2 former New York Knicks players that made NBA news over past week
There’s light at the end of the offseason tunnel, but a few weeks remain until the start of training camp. It may still be the NBA’s dead part of the year, but a couple of former New York Knicks made news over the past week.
Free agency began over two months ago, but Kevin Knox remained on the market. The Knicks’ 2018 lottery pick has spent time with three teams since being traded by New York in 2022 as part of the Cam Reddish deal.
The 24-year-old was traded from the Pistons to the Warriors ahead of the February deadline and was then promptly traded to the Trail Blazers. Knox averaged 8.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 21 games for Portland to close the season.
Knox and former Knicks center Nerlens Noel entered the offseason as free agents, and the former was signed by the Kings earlier this summer. However, he’s back on the market.
Former Knicks forward Kevin Knox re-signs with Blazers, Kings waive Nerlens Noel
Shams Charania reported on Sept. 10 that Kevin Knox re-signed with Portland on a one-year deal.
Free agent forward Kevin Knox is signing a one-year deal to return to the Portland Trail Blazers, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Knox, the No. 9 pick in the 2018 Draft, averaged 8.9 points and 17.1 minutes in 21 games for Portland last season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 9, 2023
Knox will either be on a rebuilding team or one looking to make one final push with Damian Lillard at the helm. The Trail Blazers’ offseason moves don’t exactly scream “championship contender.”
Nerlens Noel signed with one of the top teams in the West on July 19. The 29-year-old spent almost two months on Sacramento’s roster before he was waived on Sept. 12.
ESPN Sources: After signing JaVale McGee to a free agent deal, the Sacramento Kings are waiving centers Nerlens Noel and Neemias Queta to give them a chance to play elsewhere. Both signed partially guaranteed one-year deals with Kings this summer.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 12, 2023
JaVale McGee had the option to reunite with the Warriors but instead chose to sign with the Kings. The three-time champion played 42 games for the Mavericks in 2022-23 and averaged 4.4 points and 2.5 rebounds in 8.5 minutes per game.
Noel played in a combined 17 games last season for Detroit and Brooklyn. Hopefully, the former Knick will get an opportunity elsewhere before 2023-24 starts.