The Knicks’ plan in free agency is to sign players who will make an instant impact off the bench.
New York’s bench ranked last in several key per-game categories, including points, rebounds, and minutes, under the now-fired Tom Thibodeau. The Knicks need a game-changer off the bench, but they still lack the financial flexibility and assets to acquire one.
As a first-apron team, the Knicks only have access to the $5.6 million tax mid-level exception (TMLE), which likely isn’t enough to sign a higher-tier role player. Instead, New York will have to look for under-the-radar free agents with this exception and find players willing to take the veteran minimum.
Free Agent Targets Worth the TMLE
This year’s free-agent class isn’t great, but there are a few players who could provide value at the TMLE. The Knicks need help at guard, forward, and center, giving team president Leon Rose several directions to go when seeking upgrades.
Chris Paul
Chris Paul has been linked to the Knicks since Leon Rose took over the team in 2020. Paul and Rose have a strong relationship, as Rose was Paul’s agent for most of his professional career.
Regardless of the relationship with Rose, Chris Paul would be an ideal backup guard to Jalen Brunson. Paul is a tough, hard-nosed veteran with a legendary knack for finding his teammates.
At 40 years old, Paul’s age is a concern. However, he still checks off most of the boxes for New York at point guard.
Dennis Schroder
Another playmaking and three-point shooting guard the Knicks should have on their radar is Dennis Schroder.
He is coming off an up-and-down season, bouncing from team to team without finding a steady home. He began the 2024-25 season with the Brooklyn Nets, was traded to the Golden State Warriors in December, and later moved to the Detroit Pistons as a piece of the Jimmy Butler trade.
Schroder reminded everyone of his talent during his brief stint with the Pistons, averaging 12.5 points per game while shooting 47.6% from three against the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs.
The biggest challenge for New York is that Detroit owns Schroder’s full Bird rights, meaning the Pistons can outbid other teams. If the Knicks were to sign Schroder, they’ll need Detroit to pass on re-signing him.
Sandro Mamukelashvili
What a homecoming it would be for Sandro Mamukelashvili if he signed with the New York Knicks.
The New York native entered the NBA in 2021 when the Milwaukee Bucks selected him in the second round. After his stint in Milwaukee ended, he signed with the Spurs and has since seen some backend rotational minutes. The 6-foot-11-inch big man shot 37.3% from three-point range and was above league average in TS% (true shooting percentage) at 62.8%.
At age 26, Mamukelashvili has improved each season and fits perfectly in the Knicks’ frontcourt because of his ability to stretch the floor and have a versatile defensive presence. He delivered the best game of his career against the Knicks, showcasing his shooting by scoring 34 points and hitting all seven of his three-point attempts.
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Free Agents Worth the Veteran Minimum
Besides having the TMLE to use, the Knicks would need to fill the rest of the roster with veteran minimum signings. Excluding bringing back guards like Landry Shamet or Delon Wright, here are two other players the Knicks should target in free agency:
Lonnie Walker IV
The 76ers hold a team option on Lonnie Walker IV, but if they decline it, the Knicks should explore signing him.
Walker was waived by the Boston Celtics ahead of the 2024-25 training camp, and he would sign with the Lithuanian team, Zalgiris Kaunas. He later signed with the Philadelphia 76ers in February and played uncompetitive basketball for the rest of the season.
Walker would give the Knicks a quality scoring guard off the bench, something the Knicks have lacked since trading Immanuel Quickley to the Toronto Raptors.
Javonte Green
Signing Javonte Green wouldn’t draw headlines, but he could fill a specific need for the Knicks.
While his career three-point percentage sits at just 34.3%, he would bring a defensive intensity to the Knicks’ bench and would fit better in lineups that prioritize floor spacing and don’t include Josh Hart.
He played 68 games last season, so he has a large sample size of his percentile statistics. He ranked in the 97th percentile in deflections with 4.6 per game and also in defensive versatility, a measure of how often and effective a player guards multiple positions.
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