Day: November 19, 2020

From Scott Thompson:

The Knicks and Jazz are in agreement on a trade that would send veteran center Ed Davis to New York, SNY’s Ian Begley confirmed.

Utah will also be sending two second-round picks in the 2023 NBA Draft with Davis, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

With the Knicks declining the option for Taj Gibson, a trade for a younger Davis makes sense to back up Mitchell Robinson down low. And it’s a role Davis is used to in the Big Apple, having worked behind Jarrett Allen with the Brooklyn Nets two seasons ago. He was also behind Rudy Gobert on the Jazz last season.

At 6-foot-9, 218 pounds, Davis can also play at the four if need be. The 21-year-old averaged 10.8 minutes per game last year and only 1.8 points with 3.8 rebounds. With the Nets, he averaged 8.6 rebounds, his highest total of his career, with 5.8 points per game.

Davis only costs $5 million for the 2020-21 season.

Nice to see the Knicks actually taking on salary for future assets. It’s a thing of beauty. And it’s funny that Davis, who Rose just picked up as a salary dump, is not much worse than Taj Gibson, who the Knicks actively signed for $10 million.

Unless, of course, they then trade all of these second round picks for, like, Russell Westbrook.

I am sorry for putting that evil out into the world!

From ESPN…

The New York Knicks created over $40 million in salary-cap space Thursday by parting ways with six veteran players.

The Knicks announced that they waived forward Taj Gibson and guards Elfrid Payton and Wayne Ellington and declined the $15.75 million team option on forward Bobby Portis’ contract.

Gibson was set to make $9.45 million in 2020-21, while Payton and Ellington each was scheduled to make $8 million.

The three will each make $1 million in guaranteed money from their deals with the Knicks despite being waived.

New York also declined a $1.7 million option on forward Theo Pinson’s deal and waived forward Kenny Wooten, who was on a two-way contract.

The Knicks signed Gibson, Payton, Ellington and Portis in June 2019 after failing to land the high-profile free agents that summer, including current Brooklyn Nets teammates Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

It’s going to be fascinating to see what they do with all of that cap room.