Knicks reportedly looking to re-sign Kenyon Martin, show interest in other veterans
The Knicks are reportedly interested in re-signing Kenyon Martin. (Ron Hoskins/Getty Images)
The New York Knicks are reportedly looking to re-sign Kenyon Martin and are in various stages of talks with other veterans, according to tweets Tuesday from Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com.
The team is reportedly moving forward without Dallas Mavericks unrestricted free agent forward Elton Brand after conversations fell through between the two sides. New York is showing interest in a host of other veterans including Raja Bell, Mickael Pietrus, Josh Childress, Shawne Williams and Aaron Brooks.
The Knicks want to keep Martin for a minimum deal next season but there's no indication yet that he won't test free agency and see if he can command something larger after somewhat of a resurgence last season with New York. He had signed two 10-day contracts with the Knicks last season before taking an offer in March to stay with the team for the rest of the season heading into the playoffs. The 35-year old former all-star finished the year averaging 7.2 points and 5.3 rebounds in 18 games for the Knicks.
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The Knicks will have 10 players under contract once the Andrea Bargnani trade becomes official on Wednesday. The team signed rookie guard Tim Hardaway Jr. on Monday to a four-year, $6.1 million deal. Now, New York will look to fill out the roster with two more point guards, two more big men in the front court and a swingman.
Zwerling reported on Tuesday that the Knicks worked out free agent guard Raja Bell, who signed a three-year deal for $10 million with the Utah Jazz in 2010 but left the team last season because of poor relations with the Jazz. He last played in 34 contests for Utah in 2011-12, averaging 6.4 points in 23 minutes per game.
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The Knicks are also in talks with veteran swingman Josh Childress to possibly bring him on as a back-up to Carmelo Anthony next season. Childress played in 14 games last year for the Brooklyn Nets before getting waived in December and, according to Zwerling, is open to taking a one-year deal for $1.7 million to play for the Knicks.
Aaron Brooks could be another player the Knicks sign this offseason. The two sides have shown mutual interest in each other but are still in preliminary conversations. The 6"0 point guard signed with the Houston Rockets in March but was waived by the team last month.
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Pietrus, who last played for the Toronto Raptors last season, will be back in the U.S. at the end of July and will begin working out with teams. The Knicks reportedly have him on their radar and have already held a number of conversations with him.
New York also reportedly has "some interest" in free agent forward Shawne Williams, who played for New York in 2010-11 and worked out for the team last week, but "nothing firm" yet has transpired between the two sides.
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