Based on his recent comments and actions, it certainly appears as though Kyle O’Quinn will be back with the New York Knicks in 2018-19.
The New York Knicks will face few free agency decisions that are more important than whether or not to re-sign Kyle O’Quinn. The 28-year-old has a player option for the 2018-19 season that most expect him to decline in favor of a long-term contract.
The more O’Quinn discusses the future, however, the less likely it appears to be that he’ll be anywhere but New York come 2018-19.
It’s one thing for a player to claim that they would like to re-sign with the team they’ve grown to appreciate. That can change as soon as a new offer comes in that exceeds the pay or playing time provided by the incumbent franchise.
It’s an entirely different thing, however, when a pending free agent speaks with the following tone. Per an interview with Desus & Mero:
"“[The lottery] was cool. The numbers said we was going to get the ninth pick, so you expect that.”"
The use of the word, “We,” and the vested interest in where the Knicks ended up in the Lottery certainly sounds like O’Quinn is committed to playing for the Knicks.
When asked for his expectations for the 2018-19 season, O’Quinn further fueled the speculation:
"“It’ll be a good season. We got the new good coach…[David Fizdale is] well respected by guys that have done some things in the league. LeBron, Dwyane Wade, stuff like that; what he did down in Miami.”"
O’Quinn continued:
"“It’s just new energy in The Garden. New energy in the locker room, the facility; I think that’ll help guys bring their A-game every day. Try to earn somebody’s respect. When you get in the workplace, you want to earn your peers’ respect. I think that [David Fizdale is] doing it and we have to do the same.”"
There’s the, “We,” again.
Furthermore, O’Quinn was one of the players who appeared at the introductory press conference for David Fizdale. Perhaps he was supporting Fizdale personally, but it’s fair to presume that he was there to welcome the Knicks’ new head coach on a professional level.
One is inclined to believe that Fizdale would like to keep O’Quinn on the roster considering his vision consists of a team with length and physicality on defense.
With a massive 7’5″ wingspan, a reputation as an elite rebounder and high-quality shot-blocker, and a physical approach to the game, O’Quinn certainly fits the bill.
The question, of course, is whether O’Quinn will opt in to the final year of his contract or if the Knicks will re-sign him this summer. He’s in the prime of his career and has improved with every season he’s played for the orange and blue.
This past season, O’Quinn set career-highs in minutes (18.0), points (7.1), rebounds (6.1), assists (2.1), and blocks (1.3) per game, as well as field goal and free throw percentage.
Furthermore, O’Quinn ranked No. 15 in the NBA amongst centers in Real Plus-Minus, accumulating top-25 marks on both ends of the floor.
As for his contract, O’Quinn will be owed $4,256,250 if he opts in for the 2018-19 season. The market is weak due to the limited cap space that a vast majority of teams possess, which could lead O’Quinn to betting on himself for a bigger payday in 2019, when room will be cleared league-wide.
It’s also worth noting that O’Quinn is from Queens and has spoken at length about how much he enjoys playing in his home city.
Must Read: 2018 NBA Mock Draft: Updated Top 14 after the Lottery
The question is: Will the talk of, “We,” continue into the 2018-19 NBA season for Kyle O’Quinn and the New York Knicks?