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Knicks Waive Troy Williams

July 16th, 2018 at 12:20pm CST by Luke Adams

The Knicks have released small forward Troy Williams, the team announced today (via Twitter). The move reduces New York’s roster count to 15 players on NBA contracts, plus a pair on two-way contracts.

Williams, who previously played for the Grizzlies and Rockets, signed two 10-day contracts with the Knicks following last season’s All-Star break and made a good impression, earning a rest-of-year deal. The 23-year-old’s contract agreement included a non-guaranteed salary for 2018/19 — the Knicks won’t be on the hook for any of that $1,544,951 figure.

In 17 games for the Knicks last season, Williams averaged 7.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and 1.1 SPG, with a .490/.333/.704 shooting line. His non-guaranteed salary and the offseason additions of Mario Hezonja and Kevin Knox made Williams expendable.

Williams will clear waivers and become a free agent on Wednesday, assuming he goes unclaimed. It’s possible some team will place a claim, since no cap room or trade exception is required to absorb Williams’ minimum-salary contract.

Knicks’ Troy Williams Fractures Jaw, Out For Season

April 2nd, 2018 at 10:52am CST by Luke Adams

Knicks swingman Troy Williams has sustained a fractured jaw and will be sidelined for the rest of the 2017/18 season, the team announced today (via Twitter). Williams suffered the injury against the Pistons on Saturday.

Williams, who began his career with the Grizzlies in 2016/17, has bounced around the league since then, joining the Rockets for parts of the last two seasons before signing a 10-day contract with the Knicks this February. Williams parlayed that deal into a second 10-day pact, then signed a rest-of-season contract with New York that includes a partially guaranteed salary for 2018/19.

Williams has played some of the best ball of his young NBA career in 17 games with the Knicks, averaging 7.5 PPG and 3.5 RPG with a .490/.333/.704 shooting line. He had been spending most of his time at small forward in New York, so his injury should open the door for the likes of Lance Thomas and Damyean Dotson to pick up some extra minutes down the stretch.

Although it remains to be seen whether he’ll still be on the Knicks’ roster in the fall, Williams should be recovered from his jaw injury well before the 2018/19 season gets underway.

Knicks Sign Troy Williams To Two-Year Deal

March 13th, 2018 at 3:52pm CST by Luke Adams

MARCH 13: The Knicks have officially re-signed Williams, the team confirmed in a press release.

MARCH 12: The Knicks will keep Troy Williams on their roster after his second 10-day contract expires tonight, league sources tell Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports. According to Charania, the Knicks and Williams have agreed to a two-year deal that will cover the rest of this season and will include partial guarantees for 2018/19.

While the exact salary terms weren’t reported, it figures to be a minimum salary contract — the Knicks used up their cap space and their room exception, so they can’t offer anything besides the minimum at this point. Michael Scotto of The Athletic also notes (via Twitter) that Williams’ new deal includes trigger dates, which means that – if they so choose – the Knicks should have a chance to waive him before various offseason deadlines without carrying much dead money on their ’18/19 cap.

Williams, 23, spent most of this season with the Rockets, but was waived after February’s trade deadline when Houston needed to open up a roster spot for Joe Johnson. Williams quickly caught on with the Knicks and has now spent 20 days with the team, averaging 8.1 PPG and 2.9 RPG in just 13.9 minutes per contest (eight games).

Teams can only sign a player to up to two 10-day contracts per season, so the Knicks would have had to part ways with Williams tomorrow if they didn’t work out a guaranteed deal with him. Because Williams is currently filling New York’s 15th roster spot, the club won’t be able to sign anyone else to a 10-day contract this season unless another player with a guaranteed salary is waived.

Knicks Notes: Williams, Jack, Dotson, Porzingis

March 3rd, 2018 at 7:59pm CST by Arthur Hill

Troy Williams, who was given a second 10-day contract by the Knicks earlier today, might have an expanded role as the team focuses on youth for the rest of the season, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post. Williams has been productive in his first four games with New York, averaging 8.0 points and 2.5 rebounds, including an 11-point performance Friday against the Clippers.

“I will say he’s played well for us,’’ coach Jeff Hornacek said. “It’s that activity. His athleticism. I think length, he covers ground.”

Williams will have another week and a half to audition for a contract that covers the rest of the season or maybe longer. He described his first 10-day deal with the Rockets last season as “nerve-wracking,” but wasn’t as concerned about being re-signed this time around.

There’s more news tonight out of New York:

Jarrett Jack may have already played his final game for the Knicks, but Hornacek sees a future for him after his playing days are over, Berman relays in a separate story. Jack’s agent wasn’t able to find an interested playoff team for a possible buyout before Thursday’s deadline to be eligible for the postseason with another organization. After starting 56 games, Jack has become a victim of the youth movement, but he may have a future in coaching. “Whatever I’m going to do after basketball is whatever I’m passionate about,” Jack said. “Basketball is one of those passions. I know coaching and coming up with strategies and doing this day to day, it’s a lot more difficult than people think. If I was able to get in that line of work and I was passionate about it and learned the craft and was confident with it, I would probably give it a shot.”
Frank Ntilikina‘s increased playing time at shooting guard has caused several teams to identify rookie Damyean Dotson as a possible trade target, tweets Ian Begley of ESPN. A second-round pick last summer, Dotson has appeared in just 30 games and c ould be stuck behind Tim Hardaway Jr. and Ntilikina on the long-range depth chart.
Clippers coach Doc Rivers believes Kristaps Porzingis‘ ACL injury will affect the Knicks on the free agent market, writes Al Iannazzone of Newsday. Porzingis is projected to be sidelined through December, which could make players think twice about coming to New York this summer. “An ACL is not a death sentence anymore,” Rivers said. “Most guys come back and they’re healthy and they’re fine. But he was having an All-Star season. He’s also a guy that I don’t know if you want to call him a pied piper but he brings other people. The better he plays the more people want to play with him. Not having him and not knowing when he’ll be back that hurts more than just this year. To me that’s where that injury hurts them the most.”

Knicks Sign Troy Williams To Second 10-Day Deal

March 3rd, 2018 at 12:37pm CST by clarkcrum

The Knicks have signed swingman Troy Williams to a second 10-day contract, per the team’s official public relations twitter page.

After beginning his rookie year in Memphis a season ago, Williams, 23, caught on with the Rockets at the end of the 2017/18 season and was able to parlay his performance into a three-year contract worth $1.9MM in guaranteed money, but was released earlier this year in order to make room on Houston’s roster for Joe Johnson.

He averaged 12.5 minutes, 8.0 points and 2.5 rebounds per game in four games during his first 10-day stint in New York, and holds career averages of 5.8 PPG and 2.2 RPG.

Knicks Notes: Burke, Williams, Noah, Kanter

February 25th, 2018 at 9:17am CST by Arthur Hill

Knicks guard Trey Burke is crediting renewed religious faith not only for his improved play, but for the path that led him to New York, writes Ian Begley of ESPN. Burke, who scored 26 points for the second straight game Saturday, said he had an offer from the Thunder this summer, but opted for a G League contract with the Knicks’ Westchester affiliate.

“I bumped heads with my agent this summer because he didn’t understand [the decision to sign a G-League deal with the Knicks],” Burke recalled. “He pretty much called me and said, ‘OKC tomorrow for training camp. I’m going to call them back right now and say yeah, right?’ I said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Why?’ I said, ‘I want to go to New York. And I wanted to do that for the Lord. … I wanted to come to New York because I feel like this is a city where I can help a lot of people.”

His spiritual commitment also led Burke to make lifestyle changes that he says have helped him on the court. He got married over the summer, cut out frequent partying and has become more focused on basketball than ever before. He has a minimum-salary contract for next year with a $100K guarantee effective July 10 and a $400K guarantee on the first day of the season.

There’s more this morning out of New York:

Troy Williams is doing his best to make the Knicks want to keep him on their roster, notes Marc Berman of The New York Post. Signed Wednesday to a 10-day contract, Williams had 14 points in 12 minutes Saturday. Williams said seven teams contacted his agent after he was waived by the Rockets last week, and the final choice came down to the Knicks or Trail Blazers.
As Joakim Noah‘s leave of absence drags on, a former college teammate is coming to his defense, according to Zach Braziller of The New York Post. Celtics big man Al Horford hasn’t lost faith in Noah, who has played just seven games this season and hasn’t been with the team since an altercation with coach Jeff Hornacek at a January 24 practice. “I think Joakim can help any team,” Horford said. “I know he’s had a rough patch with injuries and things like that, but when he’s healthy, he’s as good as they come. And just his presence on a team, and what he brings defensively, he’s just about the right things.”
Enes Kanter hasn’t decided whether to exercise his option on an $18.6MM salary for next season, but he repeated his desire to stay in New York after Saturday’s game, relays Al Iannazzone of Newsday. The seventh-year center is averaging 14.2 points and 10.7 rebounds in his first season with the Knicks. “I’m not saying I’m opting in or opting out,” Kanter said. “I’m going to focus on this season, finish this season. I don’t even have an agent yet. I’ll get an agent first and talk to him about [it]. My thing right now it would be selfish for me to just say I’ll do this, I’ll do that. I’m going to finish this season right, have fun with my teammates and start thinking about the contract stuff.”

Knicks Notes: Mudiay, Ntilikina, Williams, Draft

February 21st, 2018 at 5:08pm CST by Arthur Hill

It looks like the Knicks will have a new starting point guard when the season resumes Thursday, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News. Emmanuel Mudiay, acquired from the Nuggets in a three-team deal at the deadline, appears ready to take the place of veteran Jarrett Jack, who has started 56 games this season.

“Definitely means something to me. I’m not going to take it for granted,” said Mudiay, who has been practicing with the Knicks’ starters. “I came in as a lottery pick so I was kind of handed the spot and stuff like that. So the fact that I’m in that position again, it’s a blessing. Thank God for it. I just have to take full advantage.”

New York’s front office has ordered coach Jeff Hornacek to give more minutes to young players for the rest of the season, Bondy adds. The coach has already made the decision to remove Jack from the starting lineup and has talked to the 34-year-old about cutting his playing time. Jack will be a free agent this summer.

There’s more news out of New York:

The Knicks were grooming rookie Frank Ntilikina to be the starting point guard going into January, but a decline in his performance and the acquisitions of Mudiay and Trey Burke changed those plans, Bondy adds in the same story. Ntilikina will still see increased playing time, but it may come at the two-guard spot. “I think he hit a little bit of a wall. The energy, and his knee [was hurting],” Hornacek said. “Hey, these kids come from another country. Now, all of a sudden, they’re having to travel every other day, play in games, and do all this stuff and he just looked exhausted at some times.”
Troy Williams, who signed a 10-day contract with the Knicks this morning, is looking forward to the opportunity, tweets Ian Begley of ESPN. “Great opportunity, great fit,” Williams said. “Their interest level here was a little bit higher than everybody else’s.” Williams, who was waived by the Rockets last week, will concentrate on what he needs to do to extend his stay in New York beyond 10 days, adding, “Right now my main role is just being an extra athletic guy, run the court and defend.”
Begley examines the most important questions surrounding the Knicks for the rest of this season and beyond in an ESPN story. Topics include the future of Hornacek, who has one year left on his contract, how Kristaps Porzingis‘ injury will affect the team in free agency and the Knicks’ plans for the draft, where they reportedly like Michigan State’s Miles Bridges and Villanova’s Mikal Bridges if they stay in the middle part of the lottery.

Knicks Sign Troy Williams To 10-Day Contract

February 21st, 2018 at 8:52am CST by Dana Gauruder

FEBRUARY 21: Williams’ 10-day deal with the Knicks is now official, according to the team (Twitter link). The contract will run through March 2, giving Williams four games with the Knicks.

FEBRUARY 19: Forward Troy Williams will sign a 10-day contract with the Knicks, a source tells Michael Scotto of The Athletic (Twitter link). Williams chose New York among several suitors for his services, per Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link).

ESPN’s Ian Begley reported earlier in the evening that the Knicks were interested in Williams, who was cut loose by the Rockets last week.

New York has an open roster spot, so it can add Williams without cutting another player loose. Houston placed Williams on waivers when it decided to add veteran swingman Joe Johnson. Williams officially became a free agent on Friday.

Williams, 23, began his NBA career with the Grizzlies last season before being waived a little over a year ago. The 6’7” forward finished the 2016/17 campaign with the Rockets, then signed a new three-year contract with Houston but only the first year was fully guaranteed.

In 34 total NBA games, Williams has averaged 5.6 PPG and 2.1 RPG.

Knicks Interested In Signing Troy Williams

February 19th, 2018 at 6:41pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Knicks are interested in signing forward Troy Williams, Ian Begley of ESPN tweets. They are one of several teams looking at the former Rockets forward and he’s expected to make a decision soon, Begley adds.

New York has an open roster spot, so it wouldn’t have to shed a contract to add Williams. He was the odd man out when Houston decided to add veteran swingman Joe Johnson during its stretch run.

Williams, 23, began his NBA career with the Grizzlies last season before being waived a little over a year ago. The 6’7” forward finished the 2016/17 campaign with the Rockets, then signed a new three-year contract with Houston but only the first year was fully guaranteed.

In 34 total NBA games, Williams has averaged 5.6 PPG and 2.1 RPG. He was placed on waivers on February 14th and officially became a free agent on February 16th, according to RealGM.com’s transactions list.

Rockets Waive Troy Williams

February 14th, 2018 at 4:03pm CST by Luke Adams

4:03pm: The Rockets have officially placed Williams on waivers, Charania confirms (via Twitter).

3:34pm: With Joe Johnson‘s signing imminent, the Rockets need to waive a player to open up a roster spot. According to Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle, that means the club’s on-again, off-again plans to release Troy Williams are once again back on.

Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports reported on Tuesday morning that the Rockets intended to waive Williams to create the roster spot necessary to sign Johnson. Several hours later, however, Charania indicated that Houston’s plans had changed, and the team was keeping Williams as it continued to work through that roster decision.

Having debated that decision, the Rockets have now apparently returned to their original conclusion. Feigen reports that the team will finalize Johnson’s signing today, making him available for tonight’s game against the Kings. That means that Williams will have to be cut today as well, so his apparent second life in Houston lasted just 24 hours.

Williams, 23, began his NBA career with the Grizzlies last season before being waived a little over a year ago. The former Hoosier finished the 2016/17 campaign with the Rockets, then signed a new three-year contract with Houston during the offseason. However, only the first year of that deal was fully guaranteed, which made him a candidate to be cut this week when the team needed to open up a spot on its roster.

In 34 total NBA games, Williams has averaged 5.6 PPG and 2.1 RPG. He’s expected to receive interest as a free agent, according to Charania. If Williams goes unclaimed on waivers, Houston would still owe him the rest of his minimum salary for this season, along with about $614K in guaranteed money for 2018/19, according to Basketball Insiders’ data. The Rockets would have the option of spreading that ’18/19 cap charge across three seasons.

Assuming the Rockets finalize Williams’ release, it should mean that the roster spots for players like Chinanu Onuaku, Gerald Green, and Tarik Black are safe.