The Knicks will reportedly roll over their cap space if they miss on Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Kawhi Leonard in free agency. That means not chasing second-tier stars on multi-year deals. But one of those second-tier stars – Kemba Walker – could open the door for New York to get another free agent.
Walker sounds set on the Celtics. A simple way for Boston to clear cap space for him: Renounce Terry Rozier, who’d become an unrestricted free agent.
Marc Berman of the New York Post:
Rozier has long coveted a starting job. New York would provide a huge stage for Rozier to prove himself.
The Knicks have Dennis Smith Jr., who might be better than Rozier. Rozier is coming off a rough year.
But maybe that’s because he was stuck behind Kyrie Irving. There are signs Rozier could flourish in a bigger role.
This would be a decent way for New York to use its cap space if bigger stars aren’t coming.
Likewise, this could be a decent landing spot for Rozier. He definitely sounds done with Boston. If he’s good enough to start, he shouldn’t view Smith as a barrier. Rozier also might not get lucrative long-term offers. A prove-it deal in New York could be his best option after his down season.