We’re a little less than two days away from the start of free agency. If you’re a New York Knicks fan who’s still reeling from the draft, it’s time to shift your attention. If the front office’s efforts pay off, Jalen Brunson will be the newest Knick.
In order to get there, though, New York’s going to have to clear more cap space. Right now, the organization has cleared around $12 million. In the coming hours, the Knicks are expected to make a flurry of moves, whether it be waiving a player or making a trade or two.
What are the New York Knicks expected to do in free agency?
All of this is being done to clear enough space to sign Brunson. A few weeks ago, it was assumed that he’d re-sign with the Dallas Mavericks, the team that drafted him at No. 33 in 2018. Mark Cuban might be able to offer the 25-year-old guard the most money, but Cuban can’t compete with Brunson’s ties to New York.
It’s time to look at the moves that the Knicks are rumored to make, and we’re going to start with perhaps the most bittersweet move of all.
5: Waiving Taj Gibson
This move isn’t unexpected, but it’s still going to hurt fans because it’s Taj Gibson. The 37-year-old center has spent 13 seasons in the league and has played under Tom Thibodeau in Chicago, Minnesota, and New York. In case you can’t tell, Gibson is Thibodeau’s favorite player.
But Thibodeau is behind the scenes working to lure Brunson to the Knicks, and waiving Gibson and his $5.2 million non-guaranteed salary for 2022-23 would help to create space. That’s something that HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto mentioned and that belief has been echoed.
At this point in his career, Gibson’s presence in the locker room is more valuable than his presence on the court. After averaging 10.8 points and 6.5 rebounds in 70 games for the Timberwolves in 2018-19, the center hasn’t hit a double-digits average. In 2021-22, Gibson averaged 4.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 18.2 minutes in 52 games.
Not having Gibson on the roster in 2022-23 won’t hinder the team’s talent, but that doesn’t mean that waiving him won’t be a tough decision to make. It’s always a bonus to have a player like Gibson on the roster, especially for a young team like the Knicks. But Brunson’s the priority now.