The New York Knicks trimmed their roster down on Friday to fourteen players which included cutting four different players. One of the players that was cut in this series of moves was Thanasis Antetokounmpo who has spent the past two seasons in the D-League and was hoping for an NBA spot this season. Antetokounmpo is currently weighing his options for where he will play this season but it is being reported that he might spend another season with the Knicks D-League affiliate, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post.
Antetokounmpo signed a deal with the Knicks this summer that included $75,000 worth of guaranteed money and was expected to have a shot to make the team. Instead the Knicks played him just 13 minutes during the preseason and it seemed as though he never really had a chance. Now Antetokounmpo and his agent, Nick Lotsos, are reportedly in talks with NBA teams and European teams to see what his next move is.
Initially Antetokounmpo's agent had said that if he did not make the team out of training camp that there was no way he would play in the D-League but now it seems they have had a change of heart. The fact that Antetokounmpo will still be paid $75,000 is probably helpful to keep him in the D-League where he would make just $25,000 but Lotsos just believes that no matter where he plays it is important that he has a big role.
The Knicks drafted Antetokounmpo in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft with the hopes that he would develop and become somewhat like his younger brother Giannis Antetokounmpo but that has not happened. The Knicks love his energy and defensive prowess but they haven't been too pleased with his development on offense which is why he hasn't been given too much of a chance to crack the roster.
Instead of keeping Antetokounmpo on the roster the Knicks decided they wanted to keep the 15th roster spot open so they could have some flexibility. The Knicks will likely enter the season with just 14 players but they can scan the waiver wire and pick up somebody that was cut by another team if they would like.
Antetokounmpo's time with the Knicks isn't officially done but it doesn't seem like they have much patience with him in terms of development anymore. The fact that the Knicks want an open roster spot instead of keeping him speaks volumes to where they are with the Greek forward and now he will have to figure out his next step.
