The NNew York Knicks still have some moves up their sleeves, even after improving their bench depth with the additions of Sixth Man of the Year Jordan Clarkson and French big man Guerschon Yabusele.
Zach Lowe of The Ringer floated two names that should be on the Knicks’ radar.
“They [Knicks] only have 12 players on the team right now… They literally, by law of the NBA, have to sign more players,” Lowe said on his eponymous podcast “The Zach Lowe Show” on July 24. I would keep my eye out on [Landry] Shamet. I would keep my eye out on [Malcolm] Brogdon, who both could be helpful.”
Shamet, who signed for the veteran minimum deal with the Knicks last year, was one of the few bright spots on the Knicks’ atrocious bench. The 28-year-old guard averaged 5.7 points on 39.7% 3-point shooting for the Knicks’ bench, which ranked last in scoring last season.
On the other hand, Brogdon is coming off an injury-riddled season that saw him have the second-lowest scoring in his career after playing for only 24 games.
He was sidelined by a left ankle sprain for the final 28 games. The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 12.7 points while shooting a career-worst 28.6% from the three-point line, 4.1 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 23.5 minutes per game for the rebuilding Washington Wizards.
Injuries have derailed his once-promising career. He has not played over 70 games since his rookie season. Since the Boston Celtics shipped him to Portland in 2023, Brogdon has only played in 63 games across the last two seasons.
When healthy, Brogdon provides a steady hand and tough perimeter defense off the bench with his 6 feet 10.5 inches wingspan.
Kevin Love Wants to Play in New York
Another potential buyout candidate wants to play for the Knicks.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, five-time NBA All-Star forward Kevin Love is expected to be bought out by the Utah Jazz and will only consider joining big-market teams.
“The buyout doesn’t typically really get figured out until that next situation is fully determined. I don’t think you’re going to sign the paperwork to give up guaranteed millions of dollars until you have your next situation lined up.
“With Kevin Love, to my understanding, he really only wants to be in the big glamorous markets… New York, a Los Angeles type of situation,” Fischer said on his Bleacher Report’s “Insider Notebook” livestreamed on July 24.
The Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers are the top two glamour franchises in the NBA.
Love was the third star in the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ championship team — the first 3-1 comeback in NBA Finals history — in 2016.
Love, 36, is no longer the perennial All-Star he once was. He only appeared in 23 games last season with the Miami Heat, averaging 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds.
Knicks Favored to Sign Russell Westbrook
Aside from Love, the Knicks were also labeled as the betting favorites to sign former MVP Russell Westbrook.
Offshore sportsbook Bovada has installed the Knicks as the odds-on favorites coming in at +250. The Sacramento Kings, who have been linked to Westbrook even before they landed Dennis Schroder, have the next best odds at +350.
Westbrook, 36, remained unsigned after he declined his $3.5 million player option to return to Denver.
The nine-time All-NBA point guard played a key role for the Nuggets last season, averaging 13.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists against 3.2 turnovers in 75 games. In Denver, the 2017 NBA MVP split his time between the Nuggets’ bench and starting unit.
With the Knicks hard-capped at the second apron, they could only add players via the veteran minimum contract.
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