Trevor Keels goes off for game-high 32 points

Keels didn’t log any NBA minutes last season but notched 13.5 points and 3.5 assists per game with the Iowa Wolves.

Keels has been around the Knicks’ organization for the past year after they drafted him with the No. 42 pick. He even signed a two-way deal with them after a solid Summer League performance. However, they waived him, and he’ll have a chance to earn a deal with Minnesota in training camp. However, even if he earns one, it’ll likely only be a two-way deal, which won’t allow him to make a mark on the fantasy landscape this season.

Less than a week after it was reported that the Knicks were re-signing Keels to another two-way contract, he’s reportedly being waived. The move will free up a spot for Dylan Windler, who was signed to a two-way deal Monday afternoon. Windler, Nathan Knight, and Jaylen Martin have agreed to two-way deals with the team. The Knicks do retain Keels’ G League rights, so he may not be completely done with the organization despite Monday’s news.

The Knicks signed Keels to a two-way contract on two separate cases last season, most recently doing so in March. He’ll begin next season on a similar deal, joining Jaylen Martin and Nathan Knight as the Knicks players on two-way deals. Keels, who appeared in three NBA games last season, averaged 10.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.6 3-pointers in 22.4 minutes per game in five appearances at the NBA2K24 Summer League earlier this month.

Keels has been a decent scoring option for the Knicks this summer, which continued against Denver on Saturday. After being selected with the 42nd pick in the 2022 draft, Keels spent his rookie year on a two-way with the Knicks. He only played a total of eight minutes over three games for New York, and he likely won’t play much more next season.

Keels stepped up with his best performance of Summer League on Friday, with the solid stat line bolstered by the fact that he committed just one turnover. And with the action in Las Vegas winding down, there aren’t many opportunities left to show that he’s worthy of a guaranteed contract. The Knicks extended a two-way qualifying offer to Keels just before the start of free agency, making him a restricted free agent. His status won’t impact fantasy basketball for next season, especially if the Knicks hold onto him.

Keels’ absence won’t impact the Knicks’ rotation. Unfortunately for him, this represents a missed opportunity, as multiple key contributors have been ruled out for the final game of the regular season.

Brown agreed to a two-way contract with the Knicks on March 8, spending the majority of his time with the team’s G League affiliate. This transaction won’t impact fantasy basketball, but Brown should get a shot with another team. In a corresponding move, the Knicks will re-sign Trevor Keels to a two-way contract.

A two-way slot was opened up for Keels once Jericho Sims signed his new 3-year deal. The 42nd pick in the draft, Keels is miles off the fantasy radar for the time being.

While much of the pre-free agency chatter regarding the Knicks has been focused on the team’s pursuit of Jalen Brunson, there’s also a need to solidify the center rotation. Starter Mitchell Robinson will be a free agent, while Nerlens Noel has one guaranteed year remaining on his deal and Taj Gibson’s contract for 2022-23 is not guaranteed. That leaves Sims, who played well when given the opportunity during the latter stages of this past season, and he appears to be in line for a contract upgrade. If Sims is shifted to a standard deal as expected, then second-round pick Trevor Keels is expected to receive one of the available two-way contracts. Sims’ fantasy prospects for next season will depend largely upon what happens with Robinson and the other veterans. If he can get backup minutes, Sims would be worth placing on your radar due to the injury histories of Robinson (provided he returns) and Noel.