Knicks starting to make moves in NBA free agency

Knicks starting to make moves in NBA free agency

The Knicks have made and they’re still on the verge of making some moves in free agency for some key rotation players. Gershon Yaboselli just agreed to a two-year deal. And then Jordan Clarkson is supposed to head to New York from Utah as well. Those uh numbers will get finalized. So, let’s talk Knicks basketball with New York Post Sports. And New York got game host Dexter Henry. Dexter, what’s going on, my man?
Oh, what’s good, man? NBA free agency is rolling. A lot of moves being made. Busy first couple hours yesterday, busy today. All good, man. How you doing?
All right. I’m feeling good, man. But let’s start off by talking about Yabelli. Uh he didn’t do much in his first stint in the NBA when he was with the Celtics, but last year with the Sixers Sixers, he averaged what, 11 points, five boards, two assists. We talked about how the Knicks needed to add depth to their core. Is this a key signing for a rotational player or not? No, absolutely is. I talked about this uh yesterday in a video I did about three free agents that I thought the Knicks could target. Yabuselli was one of them. I like the numbers you mentioned. He filled in in the starting role. They asked him to play as a big with Joel Embiid out down in Philly. But this is a guy who is going to be pretty efficient. He shot a 50% from the field, 38% from downtown. That’s the key. He can stretch the floor for the Knicks. He’s going to be a backup big for them off the bench. He will replace Precious Sichua in that role. And this is absolutely an upgraded in my opinion. He’s a guy who can hit the three. He can hit the corner three. Something the Knicks value a lot in their offense. So, I love this signing. I think it’s a great value. They use their taxpayer mid-level exception. Uh the Knicks are not going to do much more after this because they’re going to get Jordan Clarkson, which we’ll talk about in a second. And they also probably going to just sign one of the rookies they just drafted to a minimum deal to round out this roster. But they have more depth. The scoring should go up on this bench. This is a team that was last in bench scoring last year, Brandon. So getting a piece like Yabiselli who can score, understand his role, he doesn’t hurt you on defense, this is a really good move by the New York Knicks and a great value signing.
All right. Well, the fact that he can score and he still adds value on the defensive side of things, you think he steals minutes from Mitch Rob Mitchell Robinson? No, I think I think actually there’s ways you can complement and play them together. He’s that perfect forward to play next to Mitchell Robinson. You can actually play him next to Carney Towns. I think that’s something I like about the versatility. You know, he’ll play a little small ball five and I think that’s what you’re asking. Can he play at the center position? He’ll play a little bit of that. You saw that last year, but I think his best position is the four playing at the power forward. And I think you’ll see him next to the Knicks other two bigs. But it gives them some versatility. And I think that’s something the Knicks needed. It’s why I loved you asked that question, Brandon. they needed versatility in terms of their bench, you know, optionality to have off of that bench in terms of how they can mix and match their bigs along with their wings. So, I I love this Yabelli signing. He was one of my targets and uh I think he’ll be a good fit here with the Nickers.
All right. There’s also reports that the Knicks are also going to sign Jordan Clarkson to a veterans minimum deal. Former sixman of the year, but at 33 years old, he’s a little up there. He’s leaving his prime. So, I’m gonna ask you the same question. key signing for a rotational player or not? Yeah, I say yes because it addressed the need that the Knicks had. The Knicks, as I said, last and bench scoring. If you watch the Knicks in the playoffs, what’s another thing that we saw? The Knicks, it was laborious for them to score, right? A lot of iso ball with Jaylen Brunson. Nobody you really trusted off the bench to handle the ball and create shots. The Knicks didn’t really have that guy. Campaign was not the answer. Jordan Clarkson does that. He is highly efficient in half score court scoring offense off the bench. He’s a guy that can get you a bucket. He can be efficient in that way. The knock on him defense not a particularly good defender and so that’s where you worry but can he come in and get you a bucket? Can he run that second unit? Yes, that can be very helpful. And I think what’s interesting in this is with whoever the next decide to go with coaching, will they put Miles McBride in the starting lineup? Will they move Josh Hart to the bench? feels like Hart and Clarkson, former teammates with the Lakers, actually would be better suited to play off the bench to give those guys a spark. But this is a guy who I love. He’s he’s a walking bucket. He can score as a professional scorer. And I think his shot quality, if you look at the numbers, would have been a lot better, but he played on a bad team in Utah. So, playing with better players around him where he’s not going to have to shoot as often, but can get you those shots off the bench for the Knicks, I think is going to be huge. So, I like this signing on a one-year minimum deal. Clarison gets bought out by Utah. Now, the Knicks expected to sign him once he clears waiverss today. I think this is another good move by the Knicks. So, the Knicks, they address two of their needs. They upgrade their bench. They get a guy who can score the ball in his hands. They get a guy in Yabiselli who can stretch the floor. I think you got to like what the Knicks did here.
I’m laughing inside because only in New York can people get excited about people a team signing bench players or rotational players in free agency. Like, everybody Hey, look, the the the small pieces matter, right? You can’t just you’re not just going to feel the team full of stars. And we saw this in the NBA finals, right? You look at the the Thunder. I know you were watching, Brandon. You look at the Pacers. You got to get a lot of good players that can play in different situations. So, where the Knicks are in their development and they got to add pieces to depth. Yeah, you got to get excited about these bench players. I’m not saying to go out and have a party. I’m just saying these players are players that can help you win and help you win possession. So, the Knicks needed that. They didn’t have the depth. Now, they need to play that depth. That’s the key.
All right. They need to play that depth. They also need to hire a head coach as well. Uh there’s reports that Mike Brown is getting his second interview, and that’s going down today. Does this mean that he’s the favorite for the job at this point? I think it means he’s one of the front runners. You heard that last week from uh our own Stefan Bondi. Talked about that, how he’d be one of the front runners along with Taylor Jenkins. The fact that he’s the first to get a second interview. I know Taylor Jenkins was also expected to get a second interview. But look, Mike Brown’s a good coach. We did an episode of New York Game a couple of weeks ago with myself and Shawn Hardy of Knicks film school and I had Mike Brown on the list of coaches I thought the Knicks should look at. He’s a guy who’s a ton of different experience, got a raw deal in Sacramento. I think he learned a lot as an assistant in Golden State under Steve Kerr and he evolved his offense. This is a guy who’s known as the defensive coach. But one thing I think you know about Mike Brown is he’s going to play guys, which goes back to what I talked about before. He’s going to, you know, embody and, you know, the values of having multiple guys play. He wants to empower guys towards the end of the bench and that depth. Because where the Knicks are now, Brandon, it’s about this team being healthy and ready for the playoffs. It’s not about playing for the regular season and treating every game like it’s game seven of the finals. It’s about having your stars, your best players, the entire team playoff ready, showing different combinations. I think Mike Brown’s a guy who can do that. Um, you know, again, I think he’d be the favorite here. I think it’s you’re getting reports that the Knicks are very impressed what they heard from Mike Brown. I think he’s a guy who could handle New York and handle the media. I think that also matters here, too. But the fact that he’s the first to get the second interview, I think it’s a really good sign here. But we’ll see how it plays on after this. You know, I think Taylor Jenkins will probably get a second interview as well, too. You also heard reports about James Burgago becoming a candidate that the Knicks are interested, too. So, here’s the thing. I don’t know when this is going to happen. The Knicks are going to be very patient with this. Leon Rose has been extremely thorough when it comes to hiring. He took two months, interviewed 11 candidates when he hired Tom Tibido. So, I don’t know if this process is going to be over soon, but I think the Knicks know what kind of coach they want. And Mike Brown, a guy who will play depth, empower others, install his system. I think he fits the bill of the kind of coach they would want.
It’s looking like Leon Rose is going to sign a head coach the day before. Tip off. Man,
they’re not going to do that. Come on. Come on, Brandon. They might as well sign you. You went through the draft and now the start of free agency with no head coach in place.
I You know what? I’m going to be honest. I don’t think that matters in the way people think, right? like and if it was a younger team or the Knicks had a lot more pieces to add, then I would say yes, it matters. But for a team where they are where they just had to add some vets, they know what kind of coach they are. A Taylor Jenkins and Mike Brown, they come in, they’re going to be fine. They they’re going to be fine with the pieces on this roster, it’s about maximizing those pieces, which is what they need the next Knicks head coach to do.
All right, Dexter Henry, trust the process. Appreciate you hopping on with me, man.
Anytime, bro. Thank you.

The Knicks are adding a French big man to the rotation. 

Guerschon Yabusele, 29, who revived his career in the 2024 Olympics for France and then last season with the Sixers, agreed to a two-year deal Tuesday with the Knicks, a source confirmed. 

The contract is worth roughly $12 million with a player option in the second year, a source told The Post.

https://nypost.com/2025/07/01/sports/knicks-signing-big-man-guerschon-yabusele-for-12-million-in-nba-free-agency/

#nypostsports #newyorkknicks #nbafreeagency

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