The NY Knicks are filling out their training camp roster and they have added Travis Trice on a contract heading into the middle of September. The team could have Trice compete for a roster spot behind Jose Calderon, Jerian Grant and Langston Galloway, as the team may consider trading Calderon down the line this season.
According to RealGM, Trice was signed to a one-year partially guaranteed deal and he could be an option in camp to compete for a roster spot. The Knicks have signed Wesley Saunders and Darion Atkins to partial deals as well and they also have the chance to compete. All the players the Knicks bring to camp are competing for one or two spots and whoever misses out could end up in the D-League. The Knicks have Thanasis Antetokounmpo trying to make the team as well, while Langston Galloway is close to a lock.
Trice is an intriguing option for the Knicks, as the team has been looking to add more depth at point guard and it comes as rumors have come up about Calderon and his future with the team. According to Ian Begley at ESPN New York, a trade with Calderon is not imminent, but it is an option for the Knicks this season and it has been discussed. Trice comes in after playing his college career at Michigan State. Calderon was shopped last year and teams like the Clippers and Timberwolves have come up this summer in connection with the guard.
Galloway is also on a partially guaranteed contract, but all signs point to him making the team after how well he played last season. Galloway is almost certain to make the roster, as he was one of the surprise players for the Knicks while averaging 11 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. Galloway will likely battle with Jerian Grant for minutes and depending on what happens with Calderon, he could have a major role. Having Galloway and Grant battle is not a bad problem to have for the Knicks, as those two have potential together at point guard. Galloway made the All-Rookie second team last season and shot near 40 percent from the floor.
Check here for more on the deal with Trice and more on Calderon and his trade potential.
The Knicks have high expectations for young players like Kristaps Porzingis, Jerian Grant and Antetokounmpo and depending on how things play out, those players could see some significant minutes. Antetokounmpo still has to make the roster, but he likely will get a long look in camp after being in the D-League last season. The Knicks have a solid starting lineup ahead of those players, but Derek Fisher and Phil Jackson also will be relying on young players like Grant and Galloway to step up as well.
The Knicks have depth behind Robin Lopez with Kevin Seraphin, Kyle O'Quinn and Lou Amundson and overall the team should be better on defense than last year. Seraphin gives some extra size behind Lopez and the team also added Arron Afflalo, Derrick Williams and Kyle O'Quinn this summer. Porzingis and Grant looked solid in the summer league and they will try and build on that moving forward.