The New York Knicks have 14 players that are locks to make the final roster but that last roster spot is about as up in the air as you could imagine. The Knicks have five players in camp on non-guaranteed or partially guaranteed contracts but none of them have impressed enough to warrant that 15th spot so the Knicks might look at waivers to find their 15th player. Despite some reported interest the Knicks reportedly are not expected to bring in Jimmer Fredette, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post.
Fredette signed with the San Antonio Spurs this offseason on a one year deal for the league minimum with half of the money being guaranteed. Because of the guaranteed money he was expected to make the team but he only scored four points the entire preseason and was outplayed by several different players which led his being cut. The Spurs will still pay him more than $500,000 this season but he is now a free agent.
The Knicks reportedly want their 15th spot to be taken by a ball handler that could shoot the ball, like Fredette, but they don't want Fredette reportedly because his defense leaves so much to be desired. Fredette is a big name because of how great he was in college at BYU but the reality is that he has not put together a very good NBA career and he was just cut despite being a heavy favorite to make the Spurs roster.
With Fredette likely not being an option the Knicks could either scour the waiver wire for someone else or pick from their five guys. Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Travis Trice, Darion Atkins and DaJuan Summers are the guys in Knicks camp competing for the final spot but nobody has separated themselves. The Knicks have put a lot of time into Antetokounmpo and finally gave him a shot to make the roster this year but they aren't happy with his progression and may end the experiment with him.
The Knicks could possibly leave the 15th spot open entering the season but there is no indication that they have thought about doing so. Fredette would be a nice story for the New York media to cover but it doesn't seem likely and his NBA career might just be over.
