The New York Knicks tried to get into the Marcus Smart sweepstakes, but they couldn’t compete with their big-market rival Los Angeles Lakers.
According to Stefan Bondy of the New York Post, the Knicks “checked in” with Smart before the former NBA Defensive Player of the Year decided to join the Los Angeles Lakers.
“Per source, Knicks couldn’t offer the type of role Marcus Smart was looking for,” Bondy wrote on X.
Getty LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers posts up Marcus Smart, formerly of the Boston Celtics. Now, they are teammates.
On top of that, the Knicks are limited in their spending power, with only the veteran minimum to offer Smart.
The three-time All-Defensive guard opted to sign a two-year, $11 million deal (player option on the second year) with the Lakers once he clears waivers after reaching a buyout with the rebuilding Washington Wizards, ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania reported on July 19.
Charania also added that the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks were the two other teams that seriously pursued the 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
Knicks Face Off With Kings Over Ben Simmons
With Smart off the table, the Knicks are still in the market for a defensive playmaker to fill out their roster.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Knicks remain interested in former No. 1 pick Ben Simmons. However, they have a familiar face bidding against them.
“The two teams that we can report on that have ongoing interest in Ben Simmons are Sacramento and New York. That’s the last word we got as we’re leaving Las Vegas,” Fischer said on his “Insider Notebook” livestreamed on Bleacher Report on July 17. “So, generally speaking, the Kings are still a player in the veteran guard market, and you can absolutely put Ben Simmons in that conversation, even though he’s obviously more of a hybrid player than Malcolm Brogdon, than [Russel] Westbrook, than Chris Paul.”
The Kings’ front office is now helmed by their new general manager, Scott Perry, who last worked in the same capacity for the Knicks.
Perry’s contract was not renewed after it expired in 2023. He was a holdover from the Steve Mills front office, which Rose succeeded. Perry served as the experienced voice in the Knicks’ front office under Rose, who was a first-time team executive.
The Knicks did not name a new general manager after Perry. But they promoted Gersson Rosas to senior vice president of basketball operations.
The Knicks’ strong interest in Simmons was first reported by SNY’s Ian Begley.
“Simmons has met with three other teams and is expected to make a decision soon, per people familiar with the matter,” Begley wrote on July 2.
Josh Hart Excited for Jordan Clarkson Reunion
Getty Jordan Clarkson joins the New York Knicks this offseason.
Knicks forward Josh Hart raved about the addition of his former Lakers teammates Jordan Clarkson. The two played their rookie season together in Los Angeles.
“I was excited, “ Hart said of Brown on “The Roommates Show” on July 17. “I mean, great dude, gonna fit right into the culture that we have, obviously, something that can create his own shot.
“[Clarkson] can break down the defense, and we needed at times, you know, last year. So it would be a great addition in terms of role. And also as a locker room guy.”
Clarkson, who won Sixth Man of the Year in 2021, averaged 16.2 points and 3.7 assists off the bench for the Utah Jazz last season. He also shot 36.2% from the 3-point line.
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