The New York Knicks have three open roster spots and a championship to defend. That combination naturally gets people talking about who might join the party. DeMar DeRozan, fresh off a buyout from Sacramento, seemed like a name that could pop up in those conversations.
But according to SNY’s Ian Begley, you can pretty much forget about it.
“DeRozan, obviously a very skilled scorer. I don’t think there’s anything there, probably on either end. I don’t think anything happens there,” Begley said. “DeRozan seems to be purportedly interested in Miami. I think the Clippers will be in there. I don’t think the Knicks are on his wishlist. I don’t think the Knicks have strong interest in bringing DeRozan in. I think you could put that to bed at the moment.”
Begley made those comments on SNY alongside host Eamon McAnaney. The full clip is out there if you want to hear him spell it out himself.
Why DeRozan doesn’t fit
On the surface, you could squint and see a role for DeRozan in New York. He’s still a bucket-getter. The Knicks could use another scoring option off the bench, someone to fill the Jordan Clarkson-type microwave role that worked so well last season.
But there’s a catch. Clarkson was fine with his minutes fluctuating. He didn’t sulk when his role shrank during the playoff run. DeRozan has spent his entire career as a high-usage guy. He needs the ball in his hands to be effective. And he’s not much of a spacer from deep, which makes him a weird fit in a Knicks offense that thrives on floor balance.
Plus, there’s the money situation. DeRozan is still collecting $10 million from the Kings next season, so a minimum deal would be financially fine for him. But his preference seems to be Miami or maybe the Clippers. Not New York.
The real need: a third big
The Knicks have a more pressing hole to fill anyway. They need a third-string center. Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein are fine at the top of the depth chart, but after that it gets thin. Begley pointed out that the front office should be prioritizing a big man before anything else.
Free agency doesn’t offer much. Nick Richards, Drew Eubanks, Xavier Tillman. Those are the kinds of names floating around. Not flashy. But the Knicks aren’t looking for flashy. They’re looking for someone who can eat minutes in the regular season and not get cooked in spot duty.
So don’t hold your breath waiting for DeRozan to show up at MSG. It’s not happening. The Knicks know it, and apparently DeRozan knows it too.
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