Knicks Rumors: More Roster Changes Coming After Free-Agent Additions, Missing On Durant, Irving

The New York Knicks’ roster has undergone massive changes this summer, though it hasn’t exactly been the kind of offseason the organization had in mind. The team ended the 2018-2019 season with plans of signing both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, who ended up joining forces with the Brooklyn Nets.

With more salary cap space than anyone, the Knicks had to find ways to spend money. New York ended up inking Julius Randle, Bobby Portis, Taj Gibson, Wayne Ellington and Elfrid Payton to contracts.

The Knicks were set to sign Reggie Bullock to a two-year, $21 million deal, but an apparent medical issue that could force the guard to miss a portion of next year has reportedly made the two sides re-evaluate their agreement. Doing so gives New York additional cap space, which they could use on a free agent that was set to go elsewhere.

ESPN reported Tuesday that Marcus Morris is considering backing out of his two-year, $20 million deal that he agreed in principle to sign with the San Antonio Spurs. According to Yahoo Sports, Morris has a one-year, $15 million offer from the Knicks.

In a brief conversation with ESPN, Bauman was complimentary of how the Knicks handled this emerging situation with Bullock. He cited how accommodating ownership, front office and medical staff had been in dealing with new issues facing deal: “First-class throughout,” Bauman said. https://t.co/vFoTxswQpy
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 9, 2019

Yahoo Sources: New York Knicks have a one-year, roughly $15 million offer on the table for Marcus Morris who is considering reneging on his two-year, $20 million agreement with San Antonio.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 9, 2019

Morris is coming off a career-year with the Boston Celtics. He was one of the team’s most consistent performers, averaging 13.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.

Regardless of what happens with Morris, some of the Knicks’ best players for the 2019-2020 season will be ones that play essentially the same position.

Randle, Portis and Gibson are all power forwards. Kevin Knox, who the Knicks hope can make a significant leap in his second season after being taken ninth overall in the 2018 NBA Draft, plays either small forward or power forward.

Randle is the Knicks’ only free-agent signing that received a guaranteed multi-year contract. He averaged 21.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game for the New Orleans Pelicans last season, shooting 52.4 percent from the field. The Knicks gave him $63 million over three years, though the final year of the deal is a $22 million team option.

Portis, Gibson, Ellington and Payton all have team options for the 2020-2021 season. Morris’ deal would allow him to become a free agent next summer. Bullock is expected to sign a new contract with the Knicks, and that will likely include a team option, as well.

New York is maintaining their cap flexibility for upcoming seasons, keeping open the possibility of signing or trading for a superstar in the near future.

The Knicks can’t trade any of their new additions until Dec. 15.

The Knicks have yet to prove to be a desirable destination for the league’s top players. Their best chance of getting back to the playoffs and contending in the East might be for their draft picks to meet expectations.

That starts with No.3 overall pick R.J. Barrett becoming an All-Star. Knox had a poor rookie campaign last year, though 2018 second-rounder Mitchell Robinson showed a lot of promise.

New York acquired Ignas Brazdeikis in the second round of June’s draft. Frank Ntilikina has struggled to stay in the Knicks’ rotation since being taken eighth in the 2017 draft.

Guards Dennis Smith Jr., Allonzo Trier and Damyean Dotson round out the roster. They’ve played five combined NBA seasons.