Free-agent forward Steve Novak has agreed to a four-year, $15 million deal to return to the Knicks, according to his agent, Mark Bartelstein.
Novak joined the Knicks last season after being waived by the San Antonio Spurs.
Novak gained popularity last season as a spread-the-floor shooter able to knock down shots, especially the three-ball. During the Jeremy Lin, "Linsanity", stretch, he and Lin shared keen awareness of each other's play and Novak punished teams committing inside on Lin or Carmelo with dagger three-pointers.
Novak, 29, led the NBA in three-point accuracy at 47.2 percent last season, averaging career highs of 8.8 points and 18.9 minutes. He made 85 three-pointers after the All-Star break, second most in the NBA behind Clippers guard Randy Foye's 87. For the season, 133 of Novak's 161 field goals were three-pointers.
The signing of Novak will not affect the Knicks ability to sign other free agents because he was granted early bird right by an arbitrator.
The Knicks signed a guard in Jason Kidd, a forward in Novak, and are the favorite to sign a center in Marcus Camby.
They are expected to match the Rockets offer to Jeremy Lin and bring back the young guard. It's also possible that guard J.R. Smith could make his return to the Big Apple.
