Knicks make 2 roster strikes after Karl-Anthony Cities commerce
Practically 24 hours after the information broke that the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves had agreed to a deal that will ship Karl-Anthony Cities to the Huge Apple in trade for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, Keita Bates-Diop and a future 1st spherical choose, the aftershock of the deal continues to be being felt across the NBA. And never simply within the Tri-State space, the place followers who have been imagining a “Nova Knicks” championship are licking their wounds.
As of Saturday night time, the Knicks are nonetheless making strikes to make sure that this blockbuster deal can and can formally undergo.
Per senior NBA insider Chris Haynes:
“New York Knicks have waived Marcus Morris Sr. and Chuma Okeke.”
Fred Katz of The Athletic supplied further readability as to why these two minor strikes adopted this seismic and utterly sudden deal between the Timberwolves and Knicks.
“The Knicks needed to open up roster spots so they may pull off sign-and-trades within the Cities deal. Waiving Okeke and Morris provides them two further open spots. Now they will signal and commerce DaQuan Jeffries and whomever else to Charlotte.”
Marcus Morris Sr. and Chuma Okeke each signed with the Knicks this summer time after taking part in for Cleveland and Orlando respectively final season. Neither participant was anticipated to have an outsized function throughout the Knicks rotation throughout the 2024-25 season.
Knicks pivot from Villanova Wildcats to KAT
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After seemingly going all in on the Nova Knicks mantra with an offseason commerce for Mikal Bridges, the Knicks reversed course and went all in on their championship chase to a good better extent with the addition of Karl-Anthony Cities.
Whereas Knicks followers had good cause to be excited a few closing lineup that probably included Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart together with their former Villanova teammates Bridges and DiVincenzo, the prospect of Brunson, Hart, Bridges and OG Anunoby being paired with a authentic flooring spacing large like Cities is one thing that even the most important Cities skeptics may most likely get behind.
For as imperfect as Karl-Anthony Cities’ sport is, his declare as one of many best taking pictures large males in league historical past is backed up by any numbers you would discover. And given Anthony Edwards’ ascension over the past couple of years, Cities has gotten used to being a secondary choice inside an offense. He’ll be taking a backseat this season to Jalen Brunson, who averaged a career-high 28.7 factors per sport final season.
