The New York Knicks entered free agent quietly and went without making a signing on Friday. It wasn’t until Saturday night when the Knicks made the move that they were hoping to make by agreeing to a four-year, $50 million deal with Donte DiVincenzo.
DiVincenzo adds an infusion of three-point shooting and defense to New York’s roster, which is much-needed after the Knicks shot 29% from three in the playoffs. DiVincenzo shot a career-high 39.7% from three with the Warriors in 2022-23 and outplayed the $4.7 million that he was owed in 2023-24.
Signing the 26-year-old has made New York’s foundation stronger, but three players in particular will benefit the most.
Free agent G Donte DiVincenzo has agreed on a four-year, $50 million contract with the New York Knicks, Jason Glushon of @GlushonSM tells ESPN. DiVincenzo reunites with his Villanova title teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart to bolster the Eastern Conference semifinalists. pic.twitter.com/MSr1wXS4GC
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2023
3 Knicks players that will benefit the most from Donte DiVincenzo signing
3: Quentin Grimes
After dealing with injuries in his rookie season and appearing in only 46 games, Quentin Grimes played in 71 games (66 starts) in 2022-23. His capability as a 3-and-D wing is what led Knicks fans to demand that he start in place of Evan Fournier, a decision that Tom Thibodeau ended up making.
Grimes struggled with this three-point shot this season, but still shot 38.6% from three on 5.7 attempts per game. His three-point percentage took a big dip in the playoffs as he shot only 24.3% from three. To be fair, New York as a whole was horrid from beyond the arc.
Grimes and Donte DiVincenzo share some of the same qualities as they’re both tough defenders, work hard, and can knock down shots from deep. If Tom Thibodeau runs a lineup with both Grimes and DiVincenzo on the court, the defense splitting the pressure between that duo on the perimeter can give Grimes better looks. Both players like to attack the rim, so they could kick it out and find the other on the wing.
It’ll be a lot of fun to get to see Grimes and DiVincenzo on the floor together. They’ll work off each other and not only will be challenging to guard but will be pests on the defensive end.