NBA: Knicks Assessing Move For Forward, After Initial Rejection

The New York Knicks have not ruled out signing Kris Wilkes despite reneging on their initial decision to offer the small forward a two-way contract. They are expected to hold another physical before they make their final decision.

Wilkes and the Knicks had reportedly had a verbal agreement to give the forward a two-way contract but Marc Berman of the New York Post reported that they had backed out. The small forward was undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft but president Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry talked about the player when they introduced draft picks RJ Barrett and Ignas Brazdeikis.

However, according to the New York Post, they are not giving up on the player entirely and will invite him for another physical in the next two weeks before completely ruling him out. But it remains unlikely that Wilkes will be ruled fit enough to join the Knicks for the upcoming campaign.

The forward missed the Knicks’ summer league due to illness but it was not expected to affect his impending contract offer from the Knicks. Wilkes averaged 17.4 points as a sophomore for the Bruins last season.

The Knicks are prepared to wait until they complete the physical for Wilkes before seeking a move for another two-way player. They now have a vacancy for a two-way player with Kadeem Allen holding the other contract.

The Wilkes deal was the second voided by the Knicks this season after they axed Reggie Bullock’s initial free agent contract agreement due to concerns with his back injury, which will see him miss the start of the new season. They negotiated a two-year $8 million deal with the shooting guard rather than the $21 million he was initially owed.