While the New York Knicks aren’t expected to be superstar shopping in NBA free agency this summer, following the release of veteran Derrick Rose, the team now has a valuable asset to dangle on the open market.
The New York Knicks enter the offseason with a great deal of positivity and hope. Sure, they lost in the second round of the NBA playoffs, but the team had a major bounce-back season in 2022-2023, and actually won a postseason series for the first time in a decade.
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Jalen Brunson turned out to be the best signing by any organization from last summer, Julius Randle recaptured his All-NBA form, and there were several young players on the roster who evolved into impact talents in their rotation.
The organization could use another star if they hope to become a serious title contender, but that sort of acquisition will only come in a trade since they are not far enough under the salary cap to land a top talent in NBA free agency. However, that doesn’t mean they do not have the space to still add impact players after July 1.
On Saturday, the team opted out of the final year of veteran Derrick Rose’s contract. In doing so they opened themselves up to be able to use the non-taxpayer mid-level exception which is expected to be around $12 million for this season. That is definitely enough money to acquire a notable addition this summer.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at four players the New York Knicks could target in July with this particular mid-level exception.
Bruce Brown Jr.
Denver Nuggets bench star Bruce Brown Jr. is expected to garner a lot of interest this summer. And it is understandable since he is a valuable asset in the small ball era. Despite only being 6-foot-4, he plays far bigger than that and has a style of play and skill set that is similar to Josh Hart. New York Knicks fans saw how well Hart played in head coach Tom Thibodeau’s system and Brown Jr. could be the perfect replacement for him on the bench if Hart ends up being a starter in 2023-2024.
Donte DiVincenzo
Four-year veteran Donte DiVincenzo continues to be linked to the Knicks as a likely target this offseason. He offers a need as a sharpshooter off the bench, and he likely would immediately fit into the locker room as a former teammate of Hart and Brunson’s at Villanova. The Deleware native could be an impact addition similar to what Steve Novak was for the organization a decade ago.
Jae Crowder
Jae Crowder feels like a perfect fit for head coach Tom Thibodeau. He is an unselfish veteran who can fill up the stat sheet in multiple categories and guard multiple positions. He can be plugged into various lineups and has the ability to be a strong player off the bench or a great fill-in as a starter for several weeks if a player goes down. Crowder makes a lot of sense for this particular version of the New York Knicks.
Dennis Schroder
While Immanuel Quickley and Miles McBride were good to great at times for the Knicks last season off the bench, neither is a traditional point guard. Rose was meant to fill that role, but his unreliability due to injuries and the strong play of those youngsters forced him out of the rotation.
If the New York Knicks are looking for a proven veteran point guard to run the second unit, 10-year veteran Dennis Schroder would be a good option. While he never reached his potential as the 17th player taken in the 2013 NBA Draft, he has settled into a role as a top-shelf backup point guard in recent years and filled the role perfectly for the Lakers late last season.