Knicks Make Roster Moves (and some recent rumors)

Happy Free Agency Day, y'all!

Starting at 6:00 p.m. this evening, NBA teams can legally begin negotiating with free agents. 

In other words, at around 6 p.m., Woj and Shams can begin tweeting out info on deals that certain players and teams have agreed to behind the scenes. The biggest question mark for Knicks fans is what happens with Isaiah Hartenstein. If we don't get news on iHart when the clock strikes 6, that's probably good news, as it means iHart doesn't have a deal locked in north of $90 million and that the Knicks are still in the running.

However, before we start looking ahead toward tonight, let's quickly recap New York's roster moves from yesterday.

* The Knicks did not extend Precious Achiuwa a $6.3 million qualifying offer, which means he is now an unrestricted free agent.

Considered a relatively minimal piece in the OG/IQ/RJ blockbuster trade, Achiuwa played an unexpectedly significant role when injuries sidelined Julius Randle and OG Anunoby. Over a six-week stretch from late January to early April (a 16-game sample size), Achiuwa averaged 13.0 points (on 53.4% shooting), 9.8 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.8 blocks in 36.8 minutes a night. Those are undeniably impressive numbers. 

Yesterday's decision does not necessarily mean the Bronx-born big man definitely won't return to New York. The Knicks declined his OQ offer to prevent being hard-capped while they work on finalizing the Mikal Bridges trade. They could still re-sign Precious if that works best for both parties. New York could also still use him in a sign-and-trade. (Some have speculated that declining his QO means NY are confident they can bring back iHart… we shall see)

** The Knicks did pick up their $2.1 million team option on Jericho Sims for next season. However, Sims' contract has a partial guarantee of only $651,000. The trigger dates arrive in July and August. It's not set in stone he will be on the roster come Opening Night. 

* As expected, New York declined Daquan Jeffries' $2.5 million team option. 

* The Knicks extended a two-way qualifying offer to Jacob Toppin, making him a restricted free agent. 

* New York did not extend a qualifying offer to Duane Washington Jr. or Charlie Brown Jr. Both will be unrestricted free agents. 

Some news and notes to pass along:

🏀 Jalen Smith, who spent last season in Indiana, is declining his $5.4 million player option and will enter unrestricted free agency. Someone to keep an eye on if the Knicks are in the market for a big.

🏀 Thomas Bryant has declined his $2.8 million player option with the Heat to become an unrestricted free agent, per Anthony Chiang.

🏀 The Chicago Bulls have been trying to dump  Zach LaVine by attaching a first-round pick to him, but thus far, no teams have shown interest, per ESPN's Bobby Marks. "There is no market for Zach Lavine," said Marks. "They are trying to give him away and attach a first-round pick. I've been told that by multiple, multiple people."

🏀 Per Woj this morning, LeBron James may be willing to take a pay cut of up to $20 million if doing so enables the Lakers to add a difference-maker via the full mid-level exception. Klay Thompson and Jonas Valanciunas are thought to be two of the primary targets.

🏀 Speaking of Klay, multiple plugged-in reporters believe that Thompson's time in Golden State has ended. Apparently, the Dubs didn't even make Klay an offer this month. The Warriors could still use him in a sign-and-trade. 

🏀 The biggest news yesterday was Paul George declining his player option and becoming an unrestricted free agent. Woj says the Clippers are unwilling to offer more than three years, while George wants a four-year deal. The Sixers and Magic are reportedly prepared to offer George a full max deal. If the Clips don't up their offer, he'll likely leave Los Angeles. George is expected to meet with clubs this evening. 

🏀 From a Knicks perspective, the more top-tier free agents that hit the open market, the higher the chances that a team like Orlando, OKC or Philly will use their abundant cap space on someone other than iHart. #KeepTheFaith

🏀 Lastly, I thought I'd pass this along: Today is the five-year anniversary of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving agreeing to join the Nets. In the five years since signing KD and Kyrie (and later trading Jarrett Allen, Taurean Prince, Caris LeVert, three first-round draft picks and four first-round pick swaps for James Harden), here's how the Nets performed in the playoffs:
2020: Swept
2021: Won 1 series
2022: Swept (after trading Harden for Ben Simmons)
2023: Swept 
2024: Failed to make playoffs

Over the past five years (since the day Brooklyn supposedly took over NYC), the Knicks have won twice as many playoff games (14) as the Nets (7).