Image Credit: Sports Illustrated
Bye bye Kuz!
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the New York Knicks are planning to waive Kuzminskas to create space on the roster to add Joakim Noah, who will be eligible to return on Monday after serving a 20-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy.
Knicks are waiving forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas to make room for the return of Joakim Noah, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 12, 2017
Kuzminskas didn’t play in the preseason due to a calf injury, and in the regular season, he served as a cheerleader on the bench for the Knicks. His only appearance for the Knicks was against the Orlando Magic, on November 8th, where he played two minutes and scored no points on 0-2 shooting from the field.
With the play of Courtney Lee and Doug McDermott on the wings and the addition of Tim Hardaway Jr., Michael Beasley, and promising rookie Damyean Dotson, it was hard to imagine a scenario where Kuzminskas would get playing time. Plus, Noah is earning the big bucks, and he’d be able to provide more leadership and be able to provide more defensively, which fits the defense first mentality coach Jeff Hornacek is trying to instill in the Knicks.
It was probably in the best interest of the both the Knicks and Kuzminskas to part ways.
