Category: New York Knicks Blog

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Knicks sign Jared Harper to two-way contract

The New York Knicks yesterday signed guard Jared Harper to a two-way contract.

Listed at 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, Harper was a two-way player for the Suns last season. He played sparingly for the Suns, appearing in three games, but in the G League for Northern Arizona he averaged 20.8 points (16th in G League), 5.7 assists and 2.8 rebounds over 29.8 minutes over the course of 33 games.

The Suns originally signed Harper to a two-way contract on July 18, 2019 after he undrafted out of Auburn University.

During his junior and final season at Auburn, Harper was chosen as the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional Most Outstanding Player after averaging 17.5 points, 6.5 assists and 1.5 rebounds in the school’s run to the 2019 NCAA Final Four.

Cavs sign former Knicks guard Damyean Dotson

Former Knicks guard guard Damyean Dotson has found a new home.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed Dotson today, to a multi-year contract.

Per multiple reports, Dotson’s Cavs contract is a two-year deal for around $4 million.

Dotson, listed at 6-foot-5, 205 lbs., played in 48 games for the Knicks last season, averaging 6.7 points and 1.9 rebounds in 17.4 minutes. He hit .362% from three-point range, and scored double-digits 13 times, including a season-high 21 points (7-10 FG, 4-7 3FG) against Toronto on January 24th.

In his first three NBA seasons, all with New York, Dotson appeared in 165 games (42 starts), for a career average of 7.8 points and 2.6 rebounds in 20.1 minutes per game.

The Houston, Texas native was the 44th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft from the University of Houston.

Knicks staff hirings announced, including Darren Erman as assistant coach

The New York Knicks announced today the following staff hirings: Darren Erman, assistant coach; Aaron Brooks, two-way liaison; Larry Greer, advance scout/assistant coach; Richard Williams, strength and conditioning coach; Reggie Johnson and TJ Zanin, scouts; and Ike Azotam, Christopher Santo and Gabriel Snider, assistant video coordinators.

Erman joins the Knicks as an assistant coach having served as Head Coach of the Maine Red Claws, the NBA G-League team affiliate of the Boston Celtics since 2019. The Red Claws finished third in the Eastern Conference with a 28-14 record, an increase of 19 wins from the previous season. He previously served as an assistant coach for the New Orleans Pelicans (2015-18), Boston Celtics (2007-10, 2014-15) and Golden State Warriors (2010-14). During his time as an NBA assistant, he helped guide the Pelicans in 2017-18 to a 48-34 record, which was the franchise’s most wins since the 2008-09 season. This resulted in a trip to the Conference Semifinals. During his first stint in Boston, he worked alongside fellow assistant coach Tom Thibodeau and helped guide the Celtics to the 2008 NBA Championship, their first championship since 1986. In Golden State, he helped snap the Warriors five-year playoff drought, achieving their first 50-win season since 1993-94. Prior to coaching Maine, he also served as the Celtics Director of Scouting for the 2014-15 season. He began his coaching career at St. Anthony High School as an assistant coach (2003-05) and then at NCAA Division III Brandeis University as an assistant coach (2005-07). Erman attended Emory University where he was a student coach, graduating in 1997.

Brooks joins the Knicks after recently playing in Australia with the Illawarra Hawks in 2019. He played 10 seasons in the NBA, averaging 9.7 points and three assists over 20.8 minutes in 645 games (183 starts) for Houston, Phoenix, Sacramento, Denver, Chicago, Indiana and Minnesota. He played for Tom Thibodeau in Chicago during the 2014-15 season and in Minnesota during the 2017-18 season. Originally selected 26th overall by Houston in the 2007 NBA Draft, he was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2009-10 after averaging a career best 19.6 points, 5.3 assists and 2.6 rebounds over 35.6 minutes in 82 games (all starts). He played collegiately at the University of Oregon for four seasons.

Greer joins the Knicks with over three decades of coaching and scouting experience. He most recently spent one year with the Phoenix Suns as an assistant coach (2019-20). Prior to Phoenix, he spent two years with the Minnesota Timberwolves working under Tom Thibodeau, first as an advance scout (2017-18) and then as an assistant coach (2018-19). Previously, he worked for the Houston Rockets as an advance scout (2005-07) and for the Portland Trail Blazers as an advance scout (2007-10) and assistant coach (2010-12). In between stints with the Suns and the Timberwolves, Greer was an assistant coach at Arizona State University (2012-15) where he helped lead the Sun Devils to consecutive 20-plus win seasons as well as a 2014 NCAA tournament appearance. He started his coaching career as an assistant coach for Brandeis University (1989-1992) before coaching at Boston University (1994-95, 2002-03) and Wright State (2003-05).

Williams joins the Knicks from the Houston Rockets where he spent three seasons as the teams’ Sports Performance Enhancement Specialist (2017-2020). Prior to Houston, Williams spent 13 years with the Los Angeles Clippers (2004-2017) as Head Strength and Conditioning Coach. He started his career with the Denver Nuggets in 2002 as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach after graduating from Western State College of Colorado with a degree in Kinesiology/Health Promotion and Wellness.

Johnson joins the Knicks after 25 years with the Dallas Mavericks where he started as a merchandising coordinator before moving into the role of video coordinator from 1997-2004. For the last 16 years, Johnson has worked with the Mavericks as an advance scout. He graduated from Southwest Baptist University in 1992, where he played football and was a two-time member of the All-MIAA conference team.

Zanin joins the Knicks after spending two seasons as the Director of College Scouting for the Charlotte Hornets. Previously, he served as a scout for the Charlotte Hornets (2015-17), Brooklyn Nets (2013-15), Los Angeles Clippers (2010-13) and Philadelphia 76ers (2005-2010). Zanin began his NBA career with the Memphis Grizzlies, spending three seasons with the team as a video coordinator (2001-05). From 2009-15, Zanin helped guide Team USA to three gold medals during his tenure as scout for USA Basketball. Prior to his time with Team USA, he was a scout for the Chinese National Basketball Team for two years (2006-08), during which China finished within the top eight at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the best in the country’s history. He graduated from West Chester University in 1998 with a degree in business management.

Timberwolves trade Jacob Evans, Omari Spellman and a draft pick to Knicks for Ed Davis

The Minnesota Timberwolves have acquired Ed Davis in a trade with the New York Knicks for Jacob Evans III, Omari Spellman and the Timberwolves’ 2026 Second Round Pick.

Davis, 31, has appeared in 668 regular season games (96 starts) in 10 NBA seasons with Toronto, Memphis, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland, Brooklyn and Utah averaging 6.3 points and 6.6 rebounds. The 6-9 forward played in 28 games with the Utah Jazz last season, averaging 1.8 points and 3.8 rebounds. He saw his best season come with the Brooklyn Nets during the 2018-19 season, in which he saw action in 81 games while averaging 5.8 points on a career-best 61.6% shooting and a career-high 8.6 rebounds per game. The North Carolina product was drafted by the Toronto Raptors in the first round (13th overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft.

Evans, 6-4, 210-pounds, averaged 4.4 points and 1.4 rebounds over 14.4 minutes in 29 games (one start) for Golden State and Minnesota last season. Originally selected with the 28th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft out of the University of Cincinnati, Evans holds career averages of 2.8 points and 1.1 rebounds over 10.5 minutes in 59 games (two starts).

Spellman, 6-8, 245-pounds, averaged 7.6 points and 4.5 rebounds over 18.1 minutes in 49 games (three starts) last season with the Golden State Warriors. The Cleveland, OH-native was traded by Golden State to Minnesota on Feb. 6, 2020 where he spent the remainder of the season with the Iowa Wolves, the NBA G League affiliate of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Originally selected with the 30th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft out of Villanova University, Spellman holds career averages of 6.8 points and 4.3 rebounds over 17.8 minutes in 95 games (14 starts). The 2017-18 Big East Rookie of the Year, he helped lead the Wildcats to the 2018 NCAA Championship in his only season averaging 10.9 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.48 blocks over 40 games (39 starts).

Knicks sign first round draft pick Obi Toppin

The New York Knicks have signed forward Obi Toppin, the team’s first-round 2020 NBA Draft selection, to his rookie contract.

Toppin, 22, was selected on November 18 by the Knicks with the eighth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft out of the University of Dayton. At college, the 6-9, 220-pound forward averaged 20.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.23 blocks over 31.6 minutes in 31 games during his sophomore season en route to consensus All-America First Team honors and the 2019-20 Naismith Trophy, awarded to the National Player of the Year. Toppin was the first consensus All-American in Dayton’s history.

The Brooklyn, New York-native was the only player in the nation to average 20.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and shoot over 60% from the field. He had the best field goal percentage in the last five years of any Division I player who averaged at least 20.0 points per game. The 2019-20 John R. Wooden Award winner helped lead the University of Dayton to 29-wins in the regular season, the most in school history.

Jazz trade Ed Davis to Knicks

The Utah Jazz have acquired cash considerations in a trade with the New York Knicks, in exchange for forward/center Ed Davis and two future second round picks.

Per multiple reports, the Knicks will soon trade Davis to the Timberwolves.

Davis (6-9, 218, North Carolina) appeared in 28 games (one start) with the Jazz in 2019-20, averaging 1.8 points and 3.8 rebounds in 10.8 minutes per game.

Knicks sign Alec Burks

The New York Knicks have signed guard Alec Burks.

Per the New York Post, the contract is “a one-year, $6 million deal, according to a source.”

Burks (6-6, 214-pounds), who is entering his 10th NBA season, averaged a career high 15.0 points to go along with 4.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists over 66 games (19 starts) with the Golden State Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers last season. He’s connected on 38.5-percent of his three-point attempts and made a career best 116 three-pointers last season. Burks scored in double figures in 50 of his 66 games, including 16 20-point games and two 30-point performances. He finished 11th in the NBA in free-throw percentage, at 88.7 percent. Originally selected by Utah with the 12th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, Burks holds career averages of 10.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 21.8 minutes over 495 games (86 starts) with Philadelphia, Golden State, Cleveland, Sacramento and Utah.

More from the Post: “The Knicks entered free agency trying to bolster their 3-point shooting and Burks helps — even if he comes off the bench.”

The Grandview, MO-native spent two collegiate seasons at Colorado University, where he earned significant recognition, including being named the 2009-10 Big 12 Rookie of the Year. Burks was also one of two unanimous selections for the first-team all-Big 12 for his 2010-11 sophomore season, during which he led his team in scoring at 20.5 points.

Knicks and Nerlens Noel agree to a contract

The Knicks haven’t added stars this free agency, but they’ve been filling out their supporting cast. Via the New York Post:

Nerlens Noel agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal to join the Knicks, ESPN reported, providing depth at center behind Mitchell Robinson.

The 6-foot-10 Noel, the No. 6 overall pick by the 76ers in 2013, spent last season with the Thunder, averaging 7.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while offering a defensive presence.

Knicks and Elfrid Payton agree to contract

The Knicks and Elfrid Payton said their goodbyes, then quickly said “just kidding.” Here’s the New York Post:

After waving him on Thursday, the Knicks are set to re-sign Payton on a one-year, $5 million deal to fill the team’s hole at point guard, The Post’s Marc Berman confirmed.

Payton becomes the Knicks’ second signing since free agency began, joining swingman Alec Burks, who agreed to a one-year, $6 million deal on Friday night.

Last year, after signing a two-year, $16 million deal to join the Knicks, Payton started 36 games and averaged 10 points, 7.2 assists and 4.7 rebounds.

Heat and Moe Harkless reportedly agree to a contract

Forward Maurice Harkless spent time on the Clippers then Knicks last season, for a combined season average of 5.8 points and 3.9 rebounds in 23.0 minutes per game. He’ll reportedly be leaving New York as a free agent and heading to Miami to join a Heat squad that just clawed their way straight to the 2020 NBA Finals, where they lost in six games to the Lakers. Via the Miami Herald:

The Heat is expected to use its entire biannual exception to sign Harkless to a one-year, $3.6 million deal.

After guard Goran Dragic and center Meyers Leonard agreed to return to the Heat in the opening minutes of free agent negotiations Friday night, Miami added outside help with Harkless’ commitment on Saturday.

Harkless, 27, split last season between the Los Angeles Clippers and the New York Knicks. He averaged 5.8 points while shooting 50.2 percent from the field and 34.7 percent on threes, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists last season.