The New York Knicks haven’t signed a backup power forward replacement since trading Obi Toppin, leading to the assumption Josh Hart will take over the role. It was rumored the Knicks were looking at the remaining veterans left on the free agent market to fill the void, but the front office has stayed quiet.
New York has an open roster spot, and there’s still time for the team to sign a player if that’s the direction they wish to go in. Or the Knicks could stay pat at 14 players on traditional contracts entering the 2023-24 season.
SNY’s Ian Begley speculated on the Knicks signing a 15th player to the roster and mentioned Taj Gibson and Ryan Arcidiacono as two players who “will at least get consideration if New York wants to add someone with a good impact in the locker room/on team culture.”
Gibson and Arcidiacono are still free agents and will likely continue to be unless the Knicks decide to reunite with either player.
Will the Knicks sign Taj Gibson or Ryan Arcidiacono to 15th roster spot?
Taj Gibson could be a candidate to fill the duty of being Julius Randle’s backup. He’s 38 years old but is coming off a season where he played 49 games for the Wizards. Gibson averaged 3.4 points and 1.9 rebounds in 9.8 minutes per game, shooting 52% from the field.
Tom Thibodeau’s all-time favorite player would be a better fit than Ryan Arcidiacono, as the Knicks already have a surplus of guards. Arcidiacono does fit the Villanova mold, but New York signed Donte DiVincenzo this summer, and he’ll undoubtedly be a part of Thibodeau’s nine-man rotation.
Gibson could return to being a valuable veteran voice in the locker room, as the Knicks lost Derrick Rose in free agency to the Grizzlies. The forward has also said he wants to pursue a coaching career when he retires, and he could get a jump start on that in New York.
The Knicks are a different team than the one Gibson left in 2022, and he’d be a welcome presence as New York works to secure a playoff berth for the second season in a row. There isn’t a dire need for the team to sign a 15th player to a traditional contract, though, so don’t be waiting on the edge of your seat for the front office to sign someone.