Before free agency gets started, the New York Knicks will have to make it past the 2022 NBA Draft first. With the draft taking place in less than two weeks, it’s drawn more attention than free agency, but let’s not forget about the buzz that’ll be coming at the end of the month.
Knicks fans will soon learn the fate of Mitchell Robinson. Will the center sign an extension and stay in New York or will he go elsewhere? If the signs are pointing toward him leaving, the front office will have the chance to search for his replacement in both the draft and/or in free agency.
The decisions that Leon Rose and his counterparts will make in free agency are still unknown, but there are a few former Knicks that could once again call Madison Square Garden their home. It seems as if just about every current player in the NBA has suited up for New York at one point or another, but we’re going to focus on three options that would make the most sense.
3 former Knicks that could sign with the team in 2022 free agency
3: Austin Rivers
Wait, Austin Rivers was on the Knicks? Yes. He landed in New York via a sign-and-trade with the Houston Rockets and he played in 21 games before being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of a three-team trade. Rivers was waived by the Thunder and signed with the Denver Nuggets in April of 2021.
While with the Knicks, the point guard averaged 7.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2 assists. He shot 43% from the field and 36.4% from the 3-point line.
Rivers signed with the Nuggets after Jamal Murray tore his ACL, but since Murray is expected to return to the court after sitting out in 2021-22, Denver could let Rivers walk in free agency. He was more of a factor on the defensive end than the offensive end for the Nuggets, guarding Steph Curry in the 2022 playoffs and averaging 1.4 steals in the team’s five postseason games.
New York fans might be reading this right now wondering why the front office should sign a veteran backup point guard in free agency who can play defense. Knowing Tom Thibodeau, he’d find a way for Rivers to take minutes from Immanuel Quickley and Miles McBride.
But the Knicks are clearly interested in either trading for a point guard or signing one in free agency, and depending on what players (if any) are traded from New York, Rivers wouldn’t be a bad option to come off the bench. This free agency signing would make the most sense if the plan is to trade Derrick Rose this summer, and while that’s a possibility, who knows what’s going to happen.
Rivers would come at a cheap cost and would be able to provide quality minutes as part of the second unit, so he’s a player who should at least be considered.