The New York Knicks face a busy offseason with double priorities. Find a Tom Thibodeau alternative and upgrade your roster.
The franchise recently expressed interest in Staley at Dawn in South Carolina in a coaching vacant seat.
Despite the continued uncertainty of coaching, the Knicks continue to operate in player acquisition. After undrafted rookie Dinkpatte signed an exhibit 10 contract, New York shifted its focus to veteran talent.
Knicks reporter Ian Begley revealed mutual interest between the Knicks and Ty Jones, dating back to last season.
However, the veteran guard finished with Phoenix in New York, averaging 10.2 points, 5.3 assists and 2.4 rebounds while shooting an impressive 41.4% from the 3-point range.
“I think Tius Jones is the name I’m paying attention to because there was mutual interest between the Knicks and Jones last summer and Jones was even happy to cut his pay to come to New York,” explained Begley.
“He ended up choosing Phoenix, and we thought it would be a very good situation for him. It didn’t work, so he’s back in the market.”
The Suns’ disappointing season and early playoff exits made Jones look for new opportunities. His proven ability to perform attacks and attack the clutch’s three-pointer makes him an attractive option for fighting for teams seeking depth.
Jones represents more than just the quality backup behind Jalen Brunson. Veteran security guards bring Karl Anthony’s town since his Minnesota days and proven experience and established chemistry.
The duo played together between 2015 and 2019 before Jones joined Memphis, and they gained a strong understanding of each other’s games.
Their previous partnership could lead to immediate court adjustments. Jones is excellent at finding big men in favorable positions, but the town’s three-point shooting has been improved, creating intervals for effective pick-and-roll executions.
The financial aspect makes Jones even more appealing to the cap-strap Knicks. New York can fully meet current pay constraints and offer veteran minimum contracts without sacrificing future flexibility.
“The Knicks have this $5 million exception offered to free agents, and there is also the smallest veteran case,” Begley said.
“So they have some tools to get out there and talk to free agents.” This gives New York multiple pathways to secure Jones without compromising their long-term plans.
The Knicks also have to deal with their own free agents, including Deron Wright, the precious Acuwa, Laundry Shemet and Come Payne.