With their fourth straight 50+ loss season almost at an end, let’s take a look at the current Knicks players who will be Free Agents in the offseason.
(Note: This list doesn’t include the Knicks' two-way players Luke Kornet and Isaiah Hicks, nor does it include Troy Williams who is signed to a partial guarantee for next season.)
Unrestricted
Michael Beasley
The 29-year-old Beasley played this season on a one-year deal worth a little over $2 million. With the scoring prowess he has shown for the Knicks this season, expect him to earn more on his next deal.
In 70 games, he has per game averages of 22.6 minutes, 13.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.6 blocks. Beasley has shot over 50 percent from the field, has scored at least 20 points on 20 different occasions, and at least 30 four times.
Trey Burke
The 25-year-old Burke started the year playing in the G-League for the Westchester Knicks. New York finally called him up and signed him for the rest of the season in mid-January after he averaged 26.6 points, 5.3 assists, and 2.0 steals in 26 games with Westchester.
The Naismith Player of the Year in 2013 while at Michigan, Burke has exceeded all expectations with the Knicks after minimal production with the Wizards last season. In 32 games with New York, he is putting up per game averages of 20.3 minutes, 12.7 points, 1.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.1 blocks.
He has made over half his field goal attempts (51.8 percent) while also connecting on 37.9 percent of his threes. He scored a career-high 42 points along with dishing out 12 assists in an overtime loss to the Hornets on March 26.
Jarrett Jack
Coming to the Knicks on a partially-guaranteed deal, Jack performed admirably when he took over the starting point guard reigns in the team’s fourth game.
He has been out of the rotation for some time now though with the team out of playoff contention and New York wanting to further develop younger point guards Frank Ntilikina, Trey Burke, and trade acquisition Emmanuel Mudiay.
The 34-year-old started 56 games and has averages of 7.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.1 blocks in 25.6 Minutes Per Game.
Jack actually recorded the Knicks' first triple-double in a double overtime loss on January 10 to the Bulls, the team’s first since Carmelo Anthony in 2012.
Player option
Ron Baker ($4,544,400)
One would expect Baker to exercise his player option and remain with the Knicks next season. A dislocated right shoulder and torn labrum ended his season after just 29 appearances. Undrafted, he played in 52 games (13 starts) last season as a rookie. The 25-year-old averaged 2.4 points, 1.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.2 blocks in 13.3 minutes per game on the year. He was just 20-59 (33.9 percent) from the field.
Enes Kanter ($18,622,514)
While Kanter has repeatedly stated how he loves New York and would love to stay for the rest of his career, he also wasn’t fond of the team trying to develop their young guys late in the year, saying that should occur in the G-League.
A back injury may not allow him to play again this season. The 25-year-old has played 71 games and has posted averages of 14.1 points, 11.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks in 25.8 minutes per game. Kanter has also shot an impressive 59.2 percent from the field. He is currently tied for sixth in the NBA in rebounds per game, fourth with 3.8 offensive rebounds per game, and fifth in field goal percentage.
Kyle O’Quinn ($4,256,250)
While he hasn’t stated as such, most believe O’Quinn will opt-out in order to pursue a multi-year deal. It has arguably been the best season of the 28-year-old’s six-year career. He currently owns career-highs in minutes per game (17.7), scoring average (6.9), rebounds per game (5.9), assists per game (2.0), and field goal percentage (.585). He also has averaged 1.2 blocks and 0.5 steals.
