SNY’s Ian Begley will be responding to Knicks questions from readers. Here’s the latest…
How will the Knicks use their remaining cap space and/or the last roster spot? – @jmere09nyc
I answered this one a couple weeks ago. But it’s an evergreen question at this time of year, so it’s worth addressing again.
The Knicks still have 14 players on traditional NBA contracts. So they have room for one more traditional contract on the regular season roster. (Teams can carry 15 players on traditional contracts and three two-way players in the regular season).
The training camp battle for the 15th roster spot should be a good one this year.
The Knicks signed both Marcus Morris and Landry Shamet to non-guaranteed contracts earlier this month. It’s fair to assume that they will battle for that final spot. If they both play well, maybe the Knicks waive a player on a guaranteed deal to make room for Morris and Shamet?
Either way, the Knicks accomplished an offseason goal by adding proven NBA players to the end of the roster.
Shamet is a proven shooter and, at 6′ 5″, can give the Knicks size in the backcourt.
As noted last week, Shamet chose the Knicks, in part, because he was looking for a winning environment. (How often in the last 20-plus years have the Knicks had an advantage on a free agent who is looking to win?)
Morris had a very strong stint with the Knicks in 2019-2020 before he was moved to the Clippers at the 2020 trade deadline. The Knicks got a 2020 first-round pick in the trade. That pick was essentially used to select Immanuel Quickley. Quickley, of course, was a significant part of the package New York sent to Toronto in the OG Anunoby trade.
Morris loves the Garden and has ties to the current Knicks team. Among them? Team president Leon Rose used to represent Morris when Rose was a player agent at CAA.
Both Morris and Shamet signed in New York because they have a pathway to a roster spot. On paper, Shamet seems like a lock for one of the top 15 spots on the roster. But there are dozens of factors that go into these decisions. One place Morris may have an edge is in the locker room. He had a positive impact on the Knicks when he was here. Even amid the losing, Morris made an effort to keep the group aligned and seemed to connect well with both young players and his veteran peers.
He could add a lot to the locker room in that regard. But make no mistake: Morris can still contribute meaningful minutes on the court. Just look at how his presence swung the Cavaliers-Magic first round series in the 2024 playoffs. Or look at how he played in Game 6 of the Cavs-Celtics series.
So if the Knicks have injury issues at power forward, they wouldn’t have to worry about his ability to fill a role in the rotation. New York, as previously noted, sees Morris as both a power forward and an undersized center at this point in his career. It goes without saying, but they signed him with the idea that he had a real chance to make the regular season roster.
Again, the battle for that 15th spot will be an interesting one during training camp/preseason.
Something else worth noting: With Morris and Shamet on board, the Knicks don’t have a roster spot for Ryan Arcidiacono. Based on the things people with the Knicks and other teams say about Arcidiacono, I think he’ll have multiple opportunities on an NBA bench or in a scouting/front office role if he chooses to go that route.
How are Randle and Mitch doing health-wise? Good for start of camp? Good for opening night – @krigg23
As far as Mitchell Robinson, he will not be ready for the start of the season, per SNY sources. The Knicks and Robinson don’t want to rush the rehab process and is targeting a December/January return date, per sources. Robinson and the Knicks are being cautious and want to make sure he is 100 percent healthy before he gets back. New York is confident in the depth and versatility of the roster until Robinson returns.
As far as Julius Randle goes, his rehab had been going very well earlier in the offseason. Based on previous timelines for his shoulder surgery, Randle would be significantly ahead of schedule if he was fully cleared for the start of camp. That’s just speculation on my part based on past surgeries. We’ll find out more specific information later this month when players gather for Media Day.
QUICK HITTERS
If the Nets are serious about tanking, shouldn’t they consider trading Dennis Schroeder while his value is high? I think he’s a great fit in Orlando with the Wagner brothers – @The_Cooler
I don’t think anyone would be surprised if the Nets talked earnestly about Schroeder trades before the 2025 deadline. Same goes for any other veteran on the roster. Brooklyn has an incredible trove of draft picks. I assume they will prioritize their younger players under contract – like Jalen Wilson – and develop those players as opposed to committing multiple seasons to a veteran like Schroeder.
People talk about Randle as the Knicks’ only other advantage creator, but they forget that OG put up 28 points in a playoff game before he got hurt. Do you expect OG to get more designed plays/on-ball opportunities this year? – @_sandreckoner
Anunoby had plays run for him in regular season Knicks games last season. I would guess he’d continue to get some plays run for him this season. Though shots could be a little more sparse for most – if not all – of the Knicks rotation players this season. As Tom Thibodeau said in a recent Q&A with NBA.com: “The more good players you have, the more sacrifices you have to make. Not only by Julius (Randle), by everybody.”
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