Projecting Landing Spots for Knicks' Top Free Agents
It's been a fun 2022-23 NBA season for the New York Knicks so far.
If they want to run it back during the 2023-24 campaign, that option is essentially on the table.
Virtually everyone on the roster has something on the books for next season, and most have fully guaranteed salaries.
There are, however, a few who could enter free agency, so let's break out the crystal ball and see what's next for three potential free agents.
Josh Hart (Player Option)
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It's been a hand-in-glove fit for Josh Hart since he joined the Knicks at the February trade deadline. Despite arriving midseason, he wound up averaging the fourth-most minutes (30 per night) and made an immediate impact with his activity, defense and transition attacking.
The 28-year-old became an integral part of this rotation almost overnight. New York fared a whopping 17.1 points better per 100 possessions when he played than when he didn't, per NBA.com.
It's been such an effortless transition that after only three games with the team, Hart told reporters this was "a perfect situation for me on and off the court."
The business of basketball, of course, sometimes gets in the way, and if the Knicks want to keep Hart, they might have to shell out some serious coin. He has a $13 million player option for next season, per Spotrac, but he can beat that on the open market—possibly by a lot.
Whenever Hart declines that option, though, the Knicks should be ready and willing to work with him on finding a pay rate that works for both sides.
Prediction: Hart declines option but re-signs with the Knicks.
Miles McBride (Team Option)
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Miles McBride has logged two seasons in New York so far. Whether he'll get a third go-round in Gotham will be up to the Knicks.
They have a $1.8 million team option on the 22-year-old for 2023-24. Despite the (relatively) low cost, picking it up is probably less than a no-brainer.
The West Virginia product is a tenacious defender, but his offense is nonexistent. He averaged 3.5 points while shooting 35.8 percent from the field and 29.9 percent from three. All of those numbers were substantial improvements from his rookie year.
Between McBride's lack of offense and New York's backcourt depth, it's possible the Knicks opt to move on without him. Given his age, low cost and upside, though, the safe bet is that he'll stick around.
Prediction: Knicks exercise team option to keep McBride.
Derrick Rose (Team Option)
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When the Knicks nabbed Derrick Rose for cheap at the 2021 trade deadline, they saw a speedy and sizable return on investment. He was a rotation fixture as soon as he stepped off the plane, and he wound up pacing New York in points per game that postseason.
The Knicks gave the 34-year-old a three-year deal that same summer, but his body betrayed him shortly thereafter. If injuries didn't force him off the floor, then age eroded his talents.
In two seasons since signing that deal, the three-time All-Star has suited up just 53 times combined. He hardly sniffed the floor in 2022-23, and when he did, it wasn't pretty. He shot just 38.4 percent overall and 30.2 percent from distance.
New York has zero reason to pick up his $15.6 million team option, and it's hard to say why either side would want to keep this partnership rolling.
If Rose has anything left in the tank, he should find a team that isn't so deep in the backcourt and would give him a chance to show he can do it.
Prediction: Knicks decline option, and Rose signs with his hometown Chicago Bulls.
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