Offseason Report Card: Knicks get two As and three Bs for summer moves

2. Signed Donte DiVincenzo

Signed former Villanova guard Donte DiVincenzo to a four-year, $50 million contract

Last season much was made of the Knicks’ trade for Josh Hart, both because of his fit as a “Thibs” player and his history with point guard Jalen Brunson; the two played together at Villanova University down the road in Philadelphia. Now the Knicks are leaning into this Wildcats connection by signing Donte DiVincenzo, the sixth man on that championship Villanova team.

DiVincenzo was on a promising trajectory with the Milwaukee Bucks before he suffered a surprisingly serious injury that caused him to miss the Bucks’ run to the NBA Finals and got him off to a slow start in 2021-22. He was forced to sign a “prove-it” deal last summer, and he joined the Golden State Warriors and got plenty of run as they suffered multiple injuries in the backcourt.

That earned him a number of suitors at the Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception, and it looks like the Knicks’ offer appealed to him the most. He can reunite with Brunson and Hart and be back on the East Coast. The backcourt is somewhat crowded, but DiVincenzo’s length and rebounding ability allow him to slide to the 3 in some lineups.

The Knicks had enough space under the first tax apron to add DiVincenzo and still leave flexibility for a star trade. DiVincenzo may not have been at a position of need, but he is a good value and helps build in redundancy in case one of the team’s other guards are dealt.

Grade: A-