New York Knicks Blog – Page 39 – NBA Blog

Knicks will reportedly keep Lou Amundson

Here’s the New York Post reporting on the Knicks, who recognize that Lou Amundson is a good value for the money:

In continuing to build their new lunchpail, defense-first identity, the Knicks have finally used the last of their cap space in re-signing center Lou Amundson to a one-year, $1.65 million deal, his agent Mark Bartlestein said.

Amundson, the ponytailed journeyman center who has played for 10 teams, became a surprisingly solid addition last January when he was obtained from Cleveland in the 3-team J.R. Smith/Iman Shumpert firesale.

Amundson’s grinding game earned him starting status when he arrived. He played in 41 games, making 35 starts and averaged 6 points and 6 rebounds. On this team, Amundson will be a depth played and not expected to get steady minutes.

Knicks re-sign Lance Thomas

New York Knicks President Phil Jackson announced yesterday that the team has re-signed forward Lance Thomas to a contract.

Thomas, 6-8, 225-pounds, was acquired this past season as part of a three-way deal with Cleveland and Oklahoma City on Jan. 5, 2015 and signed his first 10-day contract with New York on Jan. 10, 2015. The Brooklyn, NY-native averaged 8.3 points and 3.0 rebounds in 40 games for the Knicks this past season. The four-year NBA professional holds career averages of 2.6 points and 4.5 rebounds over 168 games.

Knicks sign Arron Afflalo, Robin Lopez and Derrick Williams

Knicks sign Arron Afflalo, Robin Lopez and Derrick Williams

New York Knicks President Phil Jackson announced today that the team has signed guard Arron Afflalo, center Robin Lopez and forward Derrick Williams and acquired forward/center Kyle O’Quinn via sign-and-trade from Orlando.

“We are fortunate to add these four new players to our roster. They bring to the team veteran leadership, talent and youth,” Jackson said. “These men, in addition to our rookies from the NBA Draft, will make for a very competitive team this coming year. We are all looking forward to the season, as we welcome them to the New York Knicks 2015-16 roster.”

“We addressed our primary needs this offseason by adding size and versatility – players who complement each other and those that are returning from last year’s roster,” Knicks General Manager Steve Mills said. “We are all looking forward for these new players to mesh together to form our team.”

Afflalo, 6-5, 215-pounds, averaged 13.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists over 32.1 minutes in 78 games (72 starts) for Portland and Denver last season. Holding career averages of 11.4 points, on 45.3-percent shooting, including 38.5-percent from three-point range, in 577 games over eight seasons with Detroit, Denver, Orlando and Portland, he finished in the Top 10 in the NBA in three-point field goal percentage three times (most recently sixth in 2013-14). The Los Angeles, CA-native was originally selected by Detroit with the 27th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft following three seasons at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Lopez, 7-0, 255-pounds, averaged 9.6 points, on 53.5-percent shooting, 6.7 rebounds and 1.42 blocks over 27.8 minutes in 59 games (all starts) for Portland last season. Holding career averages of 8.2 points, on 53.2-percent shooting, 5.0 rebounds and 1.18 blocks over 21.2 minutes in 465 games over seven seasons with Phoenix, New Orleans and Portland, he set the Trail Blazers’ single-season franchise record 326 offensive rebounds during 2013-14. The Fresno, CA-native was originally selected by Phoenix with the 15th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft following his sophomore season at Stanford University.

Williams, 6-8, 241-pounds, averaged 8.3 points and 2.7 rebounds over 19.8 minutes in 74 games (six starts) for Sacramento last season. He holds career averages of 9.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 22.4 minutes in 296 games (92 starts) over four seasons with Minnesota and Sacramento. The Bellflower, CA-native was originally selected by Minnesota with the second overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft following two seasons at the University of Arizona and was an NBA All-Rookie second-team selection in 2011-12.

O’Quinn, 6-10, 240-pounds, was acquired, via sign-and-trade, from Orlando for the right to exchange 2019 second-round draft selections and cash considerations. He averaged 5.8 points and 3.9 rebounds over 16.2 minutes in 51 games (17 starts) during his third season for the Magic in 2014-15. The Queens, NY-native was originally selected by Orlando in the second round (49th overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft following four seasons at Norfolk State University. He played his high school basketball at Campus Magnet HS in Queens, NY.

Magic sign-and-trade Kyle O`Quinn to Knicks

The Orlando Magic have acquired the option to swap second round draft picks in 2019 and cash consideration from New York in exchange for forward/center Kyle O’Quinn in a sign-and-trade deal, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today.

O’Quinn played in 51 games (17 starts) last season with Orlando, averaging 5.8 ppg., 3.9 rpg. and 1.2 apg. in 16.2 minpg. He led (or tied) the team in rebounding three times and in assists twice. O’Quinn scored in double figures ten times, including a season-high 21 points on Dec. 2 @ Golden State. He pulled down 10+ rebounds three times and recorded three double-doubles.

Originally selected by Orlando in the second round (49th overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft, O’Quinn has appeared in 177 career NBA regular season games (41 starts), all with Orlando, averaging 5.4 ppg., 4.4 rpg. and 1.1 apg. in 15.0 minpg., while shooting .501 (406-810) from the floor.

Knicks, Arron Afflalo agree to deal

Here’s ESPN New York reporting on the Knicks, who have founded a talented guard for their backcourt. Not a star, though. But a nice supporting player:

The New York Knicks and Arron Afflalo agreed to a two-year deal worth $16 million on Thursday, a source told ESPN.com’s Ramona Shelburne.

The agreement includes a player option for the second year of the deal, sources said, which could allow Afflalo to again test free agency after next season.

The deal with Afflalo is the Knicks’ first move in free agency but one that should help the struggling franchise, which is coming off a 17-65 season. And it comes at a reasonable cost considering all the money spent on the opening day of free agency Wednesday across the league.

Knicks draft Kristaps Porzingis

New York Knicks President Phil Jackson announced today that with the fourth overall pick in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft, the team has drafted forward Kristaps Porzingis from Latvia.

Porzingis, 7-3, 233 pounds, was an early entry candidate who had played professionally for Cajasol Seville in Spain over the past three seasons. In 75 career ACB games, the 19-year-old averaged 8.1 points, and also added a 9.9 points-per-game average in Eurocup play.

“We could not pass on Kristaps,” Jackson said. “He has eye-opening talent and is ready for the challenge to play in New York City. He can contribute for us this season.”

Tim Hardaway Jr now with Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks acquired guard Tim Hardaway Jr. from the New York Knicks in exchange for the draft rights to Notre Dame guard Jerian Grant, the 19th pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.

Earlier in the draft, Atlanta selected Kansas forward Kelly Oubre with the 15th pick in the first round before dealing his draft rights to Washington for Grant’s draft rights and the Wizards’ second round selections in 2016 and 2019.

“(Tim) is a young two-guard who has shown the ability to make shots and be an effective player,” said Hawks Head Coach Mike Budenholzer. “When we get him into our player development program, working with our coaches and around our players, we think he’s going to grow and prosper here.”

A two-year veteran, Hardaway has career averages of 10.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 23.5 minutes in 151 games (31 starts). He was originally selected by the Knicks 24th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft after playing collegiately at Michigan.

In the second round, Atlanta took guard Marcus Eriksson with the 50th pick and forward Dimitrios Agravanis with the 59th selection.

The 6’7 Eriksson has played four seasons in the Spanish ACB league with Barcelona and Manresa. He played one game for Barcelona in 2014-15 and in 33 contests with Manresa in the previous season, when he averaged 11.2 points and 1.8 rebounds in 23.9 minutes. Eriksson was born on Dec. 5, 1993 in Sweden.

Agravanis, a 6’10 forward from Greece, has played professionally for five years in his home country with Olympiacos, Panionios and Maroussi. In 2014-15 with Olympiacos, he averaged 6.4 points and 3.1 rebounds in 14.4 minutes. Agravanis was born on Dec. 20, 1994 in Athens.

Knicks trade Tim Hardaway Jr to Hawks

Knicks trade Tim Hardaway Jr to Hawks

The shakeup of the New York Knicks continues. Here’s the New York Daily News reporting a trade agreed to during the 2015 NBA Draft:

Phil Jackson’s second move Thursday night probably was more popular than his first.

After drafting Latvian project forward Kristaps Porzingis with the fourth pick overall, the Knicks’ president picked up another first-round talent by agreeing to trade Tim Hardaway Jr. to Atlanta for No. 19 selection Jerian Grant, the point guard out of Notre Dame.

Grant, 22, was a four-year starter for the Irish, averaging 14.6 points and 5.8 assists over 119 collegiate games.

Knicks Now, a show about the Knicks offseason to debut on MSG TV June 24

MSG TV presents 4-episode Knicks Now show, about the Knicks offseason

MSG Networks announced today the premiere of “Knicks Now” presented by Dodge, a four week series that will capture the excitement of the Knicks offseason from their first round pick in the NBA draft through the free agent signing period and the start of Summer League. “Knicks Now” will air on MSG Networks at 8:00 p.m. on four consecutive Wednesdays – June 24, July 1, July 8 and July 15 and will be hosted by Al Trautwig with Alan Hahn and Wally Szczerbiak. The June 24 premiere episode of “Knicks Now” will be telecast on MSG+, with the three subsequent episodes premiering on MSG.

In the first episode, Szczerbiak, who covered college basketball this year, will give firsthand insight on the draft and, along with Trautwig and Hahn, will preview the top Knicks draft prospects. The July 1 and July 8 episodes will focus on the free agency and what the future Knicks team might look like. The series finale, premiering during Knicks Summer League, will discuss the new Knicks roster and the impact the new players will have on the team this season.

Knicks to work out Willie Cauley-Stein

Knicks to reportedly work out center Willie Cauley-Stein

With the NBA Draft coming later this month, much of the fun will be to analyze how important it is that certain teams worked out certain players. Some workouts suggest teams may consider trading up or down, or sending their pick away altogether. Or shocking the world by drafting someone at a completely unexpected spot. Anyway, here’s ESPN NY reporting on the Knicks:

The New York Knicks will host Kentucky center Willie Cauley-Stein for a workout on June 16, a league source confirmed.

The Knicks have the fourth pick in the draft.

Most draft observers project Cauley-Stein to be taken outside of the top four picks.

The Knicks could go against popular sentiment and take Cauley-Stein with the fourth pick or they could trade for a lower first-round pick and select Cauley-Stein there.