Trades and Transactions 2025 V

[JayTWill]

So JayTWill I believe had mentioned that we might be $150 K under the 2nd apron right now, but he also mentioned that we don't have any room to even sign Kevin McCullar Jr. to a standard contract. So a little confused, but was wondering this (if this is even possible) --

Considering how poor Yabusele has played (not supplying any offense, poor D, poor rebounding, not moving around well at all -- dude just doesn't look right out there, very passive -- how long do we wait on him?), was wondering if there's enough cap room to sign a low risk/low cost guy like Eric Dixon and if Dixon could strengthen the bench at least a little bit. Went undrafted, the Lakers signed him for Summer League (not sure if he even made any appearances for them), got cut -- then Charlotte had signed him and he was then cut quickly, now playing for their G-League affiliate (Greensboro). I think one of those moves where they did it to put a little money in his pocket and get him to play for their GL team, but technically, he's a FA, free to sign with whomever..

I'm a little concerned with Dixon's D and rebounding in the NBA, but what I do feel pretty certain and confident about is that his scoring probably would translate over. College Basketball's leading scorer last season. Not the most athletic guy around but he can put the ball in the basket. Can post up, put it on the floor a little and he shoots the 3 well (over 40% last year for Villanova on pretty heavy volume). Really reminds me of a poor man's Julius Randle offensively... I couldn't see him playing passive on the offensive end at all, like I see Yabusele playing.

So not talking about adding a star player here--I get it, just a low risk/low cost piece that might be able to boost the bench a little bit more.

When you're strapped for cap room and have next to no maneuverability left, I think you look at a guy like this.

Thoughts?

The Knicks don't currently have room to add anyone for the 15th and last roster spot on a standard contract. Here is a table of the minimum salaries that can be offered to a player depending on their years of service

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/cba/minimum

I don't know his current status but the minimum salary for Eric Dixon as an undrafted rookie with zero years of service would be $1,272,870 at the start of the season. As the season goes along the Knicks can offer a prorated amount of the minimum salary. For example after 90% of the regular season has been played they could offer Dixon 10% of the minimum and that $127,287 would fit into the $150,000 the Knicks have remaining below the cap at the 2nd apron that was triggered when they used the taxpayer MLE on Yabu.

I assume this thread will get locked or merged into the trade thread if they open it up again. I thought JVG accidentally locked it when the Hamsterdam thread reached its 100 page limit but the trade thread has been closed for almost 24 hours now. I don't know what's going on.

[thebuzzardman]

For what it's worth, I think Yabu came into camp a little heavy and sort of found himself down the depth chart, rightly so. As a result he's been tentative, lost some confidence. Last couple of games he's been playing better but it'll take time because he's not getting 20 mpg like he did in Philly because now he's kind of in the Precious role of 9.5th or 10th man, only playing when Mitch sits or there is foul trouble.

Summary: If he was getting minutes, he'd probably get his sh*t together in 10 games, now it'll take about 20.

Also, playing Hart/Clarkson/Deuce any kind of minutes was always going to cut into Yabu's minutes.

[finestrg]

So JayTWill I believe had mentioned that we might be $150 K under the 2nd apron right now, but he also mentioned that we don't have any room to even sign Kevin McCullar Jr. to a standard contract. So a little confused, but was wondering this (if this is even possible) --

Considering how poor Yabusele has played (not supplying any offense, poor D, poor rebounding, not moving around well at all -- dude just doesn't look right out there, very passive -- how long do we wait on him?), was wondering if there's enough cap room to sign a low risk/low cost guy like Eric Dixon and if Dixon could strengthen the bench at least a little bit. Went undrafted, the Lakers signed him for Summer League (not sure if he even made any appearances for them), got cut -- then Charlotte had signed him and he was then cut quickly, now playing for their G-League affiliate (Greensboro). I think one of those moves where they did it to put a little money in his pocket and get him to play for their GL team, but technically, he's a FA, free to sign with whomever..

I'm a little concerned with Dixon's D and rebounding in the NBA, but what I do feel pretty certain and confident about is that his scoring probably would translate over. College Basketball's leading scorer last season. Not the most athletic guy around but he can put the ball in the basket. Can post up, put it on the floor a little and he shoots the 3 well (over 40% last year for Villanova on pretty heavy volume). Really reminds me of a poor man's Julius Randle offensively... I couldn't see him playing passive on the offensive end at all, like I see Yabusele playing.

So not talking about adding a star player here--I get it, just a low risk/low cost piece that might be able to boost the bench a little bit more.

When you're strapped for cap room and have next to no maneuverability left, I think you look at a guy like this.

Thoughts?

The Knicks don't currently have room to add anyone for the 15th and last roster spot on a standard contract. Here is a table of the minimum salaries that can be offered to a player depending on their years of service

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/cba/minimum

I don't know his current status but the minimum salary for Eric Dixon as an undrafted rookie with zero years of service would be $1,272,870 at the start of the season. As the season goes along the Knicks can offer a prorated amount of the minimum salary. For example after 90% of the regular season has been played they could offer Dixon 10% of the minimum and that $127,287 would fit into the $150,000 the Knicks have remaining below the cap at the 2nd apron that was triggered when they used the taxpayer MLE on Yabu.

I assume this thread will get locked or merged into the trade thread if they open it up again. I thought JVG accidentally locked it when the Hamsterdam thread reached its 100 page limit but the trade thread has been closed for almost 24 hours now. I don't know what's going on.

Well there goes that idea. Thanks for clarifying, Jay. So this is the team now pretty much I guess, sink or swim.

Yes, I absolutely would've put this up in the Transactions and Trades thread (would've responded directly to you there) but saw it was locked.

So any ideas on how to get Yabusele going? I thought maybe it was a conditioning issue but he's always looked heavy in the rear for a guy (just his body type I think). Plus, they had Steph Bondy on Knicks Fan TV not too long ago and he said he's seen Yabu with his shirt off in the locker room and he looks jacked. Also, there's at least one video of Yabu working out in the offseason on YouTube and it looked like he was working hard, taking his workouts seriously..So I refuse to believe he's out of shape. So what then, just playing too passive? Hot potato, get it and get rid of it as fast as he can? I mean that's what it looks like most of the time with him. I'm not saying this dude's Karl Malone, but after his play in Philly last season, I thought we were adding a nice player, someone better than Precious Achiuwa, dare I say a poor man's Naz Reid... Haven't see anything close to that, though... Even Clarkson's game has come around. Yabu's really the only guy that still looks out of sorts and not really contributing regularly. Alarming, because coupled with KAT's propensity for foul trouble,we know Mitch is gonna miss a bunch of games...Was counting on Yabu to fill in up front but unfortunately I'm not seeing a guy who's ready to do that for some reason.. Instead, seeing a guy who's not playing aggressive enough, kind of just happy to be here. I dunno, very odd situation -- instead of frontcourt depth being a strength like i thought it would be, it's a concern.

BTW - anyone feeling me on Eric Dixon? Again, rebounding and D might be a question mark but I really like him as an offensive player. Kind of a poor man's Julius Randle/Miles Bridges. Not a great comparison but Trace Jackson-Davis is another guy that comes to mind, only he's more athletic, a little taller and a better defender. But on the other side of the ball, I think Dixon has MUCH BETTER offensive skills. i guess I'm thinking if there's room in the NBA for TJD, there's room for Eric Dixon as well. These new cap rules are the pits man, I tell ya.. Costing players money and a lot of jobs.. SMH.

[2010]

For what it's worth, I think Yabu came into camp a little heavy and sort of found himself down the depth chart, rightly so. As a result he's been tentative, lost some confidence. Last couple of games he's been playing better but it'll take time because he's not getting 20 mpg like he did in Philly because now he's kind of in the Precious role of 9.5th or 10th man, only playing when Mitch sits or there is foul trouble.

Summary: If he was getting minutes, he'd probably get his sh*t together in 10 games, now it'll take about 20.

Also, playing Hart/Clarkson/Deuce any kind of minutes was always going to cut into Yabu's minutes.

Let me make this more concise for you. He ass bro!

[Jeff Van Gully]

not sure what happened yesterday with the accidental lock. chalk it up to site bugginess. sorry for whatever happened. will investigate.

[JayTWill]

We back!

[thebuzzardman]

For what it's worth, I think Yabu came into camp a little heavy and sort of found himself down the depth chart, rightly so. As a result he's been tentative, lost some confidence. Last couple of games he's been playing better but it'll take time because he's not getting 20 mpg like he did in Philly because now he's kind of in the Precious role of 9.5th or 10th man, only playing when Mitch sits or there is foul trouble.

Summary: If he was getting minutes, he'd probably get his sh*t together in 10 games, now it'll take about 20.

Also, playing Hart/Clarkson/Deuce any kind of minutes was always going to cut into Yabu's minutes.

Let me make this more concise for you. He large ass bro!

fixed

[JayTWill]

So JayTWill I believe had mentioned that we might be $150 K under the 2nd apron right now, but he also mentioned that we don't have any room to even sign Kevin McCullar Jr. to a standard contract. So a little confused, but was wondering this (if this is even possible) --

Considering how poor Yabusele has played (not supplying any offense, poor D, poor rebounding, not moving around well at all -- dude just doesn't look right out there, very passive -- how long do we wait on him?), was wondering if there's enough cap room to sign a low risk/low cost guy like Eric Dixon and if Dixon could strengthen the bench at least a little bit. Went undrafted, the Lakers signed him for Summer League (not sure if he even made any appearances for them), got cut -- then Charlotte had signed him and he was then cut quickly, now playing for their G-League affiliate (Greensboro). I think one of those moves where they did it to put a little money in his pocket and get him to play for their GL team, but technically, he's a FA, free to sign with whomever..

I'm a little concerned with Dixon's D and rebounding in the NBA, but what I do feel pretty certain and confident about is that his scoring probably would translate over. College Basketball's leading scorer last season. Not the most athletic guy around but he can put the ball in the basket. Can post up, put it on the floor a little and he shoots the 3 well (over 40% last year for Villanova on pretty heavy volume). Really reminds me of a poor man's Julius Randle offensively... I couldn't see him playing passive on the offensive end at all, like I see Yabusele playing.

So not talking about adding a star player here--I get it, just a low risk/low cost piece that might be able to boost the bench a little bit more.

When you're strapped for cap room and have next to no maneuverability left, I think you look at a guy like this.

Thoughts?

The Knicks don't currently have room to add anyone for the 15th and last roster spot on a standard contract. Here is a table of the minimum salaries that can be offered to a player depending on their years of service

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/cba/minimum

I don't know his current status but the minimum salary for Eric Dixon as an undrafted rookie with zero years of service would be $1,272,870 at the start of the season. As the season goes along the Knicks can offer a prorated amount of the minimum salary. For example after 90% of the regular season has been played they could offer Dixon 10% of the minimum and that $127,287 would fit into the $150,000 the Knicks have remaining below the cap at the 2nd apron that was triggered when they used the taxpayer MLE on Yabu.

I assume this thread will get locked or merged into the trade thread if they open it up again. I thought JVG accidentally locked it when the Hamsterdam thread reached its 100 page limit but the trade thread has been closed for almost 24 hours now. I don't know what's going on.

Well there goes that idea. Thanks for clarifying, Jay. So this is the team now pretty much I guess, sink or swim.

Yes, I absolutely would've put this up in the Transactions and Trades thread (would've responded directly to you there) but saw it was locked.

So any ideas on how to get Yabusele going? I thought maybe it was a conditioning issue but he's always looked heavy in the rear for a guy (just his body type I think). Plus, they had Steph Bondy on Knicks Fan TV not too long ago and he said he's seen Yabu with his shirt off in the locker room and he looks jacked. Also, there's at least one video of Yabu working out in the offseason on YouTube and it looked like he was working hard, taking his workouts seriously..So I refuse to believe he's out of shape. So what then, just playing too passive? Hot potato, get it and get rid of it as fast as he can? I mean that's what it looks like most of the time with him. I'm not saying this dude's Karl Malone, but after his play in Philly last season, I thought we were adding a nice player, someone better than Precious Achiuwa, dare I say a poor man's Naz Reid... Haven't see anything close to that, though... Even Clarkson's game has come around. Yabu's really the only guy that still looks out of sorts and not really contributing regularly. Alarming, because coupled with KAT's propensity for foul trouble,we know Mitch is gonna miss a bunch of games...Was counting on Yabu to fill in up front but unfortunately I'm not seeing a guy who's ready to do that for some reason.. Instead, seeing a guy who's not playing aggressive enough, kind of just happy to be here. I dunno, very odd situation -- instead of frontcourt depth being a strength like i thought it would be, it's a concern.

BTW - anyone feeling me on Eric Dixon? Again, rebounding and D might be a question mark but I really like him as an offensive player. Kind of a poor man's Julius Randle/Miles Bridges. Not a great comparison but Trace Jackson-Davis is another guy that comes to mind, only he's more athletic, a little taller and a better defender. But on the other side of the ball, I think Dixon has MUCH BETTER offensive skills. i guess I'm thinking if there's room in the NBA for TJD, there's room for Eric Dixon as well. These new cap rules are the pits man, I tell ya.. Costing players money and a lot of jobs.. SMH.

I wasn't a big fan of the Yabu signing so i'm probably not the best person to ask. I felt he was being a bit overhyped from FIBA play that doesn't always translate to NBA success and from stat/clip watching of a bad Sixers team that I don't think many of us actually saw last year. From what I could see he was solid offensively as a small ball 5 with poor rebounding and rim protection for that position. He was also allowed to get many more minutes and shots that would be available on this current Knicks roster. We watched Grimes, who liked more than most at the end of his time here, jack up a ton of shots due to the limited amount of talent remaining on that roster.

I assume he will get more time if one of the bigs are out and he will eventually look better with more extended minutes as he gets adjusted to the team. I'm just not sure what his role on the team is even if he returns to last years' form as he doesn't fill the teams' need for more defense, athleticism, dynamic shooting and creation. He looked like a guy that could knock down the open 3, attack close outs and beat some bigs down the court for easier buckets. He also looked like a guy that could be sluggish and slow on the defensive end. He gave good effort but outside of straight line speed he didn't seem to have great mobility.

I'm not sure how out of shape he is in comparison to last year. He basically washed out of the league the first time as a guy that had trouble defending while also reportedly having issues managing his weight during the season. The guy that started this year could be the same weight as the guy that ended last year with the Sixers. I don't know how often they even update the weights to start the season. Whether he weighs 265 or 285 I think he would look better with less weight especially at his age and height.