New York Knicks Blog – Page 32 – NBA Blog

Knicks sign Maurice Ndour

The Knicks signed forward Maurice Ndour today.

Until we hear otherwise, we will assume this is a non-guaranteed contract.

Ndour, 6-9, 200-pounds, spent this past season playing for Spanish Cup champion Real Madrid (Spain), averaging 2.1 points and 1.6 rebounds over 9.1 minutes in 18 games. He appeared in five games for New York’s Summer League entry in Las Vegas, NV last summer, averaging 9.6 points and 4.8 rebounds. He then signed with the Dallas Mavericks on July 23, 2015, and appeared in four preseason games before being waived on Oct. 26, 2015.

The Sindia, Senegal-native, appeared in 66 games (61 starts) over two seasons at Ohio University, posting 14.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.82 blocks, while being named to the All-MAC Second team in both his junior and senior seasons. Undrafted by an NBA franchise in 2015, Ndour played for Senegal’s 2015 national team. He played high school basketball in Japan.

Knicks sign Mindaugas Kuzminskas

New York Knicks President Phil Jackson announced today that the team has signed forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas.

You don’t know who he is. So, here:

Kuzminskas, 6-9, 215-pounds, has averaged 8.3 points and 2.9 rebounds in 221 career games over seven seasons with Siauliai (Lithuania), Zalgris (Lithuania) and Malaga (Spain). He is a four-time Lithuanian All-Star (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013), three-time Lithuanian National champion (2011, 2012, 2013), two-time winner of the Lithuanian National Cup (2011, 2012), two-time Baltic League champion (2011, 2012) and winner of the 2012 Lithuanian Super Cup.

The 26-year-old posted 12.0 points, on 48.6-percent shooting and 3.4 rebounds in 23 games for Malaga last season. The Vinius, Lithuania-native represented his country in the 2013 and 2015 EuroCup, winning Silver medals at both.

Knicks re-sign Lance Thomas

New York Knicks President Phil Jackson announced today that the team has re-signed forward Lance Thomas.

Thomas, 6-8, 235-pounds, provided consistent scoring off the bench for New York this past season, averaging 8.2 points over 22.3 minutes in 59 games. Although he missed 23 games due to injury, the Brooklyn, NY-native recorded career highs in points scored (484), scoring average (8.2), three-point field goals (44) and attempts (109) and free throw percentage (.857).

The Duke University graduate finished his second season with the Knicks in 2015-16, his fifth overall in the NBA (also with New Orleans and Oklahoma City), and was originally acquired as part of a three-team deal with Cleveland and Oklahoma City on Jan. 5, 2015.

Knicks sign center Marshall Plumlee

The Knicks have signed center Marshall Plumlee.

It is likely that Plumlee will play very limited minutes.

Plumlee, 7-0, 250-pounds, went undrafted by an NBA franchise after completing a four-year college career at Duke University (2012-16) with averages of 3.4 points, on 66.5-percent shooting, and 3.8 rebounds over 14.3 minutes in 124 games (36 starts). He played in 13 NCAA Tournament games and was a member of the 2015 National Championship squad. The West Lafayette, IN-native had his most productive season as a senior, averaging 8.3 points, on 68.8-percent shooting, 8.6 rebounds and 1.61 blocks over 30.5 minutes in 36 games (all starts). His 119 offensive rebounds rank sixth on Duke’s all-time single-season list. He joins his brothers – Miles and Mason – in the NBA, who currently play for Milwaukee and Portland, respectively.

In four starts for New York’s entry in the 2016 Orlando Pro Summer League, Plumlee has averaged 6.0 points and 4.8 rebounds.

Knicks sign Courtney Lee

The Knicks have signed guard Courtney Lee.

Lee’s deal is reportedly a $50 million dollar contract over four years.

They team today added center Joakim Noah and guard Brandon Jennings, and recent traded for guard Derrick Rose.

“As a coaching staff, we are all excited to fill out our roster with this caliber of player,” Head Coach Jeff Hornacek said. “We believe that the players we have will give us a good mix of versatility and flexibility on both sides of the ball. This will help us get to the level we want to achieve.”

Lee, 6-5, 200-pounds, has averaged 9.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.02 steals over 27.3 minutes in 600 career games over eight seasons with Orlando, New Jersey, Houston, Boston, Memphis and Charlotte. He has appeared in 50 career playoff games, including a trip to the 2009 NBA Finals with the Magic.

Last season, the Indianapolis, IN-native, averaged 9.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.08 steals over 79 games with the Grizzlies and Hornets. He was originally selected by Orlando with the 22nd overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, following four seasons at Western Kentucky University.

Knicks sign Brandon Jennings

The Knicks have signed guard Brandon Jennings.

Jennings’ deal is reportedly a $5 million dollar contract for one season.

Jennings, 6-1, 170-pounds, has averaged 15.5 points, 5.9 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.31 steals over 32.3 minutes in 460 career games over seven seasons with Milwaukee, Detroit and Orlando. The Compton, CA-native, was originally selected by the Bucks with the 10th overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft, following one professional season in Italy (Lottomatica Roma), after finishing his high school career at Oak Hill Academy (VA). He appeared in 48 games last season for Detroit and Orlando, averaging 6.9 points and 3.5 assists over 18.1 minutes.

Jennings was named to the 2010 NBA All-Rookie First Team after winning four Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month awards and also took home three Eastern Conference Player of the Week awards. In 2009, the then-20-year-old scored 55 points on Nov. 14 against Golden State, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to score at least 50 in a game. He has appeared in 11 post-season games, averaging 16.7 points, 3.7 assists and 1.55 steals over 34.7 minutes.

Jennings’ shooting ability is limited. His career shooting percentage is just 39%, and he shot below that last season.

Knicks sign Joakim Noah

Joakim Noah defends, passes and rebounds well but must stay healthy

The Knicks have signed center Joakim Noah. The deal is reportedly a $72 million dollar contract over four years.

“Acquiring Derrick Rose through a trade and securing Joakim Noah through free agency has given us a great ability to choose players that complement the incumbents Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis,” Knicks President Phil Jackson said. “As an organization, we look towards our next challenge of blending the skills of this talented group.”

Noah’s 2015-16 season was limited due to an injured left shoulder, appearing in just 29 games and averaging 4.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.00 block in 21.9 minutes per outing. He came off the bench for 27 of the 29 games that he did play last season.

After nine seasons in Chicago, Noah comes home to New York, bringing with him a highly decorated playing career, highlighted by winning the 2014 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, while finishing fourth in the Most Valuable Player voting. At 6-11, 230-pounds, the center appeared in two consecutive NBA All-Star Games (2013, 2014), was named to the All-NBA First Team (2014) and three NBA All-Defensive Teams (2011-second, 2013-first, 2014-first) and garnered the 2015 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award.

In 572 career games, Noah has averaged 9.3 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.40 blocks in the regular season, and has appeared in 60 NBA Playoff games to average 9.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and 1.77 blocks. He has recorded at least 250 assists in three consecutive seasons (2012-13 through 2014-15), becoming just the third center in the last 20 years to accomplish the feat (Vlade Divac, Hakeem Olajuwon). Noah has recorded seven career triple-doubles, including four during the 2013-14 season, joining the ranks of Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and David Robinson as the only centers in league history with at least four point-rebound-assist triple-doubles in a single season.

Noah was originally selected by Chicago with the ninth overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, following three seasons at the University of Florida where he was a member of two NCAA Championship teams. He played high school basketball at United Nations International School (Manhattan), Poly Prep Country Day School (Brooklyn) and Lawrenceville School (NJ). He was born in Manhattan to tennis star Yannick Noah and Cecilia Rodhe, Miss Sweden 1978.

Knicks sign Guillermo Hernangomez

The New York Knicks have signed center Guillermo “Willy” Hernangomez.

Hernangomez, 6-10, 240-pounds, has played professionally in Spain for the past four seasons with Real Madrid (2012-13, 2015-16) and, as a former teammate of current Knick Kristaps Porzingis, with Sevilla (2013-15). He holds career averages of 7.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 133 games and played in 40 games for Real Madrid this past season, averaging 5.8 points, on 66.6-percent shooting, and 3.7 rebounds.

The Madrid, Spain-native, was originally selected by Philadelphia in the second round (35th overall) of the 2015 NBA Draft and had his rights traded to New York in exchange for two future second round draft picks (2020 and 2021) and cash considerations. He won the 2015 EuroCup with the Spanish national team, and is scheduled to represent his country at the Olympic Games in Brazil later this summer.

Knicks will add Courtney Lee

The Knicks traded for Derrick Rose this summer, recently came to terms with center Joakim Noah, and yesterday came to an agreement with guard Courtney Lee. Here’s ESPN NY with more:

[Phil] Jackson and the Knicks filled out their starting five this weekend, coming to terms with Noah and shooting guard Courtney Lee.

The Knicks now have seven players under contract and several more holes to fill. They are expected to sign 2015 second-round pick Willy Hernangomez, a 6-foot-10 forward/center from overseas. The club would also like to re-sign Lance Thomas and Langston Galloway. The Knicks extended a qualifying offer of $2.7 million to Galloway.

Derrick Williams’ future with the Knicks is uncertain. Depending on the value of the first year of Noah and Lee’s contracts, the club could have about $5 million in available cap space. But it seems as if Williams will find more money from another club.

Marshall Plumlee reportedly joining Knicks summer league team

Summer leagues start soon. Rosters don’t come out all at one time. Teams figure them out one by one. No official summer squad rosters have been released by the teams yet. As for the Knicks, here’s the New York Post with an update:

The Knicks need a center, and at least their summer league team has a familiar name — Duke’s 7-footer Marshall Plumlee, according to a source. Plumlee, who finished his senior season with the Blue Devils, went undrafted on Thursday and could be invited to training camp if he shows well in Orlando, Fla., where the Knicks open July 2. Their first summer league practice is Wednesday.

Plumlee’s two brothers are in the NBA. Mason is an ex-Net who now plays for the Blazers. Miles is on the Bucks but once played for Jeff Hornacek in Phoenix.

Marshall Plumlee, who turns 24 in July, averaged 8.6 rebounds for Duke, shot 68.8 percent, blocked 1.6 shots but averaged just 8.3 points last season.