts, while Smith has yet to see any NBA playing time.

Odds & Ends: Rondo, Carmelo, Tyler, Ayres

December 7th, 2013 at 10:33pm CST by Chuck Myron

Rajon Rondo doesn’t put much stock in the rumor that Carmelo Anthony is trying to recruit him to the Knicks, but Anthony has been privately yearning to see Rondo in orange and blue since July, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post. The Knicks attempted to trade Iman Shumpert for Rondo, and Newsday’s Al Iannazzone thinks it’s critical that New York continue to see if it can pry the All-Star point guard away from the Celtics or make some kind of splash, lest Anthony bolt in free agency. Here’s more on the Knicks and the rest of the NBA:

Berman, in the same piece, also suggests the Knicks may look to re-sign camp invitee Jeremy Tyler in another week as he continues to round into form after a preseason injury.
Unlike some free agents who were happy to leave their former teams behind, Spurs big man Jeff Ayres told Dan McCarney of the San Antonio Express-News that he feels “no animosity” toward the Pacers and is “still really cool with all the guys on the team.”
Kendall Marshall is off to a fast start with the D-League affiliate of the Sixers, and Michael Kaskey-Blomain of the Philadelphia Inquirer thinks the big club should consider signing last year’s 13th overall pick to an NBA contract.
Doubts about the ability of Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe to play together left some executives around the league believing the Suns would trade Dragic, but early returns show the pairing has been successful, observes Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic.
Joel Embiid is developing into a potential No. 1 overall pick, tweets Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com, joining ESPN colleague Chad Ford on the Kansas center’s bandwagon.
Knee troubles have sidelined Al Harrington for a good chunk of this season, but he remains involved with the Wizards. As he tells Michael Lee of the Washington Post, Harrington can imagine himself coaching after he retires and has been acting as a de facto assistant in Washington while he recovers.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Knicks Notes: Van Gundy, Woodson, Tyler

December 4th, 2013 at 1:09pm CST by Luke Adams

We’ve already taken a look at one struggling New York team this morning, having rounded up a few Nets updates. Let’s head over to Manhattan and check in on the city’s other sub-.500 NBA franchise….

Appearing on ESPN Radio in New York today, Jeff Van Gundy dismissed speculation that he might replace Mike Woodson as the Knicks’ head coach, suggesting that the team’s problems are roster-related rather than coaching-related (all Twitter links via Frank Isola of the New York Daily News).
Jeremy Tyler has returned to action for the D-League’s Erie BayHawks and the Knicks are “closely monitoring” his progress, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post. A source tells Berman (Twitter link) that New York will likely wait at least three to five games before considering re-adding Tyler, who was in camp with the team before undergoing stress fracture surgery.
Daniel Leroux of RealGM.com examines what the Knicks’ future core might look like, particularly if the team decides Carmelo Anthony isn’t the answer as the long-term cornerstone of the roster.

Knicks Acquire D-League Rights To Jeremy Tyler

November 4th, 2013 at 5:56pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier today, the Knicks’ D-League affiliate, the Erie BayHawks, officially acquired the D-League rights to forward Jeremy Tyler in a deal with the Santa Cruz Warriors, according to Keith Schlosser of Ridiculous Upside. In exchange for the big man, Santa Cruz will receive the rights to forward Ryan Evans and a pair of D-League draft choices.

The Knicks were high on the 22-year-old for much of the offseason until an injury took him out of action. After that, the Knicks decided to give their final three roster spots to Toure Murry, Cole Aldrich, and Chris Smith, the younger brother of standout guard J.R. Smith. Tyler is still rehabbing the stress fracture in his right foot, but today’s deal will allow the Knicks to closely monitor his progress. Given their enthusiasm about the once highly-touted prospect, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Knicks sign him later on in the season.

Scott Suggs and Shane Gibson will also be sent from the Warriors’ affiliate to the Knicks’ affiliate.

Pacific Notes: Bogut, Kobe, Tyler, Suns

October 28th, 2013 at 3:55pm CST by Luke Adams

Let’s round up a few Monday items out of the Pacific Division….

Grantland’s Zach Lowe examines last Friday’s two big deals, the Wizards‘ acquisition of Marcin Gortat and the Warriors‘ extension for Andrew Bogut. In Lowe’s view, the Suns made out very well in the Gortat swap, which looks like the result of a win-now mandate for Washington. Meanwhile, Lowe considers Bogut’s deal a risky one for Golden State, but hopes it works out, since the league is better off with the former first overall pick healthy.
Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News goes in-depth on Bogut’s new contract and the Warriors‘ long-term cap situation, reporting some new details on the agreement with Bogut. According to Kawakami, there is no trade kicker included in Bogut’s extension, which features up to 15% in unlikely bonuses in each season.
In his latest piece for SBNation.com, Tom Ziller examines Jim Buss’ comments on Kobe Bryant‘s contract situation and attempts to identify Buss’ motives.
After cutting him last week, the Knicks are trying to obtain Jeremy Tyler‘s D-League rights from Golden State’s D-League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors, reports Marc Berman of the New York Post. Tyler, who is rehabbing a foot injury, is free to sign with any NBA team, but can’t join a D-League team besides Santa Cruz unless the Warriors agree to a deal to relinquish his rights.
Dionte Christmas, Ishmael Smith, and Viacheslav Kravtsov, who earned spots on the Suns‘ opening night roster, have learned not to take having an NBA job for granted, as Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic details.

Knicks Rumors: Chris Smith, Murry, Tyler

October 25th, 2013 at 8:01pm CST by Chuck Myron

Chris Smith wasn’t among the five players whom the Knicks waived today, so he’s set to remain with the team as it begins the regular season. Coach Mike Woodson has acknowledged that the presence of J.R. Smith, Smith’s brother, would help Chris make the opening-night roster, and while Smith agrees, he feels he would be on the roster regardless of whether his brother were there.

“Did it help me? Of course,” Chris said to reporters, including Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com, about the family connection (Twitter link). Still, he added that, “I feel like I earned my position on the team.”

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports doesn’t buy the notion that Chris would have made the team on his own merits, arguing (on Twitter) that the deal was sealed when J.R. re-signed with the team this summer. Here’s more on the blue-and-orange, via Begley’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:

Woodson said Smith and Toure Murry will spend time on assignment to the Erie BayHawks, the D-League affiliate of the Knicks.
Woodson said the team waived Jeremy Tyler because of a need for healthy bodies. Tyler is out as he recovers from foot surgery, though Woodson added that the team will continue to keep tabs on him. The Knicks likely won’t be able to use their D-League affiliate to do so, however. The Santa Cruz Warriors own Tyler’s D-League rights since that was the last D-League team he played for, as Marc Berman of the New York Post points out on Sulia.
The Knicks kept Cole Aldrich instead of Ike Diogu because Aldrich is younger, bigger and a true center, Woodson also said.

Knicks Waive Five Players

October 25th, 2013 at 12:50pm CST by Luke Adams

12:50pm: The Knicks have officially released C.J. Leslie, Josh Powell, and Ike Diogu, as well as Chris Douglas-Roberts and Jeremy Tyler, according to the team (Twitter link). So Chris Smith, Toure Murry, and Cole Aldrich have snagged the three open roster spots.

Tyler’s deal reportedly included a $100K guarantee, so the Knicks will owe both him and Leslie some money.

12:22pm: The Knicks have also cut Leslie, according to Zwerling (via Twitter). While the move had been telegraphed over the last few days, it’s still somewhat surprising, since nearly half of the rookie’s first-year salary was guaranteed.

Zwerling adds that Aldrich appears to have locked up a roster spot, meaning Smith, Tyler, and Murry are likely vying for the final two openings.

11:16am: The Knicks have begun to trim their roster down from the 20-man preseason maximum, according to Jared Zwerling of Bleacher Report, who tweets that the club has released Josh Powell and Ike Diogu. The pair of cuts leaves New York with 18 players under contract, so three more will need to be released by Monday.

Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork, Al Iannazzone of Newsday, and Zwerling all hear that the Knicks are going young with their last few open roster spots. According to both Begley and Iannazzone (Twitter links), Toure Murry, Chris Smith, and Jeremy Tyler are likely to make the regular season roster. Presumably, that would mean that the Knicks would waive Cole Aldrich, C.J. Leslie, and Chris Douglas-Roberts, though Begley adds (via Twitter) that it’s not clear if the club will be making all its moves today.

As for Powell and Diogu, neither player appeared in an regular season NBA game in 2012/13, but they earned camp invites from the Knicks after working out for the team this fall. New York won’t be on the hook for any salary for either player, since they were on non-guaranteed contracts.

Atlantic Notes: Nets, Tyler, Smith, Sixers

October 23rd, 2013 at 7:51pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Nets look like have their opening-night roster set, with 15 fully guaranteed contracts and three players on non-guaranteed camp deals who probably won’t be sticking around. The roster isn’t likely to change much throughout the season, as Billy King told Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report earlier this week that his club won’t sign anyone, even a minimum-salary player, as a replacement should someone get hurt. Most other rosters aren’t as stable, and we’ll examine some potential changes for a pair of Brooklyn’s Atlantic Division rivals:

The Knicks are “leaning toward” keeping Jeremy Tyler‘s partially guaranteed contract, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post, who adds that the team will likely make its first cuts Thursday night. Tyler is recovering from foot surgery and might not play until late next month. “He’s still patiently going through rehab,” coach Mike Woodson said. “I don’t think we kick him to the curb. We thought so much coming out of summer league. I think at least see it through, see what he has to offer. He’s a young big. Our thought process was to try to develop him.”
Woodson admits nepotism could influence the Knicks‘ decision on whether to keep J.R. Smith‘s brother Chris Smith on the roster for opening night, but even if he makes the team, Chris Smith expects to spend much of the season on assignment to the D-League, Berman notes in the same piece.
The Sixers have 20 players on the roster and only 11 of them have fully guaranteed deals, but perhaps as few as one opening-night spot is still up in the air, coach Brett Brown said. Rodney Williams is one of five with at least a partial guarantee, and he appears still in the running to make the team, as Brown said the staff is continuing to evaluate him. Tom Moore of PhillyBurbs.com tweets the details.