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Knicks reach terms to keep Steve Novak for four years

Steve Novak

New York Knicks’ Steve Novak (16) celebrates after making a 3-pointer as Washington Wizards’ Chris Singleton (31) walks by during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, April 13, 2012, in New York. The Knicks won 103-65. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

AP

If you are an NBA role player and want to stay in the league, you need to have one exceptional skill, do one thing particularly well and find teams who need that skill.

Steve Novak can shoot the three — he shot 47.2 percent from deep last season and took 5.2 a game. The New York Knicks need shooters who can space the floor for Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire.

Novak and the Knicks have agreed to terms of a new deal, his agent has confirmed to multiple outlets. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports and NBC Sports Network tweets that is a four-year, $15 million deal.

Novak will be putting on his championship belt — ala WWE — when he hits big shots in New York for a few more years.

The deal sounds about right. Novak is a player fans love — chicks dig the long ball — who serves a purpose, is not too expensive and could be part of future trades. Good signing.

Because the NBA players union worked out a settlement with the league on an arbitration case, the Knicks were able to sign Novak using his Bird rights, keeping their mid-level exception around to chase other free agent targets.