Veteran forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is on the Knicks‘ radar as a potential free-agent target, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post.
As Berman explains, there are a handful of reasons why Kidd-Gilchrist appeals to New York — he’s a defensive-minded player who would fit in under new head coach Tom Thibodeau, and the Knicks view him as a “solid locker room guy.”
Additionally, Kidd-Gilchrist has ties to coaches and executives who have joined the Knicks organization over the course of the year. The former No. 2 overall pick played his college ball at Kentucky under new Knicks assistant Kenny Payne and is a client of CAA, the agency Knicks president of basketball operations Leon Rose ran before joining the franchise.
While Kidd-Gilchrist might draw some interest from teams in need of another wing defender, he’s not expected to command a significant salary. The Knicks view him as someone who could help shore up their defense off the bench at a modest price, according to Berman, who notes that the team is unlikely to re-sign free-agent forward Maurice Harkless.
Kidd-Gilchrist spent the first seven-and-a-half years of his career in Charlotte, averaging 8.6 points and 5.5 rebounds in 433 total games (25.1 minutes) for the club. He was bought out after last season’s trade deadline and joined the Mavericks for the stretch run, but he played sparingly for Dallas. Having made just 27.2 percent of his 103 career three-point attempts, Kidd-Gilchrist can’t be relied upon as a floor spacer.
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