While October 23 is the league-mandated cut-down day, most teams are expected to solidify their rosters today or tomorrow. The New York Knicks are one team that theoretically finalized their roster early. The Knicks filled their two-way slots and waived several other players to get down to 17 on their training camp roster.
NBA Rumors: Knicks, Bucks and Mavs Fill Out Opening Night Rosters
New York Knicks Sign Charlie Brown Jr. and Jacob Toppin to Two-Way Deals
After cutting Jaylen Martin and Nathan Knight on Thursday, New York filled its two open two-way spots today by inking Charlie Brown Jr. and Jacob Toppin.
The Knicks are converting Charlie Brown Jr., and Jacob Toppin to two-way contracts, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 21, 2023
Brown and Toppin both previously held Exhibit 10 contracts.
Brown is a 6-6 wing with 41 games of NBA experience, though he spent last season with the G-League Delaware Blue Coats. The 26-year-old didn’t play much during the preseason, though he did appear in all four games. However, Brown was terrific during summer league action with the Knicks and has shown the ability to score in his time in the G-League.
Toppin went undrafted out of Kentucky this past June. The 23-year-old, like Brown, is athletic. He didn’t play in the summer league and only appeared in one game during the exhibition slate. But Ian Begley of SNY.tv tweeted that he impressed coach Tom Thibodeau with his defense during camp.
Jacob Toppin impressed Tom Thibodeau with his defensive activity during the preseason. NYK will now convert Toppin & Charlie Brown Jr to two-way deals, sources confirm. @wojespn first reported. Dylan Windler is also on a 2-way deal. Final rosters due 10/23. NYK values Windler
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) October 21, 2023
Dylan Windler, a former first-round pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers, is the most likely of the three players on a two-way deal to see action for the Knicks. Windler is an athletic wing who is known for more for his defense. He has appeared in 81 career games for the Cavs, including three contests last season.
Knicks Make Other Moves
New York also cut four players on Saturday. Per the team’s Twitter account, the Knicks waived Mamadi Diakite, Brandon Goodwin, Isaiah Roby, and Duane Washington Jr.
Diakite and Goodwin just signed Exhibit 10 yesterday. Meanwhile, it is the second time Roby has been waived by the Knicks this preseason, as he recently returned to the team on an Exhibit 10 deal. Diakite, Goodwin, and Roby will begin the season with the Westchester Knicks.
Roby has started 64 of his 151 career NBA appearances and played well during the summer league and preseason for the Knicks. But Josh Hart is slated to see a lot of time at the four on the second unit. With Jericho Sims being the Knicks’ third power forward and center, there was no room for Roby. Expect Roby to see time with the Knicks or another team this year.
Diakite, who has 49 games of NBA experience, was with Israeli club Maccabi Ra’ananan this preseason. The athletic 26-year-old is a stretch four who can score and block shots. He scored in double-figures in two of his three games against NBA teams this preseason, tallying 36 points and four blocks overall. If Diakite plays well in Westchester, he could get another NBA chance.
Goodwin didn’t play last year. But the 28-year-old point guard has played in 111 NBA contests. Goodwin hasn’t really done much to stand out during his time,although he possess strong handles and is a good distributor.
Conversly, Washington’s contract only contained Exhibit 9 language. The 23-year-old guard did not appear in a preseason game for the Knicks despite being on the roster all preseason long. He is known as a bucket-getter and a solid 3-point shooter. However, defense and ball-handling are major issues for Washington.
Knicks Finalize Roster?
All the moves that the Knicks made today leaves them with 17 players on their roster. The Knicks currently have 13 players on standards, one less than the league minimum, including DaQuan Jeffries, who has a nonguaranteed deal. Ryan Arcidiacono, whose training camp deal included only Exhibit 9 language, is also left. As mentioned above, they also have filled their two-way slots.
While there hasn’t been any official word, it appears that Jeffries and Arciadacono have made the team. Jeffries was outstanding in his appearance in Las Vegas for the Knicks this summer and averaged 12 minutes in three preseason games. Jeffries, who has appeared in 49 NBA games including two playoff contests, has shown the ability to be a two-way player in the G-League. Plus, the 26-year-old appears to be a favorite of Thibodeau.
a snippet of DaQuan’s greatness when he dropped 34 PTS, 8 ASTS, 6 REBS, 2 STLS 😮💨 @daquanjeffries2 pic.twitter.com/zpYkaHnNWE
— Westchester Knicks (@wcknicks) March 19, 2023
Arcidiacono didn’t see any preseason action for the Knicks after being a late summer addition. However, the Knicks are very familar with the 29-year-old point guard as he has played in 29 games over the last two years for the organization. Arcidiacono is a the type of player Thibodeau likes to have on the team even if he won’t play much. As Arcidiacono will compete and won’t hurt the team on either end.
Even if the Knicks do decide to keep both Arcidiacono and Jeffries, they could add another player after seeing who is available following cut down day.
Projecting Knicks’ Rotation and Minutes
- Julius Randle: Randle is a top-10 power forward who will see 36 minutes a game.
- Jalen Brunson: A borderline top-10 point guard, Brunson projects to average between 33-35 minutes a game.
- R.J. Barrett: Barrett may see his lowest minutes since his rookie season, projecting to average 30-33 minutes a game.
- Mitchell Robinson: An underrated starter, projects to see between 25-27 minutes
- Quentin Grimes: Grimes is a borderline starter, who projects to see between 20-25 minutes a game.
- Josh Hart: Hart will see most of his time at power forward off the bench, projects to see around 30 minutes a game.
- Immanuel Quickley: Quickley was one of the best reserves in the league last year, projects to see between 25-28 minutes a game.
- Donte DiVincenzo: A valuable free agent pickup, should see between 20-25 minutes a game off the bench.
- Isaiah Hartenstein: A dependable backup center who could see his minutes slashed this year, projects to see 10-15 minutes a night.
- Evan Fournier: A fringe rotational player whose court time could depend on how he shoots it.
- Jericho Sims: In his appearances last season, Sims saw fewer than 10 minutes a game the most. Expect that trend to continue.
- Miles McBride: Fourth point guard who will get semi-consistent minutes if there are injuries in the backcourt
- DaQuan Jeffries: Only plays in emergencies.
- Ryan Arcidiacono Only plays in emergencies.
- Open
- Dylan Windler: 2-way
- Charlie Brown Jr.: 2-2way
- Jacob Toppin: 2-way
