The NY Knicks have signed Thanasis Antetokounmpo to a partially-guaranteed contract and he will compete with Darion Atkins and Wesley Saunders for a chance to make the final roster out of training camp and this comes after Kevin Seraphin and Sasha Vujacic are coming in on guaranteed contracts for Phil Jackson.
The Knicks signed Antetokounmpo to a contract after he played in the D-League last season and he previously was drafted in 2014. According to Pro Basketball Talk, Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders reports that Antetokounmpo's contract only has $75,000 guaranteed in the first season and the second year is not guaranteed. Antetokounmpo was signed to a minimum deal and the Knicks have added Sasha Vujacic on a fully guaranteed one-year deal.
The Knicks have been intrigued with Antetokounmpo, who is the brother of the Milwaukee Bucks "Greek freak" Giannis Antetokounmpo, as they convinced him to play in Westchester last season over going overseas. Antetokounmpo is going to get a chance to make the roster and after making the latest deals with Vujacic and Seraphin, the team now has 13 guaranteed players along with Langston Galloway on a partially guaranteed contract. Galloway is expected to make the team.
Pro Basketball Talk reports that the team has one roster spot open going into camp and that spot is "up for grabs" between Antetokounmpo, Atkins and Saunders. Galloway showed enough last season to make the team this year and the Knicks have brought in both Saunders and Atkins on partial deals. Former NBA executive Bobby Marks reports that the guarantees are similar for all three players and the competition should come down to who earns the spot.
Antetokounmpo and Ricky Ledo were the players in the Summer League who had to show enough to get camp invites and the Knicks have stuck with Antetokounmpo and ditched Ledo. Antetokounmpo has proven to be an athletic defender, but he has not been able to show the offensive game of his brother. Saunders is a guard from Harvard and Atkins is coming from Virginia and is a forward and he could have a solid chance to make the roster if he outplays Antetokounmpo.
The Knicks want Antetokounmpo to make the team after drafting him last year and if he plays well in camp and the preseason he could be the last man in. According to ESPN.com, Vujacic signed a $1.35 million contract with the Knicks and he could get some solid minutes for the team behind Carmelo Anthony. The Knicks will have to keep an eye on Carmelo's knee and Vujacic could be one of the top options off the bench and he has not played in the NBA since 2013.
Check here for more on the Knicks offseason moves and potential battles in training camp.
